They’ve been heralded by Condé Nast Traveler as "a travel booking site that not only caters to sophisticated travelers but is also actually appealing to look at." The Associated Press meanwhile said that their "Mesmerizing photography makes the Web site an exciting destination on its own." It’s Jetsetter.com, and everyone who is anyone in travel is talking about them. The website, launched in 2009, is a members-only site that offers insider information and members-only prices on hotels and travel packages; the site is so exclusive that you need to be invited by a current member to join. Much of the praise has come because of their clean, user-friendly interface and their fresh approach to advertising travel deals, opening "flash sales" for a limited period of time to offer their members affordable luxury getaways at the finest properties all across the world. Aracari on Jetsetter.com Now – cruising to even loftier heights - Jetsetter have teamed up with Aracari to bring the very best of Peru to their members. We have collaborated to create a special 5 day holiday program that will see their members travel to Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu over Thanksgiving this November and on President’s day weekend next February. The itinerary, hand crafted specially for the occasion by our expert team, features Machu Picchu, visits to local communities, a textile demonstration and an authentic ceremony with a Shaman amongst other delights. Guests will stay at the lush Willka Tika, the luxurious Inkaterra Machu Picchu and the extravagant Andean Wings hotels along the way giving them a unique and unrivalled view of Peru. Initially working chiefly with hotels, running a full itinerary with all the bells and whistles is a relatively new venture for Jetsetter, and we’re delighted to have paired up to make this fantastic
They’ve been heralded by Condé Nast Traveler as “a travel booking site that not only caters to sophisticated travelers but is also actually appealing to look at.” The Associated Press meanwhile said that their “Mesmerizing photography makes the Web site an exciting destination on its own.” It’s Jetsetter.com, and everyone…
by Simon photos by Martin On September 23rd 1996 Marisol Mosquera started Aracari Travel with the vision of designing hand-crafted itineraries for those discerning travellers who wanted to explore Peru in comfort and style. Precisely 15 years later and the company is recognised as one of Peru’s finest tour operators, with awards from Conde Nast Traveler magazine and Travel + Leisure just a few of the plaudits that have been received over the years. Naturally this landmark called for a big party. And on such an important occasion we considered it appropriate that the event should be hosted by none other than our close friend Naguib Ciurlizza in his exquisite property on the outskirts of Lima. “We want to celebrate by giving you all a taste of what our guests experience” Marisol toasted assembled dignitaries from all walks of Peruvian travel; specialist guides, tour operators and close friends alike who had joined the Aracari staff in converging upon Naguib’s delightful house and garden for lunch and drinks. Her touching note set the scene for a most relaxing afternoon. This stared with a tour of the garden, an in depth look at the kaleidoscope of plants that Naguib has given beloved care and attention to, which on this day were basking in the early spring sunshine. This was followed by a peek at some of his delightful art collection, one of the best in Peru. The whole affair was accompanied by refreshing house cocktails. Lunch – most eagerly anticipated given that Naguib is an expert chef - consisted of a terrific and bountiful buffet of Peruvian cuisine. This featured the likes of causa (layered potatoes and yellow chilli pepper filled with ceviche of sole and garnished with lashings of lime juice), shambar (a rich northern Peruvian stew containing beans, meat and
by Simon photos by Martin On September 23rd 1996 Marisol Mosquera started Aracari Travel with the vision of designing hand-crafted itineraries for those discerning travellers who wanted to explore Peru in comfort and style. Precisely 15 years later and the company is recognised as one of Peru’s finest tour operators,…
She was hailed by the likes of nobel prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa as “the lady of the Colca Canyon”, while an article published in renowned British newspaper the Observer in 1999 echoed that Madre Antonia was one indomitable spirit in the Andes that dedicated her heart and soul to helping those less fortunate than her. A tribute to Madre Antonia, The Lady of the Colca Canyon July 2011 marks the first anniversary of the death of Madre Antonia. An old friend of Aracari, she sadly passed away in July of last year. But she has left us with an incredible legacy of whole-heartedness, determination and, at times, outright stubbornness. A nun hailing from the Maryknoll Order of the Bronx in New York, Madre Antonia later moved to Peru, and settled in the Colca Canyon in the early 1970's. Over the course of some 40 years, and right up until her death last year, she built a reputation locally as a woman who would give her left arm to help the poor. Supporting those less fortunate She provided warm food for many hungry mouths whilst harrying those who perpetrated domestic abuse; she provided vital medical assistance whilst seeking retribution for local wrongdoers; she championed the causes of locals whilst uncovering theft from the church. In the face of death threats and in spite of hostility, she continued ever more determined in fighting injustice in the communities of Colca. Yanque Soup Kitchen Perhaps her most remarkable feat, Madre Antonia set up a soup kitchen in the village of Yanque, providing as many as 1,000 people with a 5am breakfast of bread and thick soup made from fresh vegetables that she had devotedly nurtured in her own fields and adobe greenhouses. This would often be the only meal of the day. And in
She was hailed by the likes of nobel prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa as “the lady of the Colca Canyon”, while an article published in renowned British newspaper the Observer in 1999 echoed that Madre Antonia was one indomitable spirit in the Andes that dedicated her heart and soul to…
It is with great pleasure that we can announce, Aracari founder and president Marisol Mosquera has been included on Travel + Leisure’s A-list of the World’s Top Travel Agents for 2011. Hurray! Appearing in the September edition of the magazine, Marisol is listed in the Latin America section as the only entry for Peru. Having been awarded the same accolade in 2010, this marks the second year in a row that Aracari have made the T+L grade. With 2011 having been a particularly exciting year for Aracari so far, we’re delighted to have been recognised with this prestigious award in our 15th year of operation as premium luxury travel agents. As well as the exciting celebration trips that we have organised for our 15th Anniversary and the centenary of Machu Picchu’s scientific discovery, we have strived in our endeavours to offer the most innovative, imaginative and authentic tours in Peru and across the Andes region. To this end we've been running up mountains in Cusco, visiting local schools and communities in the Sacred Valley, collaborating with renowned archeologists on Northern Peru's Moche Route, and travelling the world to spread the word amongst other ventures. Travel + Leisure also picked up on our excitement in Lima’s thriving culinary scene, saying that “Mosquera’s go-to restaurants in the city are Mercado, which serves classic Peruvian dishes, and Maido sushi bar.” And we’re equally delighted to say there’s plenty more in the pipeline; we’re currently designing a new range of tours and visits, including an art tour of lima, brand new culinary tours, and a walking tour of Barranco. Keep an eye out!
It is with great pleasure that we can announce, Aracari founder and president Marisol Mosquera has been included on Travel + Leisure’s A-list of the World’s Top Travel Agents for 2011. Hurray! Appearing in the September edition of the magazine, Marisol is listed in the Latin America section as the…
You may remember not so long ago that we ran an “Innovation Competition” for our guides in Cusco. We asked all of our guides in the region to come up with new ideas to develop Aracari’s service, with the allure of a fantastic trip to another part of Peru for those with the best ideas. Well, one of the two prizewinners, Fernando, has recently returned from his prize trip to the Cordillera Blanca, a breathtaking and dense mountain range in northern Peru. He and his family stayed at the Llanganuco Lodge, which is owned and ran by our friend Charlie Good, and realised the “Maria Josefa” and “Llanganuco 69” trekking routes. As an experienced trekking guide in Cusco, this was a great opportunity for Fernando to compare trekking offerings in the two regions. He told us that he was “very grateful for the opportunity to build on my knowledge” and to “be able to visit this area, compare the stunning glacial landscape [with that of Cusco], and to be able to put this experience into practice when working as a trekking guide in other places”. Fernando likewise gave us alot of interesting feedback regarding his visit, saying that “the Cordillera Blanca region reminded me of Cusco ten years ago, when the area was a large presence of backpacking and low budget travel”. He went on to say that “the Cordillera Blanca has a lot of potential for tourism, to the level of Cusco if not even more so. What is needed is improved infrastructure and better capacitation [in services] to be able to realise this”. He also told us that the Cordillera Blanca “shows a lot of potential for the development of sustainable tourism ... something which is increasingly being lost in Cusco”. Of Llanganuco Lodge, an Aracari favourite in the
You may remember not so long ago that we ran an “Innovation Competition” for our guides in Cusco. We asked all of our guides in the region to come up with new ideas to develop Aracari’s service, with the allure of a fantastic trip to another part of Peru for…
While recently in the Cusco region, I took the opportunity to hike the lodge-to-lodge Ausangate trek. This is an incredible high altitude 5 day trek, staying overnight at authentic and comfortable mountain lodges. Walk along a miraculous trekking route that passes beneath the snow covered peak of Ausangate amidst other wonders. The Lodge-to-Lodge Ausangate Trek combines core Aracari values: authenticity, sustainability and adventure complemented by comfort and good taste. Lodge-to-Lodge Ausangate Trek Day 1: Cusco to Chillca Tambo (4,368 metres asl) Distance: 3.3 km Within about 20 minutes of being picked up from my hotel, it quickly became apparent to our group that the Ausangate lodge to lodge trek would be an out-of-the-ordinary experience. Our guide, Jeremy, jumped into the van where we had been waiting with a bag of coca leaves; “they’re fresh” he told us excitedly, going on to enthusiastically detail the small farm in the high rainforest, from where he had just arrived, and from where he had acquired the leaves. “We’ll need them for the walk” he continued with a wry smile that could not contain his glee. This was quite clearly a guide who was up for an adventure, and his sheer excitement at going to Ausangate with us certainly made us very much more excited about the prospect of what on earth lay ahead of us. Jeremy would later explain why coca is sacred, why it has been such a vital plant to Andean communities for millennia, and how it is a mediator between man, the earth and the gods, but there was no time for that now. We drove out of Cusco on the road to Puno for a couple of hours, all the while hearing Jeremy’s detailed, animated and, at times jovial, insights into the Cusco region, everything from the population and the economy to the awful bout
While recently in the Cusco region, I took the opportunity to hike the lodge-to-lodge Ausangate trek. This is an incredible high altitude 5 day trek, staying overnight at authentic and comfortable mountain lodges. Walk along a miraculous trekking route that passes beneath the snow covered peak of Ausangate amidst other wonders. The…
