Frequently asked questions

1. What does Aracari do?
2. What are sample itineraries?
3. Where do I fly? Do you arrange international travel?
4. Which airlines do you recommend?
5. How do I join one of your tours, how do I sign up?
6. What is the minimum number of travelers in a group that you arrange?
7. What if I only want domestic flight tickets?
8. ...and if I want hotels and flights only and no guided visits?
9. Do I need a visa?
10. What inoculations do I need?
11. What is the weather like?
12. What hotel standard do you use?
13. How do you work? How do I book, how do I pay?
14. What is an Aracari?

1. What does Aracari do?

We design custom built itineraries for private groups and individuals to South America and personally implement them on the ground. Based in Peru, we have an extensive network of contacts and an in-depth understanding to create a totally unique trip for you which can be themed for your special interest (e.g. cuisine, adventure, archaeology) or type of travel you prefer (luxury, off-the-beaten track).

Private trips tailor-made to suit your tastes and requirements start at $300 per day per person for a party of two including accommodation in 5-star hotels (standard rooms) on a half–board basis, with private English-speaking guides throughout and all tours and transfers. Prices of course vary with certain very upscale and expensive services. The same itinerary in tourist standard hotels can come out at $180 per person.

Also, the more friends join to travel together in a private party, the less expensive it is per person. (back to top)

2. What exactly are the sample itineraries?

These are samples of the most successful trips we have organised during the last five years. They are aimed at inspiring you and assisting you in your creating your own trip. We have prices for each trip, so please request them if you are interested. However, these itineraries shouldn't be confused with package tours – they are private trips arranged with the support of expert guides and private services. See sample itineraries .

3. Do you arrange international travel?

No we don't. We don't sell tickets originating in countries outside South America. We will handle everything once you are on the ground –domestic flights, transportation, transfers, train and boat trips etc—and can sell you flights originating in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador or other countries in the region.

If you want to arrange and book your tailor-made itinerary with a US or UK based tour operator that uses our services, please let us know and we will refer you to the appropriate one to suit your needs and requirements. (back to top)

4. Which airlines do you recommend?

Depending on where you are flying from, the choices will differ. But from experience, if you are flying from Europe, Iberia and KLM offer many frequencies and good fares. Avianca (Colombia) and LAN (Chile)   also offer good fares and connections. LAN has an especially good website.

From the USA, American, United, Continental and Delta have frequent flights to Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. (back to top)

5. How do I join one of your tours, how do I sign up and when are the departure dates?

We do not organize tours as such, where different people join a set itinerary at a set time. We arrange custom built for small private groups and individuals who choose their own dates and we arrange specific times to suit.

To inspire you when creating your trip, please go to sample itineraries . Based on the most popular options over the years, they are also designed to be private for you and your party. To find out more please contact us .

6. What is the minimum number of travelers in a group that you arrange?

We will happily design and implement itineraries for as little as one person at a time. We have many clients who prefer to travel alone.

In our set sample itineraries the prices are based on two, four to ten and ten+ people traveling together. (back to top)

7. What if I only want domestic flight tickets?

We don't do this, but we recommend you buy direct online or visit your preferred travel agent. (back to top)

8 . ...and if I want hotels and flights only and no guided visits?

Again, we don't do this, and you would be better served by working with your preferred travel agent or direct with the hotels. (back to top)

9 . Do I need a visa?

Citizens of most Western Europe nations and of the USA and Canada who are entering South America as tourists do not require visas to most countries, except Brazil and Bolivia where US citizens require a visa. Travellers who require visas can normally obtain them from embassies or consulates in their countries of residence. For specific and timely information please contact the Consulate of the particular country closest to you or contact us. (back to top)

10 . What inoculations do I need?

No inoculations are compulsory to enter Peru. Yellow fever is only required for the rainforest areas. Other recommended inoculations include: tetanus, polio, typhoid and malaria for certain areas. Please be reminded that if you travel to Brazil from Peru you will need a yellow fever inoculation. (back to top)

11 . What is the weather like?

The region is so large, that we must make some generalizations.

Peru has a diversity of microclimates.

On the coast, it never rains, it is winter between May and October where it is cool in some areas such as Lima (minimum 12°C/54°F); it is warm (avg. 23°C/74°F) between November and April.

In the Northern Andes (Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador), the rainy season (between November and April) is warmer; the dry season (between May and October) is colder, with temperatures below freezing at night, but temperate in the day.

In the Rainforest the rainy and dry seasons are the same as in the Andes, but it is generally warm all the time (30°C/86°F).

In Brazil, the rainy season is between December and April, but the coast's temperature is always warm (20-30°C).

In Argentina and Chile, it is cold (winter) from April to November. (back to top)

12 . What hotel standard do you use?

We have a selection of hotels to choose offering a range of standards.

We have visited and tried every single one of the hotels we recommend. The standard depends on you, whether you want first class, medium or guest house standard. All of the hotels we have in our selection offer good value for money, are locally inspired and/or owned (wherever possible) and are charming and tastefully decorated.

In the hotels section of this website you will see photos of Aracari's preferred hotels with first-class and three-star categories. (back to top)

13 . How do you work? How do I book, how do I pay?

You first approach us by email, skype or phone . Let us know what you want: how many in your party, approximately what time of year you want to travel, what standard of accommodation you require and more or less where your interests lie – i.e. if you want to trek, just do day hikes, if you are into nature, culture, archaeology etc. Or, if you know your preferred destinations already, you can tell us exactly where you want to go. We will contact you within 24 hours and will then put together a proposal, which we will send you within 2-3 days of your request. We will discuss this with you as long as it takes until we have designed the perfect itinerary for you.

If you choose a sample itinerary just email us at info@aracari.com and we will get back to you to start the booking process.

Once you book, we will send you the required documentation, and ask you to fill out a booking form and request a deposit from you. Full payment is normally due 8 weeks before departure. Our preferred method of payment is a bank transfer to a specified bank account.

Eight weeks before departure we email you your finalised itinerary with all services accommodation and flights confirmed and request full payment. (back to top)

14 . What is an Aracari?

Aracaris belong to the Ramphastidae family together with toucans and toucanets. Aracaris inhabit the tropical forests and forest edges of South America, from Eastern Colombia and Ecuador south to Bolivia and Northeast Argentina. There are several Aracari species, some of which are beautifully depicted in these prints by John Gould (1804-1881) the English ornithologist and bird illustrator.

Chesnut Eared Aracari

Curl Crested Aracari

Many Banded Aracari

Lettered Aracari

Double Collared Aracari

Many Banded Aracaris are found in the tropical forests of Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru especially in the river basins of the Amazon, Orinoco and the Rio Negro. They form pairs in the breeding season and small flocks later on. As they lead a secluded life in parts that few white men have penetrated, the descriptions had to be made from skins sold by natives, so it was no longer possible to determine the sex.

Gould describes the hen as having chestnut ear coverts but later she was also found to have a red stripe just below the black throat. The head, neck and throat are black, the under parts are yellow and heavily spotted with red. A broad black band runs over the breast and belly, while the sides of the belly are edged with red. The thighs are brown. The bill is black, the upper bill has a broad yellow stripe at the side and there is an orange-yellow ridge round the base of the bill. The bare patch round the eye is gray and the legs are green.

We do not know if the bird uses the grooves at the side of the bill for plucking fruit, but we do know that it takes a piece of fruit in the tip of its bill, throws this in the air before catching it in an open bill and swallowing it. When drinking the bird dips its bill in the water and sucks until it is full, then it raises the bill in the air to swallow the contents. (back to top)

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