With their breathtaking natural beauty and unique wildlife, the Galápagos Islands are a destination high on the to-do list of curious globetrotters. But when choosing the best way to explore the islands on a luxury travel Galapagos adventure, travelers are often baffled by the wide range of cruise options. Here I share one of my top picks, with my first-hand Galapagos Ocean Spray review on the cruise after testing it out personally. Ocean Spray Review During my recent visit to the islands, I had the opportunity to cruise on board the luxury catamaran Ocean Spray and experience the services on offer first hand. A perfect blend of style, comfort, education and adventure make a cruise like this the ideal way in which to experience all that this unique destination has to offer. The Ocean Spray is a sleek 113-foot-long catamaran with space for up to 16 guests in 8 balconied cabins. Public areas onboard include a sun deck fitted with loungers and Jacuzzi; an outdoor dining and bar area; a communal lounge and library used for daily itinerary briefings; and the main restaurant. As a first time visitor to the Galápagos, cruising the islands onboard the Ocean Spray was everything I could have hoped for. Read our complete list of the best Luxury Galapagos Cruises My journey began at Quito airport, where an Ocean Spray representative was waiting to assist me with check in for the morning flight to Baltra airport, the Galápagos Islands’ main hub. Upon arrival in Balta, I collected my luggage and was greeted in the arrivals hall by another Ocean Spray representative, just as friendly as the first. He ushered me and my fellow passengers to the docks to board a panga, a mid-sized motorboat that would take us to the main vessel. Expert guiding The friendly and
With their breathtaking natural beauty and unique wildlife, the Galápagos Islands are a destination high on the to-do list of curious globetrotters. But when choosing the best way to explore the islands on a luxury travel Galapagos adventure, travelers are often baffled by the wide range of cruise options. Here…
Education doesn’t have to happen in a classroom -- family travel with young children can be formative to developing a global perspective and broadening the scope of cultural understanding. That’s why we’re so impressed by the adventure one of our guests undertook when she and her husband took their four kids (a 13 year old, 12 year old, and two 10 year olds) out of school for a yearlong journey around the globe, to 31 countries on all 7 continents. Family Travel Peru with Dana White Dana White - blogger and family travel planner extraordinaire - wanted to teach her four kids to view their privilege as an opportunity to make a difference in the world beyond themselves. Dana chronicled their family’s adventure in her popular blog, 6explorers. During their time abroad, Dana and her family explored Peru with the help of Aracari, hopping from highlights like Machu Picchu to hidden gems like Apu Ausangate. After their incredible journey, Dana wanted to help other families plan such formative experiences using what she learned on the road to smoothen the process. Dana’s company Lead Explorers builds itineraries with families planning their own trips around the world, to maximize learning experiences and family bonding. In an interview with Aracari, Dana White shared her story, and her expert tips for traveling with a family. ARACARI: How did you end up going away for a year in the first place? DANA WHITE: Oh, it was unbelievable! We had been talking about it for 10 years, so it was something that was a defining moment in our family. We really wanted to help our children become global citizens and see the world while we still can. I think that we are very fortunate and we wanted to make sure that our children knew that the
Education doesn’t have to happen in a classroom — family travel with young children can be formative to developing a global perspective and broadening the scope of cultural understanding. That’s why we’re so impressed by the adventure one of our guests undertook when she and her husband took their four…
Manú National Park is the largest and most pristine rainforest park in South America, unique in its wide variety of ecosystems. The area contains everything from puna grasslands to lowland Amazonian forest, intermixed with elfin forest, cloudforest and montane forest. Here are my thoughts on Manu Learning Centre Lodge, one of the places you can stay in Peru to discover the Amazon Rainforest. Visit Manu Learning Centre Lodge I had travelled to Manú several times 15 or 20 years ago. Aracari was highly involved in Manú then, and it was the top rainforest destination for our guests. This time around, the purpose of my trip was to visit the Manu Learning Centre Lodge and observe the activities of CREES Foundation, a relatively new lodge and operator in Manú. I also wanted to see first-hand how the area has transformed over the past two decades. How to get to Manu National Park Since a few years ago, the flows of rainforest tourism in Peru have changed. In the past, many upscale visitors were enticed the remoteness of Manú National Park, and the possibility – despite the high cost – of reaching the destination in a swift, 45-minute flight from Cusco in a twin otter propeller plane. Now, the only option to reach the Manú area is overland, over 12-hours from the nearest airport. This deters all but very adventurous visitors, sicentists, volunteers and budget travelers to visit the area. Instead, most affluent visitors flock to the luxury cruises on the Upper Amazon and venture to Pacaya Samiria Reserve, and other more adventurous guests head to the lodges in and near the more easily accessible Tambopata Reserved Zone. This shift sadly deprives the local populations in and around Manú of the much needed development and income that tourism used to bring, which continues to
Manú National Park is the largest and most pristine rainforest park in South America, unique in its wide variety of ecosystems. The area contains everything from puna grasslands to lowland Amazonian forest, intermixed with elfin forest, cloudforest and montane forest. Here are my thoughts on Manu Learning Centre Lodge, one of…
Mancora is Peru’s most popular beach retreat, a sandy haven on the Pacific Coast with a shoreline well-known to serious surfers. Thanks to a growing number of plush beach hotels, Mancora increasingly attracts sun-seeking jetsetters looking to bask in year-round rays and bathe in its warm waters. The Best Hotels in Mancora Having spent years living in South-East Asia and taking soft, white beaches as a given, I was nothing less than exceedingly skeptical about the quality of the sand to be found. Mancora proved to be a pleasant surprise. In no way can it compete with paradise perfection found in other corners of the globe, but the public beach that the top properties are nestled on was clean, almost entirely devoid of people, and golden under the permanent sunshine. Mancora's greatest advantages is its climate: no rain, always sunny, just how I like it. As an ardent sun-worshipper, I recently set off on the arduous task of donning my sandals and sunhat to test out the best luxury seaside sanctuaries - KiChic and Arennas. Mancora also boasts a wonderful range of private luxury beach villas. KiChic The first stop I made was at KiChic, a boutique retreat that places emphasis on health and wellness. It boasts its own large yoga studio with daily classes, which are also open to outside guests. KiChic’s philosophy is for guests to disconnect from the daily noise. They help you out by hiding the room’s TV under covers, but this extra measure truly wasn’t necessary for me. I was staying in the Balance Suite - a private bungalow with partial sea-views; the outdoor deck and its own small pool was enough to keep me entertained. There is also a main pool as an alternative. Room sizes and layouts all differ, but throughout the stylish decoration focuses
Mancora is Peru’s most popular beach retreat, a sandy haven on the Pacific Coast with a shoreline well-known to serious surfers. Thanks to a growing number of plush beach hotels, Mancora increasingly attracts sun-seeking jetsetters looking to bask in year-round rays and bathe in its warm waters. The Best Hotels…
Dream vacations can be derailed by unexpected illnesses. From questionable water to pesky mosquitoes, the new stresses of unfamiliar locations can leave even the fittest travellers sluggish or bedridden. No one wants to miss out on all the things their carefully crafted trips have to offer, so it is prudent to understand how to avoid or manage medical roadblocks. Here's Aracari's advice on how to manage altitude sickness in Peru. Preventing Altitude Sickness in Peru One of the most common afflictions in Andean areas is altitude sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) or Soroche. The thin oxygen at high elevations causes rapid breathing, which leads dehydration as more water is lost through exhaling than is gained through inhaling the dry mountain air. Different travelers have different levels of susceptibility to altitude sickness, but most symptoms begin occurring at altitudes around 6,000 ft. Travelling at altitude Some of Aracari’s most beautiful destinations sit at dizzyingly high altitudes, including Machu Picchu (2,430 m/8,000 ft), Cusco (3,400 m/11,500 ft), and La Paz (3,6000m/11,800 ft). Not all travelers suffer from altitude sickness, but it is better to be informed rather than allow the possibility deter you from traveling to these spectacular locales. Prepare yourself with our handy Q&A on properly detecting and handling altitude sickness, with information from Dr. Dante Valdivia of the Centro de Investigación de Medicina de Altitud (CIMA). What are the symptoms of altitude sickness in Peru? Generally, altitude sickness manifests itself in heart pounding shortness of breath, which can cause headache, nausea, and dizziness as dehydration progresses. Some travellers also report feelings of extreme tiredness, insomnia, or loss of appetite. How do I deal with altitude sickness in Peru? There are a number of measures that can be taken to combat the perils of altitude sickness. BEFORE ARRIVAL: Plan your
Dream vacations can be derailed by unexpected illnesses. From questionable water to pesky mosquitoes, the new stresses of unfamiliar locations can leave even the fittest travellers sluggish or bedridden. No one wants to miss out on all the things their carefully crafted trips have to offer, so it is prudent…
The last week of October rolled around, and I still didn’t have Halloween plans. I had been living in Peru for about two months and, though I already had a great group of friends, nobody seemed interested in celebrating Halloween. “What are you guys going to be this year?” I asked them eagerly, hoping to brainstorm a group costume as I had done with friends in years past. “Peruvians,” they replied, laughing, completely apathetic to a holiday so celebrated stateside. Halloween is gaining popularity in Peru, especially amongst the younger generations, but it coincides with the el Dia de la Canción Criolla, or Creole Music Day. The holiday was created in 1944 by then-president Manuel Prado y Ugarteche to celebrate the diverse array of music Peru has to offer.The day is still strongly connected with Peru’s cultural identity, as evidenced by the rampant virality of Marca Perú’s celebratory video. So, devoid of spooky plans and eager to experience Peruvian culture to the fullest, I chose instead to accept an invitation to a peña. The peña, a staple of Peruvian culture, is a musical venue with a house band that plays creole music. The peñas exhibit a range of professionalism; some are even held in the musicians’ homes. The music also varies in style, from the almost waltz-like dance from the colonial past to the thumping afro-Peruvian beats of Lima’s outskirts. As the band plays, people dance, occasionally resting to breathe, listen to a slower numbers, or watch professionals demonstrating dances from throughout the region. Some peñas are open to the public, and for others you need to be on a list. One of Aracari’s specialist guides, Ronald Elward, has the connections at some of the best peñas in the city. I accompanied Ronald, our friend in the city Bruce, and
The last week of October rolled around, and I still didn’t have Halloween plans. I had been living in Peru for about two months and, though I already had a great group of friends, nobody seemed interested in celebrating Halloween. “What are you guys going to be this year?” I…
