A Journey in the Two Worlds of Peru "This notion of travel as moving through space, but also being in one place at a time, is vividly exemplified in the travel books of Ronald Wright," says Alberto Manguel in the introduction to the new Eland edition of Ronald Wright's classic book on Peru - 'Cut Stones & Crossroads - A Journey in the Two Worlds of Peru'. For those who have hiked the Inca Trail; experienced Cusco, Machu Picchu, and Lake Titicaca, you will know precisely what Alberto Manguel is inferring. When visiting these ancient metropolises today, one only imagines how they must have operated in the era of the Incas. The thrill is real, just as Ronald Wright has captured in all his writings on Peru. This month Aracari has been very fortunate to pose a few questions to the acclaimed travel writer, ahead of the re-release of Cut Stones and Crossroads. Here's what we discovered ... AT: Why did you write Cut Stones and Crossroads? RW: Cut Stones and Crossroads was my very first book, written after I spent some years in Peru and other parts of Latin America in the 1970s and 1980s. The book's success launched me as a writer, and it's a great pleasure to see it re-issued in Eland's new edition with a fresh introduction and update. I've now written ten books in various forms -- fiction, history, and works on ecology, anthropology and politics. Some also focus on Peru, like my latest, The Gold Eaters, a novel set during the Spanish invasion of the Inca Empire five centuries ago. But I think all my work, whether about Peru or not, flows from a youthful fascination with the Incas, which began by chance reading in my teens. Peru was one of civilization's six or
A Journey in the Two Worlds of Peru “This notion of travel as moving through space, but also being in one place at a time, is vividly exemplified in the travel books of Ronald Wright,” says Alberto Manguel in the introduction to the new Eland edition of Ronald Wright’s classic…
This month TripAdvisor, the world's largest online travel site, has discreetly rolled out a new travel concierge service called Reco. Reco allows it's users to share their travel preferences with TripAdvisor and be matched to personalized 'Trip Designers', who are high-caliber, local travel experts. Each trip designer can be hired for just $199 to help plan and make all the arrangements for a perfect trip. Aracari Travel is delighted that four of its travel planners, including its founder, Marisol Mosquera, have been invited to partner with TripAdvisor to become some of the inaugural 'Trip Designers' for Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador. "Reco by TripAdvisor represents some of the exciting innovation that is happening in the travel industry currently. I'm delighted to be part of the Reco platform. TripAdvisor's invitation - to myself and my Aracari colleagues to become some of their first Trip Designers for Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador - is a recognition of our expertise and capability to develop first-class trips in this region. We certainly have decades of experience to be able to meet any travelers' requirements." says Aracari Travel founder, Marisol Mosquera. Travelers no longer need to spend hours at the desk, browsing pages of various accommodation options, restaurants, and experiences on TripAdvisor. The new Reco service will allow travelers to more quickly acquire local insight about their chosen destination, achieve better personalize of their itineraries, and make managing all the logistics of a trip so much easier. The service allows Trip Designers like Marisol, Cecile, Yasmin, and Mark to book all the travel arrangements on your behalf from start to finish. Marisol Mosquera says "For many people, this could transform the way they travel. Whether you want to experience the best places to eat, drink and stay in Peru or if you have a particular interest in conservation, adventure, or
This month TripAdvisor, the world’s largest online travel site, has discreetly rolled out a new travel concierge service called Reco. Reco allows it’s users to share their travel preferences with TripAdvisor and be matched to personalized ‘Trip Designers‘, who are high-caliber, local travel experts. Each trip designer can be hired…
The Galapagos Islands frequently top travel bucket lists, and it’s easy to see why. The islands have been shaped by volcanic activity; they are teeming with native wildlife species – many of which cannot be found anywhere else on earth; and the whole region is constantly changing and evolving. It’s a fascinating look at the world as it might have been hundreds of thousands of years ago because it still remains largely free from human interruption. But what’s the best way to see the Galapagos; a cruise or hotel based vacation? In this blog post we’ll discuss the pros and cons of both, so you can make the best decision for your trip. Cruising the Galapagos The most popular way to explore the Galapagos Islands is by cruise. Travelers can choose from a variety of vessels, all with different facilities. You can choose the best one for your budget and travel style. Pros The pros of cruising around the Galapagos are many. Primarily, you’ll have the opportunity to see much more of the archipelago than you would if you stayed in a hotel. Because the boat travels through the night, you’ll be able to visit a new island every day, seeing a greater variety of landscapes and wildlife, including rare species that live only on specific islands. Cruises will often combine island visits with activities such as snorkeling and kayaking. The order of visits is always very structured in the Galapagos, but in multi day cruises you have the advantage of visiting more secluded and less frequented beaches, shores and coves, that day trippers cannot reach. Some of the 6 or 8 day cruise itineraries which are the ones we recommend, allow you to explore the lesser-visited islands such as Fernandina, Santiago and Genovesa. Here you can really immerse yourself
The Galapagos Islands frequently top travel bucket lists, and it’s easy to see why. The islands have been shaped by volcanic activity; they are teeming with native wildlife species – many of which cannot be found anywhere else on earth; and the whole region is constantly changing and evolving. It’s…
Joaquin Randall’s is a sustainable tourism entrepreneur based in Ollantaytambo, near Machu Picchu, Peru. Peruvian born of American parents, Joaquin is one of the owners and manager of the most legendary hotel establishment in the Cusco Area: El Albergue Ollantaytambo , which was founded by his parents, Robert Randall and Wendy Weeks, in the nineteen seventies. This month we had the pleasure of hosting an online conversation with Joaquin, where we discussed his approach to making tourism more sustainable. Here are some of our reflections on what we discussed... The role of economic development "One of my sustainability objectives is economic development," states Joaquin. The Albergue de Wendy Weeks only has 15 rooms, but during the high season, it employs between 100 and 120 people, making it the second-largest employer in Ollantaytambo. Joaquin tells us that by employing local people, he wants to give them incomes, training, and skills so that "they can one day start their businesses". Spoken by a hotelier, these words might seem paradoxical, but on reflection, it is a reminder that people are also part of the natural world. Sustainable development cannot be untied from our economy. The importance of a diverse economy. "Many destinations in Peru are overdependent on tourism," Joaquin tells us. He highlights to us how his colleagues at El Albergue would have had no work during the pandemic, were he not been able to involve them in the companies secondary ventures. Almost entirely in Ollantaytambo, El Albergue has developed an organic farm, craft distillery, coffee roastery, two coffee shops, and a restaurant - that do not rely entirely on tourism for trade. The takeaway from his remarks is that money from tourism in Peru needs to be re-invested in other sectors of the economy to secure and sustain local communities. Promoting local production and
Joaquin Randall’s is a sustainable tourism entrepreneur based in Ollantaytambo, near Machu Picchu, Peru. Peruvian born of American parents, Joaquin is one of the owners and manager of the most legendary hotel establishment in the Cusco Area: El Albergue Ollantaytambo , which was founded by his parents, Robert Randall and Wendy…
In conversation with Eduardo Nycander Deep in the heart of the Tambopata rainforest reserve, in Southeastern Peru, is a collection of luxury accommodation lodges founded by architect and wildlife photographer Eduardo Nycander. Over the last 27 years, he has created a winning formula that combines science, conservation, and hospitality to set a benchmark for ecotourism across the region. This month, in conversation with Aracari, Eduardo shared with us his story and details of his project to save the Macaws of Tambopata. How it all started "Macaw's are beautiful birds to photograph. Each one of them has different markings on their face, which identify them" says Eduardo. His long affinity for the colorful birds is evident and he even admits wanting a pet Macaw as a child. As an adult, Eduardo's first engagements with these birds came when he was funding his way through university as a wildlife photographer. Using the camera, he helped conservationists track Macaws visiting the various clay licks of the Amazonian jungle. Clay licks are exposed muddy cliffsides, which Macaws visit in large numbers to extract minerals from the clay that aid their digestion. The gatherings that occur at a Clay Licks are also stunning social spectacles for both human observers and the Macaws alike. This wildlife captivated the young Eduardo. After university, despite gaining a degree in architecture, and instead of pursuing a Masters degree in the USA, he told his father he wanted to stay in Tambopata. He aspired to establish an eco-lodge for the university researchers he met, which would allow them to continue their research for much longer durations at a time. Why are Macaws becoming extinct? Sadly, many brightly colored species of Macaw have recently become extinct in central and South America. As Eduardo discovered, the primary culprit of their extinction has
In conversation with Eduardo Nycander Deep in the heart of the Tambopata rainforest reserve, in Southeastern Peru, is a collection of luxury accommodation lodges founded by architect and wildlife photographer Eduardo Nycander. Over the last 27 years, he has created a winning formula that combines science, conservation, and hospitality to…
A trip to the Galapagos Islands is a once in a lifetime experience, which makes planning a little more stressful than it would be for an ordinary vacation. To help reduce some of that stress, today’s blog post covers everything you need to know to plan your perfect Galapagos adventure. If you’d rather leave the planning to the experts, Aracari’s knowledgeable travel planners can help craft your dream itinerary. To find out how we can save you the time, energy and pressure of planning your next trip, get in touch today. Set a Budget Budgeting is really important when you’re planning big bucket list vacations. First, decide your overall budget; this is what you’re happy to spend in total. Then, break this total down into sections, assigning individual budgets for things like activities, food, souvenirs, accommodation and so on. For the Galapagos it is important to remember that, to the cost of your accommodation you need to add flights to and from the islands to the mainland to Guayaquil or Quito. And, because flights from the mainland to the Galapagos depart quite early in the morning, and on the return may not allow you to connect with your international flight, you need to add an overnight either end of your Galapagos experience, which will add to the overall cost. In addition, you will need to pay $100 per person park fee when you arrive. Having a clear budget will make planning easier, because it will help you decide the following... Cruise, Hotel or Both? The first decision you need to make after setting your budget is how you’ll explore the region. Will you spend 6-8 days minimum on a cruise, travelling by night and exploring beautiful islands by day? Or will you stay in a hotel and take day trips
A trip to the Galapagos Islands is a once in a lifetime experience, which makes planning a little more stressful than it would be for an ordinary vacation. To help reduce some of that stress, today’s blog post covers everything you need to know to plan your perfect Galapagos adventure….
