by Simon One of the most important aspects of Aracari's mission is that we give back to the communities that we visit, and that we make sure that any of our guests who want to donate arrive in the places that need them most. This was the purpose of my visit to the small school of the Huama community in the hills above the Sacred Valley yesterday. I set out early yesterday morning with the principal of the school, one Richard Velarde, whom we had kindly been put in contact with by our friend Carol from the Willka Tika guesthouse. The journey was stunning, turning towards the hills from the town of Calca and winding up a small valley dirt track for about 40 minutes before reaching the very picturesque community of Huama. On the journey, Richard told me a little about the Huama school. Since he began working there 5 years ago, he and his colleagues have made committed effort to develop the school's facilities and to better the opportunities for children in the area. They have seen much success, including the introduction of a secondary school for older children who would have had to walk for several hours to the next nearest school. Many of the kids would have opted out of secondary school altogether before this one was built. After a delightful welcome from the kids which included a good bout of singing, a bouquet of flowers and a brief introduction to my home country Scotland, Richard gave me a tour of the school. The kids were adorable, smiling and laughing and always interested in the slightest thing I had to tell them. They were particularly fascinated by my camera. I spent the whole day there, peeking into some of the classrooms and trying as best as
by Simon One of the most important aspects of Aracari’s mission is that we give back to the communities that we visit, and that we make sure that any of our guests who want to donate arrive in the places that need them most. This was the purpose of my…
The Question: Did Inca royalty really marry their sisters? The Answer: The short answer is, yes, it is true that in late times of the Inca Empire, Inca royalty did marry their sisters. The long answer and the reasoning for this incest is very much disputed and, even more so, interesting. To begin with a little context: according to latter succession rules of the Inca lineage, when the Inca died, the succeeding Inca had to be the son of the Coya, or Queen, of the deceased Inca. The Coya was the first wife of the Inca, the woman whom married during his succession to the Inca throne. Originally the incumbent Inca was determined simply by the Inca choosing the most able amongst all of his sons, or, when the father had not chosen which son should succeed him before his death, by a specially designated council. The problem with this system was that it invited a violent scramble for the prized throne between the potentially many sons of the Inca conceived with his oft numerous wives, mistresses and concubines. All of the Inca’s sons had equal rights to the throne, and they sometimes bitterly disputed who would succeed to the extent that even bloody assassination of rivals was not overlooked. As such, the decision was made that only the sons of the Coya should be able to succeed the Inca throne, to avoid such bickering. Now, the practice of the Inca marrying his own sister as Coya appears to have arisen as a way of even further strengthening the claim that the sons of that Inca and his Coya would have to succeed their father after his death. If an Inca were to conceive with his own sister this would vastly reduce the chances of squabbling after the death of
The Question: Did Inca royalty really marry their sisters? The Answer: The short answer is, yes, it is true that in late times of the Inca Empire, Inca royalty did marry their sisters. The long answer and the reasoning for this incest is very much disputed and, even more so,…
Pisac Ruins Pisac ruins is one of the highlights of the Sacred Valley. The Inca site of Pisac is well-known for agricultural terracing, which sweeps around the south and east flanks of the mountain in vast, graceful curves, almost unbroken by steps. A fortress city The Pisac ruins, the largest fortress city of the Incas and one of the largest of ancient America, sit high above the modern day village of the same name. They constitute a stupendous ruin complex of the finest Inca stonework, with many attendant buildings, baths and storehouses, exceptional flights of terracing, and quantities of tombs, all well defended by walls, gates and towers. The complex seems to feature some example of almost everything the Incas did in terms of architecture; with religious, administrative and residential constructions. Visiting Pisac A tour of Pisac can combine both the archaelogical site and the market at its foot. The incan ruins are in the Sacred Valley and can be visited en route to or from Cusco, or in combination with more of the top incan sites of the Sacred Valley such as Ollantaytambo or Chinchero in a full day tour. Monuments of the Incas Guests on our Trip of the Century visited the beautiful site with the expert guidance of historian John Hemming. Dr. Hemming’s expertise on the subject is exemplified in his book Monuments of the Incas, which is a thorough investigation and interpretation of the architecture of several Inca sites.
Pisac Ruins Pisac ruins is one of the highlights of the Sacred Valley. The Inca site of Pisac is well-known for agricultural terracing, which sweeps around the south and east flanks of the mountain in vast, graceful curves, almost unbroken by steps. A fortress city The Pisac ruins, the largest fortress city…
The Chan-Chan archaeological site is a highlight of Peru's Moche Route,. The complex was the capital of the Chimú civilization from AD 900 to 1400. Located about 5 kilometers (about 3 miles) west of Trujillo, it was built around AD 1300 and covers about 28 square kilometers (11 square miles), making it the largest mud city in the world. UNESCO World Heritage Site Chan Chan The city of Chan Chan was built out of adobe (or bricks of dirt). Built by the Chimu people in about 1300AD, Chan Chan is close by to the modern day city of Trujillo, an area rich in pre-Columbian history and home to many thousands of years of civilisation. Carved motifs Arguably the most striking features of the city’s impressive architecture are the brilliant designs and motifs carved into the adobe bricks. These represent birds, animals and figures as well as following intricate horizontal and vertical stepped patterns. The motifs depict everything from customs, religious mythology and constellations to farming and fishing seasons. On the outskirts of the citadel, there was an area where the people were mainly engaged in farming, craftsmanship, and fishing—the main activities that sustained this northern Peruvian civilization. Chan Chan in its heydey In its heyday, Chan Chan consisted of administrative offices, ceremonial altars, storerooms, military bunkers and vast reservoirs that still stand today. Although the site is no longer as splendid as it must once have looked, visitors can still marvel at the architecture of the palaces: huge constructions of clay and sand measuring up to 15 metres in height. Visiting Chan Chan Chan Chan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986. Chan Chan is one of the many fascinating archaeological sites along the Moche route (the Chimu Empire descended from the Moche). Contact us today to speak to
The Chan-Chan archaeological site is a highlight of Peru’s Moche Route,. The complex was the capital of the Chimú civilization from AD 900 to 1400. Located about 5 kilometers (about 3 miles) west of Trujillo, it was built around AD 1300 and covers about 28 square kilometers (11 square miles),…
Much like Tutankhamen in Egypt, the Lord of Sipan was a mummy discovered with immense quantities of precious metals and stones in his tomb. Sipán, in the Lambayeque valley in Peru, is famed for its rich tombs revealed by archaeologists. The Lord of Sipan's tomb - discovered in 1987 - is also known as 'Huaca Rajada' and its tomb and artifacts - since stored in the impressive Royal Tombs Museum - are a highlight of the Moche Route in northern Peru. The Lord of Sipan The burial platform served as a mausoleum for a succession of Moche lords, accompanied to the afterlife by a stunning selection of burial offerings. The pieces that the lord was buried with are of exquisite quality, with intricately designed earrings, masks, necklaces, bracelets and all sorts of ornaments crafted of gold, silver, copper and semi-precious stones. These take on beautiful forms representing animals, spiders and ghostly faces. All photos are sourced here, all pieces are property of the Museo Tumbas Reales in Lambayeque. The Moche Culture Due to the high quality of burial items, it is believed that the Lord of Sipan - or Señor de Sipán - was an important ruler of the Moche culture around 250AD. The Moche culture was one of the most important cultures in northern Peru, and they inhabited the coastal region from around 100AD-700AD, a millennia before the Incas. Discovering the tomb of the Lord of Sipan The tomb of the Lord was discovered in 1987 by a team led by the archaeologist Walter Alva. In a recent visit to northern Peru, Cristina of Aracari met Walter in person. She was most impressed with his work and his passion for Archaeology and how Walter has helped his discoveries and others like it to foster economic development in the region. The tomb
Much like Tutankhamen in Egypt, the Lord of Sipan was a mummy discovered with immense quantities of precious metals and stones in his tomb. Sipán, in the Lambayeque valley in Peru, is famed for its rich tombs revealed by archaeologists. The Lord of Sipan’s tomb – discovered in 1987 – is…
Aracari's Weekly Insight Coca has been consumed by natives of the Andes for thousands of years, estimates range from anywhere between 4000 and 8000 years, since the area was first inhabited. The leaves can be brewed into a beverage with hot water, though the most common form of consumption is directly chewing the leaves. No matter the number, the fact remains that Coca is embedded as a significant part of Andean tradition. The Inca’s referred to it as “the divine plant”, partly given its quality to greatly enhance the strength and productivity of those who chew the Coca leaf. In an often harsh environment and at the high altitudes of the Andes this stimulant was absolutely necessary for partaking in often exhausting tasks. Inca messengers, for example, would chew on the leaf before running excruciatingly long distances along the extensive Inca road system, while coca would allow labourers to enjoy increased strength and energy, to work throughout the day and benefit from a reduction in hunger pangs. Playing such an important role in everyday work, Coca was revered as sacred and vital in Andean belief. On Aracari’s Mystical History Tour, our guests will be able to see the religious significance of Coca first-hand in an authentic experience with a genuine Shaman. To this day the plant is honoured and blessed in ceremonies enacted by religious men: Coca plays a key role in appeasing the gods, asking them for advice and as an offering to the gods and the mountains to help the cycle of Andean life to continue One cannot do justice to this concept in a mere paragraph, so you’ll just have to come on the tour and witness this ceremony with your own eyes. Upon first arrival to Peru, the Spanish tried to prohibit consumption of Coca due
Aracari’s Weekly Insight Coca has been consumed by natives of the Andes for thousands of years, estimates range from anywhere between 4000 and 8000 years, since the area was first inhabited. The leaves can be brewed into a beverage with hot water, though the most common form of consumption is…
