Mark Green
Originally from Yorkshire, England, I’ve now lived in Peru for over eight years where I work in Lima as a member of the expert travel planning team at Aracari Travel, which specializes in private, tailormade travel to Peru, Bolivia and the Galapagos. I design bespoke trips across the region, from adventures to lesser-known corners of Peru to visiting Machu Picchu in style staying at five-star luxury hotels.
I get true enjoyment from sharing my own first-hand travel experience with similarly culturally curious travelers and love introducing people to destinations and experiences they weren’t aware of before planning their trip with me.
In my spare time in Lima I enjoy taking advantage of the capital’s booming culinary scene and going for runs along the coastal cliffs. I travel frequently and have a passion for hiking and the outdoors so love going to the Andes Mountains in particular. I also often visit the Amazon to spend time with my wife's family in Iquitos.
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"I specialize in private, luxury, tailormade travel to Peru, Bolivia and the Galapagos. I’ve travelled across South America and the entire length and breadth of Peru and making it easy for me to offer honest, first-hand advice on the best things to do and places to stay.
Designing personalized trips means I also specialize in connecting travelers with the extensive network of exclusive contacts Aracari has built up over the last 20 years, who facilitate truly unique experiences. From learning to cook with a celebrity chef, to discussing the Incas with a leading anthropologist, to visiting the Sacred Valley with an explorer, to meeting artists and gallery curators, I can introduce you to people you won’t find in the guidebooks."
How did you get involved in travel?
"Since the day I graduated university I have been involved in travel. I caught the bug when I moved to Florida in my early twenties to work at Disney World. From there I spent a few years at sea aboard Disney cruises and luxury world cruise ships before deciding to head to South America in search of more adventure. I spent some time volunteering in Cusco at a non-profit travel organization before working as a Tour Leader in South America, where I led groups on long, in-depth tours across the continent keeping Peru as my base - and it now feels very much like home!"
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"There have been so many, but probably the most unique and unforgettable experience I have is participating in the Quyllurit’I festival in the Cusco region of Peru. Coinciding with the full moon, I followed thousands of indigenous locals on a pilgrimage to the Sinakara Valley. I have vivid memories of trekking almost 15km alongside traditionally dressed Peruvians to the base of a glacier where participants climbed to the glacier and brought back sacred blocks of ice which are thought to have medicinal healing qualities."
