Charity Climb to the Summit of Huascaran If you read our blog article on Living Heart last week and felt moved to help the NGO, then you'll be very impressed to hear what Englishman Luke Blezard is doing to support the charity. Peru's Highest Mountain The 27-year-old has spent the last three years living and working in Lima, Luke will be attempting to summit the highest mountain in Peru and the earth’s tropics, no less, in an astonishing attempt to raise a five-figure sum to support Living Heart's various projects. Mount Huascaran in Huaraz "It was in May 2012 when I first went to Huaraz with my father and his partner that the idea was born," Luke explained to us when we caught up with him in Lima. "The very first moment I saw Mt. Huascaran I knew right there and then that I had to climb it. Why? That’s simple. I have always enjoyed a challenge and have always been of a curious nature, so climbing the highest mountain in Peru to see what the view would be like seemed like a perfect project!" "However, this wasn’t enough, I wanted to do something more. I wanted to do something for Peru as well as for myself. Having thought about the many memories and opportunities that Peru has given me, I wanted to leave something for others and this was what prompted me to start an international charity campaign. Besides supporting a local Andean community my goal is to create hope and inspiration in the children that live there so that they will believe that with hard work and commitment they too can succeed in realizing their dreams and achieving whatever they put their minds to." "Choosing a charity to raise money for can often be a slow, time consuming
Charity Climb to the Summit of Huascaran If you read our blog article on Living Heart last week and felt moved to help the NGO, then you’ll be very impressed to hear what Englishman Luke Blezard is doing to support the charity. Peru’s Highest Mountain The 27-year-old has spent the…
Aracari prides itself in unveiling the most authentic aspects of Peruvian culture and it has always been important for us to establish close links with organisations that support local communities in the regions that our guests travel to as part of our responsible travel ethos. We want to shine a spotlight on Living Heart NGO knowing that our guests look to give back too, and to help raise awareness around some of the issues facing Andean communities. Living Heart NGO in Peru We came to know of Sonia Newhouse and her charity Living Heart in 2010 through a friend in the Urubamba Valley. After various trips to meet her, we were humbled, inspired and thoroughly impressed by the work she was doing. Above all, we felt reassured that Sonia and Living Heart were having a genuine impact upon the communities where they work. From their core work of providing nutritional food for younger children, establishing greenhouses in schools to make vegetable cultivation sustainable and, providing much needed vitamins, to working with small-scale water purification and elimination of risk from water-borne parasites, and even organizing volunteer art teachers and theatre classes for children, they utilise every penny of the money that they receive to have the most lasting impact in improving people's lives. Living Heart have not only given us a sense of the scale of impoverishment in the Andes, but they have also made it very clear to us how much needs to be done. As of May 2013, there is a very serious situation in all of the communities that are supported with a Nutrition Program. Their greenhouse initiative has allowed them to plant enough food to eventually provide a mass of wonderful vegetables for the school and community, yet as they wait for the new sprouts to grow,
Aracari prides itself in unveiling the most authentic aspects of Peruvian culture and it has always been important for us to establish close links with organisations that support local communities in the regions that our guests travel to as part of our responsible travel ethos. We want to shine a…
Aracari launches new Peru Family Itineraries 18 April 2013, Immediate Release Aracari Travel, an award winning travel agency based in Lima, Peru, has announced a range of new family-friendly tour itineraries for summer 2013. Family Travel Peru Responding to increasing demand for family-oriented experiences in Peru, Aracari Travel has developed two itineraries that incorporate the destinations, accommodations and activities that are most suited to younger families with children aged up to 12 years old as well as families with children aged 13 years and older. Both itineraries include a broad range of adventure activities, educational visits and opportunities to meet and interact with local people and communities. Activities for the younger itinerary include a trip to the Amazon rainforest, treasure hunts, interactive weaving lessons, a chocolate workshop and fishing excursions. The tour also includes a visit to Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and Cusco. The older itinerary includes more adventurous activities such as surfing, mountain biking, hiking and driving sand buggies. In addition to visiting Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and Cusco, the older itinerary adds the Nazca Lines, Lima and Paracas National Reserve. Interest in family travel to Peru has grown rapidly in recent years with Aracari Travel noting a substantial increase in family requests since 2010. The Lima-based company attributes this to improvements in travel infrastructure and hotel accommodations as well as a growth in the number of destinations and activities suitable for younger travellers. This is particularly the case in the Amazon rainforest where a number of lodges have developed activities specifically for children, such as interactive rainforest trails and child-friendly field guides that are designed to teach youngsters the value of the natural environment. Other family-friendly activities have become widespread throughout the country over recent years such as horseback riding, quad biking, hot air ballooning and
Aracari launches new Peru Family Itineraries 18 April 2013, Immediate Release Aracari Travel, an award winning travel agency based in Lima, Peru, has announced a range of new family-friendly tour itineraries for summer 2013. Family Travel Peru Responding to increasing demand for family-oriented experiences in Peru, Aracari Travel has developed…
Over the past few years, Peru has developed into a destination that is no longer just for backpackers looking for adventure in the Andes or historians studying ancient civilizations. Popping up at an increasingly growing rate in various regions throughout the country, luxury hotels, five-star dining, and private experiences are attracting a new demographic of discerning travelers. A destination once known only for its historical offerings, Peru is now a big player in the world of leading luxury destinations. The base of any trip starts with the accommodations, and the emergence of high-end boutiques and luxury hotels throughout Peru provides travelers with a combination of personalized service, high-quality and ample amenities, and a mix of style and comfort that permeates the importance of attention to the “finer details.” Luxury hotel brands have invested huge amounts in introducing hotels defined by their facilities and attention to customer service, and come fully equipped with spa services, gyms, and business centers. Boutiques, meanwhile, add quirky details and highly authentic touches to bring an altogether different flavor to options in Peru. A perfect example of an accommodation raising the bar of luxury hotels in Peru is Cusco’s Palacio Nazarenas (2012), a colonial convent refurbished by Orient-Express into a refined and fashionable property featuring 55 suites lavished in the most luxurious décor and amenities. The brand new JW Marriott Cusco also seeks to satisfy the needs of today’s luxury travelers with the style and design elements of an architecturally stunning site. For those looking for a more unique, personalized, and cozy property, La Lune One Suite (2012 … actually two suites) is an owner-operated boutique hotel? perfect for discerning travelers looking for a refined, lavish, and exclusive experience, with a hotel owner and operator who goes out of his way accommodate his guests and make
Over the past few years, Peru has developed into a destination that is no longer just for backpackers looking for adventure in the Andes or historians studying ancient civilizations. Popping up at an increasingly growing rate in various regions throughout the country, luxury hotels, five-star dining, and private experiences are…
In the heart of Peru’s Sacred Valley, hidden among its beautiful private gardens, ranch, and the picturesque mountains of the Valley lies a tranquil retreat and one of my personal and Aracari’s favorite hotels in Peru: Sol y Luna. TripAdvisor and the masses seem to agree with our praise; Sol y Luna was recently named to the Travelers’ Choice 2013 Top 25 Hotels in the World, a well-deserved distinction for this stylish yet cozy escape. A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to have spent a few days at Sol y Luna during a family vacation that took us all over Peru and discovered firsthand what makes this property a hidden gem worthy of acclaim. It is not to be treated as merely a place to stop between Cusco and a trip to Machu Picchu; the wonderful casitas built in perfect harmony with the surrounding gardens and valley, the Peruvian artwork boasting unique and colorful taste that echoes the vibrant floral display of these gardens, the hotel’s level of service, the onsite ranch with Peruvian Paso horses, the exciting activities available, and the excellent menu crafted by one of Lima’s hottest chefs are just some of the many reasons why you should take the time to spend a few days at this pleasant sanctuary. Whether you venture out to the nearby archaeological sites like Maras and Moray on quad or horseback, enjoy a massage at the charming Yacu Wasi spa, or just tote your camera around the grounds photographing the birds and the flowers, Sol y Luna is an unpretentious accommodation perfectly suitable for all types of travelers.My only complaint was that I could not stay longer, the only solution...return for another visit, and soon! Read more about Sol y Luna on our website and contact us to include
In the heart of Peru’s Sacred Valley, hidden among its beautiful private gardens, ranch, and the picturesque mountains of the Valley lies a tranquil retreat and one of my personal and Aracari’s favorite hotels in Peru: Sol y Luna. TripAdvisor and the masses seem to agree with our praise; Sol…
Peru Motorcycle Tours Coasting along the open road, the exhilarating feeling of cruising through wild mountain landscapes between multiple points of interest: Peru motorcycle tours are a great way of blowing off steam and having the freedom to visit destinations that you wish on your own schedule. The King of Jordan recently tried his hand at this innovative way of travelling during his visit to Peru for the summit of South America-Arab countries, he went all the way from Lima to Cusco on his bike. Aracari’s close friends Juanjo and Carlos, who travelled to Cusco in August, could have taught him a trick or two before his trip: they hired their own motorbikes for 4 days to explore the Cusco and Sacred Valley region. “It’s the best sensation” said Juanjo, “you have the freedom to go where you want… along beautiful roads and to a multitude of different points of interest in the area.” Starting in Cusco, and provided with detailed maps, the pair set out on their 400cc bikes along a variety of routes around the valley. Their first excursion was to the archeological site of Moray, racing through isolated countryside to arrive at the site in time for a beautiful sunset. They also sped along a quite fantastic route beginning at Abra Malaga and following a winding road downhill for 45km to the town of Ollantaytambo, and made a trip to Hacienda Huayoccari. With short and manageable distances around Cusco and the valley, Juanjo told me that this experience is very accessible for those who have prior experience of riding. There is parking with security at the majority of hotels, and garages in the main towns should any maintenance be required. To ensure total flexibility, they were able to leave their bikes parked securely in Ollantaytambo overnight while
Peru Motorcycle Tours Coasting along the open road, the exhilarating feeling of cruising through wild mountain landscapes between multiple points of interest: Peru motorcycle tours are a great way of blowing off steam and having the freedom to visit destinations that you wish on your own schedule. The King of…