New Year’s Eve in Peru New Year's Eve is one of the most popular times of the year for visitors to travel to Peru. In Lima, New Year's is around the time that Summer arrives, while in the Andes - including Cusco and Lake Titicaca - rainy season has arrived (though this does not mean it rains all the time!). Peru is a year-round destination thanks to its varied climates. As one of the most beautiful cities in the country and home to a range of luxury hotels, Cusco is a popular base to ring in the New Year. As such, the best hotels in Cusco should be booked well in advance. Hotels often arrange dinners and special galas to mark the occassion, included in the New Year's rates. New Year's Eve Traditions in Peru Every culture celebrates the New Year different and Peru is no exception in its wildly varied celebrations! In all the major cities locals celebrate by letting of fireworks and gathering in the main squares. No matter what traditions you take part in or where you’re celebrating it in Peru, New Year’s is a special time for everyone. It’s a time to reflect and celebrate about the passing year with friends and family, and to turn the page and look ahead to what the following year will bring. We asked members of the Aracari team how they will be ringing in the New Year... "I always put a small bag of lentils in my pocket for good luck for the upcoming year." - Raul, Lima Client Relations “We throw coins into the house from the entrance as a symbol that next year we won’t lose any money.” - Lidia, Travel Planner "We wait in the main square, and when it's 12.00 we all start running around
New Year’s Eve in Peru New Year’s Eve is one of the most popular times of the year for visitors to travel to Peru. In Lima, New Year’s is around the time that Summer arrives, while in the Andes – including Cusco and Lake Titicaca – rainy season has arrived…
A new luxury hotel in Peru Popping up throughout Peru are a new breed of luxury accommodations that provide distinguished travelers with the high quality of service, amenities, and comfort that they have come to expect on their adventures. One such notable property is the recently opened JW Marriott Hotel in Cusco. Given the rich and vibrant history that surrounds the ground on which this hotel now stands, we thought it ideal to seek the professional advice of Colonial Art Historian, Anthropologist, and Aracari specialist guide Ms. Lisy Kuon to hear her thoughts on the history, the presentation and the service of this new luxury property. Lisy told us that the hotel comes with all of the modern services that would one would expect from a five-star property, including a full service spa, restaurant, an oxygen-enriched system, and full amenities. She hinted that the décor was somewhat "eclectic", as it fuses motifs from a wide range of eras. “The service is good in my personal experience,” she explains. “The hotel lives up to its category, and its services are highly recommended for their quality and price.” Of the fascinating history of the building, Lisy explained that “The convent of San Agustin was built in the second half of the sixteenth century. It suffered severe damage in the earthquake that devastated the city of Cuzco in 1650, being rebuilt by Augustinian priests.” More devastation ensued: “In the 1820s, it was destroyed by cannon fire ordered by General Agustín Gamarra, because of their political differences with the Augustinians. This was during the Peruvian wars of independence against the Spanish Crown. The priests of this Order were royalists, i.e. supporters of the Kings of Spain. In the twentieth century, what remained of the old convent passed into private ownership, having been sold to
A new luxury hotel in Peru Popping up throughout Peru are a new breed of luxury accommodations that provide distinguished travelers with the high quality of service, amenities, and comfort that they have come to expect on their adventures. One such notable property is the recently opened JW Marriott Hotel…
Hilton recently announced the grand opening of their brand new Hilton Lima Miraflores, which began operation just this week, so yesterday we took the opportunity to visit the hotel to check it out. The grandeur of the lobby, with its extravagant crystal chandelier (imported from the Czech Republic) hanging from the ceiling, the big, bold colors and geometric designs, and the luxurious marble floors, were complemented by a warm greeting from the staff as we walked through the glass doors. Interior design genius Roberto Caparra, who also designed the beautiful and opulent Luxury Collection Tambo del Inca and Luxury Collection Paracas, chose gold, black, and iridescent colors to feature in the entrance and throughout the hotel, creating a lavish yet inviting design. The main lobby, with colorful and oversized furniture (that is as comfortable as it looks!), bright and exotic floral arrangements, and a small bar and lounge where guests can sit, relax, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, were also a pleasant welcoming and a good first impression to the newest addition to Lima’s luxury hotel scene. After exploring the lobby and the meeting and banquet rooms, we ventured upstairs to see a few of the 207 total accommodations offered by the hotel. Split into different categories including Standard, Deluxe, and Executive rooms as well as Suites, all rooms are sophisticated and modern and feature Hilton Serenity beds and linens imported from the United States, high-definition TV’s integrated into the wall to save room space, wireless internet access, and luxurious marble bathrooms with exclusive toiletries that incorporate Peruvian ingredients like the Amazon super-fruit camu camu. Deluxe rooms offer additional amenities such as a complimentary shoeshine service and iPod docks while Executive rooms feature excellent views and access to the sleek rooftop lounge, which offers guests a place to
Hilton recently announced the grand opening of their brand new Hilton Lima Miraflores, which began operation just this week, so yesterday we took the opportunity to visit the hotel to check it out. The grandeur of the lobby, with its extravagant crystal chandelier (imported from the Czech Republic) hanging from…
Christmas Gifts in Lima For those of you in or around Lima during the holiday season or just looking for some shopping suggestions in the city, we have put together a list of a few stores and shops perfect for picking up a special gift. Wander around the streets of Barranco and stop in some of the many boutique stores and shops where you’ll be sure to find some great gift ideas and inspiration. Our perfect holiday shopping guide Las Pallas For over 25 years, Las Pallas has promoted traditional folk art from the coast, mountains, and jungles of Peru and offered clients an eclectic collection of handmade pieces including jewelry, carvings, rugs, and much more. The shop’s annual Christmas exhibit began in late November and is the perfect place to find one-of-a-kind decorations and gifts for your family and friends. Read more about Las Pallas on our blog posts "Bird Watching" in Barranco and 25 Years of Las Pallas Dédalo Recently celebrating its 20th anniversary, Dédalo is a must-visit and is considered by many to be one of Lima’s best shopping spots. Be sure to stroll through the labyrinth of rooms each filled with wonderful examples of contemporary Peruvian workmanship in a wide range of styles, colors, and media. The store has something for everyone and any visitor is sure to find inspiration for the perfect gift. Read more about Dédalo on our blog post Dédalo Celebrates 20 Years of Providing Fine Artwork Continue your day of shopping with a visit to Miraflores, Lima’s most popular district filled with many other superb shopping options. Three perfect examples are conveniently located next to each other right near Parque Kennedy in the heart of the district. La Despensa This trendy and vibrant space functions as a store/art gallery/lab and features unique
Christmas Gifts in Lima For those of you in or around Lima during the holiday season or just looking for some shopping suggestions in the city, we have put together a list of a few stores and shops perfect for picking up a special gift. Wander around the streets of…
Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to sit down with Lucia de la Puente for an inside look into the life and work of this highly-regarded gallery director, whose passion for art and drive to achieve have allowed her to successfully manage one of the most highly regarded contemporary art galleries in Peru. For her entire life, Lucia has had ties to the cultural past and present of Peru, giving her a unique and thorough understanding of many aspects of Peruvian art. Lucia’s enrichment began at a very early age, as her mother is an avid collector of art, and other members of her family are heavily involved in cultural projects including the well-known excavation endeavors at El Brujo and the Wiese Foundation’s Museo Cao. She even dabbled with art-making herself and enjoyed sculpting in her early life, using a variety of media including wood and bronze casting. Lucia has since dedicated her life to her gallery. “I love what I do,” she told me with a bright smile, explaining how she has found her own place in the art community as a facilitator of art dissemination. She has also found an ideal location for her dream career: the bohemian district of Barranco. In 1995, Lucia originally started her gallery not far from its current location on the vibrant plaza of Saenz Peña, explaining that she has always been drawn to the charming character of this particular district in Lima. Others with similar passions have also felt this magnetic draw to Barranco, including boutique shops such as Las Pallas and Dédalo as well as the soon-to-be-inaugurated Hotel B directly adjacent to the gallery. Important to this district, Lucia was pleased to say, are the wonderful connections formed amongst her and her fellow art-lovers, and she has described Barranco as
Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to sit down with Lucia de la Puente for an inside look into the life and work of this highly-regarded gallery director, whose passion for art and drive to achieve have allowed her to successfully manage one of the most highly regarded contemporary…
Following our journey to Tambopata, fellow Aracari team member Simon and I visited the small community of Infierno. In the Christmas spirit, the Aracari team organized the visit to the community and prepared some early holiday presents to distribute amongst the children. We arrived early Sunday morning with gifts in hand to bring some holiday cheer to the kids. After announcing on the village’s loudspeaker that we had arrived to hand out gifts, boys and girls of all ages ran from their homes to convene in the center of the community, lining up and patiently waiting their turn for a Christmas present. It was definitely the highlight of our trip to see the smiles on the children's faces after they received their toys and candies. Located around thirty minutes outside of Puerto Maldonado along the Tambopata River, the community of Infierno is a partial proprietor of the nearby Posada Amazonas Rainforest Lodge, one of the three lodges we visited during our recent trip. Partnered with Rainforest Expeditions - an ecotourism company that operates all three lodges - community members make up over 90% of the lodge’s personnel employed as guides, staff members, and indirectly as suppliers, creating a symbiotic relationship that benefits both the community members and the lodges here. Stay tuned for more information about our trip to Tambopata in the coming weeks, with some great information on and photos of the various lodges and incredible wildlife experiences offered here. Please contact us for more information about the community owned and operated Posada Amazonas or to set up a visit to the community during your trip to Peru’s southern rainforest.
Following our journey to Tambopata, fellow Aracari team member Simon and I visited the small community of Infierno. In the Christmas spirit, the Aracari team organized the visit to the community and prepared some early holiday presents to distribute amongst the children. We arrived early Sunday morning with gifts in…
