This month Aracari is proud to announce it's support of Valle Sagrado Verde, a community project to reforest the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Since the first humans arrived in the Sacred Valley, some 5000 - 7000 years ago, this enchanting land has been intensively managed for grazing, agriculture, and construction. The region remains one of the most picturesque in Peru, yet one can only imagine how awe-inspiring a trek through this land would have been before civilization arrived, a truly green Sacred Valley. By committing to plant 3500 trees through the Valle Sagrado Verde project, we want to help restore the environment and habitats of the Sacred Valley, to ensure today's generations can benefit from the land in a way that doesn't undermine its future enjoyment. Marisol Mosquera, Aracari Founder, says "Many of the volunteers of the Valle Sagrado Verde project, who will physically help to plant the trees, are Aracari friends and partners who in normal (pre-covid) times would have earned a living from local tourism. The impact of the pandemic means these people have found new ways to support their communities. Reforestation not only helps restore local habitats and wildlife but also reduces the risks of landslides and flooding, in addition to soaking up greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere." We are just one partner of the Valle Sagrado Verde project. Achieving our vision will take many more supporters to become involved. That's why we're committing to plant an additional 10 trees per group that books any kind of travel with Aracari. It's just one way that travelers with Aracari can have peace of mind their journeys are responsible. To learn more about all the projects that we support, please view our sustainable travel page. The Valle Sagrado Verde project's website also contains further information about the remarkable
This month Aracari is proud to announce it’s support of Valle Sagrado Verde, a community project to reforest the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Since the first humans arrived in the Sacred Valley, some 5000 – 7000 years ago, this enchanting land has been intensively managed for grazing, agriculture, and…
As we enter 2021, the Aracari team looks forward (perhaps more than ever) to a new year of unforgettable adventures. Seeking inspiration from the past experiences of our Travel Designers, we decided to ask a few of them to share their ultimate, all-time favorite, travel recommendations. All of which can be arranged by Aracari for you, as part of your next trip to Peru. First up, adventure specialist Mark Green, here’s how he answered: 'The Ausangate Trek is the highest trek in Peru. It takes you through some of the country's wildest scenery and is the perfect opportunity for travelers to get off the beaten track. For me, the trek was a life-changing experience. I will never forget the stunningly diverse and dramatic landscapes, the cost accommodations, and the privilege of sharing the trail with a dedicated and friendly team from the local Andean communities.' When we asked Aracari Travel Designer, Monica Szepesy, to tell us of her most treasured travel experience, like many of us, she was drawn to reminiscing about the very last trip she took before lockdown. "Tucked away in the Sacred Valley, near the village of Lamay, is a community that offers a wonderful community-based experience centered around a plant found only in that region - the Achupalla. After a short and beautiful drive into the mountains, we were greeted with music and several members of the Yachaq community, including the Mayor. We were dressed in traditional clothing, before taking a short walk further up the mountains to where the Achupalla plant grows. With a spectacular view of the Andes mountains, we were treated to a demonstration of the plants; harvest, and informed of many of its uses. A local "Curandero" - Healer, elevated the experience with an overview of the common medicinal plants in the area - and why
As we enter 2021, the Aracari team looks forward (perhaps more than ever) to a new year of unforgettable adventures. Seeking inspiration from the past experiences of our Travel Designers, we decided to ask a few of them to share their ultimate, all-time favorite, travel recommendations. All of which can…
If you made any new year's travel resolutions at the beginning of last year, then we're guessing that 2020 made it rather difficult for you to keep to them. Looking ahead, we're much more optimistic about 2021 and so the Aracari team has taken some time to consider how they want to travel in the year ahead. We believe setting travel resolutions shouldn't just be about deciding where you want to travel in the world. They're about having the determination or resolve to travel a certain way and get the most from our experiences. So, in 2021, we are reaffirming the commitments Aracari was originally founded upon over 20 years ago. Travel With Purpose In a world where boarding an international flight has become a relatively common and inexpensive exercise. In combination with the omnipresence of social media, which feeds us eye-catching images of the world's must-visit destinations. It's become all too easy to hop on a flight to Peru, see Machu Picchu in a day, capture your own social media photos, return to Lima for a whistlestop tour of the main sights and quickly get yourself on a departing flight home. Travel is about considerably more than the opportunity to impress our friends with the photos we capture or simply saying we've been somewhere. Travel is an opportunity to grow as a person. Whether you want to discover the secrets of Peruvian cuisine, understand first-hand what is being done to protect the Amazon, or simply know why the Inca civilization left such an indelible mark on Peruvian arts and culture, the key to planning the perfect trip in 2021 is first understanding your motives, your purpose for travel. Over two decades, Aracari has built its reputation upon delivering authentic travel experiences. We've always found that our happiest guests have
If you made any new year’s travel resolutions at the beginning of last year, then we’re guessing that 2020 made it rather difficult for you to keep to them. Looking ahead, we’re much more optimistic about 2021 and so the Aracari team has taken some time to consider how they…
Q&A With Aracari's Culinary Partner, Tammy Gordon As part of a new series, showcasing the experiences provided by some of Aracari's hand-picked travel partners, we'd like to introduce you to Tammy Gordon. She is a Peruvian restauranteur and food entrepreneur, based in Cusco, that Aracari has partnered with for many years to provide memorable breakfasts, dinners, and gourmet lunches for our guest's private expeditions in and around the Sacred Valley. Always amazed by the elevated cuisine Tammy's team cooks up and prepares for our expeditions. Over the years many Aracari guests' have fed-back to us how their trips have been heightened by the al fresco dining we've arranged for them. This level of consistency and quality is why Aracari has continually picked out Tammy and her team as our catering partners in the Sacred Valley, for so long. As travelers ourselves, we love eating great cuisine outside and we know our guests do too. After the year the world has just experienced, dining al fresco, in the company of good friends, and amidst breathtaking natural scenery and fresh air is something most of us by now are craving in 2021. With this in mind, we want to shine a light on our culinary partner, Tammy's life in food, and find out what she had to say about the joys of dining al fresco. 1.What's your fondest memory of cooking and eating outdoors? As a little girl, who grew up in the mountains, being a girl guide was inevitable for me. We always used to cook and camp outside. Perhaps that's why I've always loved the feeling of being out in the wilderness. In these beautiful environments, even simple meals can become extraordinary. So my fondest memory goes back to the days when my mother used to pack up a picnic basket with all
Q&A With Aracari’s Culinary Partner, Tammy Gordon As part of a new series, showcasing the experiences provided by some of Aracari’s hand-picked travel partners, we’d like to introduce you to Tammy Gordon. She is a Peruvian restauranteur and food entrepreneur, based in Cusco, that Aracari has partnered with for many years…
In these socially distant times, there looks set to be a boom in demand for booking private vacation rentals and small boutique accommodation. The trend is driven by many travelers' desperation for some rest and relaxation at the end of 2020, but also an increasing awareness of the need to travel safely. If only you know where to look, Peru offers an array of exclusive villas, beach houses, rainforest lodges, and private condos - in all corners of the country - that provide travelers with that new definition of luxury, which concerns privacy, comfort, and first-class amenities. With this in mind, we've compiled a comprehensive list of the best small hotels and private vacation rentals across Peru and shared with you a little about what to expect. In addition to the private accommodation, many of the smaller hotels listed here, also allow guests to book their entire property, individual floors, or even a wing of the building, for added assurances. This opens the door to safe travel with larger groups of friends and family, often at a superb value. Finally, we should not fail to mention that all our hotel partners are making individual efforts to keep their guests and staff safe by introducing such features as; requiring masks in public areas, the taking of regular temperature checks, pre-booking of common facilities, and installation of sanitizer stations. Anyway without further ado, here is our list of the best small hotels and private vacation rentals in Peru: Best Vacation Rentals In Lima A stately 9-bedroom republican home in the heart of Lima’s bohemian district, Villa Barranco is one of our favorite places to stay in Peru's capital. Few travelers realize that's it's possible to rent this home away from home. Beyond the chic decoration of the property, you'll relish the pacific ocean views
In these socially distant times, there looks set to be a boom in demand for booking private vacation rentals and small boutique accommodation. The trend is driven by many travelers’ desperation for some rest and relaxation at the end of 2020, but also an increasing awareness of the need to…
After 8 months of closure, due to the pandemic, one of the world’s most-visited sites re-opened to tourists last month. Among the first travelers to return to Machu Picchu were several friends of Aracari, who were all too eager to share with us all the details about their experiences. From the new safety protocols that are in place, to the majestic natural beauty of the site that has flourished over the last months. It seems this unique set of circumstances might just have created a window in which to experience the ancient Inca city in such a special way, that it may never repeat itself. "My family makes an annual trip to Machu Picchu every August," says Mariana G., a long-time friend of Aracari, whose husband is an ultra-trail runner and has visited Machu Picchu at least 15 times in recent years. Although their trip this August had to be postponed, the family (including their five-year-old son) made a special effort to fly from Lima to Cusco earlier in November to begin their return to the famous Inca city. "Meeting in Cusco to begin journey our was a very special moment for us all," says Carmen E., who along with 5 of her colleagues also returned to Machu Picchu for the first time in 8 months. Carmen is a travel organizer that Aracari regularly calls on to plan our guest's trips to the Inca city. Everyone was anticipating the journey to Machu Picchu, "you could feel the energy in the air" according to Carmen. "Compared to normal times Cusco was empty," said Mariana. The experience made it extremely pleasurable to stroll through the historic streets of San Blas and Plaza de Armas. The family was staying at the 5-Star Belmond Palacio Nazarenas (a few minutes from Cusco Cathedral). "Without the tourists with all the city's intriguing sites
After 8 months of closure, due to the pandemic, one of the world’s most-visited sites re-opened to tourists last month. Among the first travelers to return to Machu Picchu were several friends of Aracari, who were all too eager to share with us all the details about their experiences. From the new…
