We are currently attending PURE Life Experiences 2013 in Marrakech, the crème de la crème of travel trade fairs, bringing together the world’s best experiential travel providers in one single place to show off the most exciting and innovative travel experiences from across the globe. PURE hosted its first fair in 2009, which Aracari attended as a member (affectionately known as a ‘Pureist’). We have been present at every fair since, as a specialist on experiential travel in the Andean region. This year Aracari founder Marisol Mosquera is once again showcasing the most authentic and culturally enriching ways to explore the plethora of attractions across Peru and Bolivia. We are particularly focusing on our Peru family travel experiences, recently opened hotels like the four-star boutique hotel El Mercado Tunqui in Cusco and adventure experiences at Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni in the Airstream camper, to give but a few examples. We are exhibiting alongside a collection of our closest partners from Latin America, 5 other operators from Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador and Central America respectively. PURE’s philosophy The good folks at PURE believe that travel companies should create personalized, authentic and transformative experiences for guests; they should proffer proper luxury products for the “sophisticated traveller”; they should be independent and forward thinking, always looking for trends even before they are trends; they should work to protect the heritage and environments where they operate; and of course, they should know how to tell a good story to transmit their messages with imagination and sincerity. Little wonder, then, why Aracari is a founding Pureist! This year the theme of the show is “New Frontiers, New Challenges”, which highlights the need to break boundaries and push limits of how and where travellers can explore other cultures and destinations. Speakers at the conference include Sylvia
We are currently attending PURE Life Experiences 2013 in Marrakech, the crème de la crème of travel trade fairs, bringing together the world’s best experiential travel providers in one single place to show off the most exciting and innovative travel experiences from across the globe. PURE hosted its first fair…
It was on a Thursday evening that my colleagues Mark, Maria Julia and I found ourselves walking along the Jirón de la Unión in the center of Lima, looking for Casa Aliaga: the Aracari team had been invited to this historic landmark by Jerónimo de Aliaga, a chef who has recently begun to offer a tasting menu here. After accidentally passing the house, we doubled back and saw a man in a suit holding the beautifully carved wooden door open for us to enter. The stairs of the reception hall were lined with candles, and a young woman waited above on the landing to give us a tour of the Aliaga house, the oldest home in Lima that has been lived in by the same family for seventeen generations, beginning with another Jerónimo de Aliaga, one of the thirteen men who arrived with Francisco Pizarro in the sixteenth century. The house was built upon a huaca, which is hidden now on the ground floor. Only a part of the Aliaga mansion is open for viewing, and the Aliaga family lives in another part. Our hostess showed us a narrow hall that once led to the servants’ quarters as she explained that in the past the home was, at times, occupied by up to a hundred people, servants included. In the first room off of the reception hall, our hostess showed us the sword that Jerónimo de Aliaga used during the conquest, encased in glass in one corner, and in another corner, the framed document signed by Diego de Aliaga for the independence of Peru from Spain in the nineteenth century. The room retained its beautiful, original tiles that covered the floor and part of the wall, illuminated by a grand chandelier of glass. We crossed the hall and entered a long, narrow
It was on a Thursday evening that my colleagues Mark, Maria Julia and I found ourselves walking along the Jirón de la Unión in the center of Lima, looking for Casa Aliaga: the Aracari team had been invited to this historic landmark by Jerónimo de Aliaga, a chef who has recently…
For travelers who looking for an outdoor adventure, Peru has wonderful opportunities to horseback ride through impressive landscapes One of our favorite places to ride is in the Colca Valley in Southern Peru, home to a range of alternative adventure activities, cultural and historical attractions. Here we share our expereince horseriding in Colca Canyon on a short trail of three hours. We also offer a longer horseback ride in Colca which takes around five hours. Horseriding in Colca Canyon On an inspection trip to the valley, I was delighted to discover that this is a terrific way to experience the beautiful Colca region. I met with my Chalan (an expert equestrian guide) early in the morning at my hotel, near the small village of Corporaque, and we set out on a short route through the Colca Valley, lasting around three hours. We trotted through the outskirts of the village, passing by locals, before continuing through fields of native crops like quinoa and habas. We began to move uphill, where the view of the valley opened up beneath us: gorgeous green terraced fields with distant snowy peaks illuminated on the horizon. Pre-Incan Burian Graves of the Colca Culture On the horseride you get to visit the Yuraq Qaqa graves, also referred to as Aya Wari or “House of the Dead,” where you will observe the burial rituals of the ancient Colca cultures in which bones and skulls are still visible. Then you’ll pass back through the main square of Coporaque, visiting the Colonial temple of Santiago de Apostol, built in 1569 on your way. The Peruvian Paso Horse Despite the fact that I do not have extensive experience in horseback riding, it did not take long for me to become accustomed to my steed, a Peruvian Paso Horse. My guide explained that the Peruvian Paso Horses are great for beginners and
For travelers who looking for an outdoor adventure, Peru has wonderful opportunities to horseback ride through impressive landscapes One of our favorite places to ride is in the Colca Valley in Southern Peru, home to a range of alternative adventure activities, cultural and historical attractions. Here we share our expereince horseriding in Colca Canyon…
On Tuesday night I ventured with my colleagues Giovanna and Vicky to the Alianza Francesa of Lima to listen to a talk about the gastronomy of Peru and France; one of the speakers at the event, writer and Peruvian culinary specialist Naguib Ciurlizza, had kindly invited the Aracari team to attend. The conference, titled, “Gastronomic Traditions, Culinary Creation and Marketing”, was the first event of the “Semana del Sabor” (or “flavour week”), and I did not know what to expect before arriving. This year is the second annual Semana del Sabor, which runs from October 15 to 24 in the cities of Lima, Piura and Cusco. It is a celebration valuing the relationship between food and the five senses, which is sponsored by the Alianza Francesa of Peru and, in Lima, by the Franco-Peruvian School of Lima. As with the first Semana del Sabor in 2012, it is being headed by the Vice President of Peru, Marisol Espinoza. As the website explains, Semana del Sabor aims to teach the value of the products native to France and Peru, demonstrating the diversity of flavors that these natural products offer. It also places emphasis on the origins and production methods of the products, as well as the importance of a healthy and balanced lifestyle. The four values that the Semana del Sabor promotes with its events are gastronomy, education, culture and social inclusion. This year the “flavors” selected for the week are quinua and cacao from Peru and, of course, the world-renowned wines and cheeses of France. When we entered the courtyard of the Alianza Francesa, people were mulling around tables, sampling hot quinoa drinks, chocolates and cheeses from various vendors. Some sat down for a meal at the café that had been transformed into a restaurant. At the center of the courtyard a
On Tuesday night I ventured with my colleagues Giovanna and Vicky to the Alianza Francesa of Lima to listen to a talk about the gastronomy of Peru and France; one of the speakers at the event, writer and Peruvian culinary specialist Naguib Ciurlizza, had kindly invited the Aracari team to attend….
Lima's Cathedral Gift Shop & Tearoo This August Lima's Cathedral finished renovating the gift shop, and Aracari received an invitation to come see what's new. So last Saturday Simon and I wandered to the Plaza de Armas, where the Cathedral is located, to check out the shop. As we approached the entrance, we asked the attendant for the tienda (gift shop) and were directed towards open doors where sun poured inside of the dim church. We stepped out onto the Patio de los Naranjos, a narrow, yellow-walled courtyard named after that of Sevilla, and were greeted by purple sun umbrellas shading tables and a sign for La Tetería de La Catedral (Cathedral tearoom) that said "Welcome" in many languages. We were immediately taken by the tranquility of the space, which makes the noisy streets of Lima seem far away. Patio de los Naranjos Tearoom Though it has always been open to the public, the Patio de los Naranjos has only recently been transformed into an inviting space for reflection and relaxation, where people can read a book, meditate, enjoy a cup of tea and a quinua muffin from the tea shop or have a conversation with friends. Now, visitors to the Cathedral and the adjoining museums can finish their tours by perusing the new gift shop for souvenirs or reflecting on their visit over a fruit-infused tea. The tearoom and the store can be visited independently from the Cathedral by simply asking at the main doors of the church. Just to the left of the tables of La Tetería tearoom is the door to the gift shop. Friend of Aracari and professor of architecture, specialist guide Luis Villacorta Santamato, oversaw the gift shop renovation, viewing it as an opportunity to promote the Cathedral and give back to local communities in need. Luis, who used to give tours of
Lima’s Cathedral Gift Shop & Tearoo This August Lima’s Cathedral finished renovating the gift shop, and Aracari received an invitation to come see what’s new. So last Saturday Simon and I wandered to the Plaza de Armas, where the Cathedral is located, to check out the shop. As we approached…
Whoever said that you can only enjoy Peruvian culture in Peru?! Founded in 1961 and based in London, the charity organization The Anglo-Peruvian Society aims to, “advance the education of the people of Great Britain about Peru, its people, history, language and literature, its institutions, folklore and culture and its intellectual, artistic, and economic life” and invites anyone, Peruvians, students and those who are simply interested in learning more to become a member. The society meets regularly and hosts events that feature a myriad of aspects of Peruvian culture and society while also fundraising for charities located in Peru. At Aracari we follow the society closely (see here), and for those of you currently living in or visiting London, there are a couple of Anglo-Peruvian Society events on the horizon that may be of interest! Firstly, in just a few weeks on Thursday, October 17th the society is hosting a Perudo Tournament that benefits Sense International, a non-profit that assists the deafblind in Peru. Now, from what I can gather (and I don’t claim to be an expert), Perudo is an ancient South American dice game that can be played with up to six players who each get five dice and a cup. The players must roll their dice, keeping them concealed under the cup and make bids as to how many dice have been rolled by the other players (i.e. eight ‘4s’ have been rolled). Estimates can only increase. The tricky part is that players are allowed to bluff and force other players to overestimate the number! If another player’s bid sounds unrealistic, you can say, “dudo,” which means “I doubt” in Spanish. Once a player’s bid is in doubt, the dice are counted and a new round begins after a player has been eliminated. The last player left
Whoever said that you can only enjoy Peruvian culture in Peru?! Founded in 1961 and based in London, the charity organization The Anglo-Peruvian Society aims to, “advance the education of the people of Great Britain about Peru, its people, history, language and literature, its institutions, folklore and culture and its…
