Peru has a world-renowned heritage of art and culture and also a growing contemporary art scene, so the credentials for a successful international art fair are firmly in place. Last week (21 - 24 April) Lima once again welcomed the best of the art world to the city, attracting an impressive caliber of art galleries – some home grown in Peru and many from around the world. This was my first visit to the annual event, and it really was impressive. According to ArtLima Director Rochi Castilla, “it’s like travelling the world and visiting the best museums”, and I felt it really lived up to that description. Now in its fourth year, ArtLima is well-established and considered one of the most important art fairs in the Latin American circuit. ArtLima is set in the grand and impressive courtyard of the Escuela Superior de Guerra del Ejército, in the Chorillos district of Lima. The contrast between the classic colonial architecture with its imposing columns and traditional checkered tiled floors and the colour and energy of the vivacious modern art is stark and really brings the place to life. But the contrast of old vs new really works – the quality of the art on display deserves nothing less than these illustrious surroundings. Here are some photos of what stood out for me: For 2016, ArtLima welcomed six prestigious Peruvian galleries and 35 international galleries – an eclectic mix of paintings, sculptures, photography, film and installation art. It was a great way to see how Peruvian contemporary art stands up to the international art scene – how Peruvian artists fit into and respond to the trends of global art movements and in what ways they’re deviating and pioneering their own trends. For me this was a great introduction to Peru's contemporary art scene, and I
Peru has a world-renowned heritage of art and culture and also a growing contemporary art scene, so the credentials for a successful international art fair are firmly in place. Last week (21 – 24 April) Lima once again welcomed the best of the art world to the city, attracting an…
I recently ventured south from Lima to Paracas and the Ballestas Islands for the weekend. We drove along the Pan-American Highway, which according to Guinness Records is the longest “motorable road” in the world, starting in Prudhoe Bay in Alaska, and stretching all the way down to Ushuaia, Argentina. (That is, I should say, if you conveniently ignore the enigmatic Darién Gap!). The Ballesta islands are a highlight of any visit to Paracas, which can conveniently be combined with other nearby attractions in the Paracas National Reserve. Aracari arranges trips to the Ballesta Islands as part of any private, tailormade journey to Peru When you look at the area on Google Maps, you see lots of green dotted along the Peruvian coast, including the Paracas National Reserve, so I assumed it was a lush area of vegetation. Wrong! It’s desert… all desert. But stunningly beautiful desert with glistening red sand – the vast nothingness is simply incredible, and the contrast of the desert meeting the Pacific Ocean is breath-taking. The Ballestas Islands by boat The highlight of the weekend was visiting the Ballestas Islands and the incredible wildlife there. On Sunday we woke up really early for our boat tour to the islands. Tours leave from Paracas, a small seaside fishing town and epicenter of the Paracas National Wildlife Reserve. Aracari can arrange visits to the Ballestas Islands by shared boat or privately. The Ballestas Islands are part of the national park, and you can’t actually step foot onto the islands without a special permit, usually reserved for researchers. Access for visitors is via speedboat tours. It takes about half an hour to get to the islands, and then the boat tour slowly cruises through the different bays and islands for about an hour, before returning to the mainland. Wildlife
I recently ventured south from Lima to Paracas and the Ballestas Islands for the weekend. We drove along the Pan-American Highway, which according to Guinness Records is the longest “motorable road” in the world, starting in Prudhoe Bay in Alaska, and stretching all the way down to Ushuaia, Argentina. (That…
Our Head of Marketing gives her first-hand review of Amantica Lodge Lake Titicaca, having personally stayed at the luxurious private villa, located on Amantaní Island in Peru. Amantica Lodge Lake Titicaca As I cruised towards to the island under the midday sun, cutting through the stillness of the lake, Amantica Lodge slowly came into view. Perched on a quiet edge of Amantaní Island on Lake Titicaca, Amantica Lodge is a new stylish, private two-bed villa that I had the pleasure of testing out on a recent inspection trip to Lake Titicaca. Already acclimatised to the giddying heights of the region (3,810m / 12,500 ft), having spent a relaxing couple of days on glorious Suasi Island, I was picked up earlier by Amantica’s boat to head over for a night of sumptuous relaxation at the luxury lodge, inaugurated in early 2016. Whilst Amantaní Island is populated by a handful of villages, as I approached the villa immediately showed off its prime lookout position, comfortably secluded on its own nook - yet with traces of village civilization still easily in sight. From the lake, the exterior of the property seemed understated in contrast to the luxurious lair I was about to discover up-close. The Peru Private Villa A warm welcome and refreshing drink was quickly followed by a brief tour of the property. Amantica lodge Lake Titicaca consists of two rooms – one double and one twin, joined by a spacious, shared bathroom. Walking in to the Master double bedroom from one of the two decking areas, I was immediately struck by the gorgeous design and the ultimate showstopper: the views. With a layout designed to make the most of these, the property undoubtedly presented an immediate wow-factor. It was impossible to resist such a sublime view and I immediately went out to the main, private
Our Head of Marketing gives her first-hand review of Amantica Lodge Lake Titicaca, having personally stayed at the luxurious private villa, located on Amantaní Island in Peru. Amantica Lodge Lake Titicaca As I cruised towards to the island under the midday sun, cutting through the stillness of the lake, Amantica Lodge slowly came…
This was my first hiking trip in Peru, and what a place to start! The hike to Laguna 69 was one of the top on my peru adventure travel bucket-list. The Cordillera Blanca mountain range attracts hiking enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies from all over the world. As the world’s second highest mountain range after the Himalayas, the region is rich with offerings of all sorts of outdoor pursuits from hiking, mountain-biking, ice-climbing, and more. Hike to Laguna 69 I visited the region for a long weekend with my boyfriend Steven and friends Evi and Helge. Since we had limited time and hiking experience, we decided the priority was to see Laguna 69 – the jewel in the Cordillera Crown. Located in the Huascarán National Park at 4,600m (15,092ft) above sea level, it’s one of the more accessible locations in the region, and can be visited as a day hike or a two day trip with camping. We opted for the latter. The trek is deemed as relatively challenging for non-regular hikers, thanks to the altitude and short, steep incline at the end, or as a gentle trek for the experienced – so the difficulty level is relative! We set out early in the morning with our guide Epi, who has lived and worked in the mountains his whole life – first as a porter, then a cook, and now as a trained and registered guide for the national park. Our complete package included all transport, meals, tents and equipment, which meant we didn’t have to worry about the arrangements, and only had to carry our day-packs. After a very bumpy two and a half hours by car from Huaraz, we set off on foot into the hills. One of my favourite moments was our picnic lunch on the first day. After a
This was my first hiking trip in Peru, and what a place to start! The hike to Laguna 69 was one of the top on my peru adventure travel bucket-list. The Cordillera Blanca mountain range attracts hiking enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies from all over the world. As the world’s second highest mountain…
Ollantaytambo (2,800 meters, or 9,200 feet above sea level) is the name given both to the Inca ruin complex sculpted into the cliff side at the northern end of the Sacred Valley and to the town founded by the Incas. A private Ollantaytabmo tour can be arranged as part of a longer visit to the Sacred Valley, combined with other Incan sites of interest including Pisac, Chinchero and Moray. Ollantaytambo: A highlight of the Sacred Valley The town of Ollantaytambo is the best surviving example of Inca city planning. The original layout and structure, including canals, are still used by the town's inhabitants. The Incas divided the village into blocks called canchas, each with just one entrance leading into a courtyard. Residents entered their individual houses from the courtyard, rather than from the street. A collection of British charities financed the small Ethnographic Museum in town, opened in December 1997, that highlights the ancient customs and traditions of the peoples of this part of the Andes. There are displays of tools and garments of present-day indigenous populations in the highlands. The Incan Ruins of Ollantaytambo But the true highlight of an Ollantaytambo tour is visiting its ruins. The expansive, steep terraces guarding the Inca fortress are a sight to behold. The Incas likely saw Ollantaytambo as a temple rather than a military stronghold, but the Spanish conquistadors called it a fortress and it has been referred to as such ever since. Some of its walls were under construction at the time of the conquest and have never been completed. The stone used for these buildings was quarried from the mountainside 6 kilometers (4 miles) away high above the opposite bank of the Urubamba River. Transporting the huge stone blocks from the quarry to the site was a stupendous feat, employing thousands of native workers. Incan Battle Victory The complex is also a site of
Ollantaytambo (2,800 meters, or 9,200 feet above sea level) is the name given both to the Inca ruin complex sculpted into the cliff side at the northern end of the Sacred Valley and to the town founded by the Incas. A private Ollantaytabmo tour can be arranged as part of…
1996. The year DVDs were launched in Japan and Dolly the sheep was the first mammal to be cloned. It was also the year that Marisol Mosquera founded Aracari Travel, with a vision of creating unique, first-class travel experiences for visitors to her beautiful home country, Peru. Leaving behind her London-based career in banking, Marisol set about exploring Peru and fostering friendships and connections as she travelled. Over the last twenty years, this has resulted in an unparalleled network of contacts that enable guests today to enjoy exclusive access and privileged insight into the places they visit. Having expanded to offer first-rate services in Bolivia and the Galapagos, Aracari remains at the very forefront of experiential travel, awarded with prestigious industry accolades that recognize this expertise. Since Aracari was founded, the focus has always been to provide high-quality, low impact tourism that promotes cultural and natural attractions, while disseminating ethical business practices and supporting local initiatives. Reflecting on that vision from 20 years ago, Marisol shares her thoughts: Looking back at what Aracari has achieved over 20 years, I'm proud that my original vision lives on. The experience of our guests has always been our main priority: delighting them, surprising them, and helping them discover the simultaneous rawness and sophistication of this amazing part of the world. I am excited to start this new phase in Aracari's journey. And to all of our partners, guides, specialists, team members and, most of all, our guests, a big gracias and hasta pronto. Here's to another 20 years! Un abrazo, Join the celebration In the coming months we’ll be celebrating our 20th anniversary on social media – sharing travel stories and photos from our travellers’ experiences over the years. Join or follow the fun: We’ll also be looking ahead, as we continue to
1996. The year DVDs were launched in Japan and Dolly the sheep was the first mammal to be cloned. It was also the year that Marisol Mosquera founded Aracari Travel, with a vision of creating unique, first-class travel experiences for visitors to her beautiful home country, Peru. Leaving behind her…
