“I have learned that each and every piece of cloth embodies the spirit, skill, and personal history of an individual weaver... It ties together with an endless thread the emotional life of my people.” ― Nilda Callanaupa Alvarez, Aracari specialist and Peruvian author of ‘Weaving in the Peruvian Highlands: Dreaming Patterns, Weaving Memories’ Go to Aracari Shop Everywhere you go in Peru, you’ll see textiles on sale. The markets are adorned with the vibrant warm hues of traditional blankets, ponchos, and the famous chullo hats (read our blog here), woven with care from the finest alpaca wool. A perfect memento from your trip, and guaranteed to keep you warm through a North American or European winter. With the growing popularity of their handiwork, artisans and textile businesses have extended their production beyond the traditional garments to appeal to the tastes of international tourists, and now table cloths, place mats, belts and bags are all available with the iconic patterns of the Andes. Even smaller trinkets and souvenirs like pens and fridge magnets are decked out in traditional patterns. Pre-Inca beginnings Peru is actually the country with the longest tradition of textile production, going back over 10,000 years, and predating pottery. The Chavin civilisation is generally credited with inventing the backstrap loom and many of the weaving techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation. What began as a simple process of spinning fibers and moving them across nets and cords has developed into a highly technical and skilled craft. Following the Chavin, the coastal Paracas and Nazca cultures made beautiful and intricate embroideries and tapestries. With the dry desert conditions, many of these were preserved in underground tombs, giving us many clues to understand their way of life, in the absence of any written records. The warmongering Wari
“I have learned that each and every piece of cloth embodies the spirit, skill, and personal history of an individual weaver… It ties together with an endless thread the emotional life of my people.” ― Nilda Callanaupa Alvarez, Aracari specialist and Peruvian author of ‘Weaving in the Peruvian Highlands: Dreaming…
Blog post update in 2016: Autor Estancia has been renamed Autor II, and is the sister property to Autor I,also located in Miraflores. The best luxury hotels in Peru Nestled on a quiet street in the upscale neighbourhood of Miraflores, Autor Estancia, opened in April 2016, is perfectly located near to Avenida La Mar, with its famous cevicherias and cafes, and a 7-minute walk to one of the best surf spots in the capital. Autor Estancia is a stylish bed and breakfast spread across three floors of a former home. The property offers 6 rooms comprised of 1 King room (which can be split into a twin), Queens and Singles. Some have private balconies, open onto the garden courtyard or onto the communal roof terrace with a Jacuzzi. All rooms are slightly different reflecting the features of a renovated house, rather than purpose-built hotel, which adds to home-away-from-home charm. All feature modern en-suite bathrooms and the King room features a beautiful free-standing bath tub in the main bedroom in addition to the attached shower room. Built as a house and then used as a print shop, the hotel’s décor is modern with clean lines and neutral tones but with touches of nostalgia to the building and Lima’s past. In the King room you can sit at a writing desk and discover the old-fashioned type-writer hidden away, while using their super-fast broadband: the epitome of old meets new. There are other quirky features to come across during your stay, like the front desk - a baker’s display cabinet given a new life. The twisting staircase lit by a skylight pays homage to surfing legends that decorate the wall as you descend. The corridor walls and communal spaces are tastefully adorned with photography by Sergio Fernandez and vibrant paintings by Sherman Meléndez, both Peruvians renowned for
Blog post update in 2016: Autor Estancia has been renamed Autor II, and is the sister property to Autor I,also located in Miraflores. The best luxury hotels in Peru Nestled on a quiet street in the upscale neighbourhood of Miraflores, Autor Estancia, opened in April 2016, is perfectly located near to Avenida…
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…
