Discover Northern Peru Northern Peru has much to discover, and all kinds of untapped treasures right at your fingertips. It has so much to offer but is relatively unknown and untouched. Northern Peru’s natural wonders an untold story of South American history is well worth exploring. Here are some of the top highlights. 1. Caral Caral is a breathtaking archaeological site that was built between 3000 BC and 2100 BC, around the same time as the pyramids of Egypt. And yet, Caral is significantly less crowded than the pyramids and is still somewhat unexplored by most travelers. This pre-Inca UNESCO World Heritage Site was home to the oldest civilization in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s also wildly complex: research has found that the buildings in Caral were built with careful knowledge of astronomy, music, and natural surroundings. 2. Chavin Another fantastic UNESCO World Heritage site, Chavin de Huantar is a fascinating pre-Columbian pilgrimage destination you won’t want to miss. This ancient space was home to the first Pan-Andean religion. The extinct Chavin society once lived in the Andean highlands, and traces of the Chavin influence can still be found along the coast. The Chavin were one of the first Andean cultures to leave behind records in the forms of carvings, buildings, ceramics, and textiles. At the site, you’ll find round, sunken courtyards and intricate walkways beneath the structures. You’ll also note an intricate drainage system that nods to the Chavins’ engineering skills, as well stunning artistry on the ruins. 3. Huascarán National Park Huascarán is home to the world’s highest tropical mountain range, the Cordillera Blanca. The park is also the site of Huascarán mountain, the highest mountain in Peru at 6768 m (22,204 ft.) This UNESCO biosphere reserve is unlike any other place on the planet. Huascarán is a
Discover Northern Peru Northern Peru has much to discover, and all kinds of untapped treasures right at your fingertips. It has so much to offer but is relatively unknown and untouched. Northern Peru’s natural wonders an untold story of South American history is well worth exploring. Here are some of…
Looking for your home away from home in Peru? Below, the most charming and outstanding hotels in Peru that are redefining luxury. Gocta Natura, Chachapoyas The stunningly beautiful and eco-friendly Gocta Natura cabins provide your window to Gocta, one of the highest waterfalls in the world. The cabins are located on a charming and secluded stretch of forest. Fostered by the owner, Rocio Florez's initiative, the whole team is committed to preserving the biodiversity of the surrounding Peruvian cloud forest is moving, and the property regularly helps support local projects. When you stay at Gocta Natura, you’ll enjoy boutique cabins, farm-to-table gourmet meals, and views of Gocta and the mountains. You’ll experience a peaceful, exclusive haven that allows you to enjoy nature in a whole new way - and you’ll want to linger as long as possible. Gocta Natura can also help facilitate hikes, horseback rides, birdwatching, local community visits, and textile workshops. Kentitambo, Chachapoyas Kentitambo is a slice of heaven unlike anything you’ve experienced before. Just on the edge of the town of Leymebamba, Kentitambo is set in its own little corner of the Chachapoyas cloud forest. This delightful B&B is owned by Adriana von Hagen, an accomplished archaeologist, co-director of the fantastic Museo Leymebamba, and author of several books on Chachapoyas culture. Here, you’ll find five bungalows overlooking the museum, and you’ll get to soak in the surrounding natural area, which von Hagan lovingly converted from a former barren, deforested hillside into a lush forest paradise. Kentitambo means “home of the hummingbird” in Quechua, and the property is known for its unrivaled bird watching opportunities. At Kentitambo, you’ll get to watch as over 16 species of hummingbirds spend time at the property’s hummingbird feeders, as well as parrots, tanagers, warblers, and toucans. Don’t forget to explore the
Looking for your home away from home in Peru? Below, the most charming and outstanding hotels in Peru that are redefining luxury. Gocta Natura, Chachapoyas The stunningly beautiful and eco-friendly Gocta Natura cabins provide your window to Gocta, one of the highest waterfalls in the world. The cabins are located…
Highlights of Northern Peru: The Moche Route & Chicama Resort This guest blog article was written by Liam Browne and Piotr Piecha, who travelled with Aracari along the Moche Route on Peru's north coast in April 2013. The Moche Route: More than Machu Picchu The Moche Route: To drive north of Trujillo into the desert valleys once ruled for centuries by the Mochica people is to enter a world of lost treasure boxes only re-opened in our lifetime – and the tremendous joy was in exploring it with the people who had discovered it! When one thinks of ancient Mexican great civilisations, the Aztecs and the Maya immediately come to mind. However, when Peru is mentioned, generally one only thinks of the Inca – perhaps in a decade or so, the Moche, who were contemporaneous with the Maya, will be just as widely known. Being introduced to the wondrous excavations of Huacas del Moche and the unforgettable museum recently completed with the aid of the Ford Foundation was like exploring Machu Picchu with Hiram Bingham. It was here that Aracari hit another home run! (this was our second trip to Peru with Aracari). In the Temple of the Moon (Huaca de la Luna), they somehow managed to allow us to get our noses right up to the most magnificent multi-story frieze – “The Order of the World” by the Moche People of Northern Peru. This mystical moment alone made this long voyage worth it and unforgettable! Archaelogical Highlights At Huacas del Moche, El Brujo and Sipan, we were awed by the sophisticated murals, gold artefacts and ceremonial architecture. Also, looking across at so many pyramid mounds still covered with earth overgrown by vegetation, it seems there is much still to be unearthed. For intrepid travellers who have visited more than 100 countries, this
Highlights of Northern Peru: The Moche Route & Chicama Resort This guest blog article was written by Liam Browne and Piotr Piecha, who travelled with Aracari along the Moche Route on Peru’s north coast in April 2013. The Moche Route: More than Machu Picchu The Moche Route: To drive north…
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…