the Aracari Blog

Aracari’s Weekly Insight

The Question:

Where in Bolivia is a Baroque Music Festival held every two years?

The Answer:

Every two years there is a Baroque Music Festival held at the Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos in south eastern Bolivia. The festival is a fantastic way to experience the diverse and multilingual culture of the region, with the recital of the works of a variety of classic composers such as Vivaldi, Handel, Bach and Purcell (to name but a few) as well as original compositions by local people in a remote part of the Bolivian rainforest.

Aracari’s Weekly Insight

The Question:

Which world-renowned rally races its way into Peru for the first time today?

The Answer:

Having already sped through Argentina and Chile, the Dakar rally today enters the third and final country on the route; Peru.

Aracari’s Weekly Insight

The Question:

What makes the Inca Trail so unique?

The Answer:

Next week on CNN en Español, viewers from across the world will have the chance to see how Aracari operates the Inca Trail, one of the most popular trekking routes in the world.

Here are just a few reasons why this trekking experience is held in such high esteem:

Aracari’s Weekly Insight

By Simon

La Tierra de los Yachaqs -translated as “The land of the wise” – is the name given to a community-based tourism project located in and around the Sacred Valley.

When I participated in the project earlier in the year, I found out first-hand that the name was very appropriate.

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.”

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.

by Simon

While recently in the Cusco region, I took the opportunity to realise the lodge-to-lodge Ausangate trek. This is an incredible 5 day trek that sees partakers staying each night at authentic and comfortable mountain lodges in between walking along a miraculous trekking route that passes beneath the snow covered peak of Ausangate amidst other wonders.

by Simon

While in the Cusco region, I took the opportunity to realise the Lodge-to-Lodge Salkantay trek, a fantastic 6 day trek to Machu Picchu that sees partakers staying each night at sumptuous luxury lodges in between walking along a stunning route that passes beneath the snow covered peak of Salkantay amongst other marvels. You can find out more here.

by Simon

Question:
Which festival is held annually on the north face of Apu Ausangate?

Answer:
The festival held annually on the north face of Ausangate, on the Sinakara glacial mountain, is Qoyllur Rit’i. This is a world-renowned pilgrimage that involves a rigorous trek and 2 or 3 nights camping at high altitudes, with a high point of around 4,700 metres, although some dedicated revellers will climb right up next to the glacier at 5000 metres.

Almost two weeks since our Trip of the Century drew to a close and we have received some of the most wonderful guest comments that we have had in all of our 15 years of operation. Those who travelled with us have left us with glowing reports and we are all very pleased about this.