Virgilio Martinez, the mastermind behind Lima's #1st restaurant in the world Central, opened MIL in the Sacred Valley in February 2018. One of Aracari's specialist guides in Cusco, Lisy Kuon, went to test out this buzzworthy new gourmet opening for Aracari and shares her first-hand review. Review of MIL, the Best Restaurant in the Sacred Valley WRITTEN BY LISY KUON PHOTOS COURTESY OF MIL RESTAURANT Let me start by saying that a visit to MIL is almost a "religious experience." It is completely unique to anything else offered in the area, and one could easily say that it is the best restaurant in the Sacred Valley. Offering an innovative 8-course tasting menu at lunch, I would highly recommend any self-proclaimed foodies take time to dine there during a trip to Peru. My visit began with a 1.5 hour drive from Cusco to the archaeological site of Moray, but Aracari guests who choose to dine at MIL will do so amid their day tour of Moray and the nearby site of Maras. That being said, the remote location should not deter a visit as the lunch fits nicely into a day tour of the region. The Setting As a local of Cusco, upon arrival it was not the archaeological site that stunned me with its beauty (as it does for most travelers) rather the restaurant and the way it seamlessly fits into the landscape. The restaurant has a simple and clean architecture, and is built right above the circular Inca terraces of Moray. It is a spectacular setting, un-disrupted by the adobe building thanks to its natural design. The Food at the Best Restaurant in the Sacred Valley After walking over to take a peek at Moray, I checked in for my reservation and sat down to begin the meal. The dishes
Virgilio Martinez, the mastermind behind Lima’s #1st restaurant in the world Central, opened MIL in the Sacred Valley in February 2018. One of Aracari’s specialist guides in Cusco, Lisy Kuon, went to test out this buzzworthy new gourmet opening for Aracari and shares her first-hand review. Review of MIL, the Best…
The Sacred Valley of the Incas is a paradise for all types of travelers - but no matter what you love to do, I highly recommend you take one day during a visit to get off the beaten path and get outdoors. This short Sacred Valley hike is a great way to do just that and can be arranged as a part of any bespoke trip to Peru with Aracari. A Short Sacred Valley Hike Off the Beaten Path What better way to explore a region riddled with history and culture than on foot? But you don't need to trek for hours to get a taste of some of the best that the Sacred Valley has to offer. Aracari's short hike to little-visited ruins is about 1.5 hours round trip including a tour of the ruins, and is followed by a rural village visit, lunch in the community, and weaving or farming demonstrations. The Experience in Detail Your guide and driver will pick you up in the morning from your Sacred Valley luxury hotel, and drive you about one hour to the base of Machucollpa ruins. Hardly ever visited by tourists, you are likely to have the ruins to yourself during your visit! Here at the base of the ruins you will be greeted by a few friendly llamas and their caretakers who will accompany you. You will then ascend an original Inca Trail on foot about 45 minutes to Machucollpa ruins. Though not a long trek, this short Sacred Valley hike is at high altitude, so is considered moderately difficult. You may have trouble breathing on the way up, but the views and solitude are worth the effort. Your llamas will lead you around the ruins as your guide explains their ancient use as food-storage. Enjoy a moment of
The Sacred Valley of the Incas is a paradise for all types of travelers – but no matter what you love to do, I highly recommend you take one day during a visit to get off the beaten path and get outdoors. This short Sacred Valley hike is a great…
For a truly authentic day in the Sacred Valley, I highly recommend you join Ollantaytambo based NGO, Awamaki, for a weaving experience and village visit. I had the chance to participate on a recent trip to the region with my family, and I am delighted to be able to share details of my visit and why this is such a special Sacred Valley responsible travel opportunity. A day with Awamaki can be arranged by Aracari as a part of any larger, tailormade trip to Peru - check out our Connecting with Peru itinerary for inspiration. Sacred Valley Responsible Travel Awamaki is an NGO based in Peru that aims to empower rural communities through responsible tourism and revitalize their culture through textiles. The responsible tourism experiences they offer range from full-day weaving village visits to four-day textile workshops. To get a taste of village life and textile culture, I recommend you opt for the full-day visit as I did. The longer immersion workshops are better suited for very niche-interest travelers. My Experience with Awamaki The Journey to Patacancha The day started with pick-up from our hotel near Urubamba and we began the one-hour drive to the quaint village of Ollantaytambo. Famous for its ruins, train station, and traditional local life, this is a must-see stop on any trip to the Sacred Valley. From here, we met our Awamaki guide, Juan, and began a 1 hour and 20 minute journey to the community of Patacancha. Awamaki works with many weaving communities in the Patacancha Valley, so the exact location of visits vary. But no matter where you go, you will make stops along the way at little-visited ruins or small churches to take in the rich culture and heritage of the region your are visiting. Meeting the Weavers Upon arrival to the
For a truly authentic day in the Sacred Valley, I highly recommend you join Ollantaytambo based NGO, Awamaki, for a weaving experience and village visit. I had the chance to participate on a recent trip to the region with my family, and I am delighted to be able to share…
During a trip to the Sacred Valley of Peru, I had the chance to participate in an unforgettable day hiking through remote mountains, visiting little-known ruins, and eating lunch with the friendliest community imaginable. The experience gave me insight into the real Sacred Valley, something most tourists long to see but never get the chance to. Aracari offers the experience as a full-day cultural Peru hike, and can be included as a part of a private, tailormade trip to Peru. A Cultural Peru Hike in the Sacred Valley The day started with a morning pick-up from my hotel in the Sacred Valley. My knowledgeable guide Kathy explained the schedule for our day as we drove about an hour in our private vehicle to Chinchero. We would start with a visit to the town and ruins of Chinchero, before walking about 4 hours through the mountins to the rural community of Rachji. In the community we would enjoy lunch, and participate in a farming and weaving demonstration to get a better understanding of the locals' day to day life before wrapping up with another private car ride to my hotel. Hiking with Llamas I was so excited to get started that I practically jumped out of the car when we arrived at our starting point of Chinchero (3,800m/12,500ft). The town is picture-perfectly surrounded by the snow-capped mountains of the Cordillera Vilcabamba, and is buzzing with local women in voluminous colorful skirts selling textiles and produce. We took a tour of the town and ruins and Kathy explained that the area was once home to the great conquering emperor Inca Topa Yupanqui and features incredible history. We walked through the ruins and down some stairs and were greeted by the greatest suprise ever - llamas! During our trek we would be accompanied
During a trip to the Sacred Valley of Peru, I had the chance to participate in an unforgettable day hiking through remote mountains, visiting little-known ruins, and eating lunch with the friendliest community imaginable. The experience gave me insight into the real Sacred Valley, something most tourists long to see…
The Sacred Valley of the Incas, located just a one and a half hour drive from Cusco - the gateway to Machu Picchu - is a must-visit destination on a trip to Peru. Dotted with archaeological ruins, traditional rural villages and sweeping landscapes of rich, fertile land, the Sacred Valley is also home to an exquisite selection of some of Peru's finest hotels. Aracari shares our handpicked round-up of the best hotels in the Sacred Valley, selected based on our first-hand stays and 20 years of experience scouting out the stand-out properties. The Best Hotels in the Sacred Valley Sol y Luna We adore this stunning, socially-responsible five-star hotel, one of the best hotels in all of Peru. Sol y Luna is set in spacious grounds with an outdoor swimming pool, dedicated spa, two top-notch restaurants and a wine cellar for private dining. There's even a horse-ranch, with riding trails offered in the surrounding countryside. The stand-out rooms are comprised of individual private villa bungalows, with supremely tasteful, artistic design that gives Sol y Luna a unique edge in the Sacred Valley style-stakes. Each 'casita' bungalow has ample amenities, though we recommend you upgrade to a deluxe casita which is almost double the size of the standard. If luxurious comfort isn't enough - the hotel is a Relais & Chateaux property - sleep well knowing that Sol y Luna was set up to fund the non-profit Sol y Luna Association to sustainably fund education projects, including running its own school for children from the local community. A stay at Sol y Luna directly helps support these initiatives, and visits to the Association can be coordinated with the hotel. Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba Colonial-inspired Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba is comprised of a hacienda-style building with 16 rooms constructed around a central courtyard, along with an additional collection of
The Sacred Valley of the Incas, located just a one and a half hour drive from Cusco – the gateway to Machu Picchu – is a must-visit destination on a trip to Peru. Dotted with archaeological ruins, traditional rural villages and sweeping landscapes of rich, fertile land, the Sacred Valley…