Santa Cruz II Review: Best Large Galapagos Cruise A land of active volcanoes brimming with unbeatable diversity in wildlife, the Galapagos Islands is perhaps the ultimate bucket-list destination for nature lovers. The birthplace of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, this unique archipelago located off the coast of mainland Ecuador boasts many endemic species that can be found nowhere else on the planet. From swimming with sea lions to with giant tortoises, I excitedly packed my bags to visit this living natural history museum on board the Santa Cruz II, which proved to be an excellent cruise option in the Galapagos. Getting to the Galapagos Islands My journey began by flying from Quito to Baltra airport – one of two airports in the Galapagos - via Guayaquil. The reason the Galapagos enjoys such hype was immediately apparent. Stepping off the bus from the airport to board the panga (inflatable boat) to the ship, we had to be careful not to trip over a sea lion enjoying the sun-kissed stone slabs where we queued up! The Santa Cruz II vessel Welcomed aboard the Santa Cruz II, I set off on the 6 Day / 5 Night naturalist cruise. The vessel, operated by Metropolitan Touring, has a maximum capacity of 90, making it one of the ‘large’ cruise vessels in the Galapagos: National Park requirements cap the limit at 100. However, relative to cruise liners around the world which can hold up to 3,000-6,000+, the Santa Cruz II is very modest in comparison. As a first-time cruiser with doubts over how a large cruise can maintain any intimacy, I found the size very manageable, didn’t find it overwhelming and felt the space meant passengers could distribute well across the ship so it never felt too busy. Santa Cruz II review: The rooms On
Santa Cruz II Review: Best Large Galapagos Cruise A land of active volcanoes brimming with unbeatable diversity in wildlife, the Galapagos Islands is perhaps the ultimate bucket-list destination for nature lovers. The birthplace of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, this unique archipelago located off the coast of mainland Ecuador boasts…
Lima is fast becoming known as the gastronomic capital of South America. We're constantly raving about the amazing restaurants, many of which are recognised worldwide for their innovative approaches. Lima boasts nine eateries in the San Pellegrino Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants List and dining at any of these restaurants is a great introduction to Peruvian food. Lima cooking workshop - Immersion in Peruvian cuisine But for true gastronomic travellers, an authentic and immersive introduction to Peruvian food happens in the markets and the kitchen which can be enjoyed with our Urban Kitchen experience with Peruvian professional chef, Ignacio Barrios. Lima-born Ignacio Barrios studied at the Cordon Bleu in London and went on to work in some of the UK’s top restaurants, including the Michelin-starred Wild Honey. He then moved to Madrid and worked under the famed Peruvian chef Gaston Acurio at his restaurant Astrid y Gaston, before returning to his homeland Peru. He started Urban Kitchen to share his love and passion for Peruvian food with visitors and locals alike. Lima Cooking Workshop with a Twist Spending time with Ignacio and learning to cook with him, you get to know the city’s thriving culinary scene. Start out with a visit to one of Lima’s popular local markets, led by Ignacio himself. Peruse the stalls and learn about exotic fruits, vegetables, fresh fish and other produce that are essential elements of Peruvian cuisine. Ignacio will then accompany you to Urban Kitchen's purpose-built culinary venue for your private Lima cooking workshop where you’ll begin by preparing a classic Chilcano cocktail - a refreshing and popular Peruvian drink made with Pisco and ginger ale. Ignacio will share insight into some of the social and cultural aspects of Peru’s rich culinary history as you learn to cook four dishes hands-on under his expert guidance, using fresh ingredients. Thanks to
Lima is fast becoming known as the gastronomic capital of South America. We’re constantly raving about the amazing restaurants, many of which are recognised worldwide for their innovative approaches. Lima boasts nine eateries in the San Pellegrino Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants List and dining at any of these restaurants is…
A Taste of Classic Luxury Peru: Aracari Peru Fam Trip From admiring Machu Picchu on a perfectly clear day, to partaking in a traditional shaman ceremony in the countryside in the heart of the Sacred Valley, an eager group of travel agents had the chance to see the key highlights of Peru, the Aracari way, on our 2016 FAM trip to Peru. Joining us from around the world – India, Switzerland, Sweden, the UK and USA all represented – this small collection of eight professional travel addicts joined us on a Peru FAM trip that followed our Classic Luxury Peru itinerary. Over eight days, we took in Lima, the Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu, with no shortage of memorable experiences and educational opportunities. Register your interest now for Aracari's Peru Fam trip for travel agents 2017 Check out photos and videos below and what you might expect from future Peru FAM trips for travel agents with Aracari. Day 1 – Arrival in Lima The adventure began in Peru's capital Lima, renowned as South America's culinary capital, which the BBC has called the most 'underrated city in South America'. Met on arrival at the airport by Raul Varela, Aracari’s Guest Relations guru, everyone had the chance to settle into JW Marriott Lima for the next two nights, and enjoy the property’s sea views. Day 2 – Lima: Into the Past We were met at our hotel in the morning by Aracari specialist, Ronald Elward. After an extensive writing and publishing career in the Netherlands, including publishing the leading Dutch architecture magazine De Architect, Ronald moved to Lima. His research in Peru has been featured in many newspaper articles such as this piece in the Guardian, so he was the perfect companion to show us Lima’s architecture and explain its history. This gave
A Taste of Classic Luxury Peru: Aracari Peru Fam Trip From admiring Machu Picchu on a perfectly clear day, to partaking in a traditional shaman ceremony in the countryside in the heart of the Sacred Valley, an eager group of travel agents had the chance to see the key highlights…
Luxury between the trees - Mashpi Lodge Ecuador Just three hours northwest of Ecuador’s capital, Quito, lies a luxurious, five-star hideaway, ideal for birding and offering nature trails to hidden waterfalls. Mashpi Lodge Ecuador, set amid a 1,300-hectare private reserve, was built on land that was once part of a logging concession until it was privately purchased in 1997 and converted into the Mashpi Rainforest Biodiversity Reserve. Recognized as one of National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World, I had the opportunity to explore this rich ecosystem and the comforts of this high-end hotel that opened in 2012, spending a night at the impressive Lodge. Passing the Equator to Mashpi Lodge I left Quito for Masphi around 8.30am, accompanied by my guide. Located just 110km from the city centre as the crow flies, the journey by road winds its way to the cloudforest and rainforest on a combination of paved and unpaved roads, taking a little over three hours if driven without stops. The rapid change in altitude, from 2,800m to 1,000m sees a quick change in scenery. We first passed the equator monument La Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World). Our guide had an app which showed us each time, as we twisted along the hillside road, we passed the Equator line – from which Ecuador gets its name. Tulipe Archaeological Museum Half way to Mashpi Lodge, we then stopped at the Tuilpe Archaeological Museum. The place was officially closed on a Monday when I visited, but Masphi Lodge’s guests get special access when closed, and I had the entire site to myself! There is a set of ruins belonging to the Yumbo culture, one of the last cultures to settle in Quito before the arrival of the Incas and Spanish. Here we were shown a few aerial images and recreations
Luxury between the trees – Mashpi Lodge Ecuador Just three hours northwest of Ecuador’s capital, Quito, lies a luxurious, five-star hideaway, ideal for birding and offering nature trails to hidden waterfalls. Mashpi Lodge Ecuador, set amid a 1,300-hectare private reserve, was built on land that was once part of a logging concession…
On a recent visit to the Sacred Valley, I had the pleasure of participating in and enjoying a Pachamanca Lunch at El Albergue's Organic Farm at the edge of the town of Ollantaytambo. Pachamanca Lunch in the Sacred Valley Peru is fast gaining a reputation as a destination for gastronomy and culinary travel. Along with the award-winning fine-dining restaurants in Lima are the stunning local ingredients and ancient cooking methods that inspire them. Without this rich heritage of food, Peru's famed modern gastronomy would not exist. Pachamanca is one of these ancient cooking techniques that allows visitors to really understand the country's rich culinary heritage. It's a fun and interactive experience, set in stunning natural surroundings, suitable for the whole family. Check out our video below, and read on for all the details of what the experience entails. What is a Pachamanca Lunch? Pacha means earth and manca means oven in Quechua, the language of the Inca Empire which is still widely spoken in the Sacred Valley and throughout the Andes of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. As the name suggests, pachamanca is a cooking method in the earth, but is so much more. I had read a lot about it, so was very excited to finally be able to watch and enjoy it. Pachamama - Mother Earth For the Inca, pachamanca was not an everyday meal preparation. It was used for special occasions and heavily ritualised. The close connection between the food and the earth where it's prepared is a celebration of and a way of showing reverence to Pachamama, mother earth. For the pachamanca at El Albergue, chicken, lamb and pork are sourced from local farmers, and a multitude of colourful Andean potatoes, sweet potato and habas (green lima beans) from the farm itself. The meat is marinated with local herbs from the farm.
On a recent visit to the Sacred Valley, I had the pleasure of participating in and enjoying a Pachamanca Lunch at El Albergue’s Organic Farm at the edge of the town of Ollantaytambo. Pachamanca Lunch in the Sacred Valley Peru is fast gaining a reputation as a destination for gastronomy and…
I recently stayed at Gocta Natura Cabins, a beautiful property in the cloud forest near the village of Cocachimba. With views of the towering 771m high Gocta waterfall in the distance, staying at Gocta Natura is really a breathtaking experience, immersed in nature, and our top accommodation recommendation for the Chachapoyas region. Where to stay in Gocta: Gocta Natura Cabins Gocta Natura - A property with social purpose The owner Rocio Florez has set up various projects all aimed at sustainability in the Amazonas region. Her focus is working with the local community to restore the flora and fauna of the area in a sustainable way and to teach the value of preserving the environment. She has a great video about their projects on the Gocta Natura Reserve Facebook page. Rocio is warm and welcoming host and encourages guests to visit community projects that she's involved with. On a visit to Chachapoyas eight years ago Rocio fell in love with the area and returned two months later with her husband to purchase land in Cocachimba. Soon they were visiting every few months to work on budding projects and then built a house four years ago. Commuting between Chiclayo, Lima, and Cocachimba, they continued their environmental work with the community and slowly expanded the property by building the cabins and opened to guests in December 2014. There are five individual cabins located on the property, discretely spread around the property. Staying at Gocta Natura Cabins The cabins are charming, tastefully decorated, spacious, and include a deck with chairs to sit outside. Four of the five cabins can host up to three adults comfortably, and the fifth cabin is for two adults - for a maximum total of 14 guests in the property. The bathrooms are large, shower only, with a transparent divider between the shower and the rest
I recently stayed at Gocta Natura Cabins, a beautiful property in the cloud forest near the village of Cocachimba. With views of the towering 771m high Gocta waterfall in the distance, staying at Gocta Natura is really a breathtaking experience, immersed in nature, and our top accommodation recommendation for the Chachapoyas region. Where to…
