Check out Aracari founder and CEO, Marisol's, experience whale watching in the Northern Peru Beaches of Mancora, here. Whale Watching Peru: The Northern Peru Beaches of Mancora Experience a half day on the coast of Peru whale watching and swimming with turtles led by a marine biologist guide. Book this tour with Aracari as part of any tailormade trip Peru. From August to November each year, humpback whales travel thousands of miles from Antarctica to the tropical waters around Mancora to give birth to their offspring. During this reproductive season, male humpbacks display mating techniques that include jumps, as well as fin, tail and head exposure for the female whales- and lucky spectators. Today you can be one of those lucky spectators and adventure out on a boat to see these most impressive creatures along their journey. After an early morning transport from your Mancora hotel, climb aboard a 46ft yacht to begin your aquatic experience. Take a seat on the shaded upper deck, and keep your eyes peeled as you venture out to sea in search of the massive and often playful creatures. The biologist on board will be happy to answer your questions as you enjoy snacks while crossing the waters. During the excursion you will make a stop at an inactive oil platform where you can view sea lions and a variety of birds including pelicans, cormorants and frigates. Hop back on the yacht and keep on your way, looking out for dolphins and manta rays that frequent the area along with the seasonal whales. With luck, you will have several spottings and a few excellent photo-ops before heading to Ñuro cove, also known as “turtle paradise.” Here you can jump in the water and swim alongside tranquil green turtles. After you have enjoyed some time splashing
Check out Aracari founder and CEO, Marisol’s, experience whale watching in the Northern Peru Beaches of Mancora, here. Whale Watching Peru: The Northern Peru Beaches of Mancora Experience a half day on the coast of Peru whale watching and swimming with turtles led by a marine biologist guide. Book this…
Peru Motorcycle Tours Coasting along the open road, the exhilarating feeling of cruising through wild mountain landscapes between multiple points of interest: Peru motorcycle tours are a great way of blowing off steam and having the freedom to visit destinations that you wish on your own schedule. The King of Jordan recently tried his hand at this innovative way of travelling during his visit to Peru for the summit of South America-Arab countries, he went all the way from Lima to Cusco on his bike. Aracari’s close friends Juanjo and Carlos, who travelled to Cusco in August, could have taught him a trick or two before his trip: they hired their own motorbikes for 4 days to explore the Cusco and Sacred Valley region. “It’s the best sensation” said Juanjo, “you have the freedom to go where you want… along beautiful roads and to a multitude of different points of interest in the area.” Starting in Cusco, and provided with detailed maps, the pair set out on their 400cc bikes along a variety of routes around the valley. Their first excursion was to the archeological site of Moray, racing through isolated countryside to arrive at the site in time for a beautiful sunset. They also sped along a quite fantastic route beginning at Abra Malaga and following a winding road downhill for 45km to the town of Ollantaytambo, and made a trip to Hacienda Huayoccari. With short and manageable distances around Cusco and the valley, Juanjo told me that this experience is very accessible for those who have prior experience of riding. There is parking with security at the majority of hotels, and garages in the main towns should any maintenance be required. To ensure total flexibility, they were able to leave their bikes parked securely in Ollantaytambo overnight while
Peru Motorcycle Tours Coasting along the open road, the exhilarating feeling of cruising through wild mountain landscapes between multiple points of interest: Peru motorcycle tours are a great way of blowing off steam and having the freedom to visit destinations that you wish on your own schedule. The King of…
On Monday, October 1st, I had the privileged opportunity to attend the Cebiche and Pisco Party in Barcelona, Spain. Held at the Palau de Padralbes, with its manicured garden and royal roots, this elegant setting was absolutely perfect for this stylish yet informative affair. The event, promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism & PromPeru, aimed to showcase Peruvian cuisine via emblematic ceviche and pisco paired with the film “SABE PERU: Cuisine as an agent of social change” featuring world-renowned chefs Gastón Acurio’s and Ferran Adriá’s exploration of the connections between gastronomy, identity, and the fight against poverty in this Andean country. The film, which was previously highlighted in our blog post, “Peruvian Cuisine: A tool for Social Empowerment,” aims to foster progress and development of Peruvian cuisine for the world and has been presented at various events including the prestigious Festival of San Sebastian. Similar promotional tasting and film events to be held in Paris, Berlin, and the United States have also been reported. Thanks to Peruvian-native Gastón's deeply rooted connections to the cuisine world, this prestigious gathering was possible and had caught the attention of Catalan and Spanish chefs as well as famous film directors alike. Among the guests and hosts in attendance were Ferran Adriá (no introduction necessary!), head chef Joan Roca of El Celler de Can Roca (annually awarded three Michelin Stars since 2009), owner and head chef of Arzak in San Sebastian Juan Mari Arzak (who traveled with Aracari in 2005!), and the talented Peruvian writer, producer, and film director Claudia Llosa (awarded the Teddy (2012) and Golden Bear (2010) Awards at Berlin International Film Festival). The event was wonderful, featuring pisco and ceviche tastings, debuting the documentary film, and accompanied by the musical talents of Jaime Cuadro. The evening in its entirety
On Monday, October 1st, I had the privileged opportunity to attend the Cebiche and Pisco Party in Barcelona, Spain. Held at the Palau de Padralbes, with its manicured garden and royal roots, this elegant setting was absolutely perfect for this stylish yet informative affair. The event, promoted by the Ministry…
On October 5th, the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada will open the exhibit Luminescence: the Silver of Peru. Exploring the extensive history of silverwork and its cultural importance throughout the region, over 140 pieces will be on display, including regalia, sculpture, jewelry, masks, and costumes. The exhibit consists of pre-Columbian and Contemporary work from various museum collections including a fabulous selection from the Larco Museum in Lima. Ever curious, we spoke with the Chief Curator of Museo Larco Ulla Holmquist about the museum's role in this upcoming exhibit, and she gave us a sneak preview about their selection and why they were chosen. Seven alluring silver pieces from Larco's collection (which is comprised of ceramics, extraordinary textiles, woodcarvings, stone sculpture, as well as rare gold and silver objects) will be featured, a selection of which are pictured below (codes are provided for those who want to search for more info on the catalogue). “These pieces are beautiful and meaningful examples of the silverwork of the ancient Peruvian cultures,” Ulla commented. “Their technology is sophisticated but they also portray ritual and mythological scenes." "We have been invited by the organizers, considering the importance of our silver collection," she explained, adding that she had personally “helped the organizers to choose pieces that could adequately communicate the concepts of the exhibition.” Of the pieces on display, Ulla recommends paying special attention to one item from Larco’s collection in particular: an engraved silver bowl. This intricately detailed piece displays one of "the most important rituals of ancient Peru - the diving and picking of the Spondylus shell, considered to be food for the gods.” The indigenous people of Peru were fascinated with the luminosity and the incredible, reflective properties of metals like silver. Priests and rulers such as
On October 5th, the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada will open the exhibit Luminescence: the Silver of Peru. Exploring the extensive history of silverwork and its cultural importance throughout the region, over 140 pieces will be on display, including regalia, sculpture, jewelry, masks,…
By Lauren | Six AM is quite a time to start a long journey of any sort, but my colleagues, Simon and Yasmin, and I knew that a wonderful day was ahead of us, a day filled with sunshine, gentle lapping waves, and the survey of a solar observatory dating back to the 4th Century BC. Las Aldas in Peru Our first destination was the seaside retreat of Las Aldas. Situated a mile off the Pan-American highway, some 350km north of Lima, and down a winding, sandy road, this little bungalow-style lodging is a hidden retreat amongst the amazing mountains of sand that comprise the coastal landscape in and around Casma located in the north of Peru. Upon our arrival, host Mr. Dante Scarpati and our associate Wilson Diaz, our local operator and expert, graciously welcomed us. The sun was radiant and the ocean breeze was calming to the senses, as we stretched our legs and began our tour of the premises. Each of the 18 minimally outfitted cabins is equipped with its own bathroom, 24-hour hot water, and electricity. Rustic in style, each cabin has its own unique decorations and features. Some have beautiful woven thatch ceilings, others with additional bedrooms or dining areas. As a pre-caution, all beds are equipped with mosquito netting, although the presence of these pests is seldom seen, Mr. Scarpati informed us. Where the cabins lack in luxury, they compensate with glorious views of the ocean, and you can take in the relaxing sights, smells, and sounds from the comfort and privacy of your very own porch and lounge chairs. The most beautiful accommodation, however, was the cabin directly attached to the main dining room and communal porch. Immediately upon entering, I couldn’t help but notice the headboard and bedposts, beautifully hand-carved and stained
By Lauren | Six AM is quite a time to start a long journey of any sort, but my colleagues, Simon and Yasmin, and I knew that a wonderful day was ahead of us, a day filled with sunshine, gentle lapping waves, and the survey of a solar observatory dating…
Your Luxury amazon cruise By Marisol | This 4-day, 3-night journey on the Delfin I has vastly exceeded my expectations. I had travelled on the Delfin I in 2007 (before it was refurbished into what it is now, and when it was much less luxurious), and on the Delfin II in 2009 on its Maiden Voyage. Although both experiences were fantastic, this Delfin I is even better: it is an entirely different concept, essentially because it is so small (just 4 cabins) and intimate. I dare say that it must be one of the most luxurious small river cruise ships in the world. I travelled with my friends Juanjo and Carlos, and the owner of the boat Lissy also joined us later. In addition, we were accompanied by two charming couples from Athens. In order to travel on an Amazon cruise, you need to first fly from Lima into Iquitos (1 hour and 30 minutes). There are plans for an international flight reaching Iquitos from Panama on Copa Airlines. This will be very good news for the destination, as apparently they also want to link it to Cusco. We shall see how things pan out. Once we reached Iquitos we were collected from the airport, and we all drove together for 1 hour and a half to reach the town of Nauta, where our floating home, the Delfin I, was waiting for us. The reason why the Delfin cruises begin in Nauta is because this port is much nearer to the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, which was the objective of our journey. We wanted to spend as much time as possible in the Reserved Area, because it is here where there is more abundance of flora and fauna. If we departed from Iquitos, we’d spend approximately 2 days cruising upriver
Your Luxury amazon cruise By Marisol | This 4-day, 3-night journey on the Delfin I has vastly exceeded my expectations. I had travelled on the Delfin I in 2007 (before it was refurbished into what it is now, and when it was much less luxurious), and on the Delfin II…
