A Family Adventure in Peru

9 Nights / 10 Days

Discover Peru’s signature destinations of Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, the alluring city of Cusco and the Amazon on an unforgettable 10-day family journey.

Kick-start your adventure in the vibrant and friendly city of Lima. Renowned for its rich cultural heritage, this sprawling metropolis offers a dazzling array of family-friendly attractions, including interpretative tours of the National Museum and the Museum of Natural History. Lima has been hailed as South America’s culinary capital and will provide a delectable introduction to Peruvian cuisine.

Next, discover the Sacred Valley, where ancient Incan farming terraces are still cultivated by the region’s inhabitants of today. The wondrous landscapes of the valley lend themselves to an array of outdoor activities such as mountain biking, trekking, horseback riding, river rafting, paddle boarding, and zip-lining. Introduce your children to the local residents and learn about their ancient traditions, or take a trip to the historic salt mines to discover the Incan salt mining process. Hop aboard the luxurious Vistadome train, designed to provide panoramic views of the dramatic landscapes, as your adventure extends to an exploration of the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu, a bucket-list experience that you and your family will never forget. A shroud of mystery surrounds these ruins. Some speculate that it was established as a university, while others claim that it was built as a retreat for royalty. Your private guide will give you his interpretation, and you can decide.

Day 1 – 3: Embark on a guided city tour of Lima’s historic downtown, starting with a visit to the main plaza and the surrounding monuments. These include the Cathedral of Lima, an architectural masterpiece built in 1534; the Presidential Palace where the colourful changing of the palace guard offers an excellent photo opportunity; the Archbishop’s Palace, City Hall, the Desamparados train station, and the Moorish-style houses and balconies that line Lima’s old streets. In the afternoon, hop on a bicycle for a leisurely biking tour. This is a perfect introduction to Lima’s most charming and trendy neighbourhoods including the famous promenade locally known as “El Malecon”. Explore cool and arty hotspots, pristine parks, cosy plazas, Barranco’s old town, and the best-kept secrets of Miraflores – inspiring old and new architecture, and breathtaking cliff-side views of Lima Bay.

Day 3 – 5: Nestled at the foot of verdant hills the beautiful Río Urubamba Valley, known as El Valle Sagrado, the Sacred Valley resides. Boasting a magnificent natural setting, the Sacred Valley of the Incas can be appreciated for its rich flora and fauna, bird watching, and adventure sports as well as its archaeological wealth. Visit Awanacancha, a project that preserves ancient textile-making techniques. Continue to the fabric dyeing area where there is a display of various natural dyes and how they are applied to the textiles. Peruse the fabric dyeing area featuring a display of various natural dyes and how they are applied to textiles, and watch a weaving demonstration. You will have the opportunity to purchase the finished products from their boutique store. Spend time at an interactive animal farm where your children can feed unusual animals such as llamas, alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos. Continue to the local village of Pisac, famous for its colourful market which attracts travellers from all over the world. Try your hand at bartering for local sweaters, ponchos, wall hangings, jewellery, local handicrafts, and unique souvenirs. Choose between a variety of exciting activities on your 2nd day in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. These include river rafting, mountain biking, horseback riding, quad biking (ATV), kayaking, paddle boarding & via Ferrata (rock climbing) and ziplining

Day 5: Visit the town of Ollantaytambo, with its Inca streets of stone, traditional square homes, and small markets. Explore its ruins and hike up to an Incan temple for a majestic view of the town. After your fascinating explorations, you’ll depart from Ollantaytambo Train Station to Machu Picchu on the Vistadome train. Watch the valleys, mountains and quaint villages pass by as you look through the train’s large, panoramic windows. Explore the fascinating citadel of Machu Picchu for three hours accompanied by your expert guide. Discover the myths, stories and theories shrouding this mysterious masterpiece. Your guide will lead you through the site, providing archaeological and historical information on key areas of interest, including Intihuatana (the Sun Dial), the Sacred Plaza, and the Temple of the Sun. Surrounded by the cloud forest, you’ll see the heights of the mountain Wayna Picchu (Huayna Picchu) rising over the site, and Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) once a fortress of Machu Picchu and the entrance point to the Machu Picchu Inca trail.

Day 6 – 8: You will have the option to do a variety of hikes including Machu Picchu at sunrise, Huayna Picchu, Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), Inca Bridge or Machu Picchu Mountain. Your guide will be able to advise on which is the most suitable for your preferences. Embark on a guided city tour of historic Cusco, magnificently preserved, and resplendent with colonial architecture. It showcases the apex of indigenous Quechua culture. Beautiful Spanish colonial buildings are juxtaposed with Incan walls lining the square, and a contemporary thriving nightlife flourishes. Visit notable sites in this archaeological capital of South America, once the Incan capital. Visit the Main Square, the Cathedral, the churches of La Compañía and Santo Domingo. Your morning tour will end with a visit to the impressive fortress of Sacsayhuamán, built overlooking the city of Cusco.

Day 8 – 10: Meet with your Amazon guide to decide on the afternoon excursion. Our recommendation is a guided walk along the trails of this protected natural area, where you will discover the Amazon Basin. This trek offers an excellent introduction to the jungle environment, winding past impressive trees such as the Shihuahuaco medicine tree, and the strangely beautiful strangler fig. This is also a wonderful opportunity for bird watching and observing exotic insects. Enjoy a twilight river excursion, a guided afternoon boat ride on the Madre de Dios River. Witness the transformation from day to night, where animals and birds of the daytime give way to species specially adapted to the night. Visit Lake Sandoval in the Tambopata National Reserve. Glide in a wooden canoe, across a beautiful, mirror-like oxbow lake that is home to the endangered giant river otter, as well as red howler monkeys, red-bellied macaws, anacondas, side-neck turtles, and black caimans (crocodiles). Explore the remarkable Inkaterra Canopy Walkway and Anaconda Walk. Your treetop tour begins by ascending the first tower to 29 m (95 ft). Then you’ll walk through the lush rainforest canopy on a suspension bridge network linking eight observation platforms. Look out for bright toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, monkeys and the three-toed sloth.

Day 10: A ¾ hour return trip by boat on the Madre de Dios River takes you to Puerto Maldonado, where you will visit the Butterfly House. Peru boasts the greatest variety of butterflies in the world, with 3 700 known species. Here, your Peruvian journey comes to an end, and we wave a fond farewell as you are taken to the Puerto Maldonado International Airport for your flight to Lima. Upon landing in Lima, we will assist you with your international flight connection

All of our featured itineraries can be customised bespoke to your preferences. Contact us to find out more, or explore our fantastic array of other Family itineraries here.

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