the Aracari Blog

Check out this wonderful video focusing on Northern Peru:

Even Donald Duck has been to Lake Titicaca, what are you waiting for?

For a more serious exposé of the highest navigable lake in the world click here.

Feeling at home, truly at ease in another’s country is a difficult emotion to create. You can’t just slip into a different culture. So we have done our doing our best to smooth your path by introducing our ‘friends in the city’ service.

In fact this is less of a service and more of a friendly favour. Essentially, we will carefully match one of our Peruvian friends in Lima or Cuzco to you and your companions, and they will unveil the real gems of their city to you over the course of a day, giving you a fascinating insight into its history, society and day-to-day comings and goings. Taking you to visit their favourite vendor in the local market, dropping by the hottest art gallery opening and taking stock in the best coffee shop in town.

And these are no ordinary guides. Take one of our friends, Charo León-Amezaga. Educated in the US, Charo spent many years working in Madrid and New York before returning to Peru more than a decade ago. Her life is full of colour, project managing sustainable development programmes, such as a dry forest reforestation project with the Royal Botanical Gardens Kew in London (see previous story) – while working with local artisans to develop their creativity. For example, fusing modern fashion accessory design with traditional glass bead, loom and knitting techniques. She has even extended her creativity to develop special packaging and pillow gifts for Aracari, and is famous for her condiments and jams.

Charo León-Amezaga showcasing samples of her locally-inspired accessories.

Charo sees her new role as a wonderful opportunity to broaden all horizons. “On one level we will share a similar international outlook, but I look forward to opening their eyes to all Lima has to offer, while I look forward to learning from their outside perspective.”

Our friend in Cuzco, Rosi Blume has a background in jewellery and graphic design and is very well connected through her family network and her former job at the American Embassy in Lima. Twelve years ago she moved to Cuzco when she met and married Peter Frost, the British–born, Cuzco-based photographer and author. Rosi is looking forward to the experience, “As your local friend, I will show you around this beautiful and ancient city. Would you like to take a closer look at some of the architecture? Browse the shops and bazaars? Visit some of the best spots for quality Andean textiles? See a fascinating piece of local theatre or dance? I can help you to make the best of your time in Cuzco, and I am sure I will learn from you too because that’s half the point of meeting people and making new friends.”

Rosi Blume, Aracari’s “friend in the city” in Cuzco

Rosi Blume with her husband Peter Frost in Machu Picchu

Travelling with Aracari is both about what you know, but especially about whom you know. Aracari draws its knowledge and wealth of experience to create imaginative journeys from the contributions of its friends, both clients and associates. Take Mervyn Samuel, a client of Aracari who has just published the ultimate guidebook about Ayacucho, the historic Peruvian city famous for its 33 churches – one for every year of Jesus’s life. While, our specialist guide in Cuzco Elizabeth Kuon has co-authored a fascinating book detailing the development of intellectual thought in South America between1900-1950. Bi-lingual, each of our friends has a fascinating story to tell.

If you would like to meet one of our special friends, please email Ricky at directclients@aracari.com.

Frigatebird, sometimes called Man of War birds or Pirate birds

There aren’t many places in the world where the word ‘unique’ is an understatement, but it barely does justice to the 35 volcanic islands (and counting) that constitute the archipelago of the Galapagos Islands set 1000km off the Pacific coast of Ecuador. With 43% of the wildlife species endemic to the Islands, this UNESCO world heritage site is the ultimate destination for nature lovers and I was lucky enough to spend two weeks investigating the latest cruises, hotels and opportunities on offer earlier this year.

Before I give you my top tips, it’s worth saying that a visit to the Galapagos is, in my opinion, not to be missed. This is an opportunity to witness what the rest of the world looked like hundred of thousands of years ago – a chain of living volcanoes emerging from an underwater platform, where three key oceanic currents meet creating an environment teeming with life. This is a place of extremes where frequently shifting climates can literally decimate animal populations and evolve species rapidly.

Tailoring your trip is a must. You could base yourselves on one of the main islands of Isabela or Santa Cruz while we arrange personal motor boat visits to some of the 64 stopping points, or there are also some wonderful cruises in boats of varying sizes on offer (see our updated page of recommended cruises). To cruise you need at least four days and there are various themed tours available including diving, naturalist and family focused trips and celebration departures this year on the large boat, the Eclipse. Or you could do both, and perhaps combine with a visit to Peru or Ecuador.

In this special year, the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, the exponent of the theory of evolution, celebrations brought Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall to the Galapagos where they stayed in and visited two of our top recommended establishments: The delightful Royal Palm Hotel which is only accessible by boat, and the Galapagos Safari Camp a fascinating new venture owned by my friend Stephanie Bonham-Carter which brings luxury safari tents to this remote paradise.

A perfect ecological playground for Nicolas – Marisol’s son

Even though visits are sought after, with numbers of tourists tightly controlled by the Ecuadorian authorities, we have found some fantastic deals for our clients. Such as cruise prices which include flights, park tickets, fuel surcharges and transit card costs – a saving of around $700. Or if you are willing to plan a last minute trip we can save you up to 30% off the cruise price.

If you would like to explore this perfect laboratory of evolution, please email Ricky at directclients@aracari.com.

In a country of extremes, it should come as no surprise that the intrepid Peruvians have successfully launched real luxury cruising into the Amazon rainforest, without losing authenticity or upsetting the delicate ecosystem. But will luxury and a ‘wide angled’ view of this beautiful landscape prove to be as popular as the ‘close-up’ inclusive experience of the rainforest lodge?

Hailed by ‘Travel & Leisure’ magazine as one of the “hottest new trends” of 2009, river cruising has been a feature of the remote North-eastern ‘flooded forest’ of Peru. But the recent introductions of the hand-crafted Aqua and Delfin II vessels have raised the bar in exploring the pristine Pacaya Samiria National Reserve.

Dust in Peru's 'forest of mirrors'

Take the Delfin II which I was lucky enough to experience first-hand on its maiden voyage this April. It takes every aspect of river cruising to new heights – from its 280-thread Peruvian cotton sheets, to the finish of its 14 large air-conditioned guest suites and the delicious scope of the gourmet cuisine.

Whilst blending in with the awe-inspiring surroundings, the lakes and lagoons of El Bosque de los Espejos, what really sets these cruises apart is their location. Home to thousands of animal and plant species, but 75% covered in water during the rainy season, boat is the only way to explore this wildlife paradise. It’s a place where the extraordinary becomes almost common place as you meander up the Amazon’s mighty tributary, the Ucayali. In just a few days we encountered monk saki, capuchin and squirrel monkeys, at least 12 sloths, yellow and blue macaws, trogons, kingfishers, white caiman and to cap it all the rare and magical pink dolphins which are only found in the Amazon. For a vacation rich in relaxation, scenery, wildlife and cuisine these new cruises are impossible to beat.

If you would rather have your feet on solid ground, perhaps a lodge-based vacation is more suited to you. Wildlife is abundant and the guiding superb in the different ecosystem of Tambopata in South-eastern Peru from where Ricky, a member of our Aracari team, recently returned. Just a short flight from Lima, this is an easier option for some. Here the accommodation is part of the landscape – with no air conditioning and no electricity – but what it lacks it makes up for in ambience as you become part of the rainforest itself, exploring and coming face to ‘face’ with the wildlife.

Commenting on the differences between a cruise and a lodge-based trip, Ricky says, “the lodge-based alternative permits you to feel the jungle on your skin – you are in it, part of the food chain. Ideally, it is perfect for those who like to be active as you are up from 5am to 9pm and there is never a dull moment.”

Ricky fishing for piranhas in Tambopata

This are just two of our favourite rainforest experiences, but there are many more to choose from. If you would like to explore some of the most pristine rainforests on the planet, please contact Ricky at directclients@aracari.com.

Capture of a sea lion enjoying a free lunch at Puerto Ayora in the Galapagos.

Spotted this during a visit to Sacsayhuaman…

These tortoises are fed once or twice a week at the criadero de tortugas on the island of Isabela - Galapagos.

We are starting a new section in our blog called Sights & Sounds of Aracari, where we will upload videos from all our trips. Starting with a charming capture of the Marinera, a graceful and romantic couple’s dance that uses handkerchiefs as props. The dance is an elegant reenactment of courtship, showing a blend of coastal Peruvian culture. You can experience this dance at the home of our contact in Trujillo, an exclusive opportunity for our clients.