By Caitlin, Photos: Caroline Maxcy Photography | On July 4th, 2012 I had the pleasure of visiting one of the most unique schools I have ever seen. It is located in the Urubamba Valley just walking distance from one of the most famous markets in Cusco, the Pisac Market. Kusi Kawsay School, which means happy life in the native language of Quechua, is made up of students that range from kindergarten to 8th grade with an upper grade study group. It is an Andean Waldorf inspired school, an academic structure and philosophy that can be found in many countries around the world. It offers an alternative integral education that promotes high self esteem in economically challenged children through the integration of their native Andean traditional culture, which is both valued and respected. Upon my arrival in Pisac I met Fielding, our host, at the Pisac Inn. She accompanied us up the flight of terraced steps that lead you from the market to where the Kusi Kawsay School is located. Along the way she gave us an excellent introduction to the school and its philosophies. Fielding and her husband are the owners of the Pisac Inn and close friends of Aracari for some time now. We frequently send our clients to their delicious restaurant located within the inn, Cuchara de Palo. I actually had lunch there during my visit and I can hands down say it was one of the best lunches I had in the Valley! Once we learned that Fielding was involved with this school (sending their own children there) and was actively trying to help fundraise, we decided that this organization was definitely worth a personal visit. When we arrived at the school, we visited each classroom starting with kindergarten. Luckily, we arrived on a Wednesday, the day
By Caitlin, Photos: Caroline Maxcy Photography | On July 4th, 2012 I had the pleasure of visiting one of the most unique schools I have ever seen. It is located in the Urubamba Valley just walking distance from one of the most famous markets in Cusco, the Pisac Market. Kusi…
By Marisol The highlights of my trip across Chile, Bolivia and Peru in July/August 2012. Favourite Hotel | Tierra Atacama Best Service | Titilaka Cosiest Hotel | Posada del Inca, Isla del Sol Funkiest Hotel | Luna Salada Most personalised Hotel | La Lune, Cusco Loveliest Room | Awasi Best food | This wasn’t exactly a foodie trip, but the best ice creams were at Alto Atacama (white chocolate and Chaniar) and Rosas Ice cream at Rinascimento Ice Cream Parlour in La Paz. Most stunning views | 1) Lake Chalalan from highest Mirador, 2) Lake Titicaca from boat on the way to Isla del Sol Best view from room | Titilaka Most Memorable Moments | 1) View of Sucre from rooftop of San Felipe Neri; 2) Sunset in Uyuni; 3) Laguna Hedionda. Best Experience | Fly fishing Best guides| 1) Elias Alaka (Lagoons, Uyuni, Sucre and Potosi); 2) Alvaro Ibanez (fly fishing); 3) Paul Cripps (biking) Best family guide | Mario from the Chalalan Lodge Most Inspiring Person I met | Sonia Newhouse from Living Heart Marisol has now completed her Peru Bolivia Chile tour. You can read all of her reports and see her photos: Sand, Salt, Sierra & Selva.
By Marisol The highlights of my trip across Chile, Bolivia and Peru in July/August 2012. Favourite Hotel | Tierra Atacama Best Service | Titilaka Cosiest Hotel | Posada del Inca, Isla del Sol Funkiest Hotel | Luna Salada Most personalised Hotel | La Lune, Cusco Loveliest Room | Awasi Best food | This wasn’t exactly a foodie trip,…
Aracari is delighted to announce that our Peru itinerary has been included in World on Sale, a special collection of trips featured by the prestigious travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler to celebrate their 25th anniversary. Ours was one of just 32 trips selected from across the world, with incredible discounts for the first Condé Nast readers to snap up the offer. From today there is a presale of the itineraries exclusively for subscribers of Condé Nast Traveler. The promotion will be available to the public on August 21st. To register for the early access pre-sale and for full details of our itinerary visit the Condé Nast Traveler website. For more information, Wendy Perrin discussed the World on Sale program on her recent blog post Our Gift to You: 32 Unique Trips of a Lifetime, at up to 65% Off, while the New York Times also ran an article previewing the event: Condé Nast Traveler Sees the World in Anniversary Style.
Aracari is delighted to announce that our Peru itinerary has been included in World on Sale, a special collection of trips featured by the prestigious travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler to celebrate their 25th anniversary. Ours was one of just 32 trips selected from across the world, with incredible discounts…
By Marisol Discovering Cusco and the Urubamba Valley There are so many new options coming up in Cusco and the Urubamba Valley - to stay the night, to dine and to be active - there was no doubt that part of our trip was going to be spent in the area, trying out new services and hotels. I define the Urubamba Valley as the area between Pisac and Ollantaytambo and also encompassing the town of Chinchero and the archaeological remains of Maras and Moray. This is an area where Aracari guests stop for a few days after they land at Cusco airport. The reason they do this is because it is a valley of absolute beauty that lends itself to a variety of outdoor pursuits, and lies at lower altitude than Cusco, making acclimatisation easier. Plus there are wonderful places to stay: luxury hotels, lodges and private villas. After our guests visit this area, they go to Machu Picchu (which is the goal of most everyone's trip), and then they visit the city of Cusco. The whole area has changed much over the years since I have been travelling here, and there is so much on offer: different options for different tastes, which is a wonderful thing. We also have new people to meet and old friends to visit, and there was a great deal of fun to be had! On arrival into Cusco Wanchaq Station, after our 11 hour train ride from Puno on the Andean Explorer, we were swiftly whisked to Urubamba town (1 hour and 30 minutes), on the outskirts of which the lovely Rio Sagrado hotel is situated. On the way, we saw the sunset over the Vilcabamba range, which was fantastic. Urubamba is a sad case of poor (or rather a complete lack of) orderly development,
By Marisol Discovering Cusco and the Urubamba Valley There are so many new options coming up in Cusco and the Urubamba Valley – to stay the night, to dine and to be active – there was no doubt that part of our trip was going to be spent in the…
By Marisol Mosquera Lake Titicaca experience I have visited Lake Titicaca a number of times, mostly on the Peruvian side but also on the Bolivian one. There are many ways to visit the lake on the way from Bolivia to Peru, from Peru to Bolivia as well as while visiting either of the two countries separately. If I had to choose one side of Lake Titicaca to visit, I would prefer the Bolivian side, especially if you spend the night at Isla del Sol. The ever present backdrop of the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Real make for stunning views of the lake the whole time. The Bolivian side is also smaller, so its easier to visit. On a stand alone Bolivia visit of the lake, you should include Tiwanaku and the little islands of Pariti and Kalahuta, both which Vicky and Nora of Aracari visited on this same trip. Nico, Simon from Aracari's Lima office, Darius of Crillon Tours, our guide Gustavo and I, drove from La Paz to Huatajata (one of the handful of ports on the Bolivian side of the lake). From there we went on the fast Hydrofoil service across Winaymarka (or small lake) to the Isla del Sol, the largest island on the lake and one of great historical significance, as it is the mythical setting of the birthplace of the Inca Empire. There are two sets of ruins on the island and they can easily be visited if you have the energy to hike a bit, which is what we did. From Huatajata to Isla del Sol took a little over 2 hours. We disembarked, visited the inca ruins of Pillkokaina and the Inca steps, and then we hiked up to our home for the night, Posada del Inca Ecolodge. The hike up was
By Marisol Mosquera Lake Titicaca experience I have visited Lake Titicaca a number of times, mostly on the Peruvian side but also on the Bolivian one. There are many ways to visit the lake on the way from Bolivia to Peru, from Peru to Bolivia as well as while visiting…
by Marisol Mosquera Madidi National Park I last travelled to Chalalan Lodge about 12 years ago when it had just opened as an initiative of the US-based NGO Conservation International along with the community of San Jose de Uchupiamonas, located within Madidi National Park. I went by bus that time, 12 gruelling hours I would never repeat!! Chalalan Lodge is one of the handful of community run lodges in Madidi National Park to the north of La Paz, bordering the Tambopata National Reserve and Bahuaja Sonene in Peru . Since 2001, Chalalan has been self managed by the Community, Conservation International is no longer involved. There are several lodges in Madidi National Park, the 2m. hectare park on the watershed of the Madidi River, one of South America's most intact ecosystems. The park hosts 44% of all New World Mammal Species, and as many as 1000 bird species. This time, Simon, Nico and I took the 45 minute flight from La Paz on Amaszonas Airlines, on their 18-seater twin-engine propeller plane operating the route between La Paz and Rurrenabaque (the town in the Beni region where the vast majority of trips to Madidi begin, and from where you can also travel to the Pampas del Heath in Peru). This was the beginning of our 4 day, 3 night adventure in the rainforest. The first night was to be spent in Rurrenabaque (Rurre) and the following two nights at Chalalan lodge, the package that had been prepared for us. There are 3 daily flights from La Paz (morning, noon and evening), and the flight is pretty scary if you ask me; going from 4000m to 250m above sea level, crossing the majestic Andean snow capped peaks in a little plane is absolutely awe inspiring and terrifying at the same time. Needless to say
by Marisol Mosquera Madidi National Park I last travelled to Chalalan Lodge about 12 years ago when it had just opened as an initiative of the US-based NGO Conservation International along with the community of San Jose de Uchupiamonas, located within Madidi National Park. I went by bus that time, 12…
