Aracari's head of marketing Caroline checks out our Cusco Culinary Tour - Urban Eats by night. Peru has an international reputation for the variety of its ingredients and the ingenuity of its world-renowned chefs. A trip to Peru would not be complete without tasting your way through some of the country's favourite flavours and dishes, and this is a great way to do it in Cusco. Cusco culinary tour - led by a culinary expert A fun way to immerse yourself in Peru's unique fusion cuisine is on Aracari's Cusco culinary tour - Urban Eats by night. On this sampling food tour through the streets of Cusco, you will learn about the many influences on Peruvian food that have helped position Peru as one of the world’s top culinary destinations - from Andean superfoods, to Pacific seafood, to international influences assimilated through waves of immigration and rich history. Aracari specialises in culinary travel to Peru - check out our Peru culinary travel page for more suggestions of what we can create for foodie travelers. Contact us at travel@aracari.com to start planning your culinary adventure. Last week I tried out Aracari's Cusco culinary tour, meeting up with my guide for the evening, professional chef Jose Luis. We visited some of Cusco’s foodie hot spots to learn about and discuss the origins and influences of dishes and ingredients as we tried them. Cusco Culinary tour - ceviche, potatoes, and delicious 'picarones' doughnuts Jose Luis took me to a selection of restaurants, cafes and also a couple food stalls to sample different items. We started in Uchu, with an introduction to the classic dish ceviche. As this uses fresh seafood on the coast, inland in Cusco we had a variant - with trout. We then moved on to the restaurant Marcelo Batata, where we sampled papa rellena (stuffed potatoes) and causa, washed down with
Aracari’s head of marketing Caroline checks out our Cusco Culinary Tour – Urban Eats by night. Peru has an international reputation for the variety of its ingredients and the ingenuity of its world-renowned chefs. A trip to Peru would not be complete without tasting your way through some of the country’s favourite flavours…
At the heart of any family adventure is the importance of fun, interactive and educational experiences, and a balance between keeping the kids and adults happy and entertained. Peru offers a rich array of experiences for a family trip to Peru. Our 14-day Amazing Andean Adventure itinerary is an introduction to some of the most fascinating places in the country and features activities specifically geared towards the comfort, safety, and interests of families. With a range of organized experiences including incredible wildlife excursions in the Amazon rainforest, learning to cook in the kitchen of a local family in the Sacred Valley and a hands-on chocolate-making workshop, you and your children are guaranteed to actively discover the ancient past and vibrant present of a country rich in culture, history and adventure! See the full itinerary here. Here are some of the itinerary highlights: Family trip to Peru: Learn to Surf in Lima For years Peru has been well-known as one of the premium surfing destinations in the world, with almost 2,500km of pacific coastline providing wave after crashing wave to surf upon. Accompanied by your professional surf instructors and guides from the amazing Latin American Surf School, you will spend the day at Lima’s Costa Verde shore, learning safe surfing techniques and riding the waves, with a variety of board options that cater to your specific experience level. Read more about surfing in Lima. Family trip to Peru: Explore the Wonders of the Amazon Spend three nights at an Amazon lodge, deep in the Tamboptata National Reserve, with exciting jungle excursions planned each day. At night you'll go in search of caiman with headlamps, and by day you'll enjoy walks and boat rides through the jungle. Climb a 25m canopy tower for an incredible view over the primary forest, on the look out
At the heart of any family adventure is the importance of fun, interactive and educational experiences, and a balance between keeping the kids and adults happy and entertained. Peru offers a rich array of experiences for a family trip to Peru. Our 14-day Amazing Andean Adventure itinerary is an introduction…
I’m going to start with a pretty bold statement: After over a decade living in South America, my recent 4 day / 3 night Aria Amazon cruise was one of my top 3 experiences in South America. Yes, it was that good. Read on for details of my trip to the Amazon, and why I’d recommend this special experience as part of a tailormade trip to Peru with Aracari. If you're interested in exploring Peru's amazing bio-diverse Amazon region on a luxury cruise organised by our expert travel planning team at Aracari, contact us now. Aracari specialises in luxury, tailormade trips to Peru, Bolivia and the Galapagos, and we're ready to help create the trip of a lifetime for you. Traveling to Iquitos for the Aria Amazon Cruise Leaving from Lima, I took a short, direct flight to the Amazonian port city of Iquitos. The Aria staff met me at the airport and from then on, took care of every detail of my trip, leaving me to relax and enjoy the journey into the Amazon. After meeting up with fellow passengers we enjoyed a city tour of Iquitos, and a short skiff ride to visit a local community nearby - our first taste of what life in the Amazon is like for locals. We then boarded the Aria in the evening, had a short briefing to acquaint ourselves with the vessel and details of our journey ahead, followed by the first of several spectacular dinners, which I’ll mention in more detail further on. Accommodation and facilities aboard the Aria Amazon Cruise Arriving to my cabin, I was pleasantly surprised. You may be thinking that cabins aboard a river vessel would be small and basic. Not the case at all! The spectacular en-suite cabin with large floor-length panoramic windows offered a very comfortable
I’m going to start with a pretty bold statement: After over a decade living in South America, my recent 4 day / 3 night Aria Amazon cruise was one of my top 3 experiences in South America. Yes, it was that good. Read on for details of my trip to the…
Aracari has been offering discerning guests tailormade trips to Peru for over 20 years. Now, Aracari’s founder, Marisol Mosquera, is opening up her little black book of treasured contacts to launch a new Peru Private Homes Collection. Departures Magazine featured Aracari's Private Homes Collection in their Travel News: Trips to Book in June round up! From your base in Lima, Cusco or the Sacred Valley, Aracari offers unrivalled access to local life, stepping foot in the homes of some of Peru’s most revered artists, long-standing families and private architectural gems. Peru Private Homes: Lima and surrounds Known for its culinary hot spots and colonial charm, Lima is an ever-evolving hub of Latin American creativity. Now Aracari’s guests can further their insight into this buzzing metropolis via access to the city’s most iconic mansions, sought-after personal art collections and the country’s most celebrated winery. Some key highlights include: Casa Aliaga Reportedly the oldest home on the continent, Casa Aliaga dates back to 1527 and has been lived in by the same family for 17 generations. Exemplifying life in the period of Viceroyalty and home to a chapel whose dome is said to be the oldest in Peru, a special tour of the house will offer unrivalled insight into Lima’s history. >Read more here. Casa García Alvardo Across town, Casa García Alvardo is one of few remaining examples of Republican architecture. Inhabited by the family who built the house in 1912, guests will be hosted for a tour and three-course lunch by Ms. Ana Maria de Astudillo or her daughter. >Read more here. Home of Augusta Barreda For art-lovers, Aracari can exclusively introduce guests to Augusta Barreda, a contemporary Peruvian artist and collector known for transforming bronze and wood into ethereal works. Guests will be granted access to her sea-facing Lima home, her private
Aracari has been offering discerning guests tailormade trips to Peru for over 20 years. Now, Aracari’s founder, Marisol Mosquera, is opening up her little black book of treasured contacts to launch a new Peru Private Homes Collection. Departures Magazine featured Aracari’s Private Homes Collection in their Travel News: Trips to Book…
Aracari's pick of best Chachapoyas Archaeology The pre-Inca Chachapoyas civilization left behind many mysteries. While they had no written language, and were defeated by the Incas, they achieved great things - building the largest ancient stone structure in South America, and developing sophisticated mummification techniques to preserve and honor their ancestors. The region of Chachapoyas in northern Peru is named after the ancient people, and the word Chachapoyas means 'people of the clouds' a fitting moniker for this mystical land of dramatic scenery shrouded in cloud forest. The land is full of hidden treasures - not just for history and archaeology buffs. The natural landscape includes some of the tallest waterfalls in the world - offering beautiful hikes to Gocta waterfall and Yumbilla waterfall, and beautiful forests that you can explore hiking and horseback riding. Described by many as the real 'Indiana Jones territory's here's Aracari's pick of the top four Chachapoyas archaeology sites, not to be missed. To visit the region and tour the Chachapoyas archaeology sites with an expert guide, check out our Peru's Best Kept Secret itinerary, and contact us to start planning your tailormade trip! Kuelap fortified city Undoubtedly one of the highlights of the region. Perched atop a ridge overlooking the Utcubamba Valley, the fortified city of Kuelap and its monumental walls are enough to stop you in your tracks. It's still unclear why the Chachapoyas built this place - many think of it as a fortress because of its huge walls, but the complex includes buildings that suggest religious, civil and domestic use - so plenty to explore with an expert Aracari guide. Read more about Kuelap. Sarcophagi of Karajía The sarcophagi of Karajía stand proudly on a ledge above a river gorge in the Chachapoyas region. Standing 2.5 meters tall, the figures were constructed of clay, sticks and
Aracari’s pick of best Chachapoyas Archaeology The pre-Inca Chachapoyas civilization left behind many mysteries. While they had no written language, and were defeated by the Incas, they achieved great things – building the largest ancient stone structure in South America, and developing sophisticated mummification techniques to preserve and honor their ancestors….
Exclusive Lima Culinary Experience at Malabar The Aracari team were recently invited to Lima restaurant Malabar to test out an exclusive new private cooking demonstration and dining experience with chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino. Pedro's Malabar restaurant was voted one of Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants. It was a fantastic night, definitely a top Lima culinary experience and a unique opportunity to meet and interact with one of Peru's best chefs, and watch as he cooks your five-course meal, right in front of you! Lima culinary experience - starts with pisco, of course! We were greeted with a refreshing pisco punch, one of Malabar's signature cocktails, to enjoy in the bar area. Aracari also offers a special cocktail making experience at Malabar, with the head barman, which can be enjoyed on its own, or added on to this special dining experience with Pedro. Once our glasses were drained, we walked through the busy kitchen and led upstairs to a private kitchen space. Pedro explained that this is where staff have their meals together, and he also uses it as an office space. With ample industrial kitchen equipment, a huge wooden table and high ceilings it was spacious yet intimate. We were seated in a row, all facing Pedro and his assistant who quickly got to work. Pedro talked us through each pass of the five-course tasting menu we enjoyed, explaining the different ingredients and cooking methods. Lima culinary experience - sustainable ingredients Pedro knows where each product in his kitchen comes from. Some are unusual Amazon ingredients which are sourced from just one family, who he works closely with to help develop sustainable supply chains. At Malabar he champions authentic Peruvian ingredients and cooking methods, and explains that this is why there's an abundance of fish and seafood on the menu, and less meat. For
Exclusive Lima Culinary Experience at Malabar The Aracari team were recently invited to Lima restaurant Malabar to test out an exclusive new private cooking demonstration and dining experience with chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino. Pedro’s Malabar restaurant was voted one of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants. It was a fantastic night, definitely a…
