One of the smallest countries in South America is having something of a renaissance in 2008, with the New York Times declaring it one of the top 53 places to go to this year, and Condé Nast Traveller magazine dedicating a sizeable chunk of editorial to Ecuador in its December issue. So what is the appeal and why now? Well, Ecuador may be small, but it makes up for its size in an awe-inspiring display of biodiversity, history and culture. In fact it has the largest biodiversity per area in the world with dense rainforest and a number of national parks, including the Galápagos Islands, 600 miles off the Pacific coast. The capital of Quito, perched 9,200 ft high in the Andes, has been reborn after a seven year, $200 million renovation project of its historic colonial centre, which was already considered to be ‘the best-preserved, least altered historic centre in Latin America,’ by UNESCO. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, Ecuador's capital has, as Condé Nast Traveller points out, enough attractions to keep visitors busy for days. But when you tire of the churches, museums and culture, a walk around the streets admiring the colourful attire and bustling lives of the indigenous people will give you a delightful sense of the unique character of the place. In keeping with the vibrant character of this spectacular country, accommodation takes on a special hue. Of course, there are upscale hotel chains, but Ecuador is famous for its beautifully preserved haciendas which have been converted into luxury boltholes. At Aracari, we offer five of the best haciendas, each with its own unique style and offering. One hacienda is built on an Inca Temple and overlooks the snow-capped Cotopaxi volcano, another one is Moorish in inspiration. Some are working farms, others grand estates. A few
One of the smallest countries in South America is having something of a renaissance in 2008, with the New York Times declaring it one of the top 53 places to go to this year, and Condé Nast Traveller magazine dedicating a sizeable chunk of editorial to Ecuador in its December…
Amidst the doom and gloom of environmental predictions there are always elements of light shining through. Environmental scientist Oliver Whaley is one such enlightened individual. Based at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew near London, Oliver and his team are dedicated to a three-year project supported by the UK Darwin Initiative to save the last few remnants of the Huarango forest on the south coast of Peru, on the edge of the Atacama Desert. Felled for charcoal or to make way for agriculture, this destruction is opening the door to spreading desertification. This ancient Huarango Tree forest once played a vital role in sustaining the Nazca peoples, (responsible for the enigmatic Nazca Lines) and has supported local people for thousands of years, supplying food, timber, fodder and other resources. It is also home to the Huarango (prosopis pallida) tree, a unique specimen with deep-tap roots and feathery foliage capable of trapping desert mists – a handy trick in an area which receives less than 1mm of rain per year. Working in collaboration with a host of local Peruvian organisations, including the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Grupo Pro-Aves and the Universidad de Ica, the team is facilitating and encouraging reforestation via research, the development of a tree nursery, local education and capacity building, national and international education and habitat regeneration research and dissemination. Oliver is hopeful of the outcome, “This is a very exciting moment, but also a very critical one. We’re down to the last remnants of an ecosystem that serves as a lynchpin both for local livelihoods and biodiversity. But with the resources we now have for the project, backed by enthusiastic local support, there’s an opportunity to make a real difference to the region.” To visit the Huarango Forest and the many other attractions on the southern coast
Amidst the doom and gloom of environmental predictions there are always elements of light shining through. Environmental scientist Oliver Whaley is one such enlightened individual. Based at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew near London, Oliver and his team are dedicated to a three-year project supported by the UK Darwin Initiative…
Located only 45 minutes by motorboat from Puerto Maldonado, Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica Lodge offers the best accommodation facilities in the Manu and Tambopata region of Peru’s South Eastern Rainforest. Comfortable accommodation and ease of access make this lodge the perfect choice for families with small children and visitors who prefer more creature comforts for an Amazon Rainforest experience in Peru. Inkaterra Reserva Amazonca Lodge: Notes from the field Having recently returned from a visit to the Reserva Amazonica in Tambopata (Peruvian Rainforest), here's my first-hand take on this wonderful jungle lodghe, boasting fantastic rooms and amenities; delicious food and very attentive and efficient service. Getting to Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica Lodge This lodge is aesthetically beautiful due to its jungle location. The sounds and the feel of the jungle are ever-present. But since it is only 45 minutes by dugout canoe from the city of Puerto Maldonado, the terrain around the lodge (which is a Private Reserve) is all secondary forest: very disturbed, very little wildlife to be seen. Full day excursions (available at an extra charge) can be taken, but none of them take you into the Tambopata Reserved Zone which is much further away. Expert Guiding in Peru at Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica Lodge In terms of care, I would rank it highly. In terms of knowledge - moderate, and in terms of delivery - weaker. Who is Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica Lodge best suited to? For a client who seeks an educational experience, including the full on experience of the rainforest and an explanation the ecosystem (the threats, the uniqueness of it, the intricate detail of the fascinating symbiotic relationship of living things in the rainforest) Reserva Amazonica would perhaps fall short. It is not that the guides aren’t good. It is more about a "jungle in style" experience than fully educational one.
Located only 45 minutes by motorboat from Puerto Maldonado, Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica Lodge offers the best accommodation facilities in the Manu and Tambopata region of Peru’s South Eastern Rainforest. Comfortable accommodation and ease of access make this lodge the perfect choice for families with small children and visitors who prefer more creature…
I just spent a week in Cartagena coinciding with New Years. It is the busiest time of the year in Cartagena, as it is the favourite place for Colombians to spend the holiday. It is becoming popular with foreigners, although it is still rare to come across European and North American Tourists in this beautifully preserved colonial city sitting on the Caribbean coast. Only those "in the know" are flocking to Cartagena, as it is fast becoming the "St Tropez" of Latin American Caribbean. In terms of accomodation, there are wonderful fully restored and fully catered Villas in the historic centre; a myriad of small boutique hotels; and a staggering number of divine B&B's with rooftop pools and miradors, impeccable service and delightful décor. Our favourite is definitely Agua, but there is Passion, Quadrifoglio, and the lovely hotels Santa Clara and Santa Teresa which I would recommend in an instant. Cartagena's New Years street party is amazing and quite unique. This lovely and lively coastal city really comes alive on New Years Eve when Cartagena literally becomes one single street party. All the plazas(of which there are many) are laid out for the party, each with a band, tables and chairs. In order to secure a place you of course have to book way in advance and it is not cheap. Some plaza parties provide food and drink while others require that you bring your own. The scene is filled with lots of merengue, vallenato and salsa; people of all ages; families with children... What I really loved about Cartagena is that it is not "manicured" or too perfect. It still retains its authenticity and real local flavour. I would recommend to do what I did (well, I was particularly lucky to stay at my friends' amazing newly
I just spent a week in Cartagena coinciding with New Years. It is the busiest time of the year in Cartagena, as it is the favourite place for Colombians to spend the holiday. It is becoming popular with foreigners, although it is still rare to come across European and…
The Los Angeles Times just featured an article "Clues from the mists of time" about a little-visited region in northern Peru: Chachapoyas. Chachapoyas is one of the last outposts of unexplored territory in the Continent, with outstanding natural beauty and remarkable cultural interest. A trip to Chachapoyas is a once-in-a lifetime experience of exploration and discovery. Chachapoyas in the Media: The Los Angeles Times "Though almost everyone knows about the Inca and Machu Picchu, relatively few have heard of the Chachapoya or visited their domain, a vast swath of Amazon headlands and breathtaking cloud forests on the slopes of the Andes. This walled settlement, among the largest monuments of the ancient Americas, rivals the Incas' Machu Picchu in scale and grandeur." Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer About Chachapoyas Nestled in the cloud forest between 800 and 3,000 metres (2,624 and 9,800 feet), Chachapoyas is scattered with ruins attributed to the pre-Inca Chachapoya culture – also known as “The Cloud People”– who populated this area around the 10th century A.D. Read more about Chachapoyas. Visit Chachapoyas with Aracari Read our itinerary Peru's Best Kept Secret which takes in the highlights of Chachapoyas, including the pre-Incan fortress of Kuelap and Gocta waterfall. Contact us for more information and to book a private, tailormade tour to Chachapoyas.
The Los Angeles Times just featured an article “Clues from the mists of time” about a little-visited region in northern Peru: Chachapoyas. Chachapoyas is one of the last outposts of unexplored territory in the Continent, with outstanding natural beauty and remarkable cultural interest. A trip to Chachapoyas is a once-in-a lifetime…
Chiquitos Missions Baroque Music Festival in Bolivia: April 24-29, 2008 Aracari has organized a tour to Bolivia to experience the International American Baroque and Renaissance Music Festival this April 2008. The festival only takes place every two years and is the best way to see, hear, and experience this fascinating polyglot culture from Bolivia's unexplored Amazonian basin. The Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos, located in remote villages in the Bolivian jungle, are an extremely unique setting for listening to the sounds of Vivaldi, Bach, Handel, Purcell (and many others). Aracari's Chiquitos Missions Music Festival itinerary will transport passengers to the age of the Missions and will provide enough time to attend the concerts and visit the villages and churches. Passengers will be able to appreciate the region's unique architecture, its landscape with vast, flat, tropical plains, and outstanding musical heritage. Please contact us for more information on this special journey.
Chiquitos Missions Baroque Music Festival in Bolivia: April 24-29, 2008 Aracari has organized a tour to Bolivia to experience the International American Baroque and Renaissance Music Festival this April 2008. The festival only takes place every two years and is the best way to see, hear, and experience this fascinating polyglot…