Family Holidays to Peru

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This family holiday to Peru is perfect to explore this wonderful country with other like-minded families. Peru is a country locked in history which your first touch on Peruvian soil will reveal. From the cobblestoned roads of Cusco, to the mighty Machu Picchu hidden thousands of metres up. Explore the enchanting city of Cusco and the Sacred Valley before journeying by train to Aguas Calientas (hot springs) and of course the world famous site of Machu Picchu. Don't miss the chance to discover the site early morning before anyone else arrives. With a superb array of beautiful mountain views and diverse ecosystems this tour has it all. Each day you will discover scenic vistas, hidden archaeological sites and new friends on this amazing South American adventure.

• Cusco city tour US$13
• Visit local museums in Cusco US$5-10
• Mountain biking (Sacred Valley) US$35

As we know how important it is to match children of similar ages, our 30 July departure is specifically for families with teenagers. Younger siblings are welcome upon request.

Grand American Adventures travellers will join our sister company for this special Peru family holiday.

Want even more adventure? Book our 4 day Amazon extension to this tour, exploring the jungle in depth on foot and by canoe, from US$989. Contact us for more information or click here to view more >

Why not arrange your own Grand American Adventures departure? For groups of 8 or more, we can offer private departures on any of our published itineraries enabling friends, families or organizations to enjoy our style of travel at special rates. Although tours will run as per our standard itinerary shown here, slight modifications may be considered and dates can be chosen to suit your needs. (Subject to seasonal/operational restrictions). So contact us today and start planning your own adventure.

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Trip Itinerary

Our routes have been carefully chosen to include the best night stops and highlights. However, as local and operational conditions may vary and unforeseen circumstances can arise, the following itinerary should be used as a guideline.

As this tour departs at 0700 we recommend that you book pre-tour accommodation. Please request hotel details at the time of booking.

Day 1-2: Lima

Your Spirit of the Incas journey begins in cosmopolitan Lima, the capital and largest city in Peru. Lima was founded in 1535 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro and today is a strange mix of old and modern built upon a valley surrounded by an extremely arid desert. Lima has been noted as one of the best places to try the delightful Peruvian cuisine with an eccentric mix of ingredients from the coast, mountain and Amazon regions as well as fresh seafood.
Accommodation: Hotel included | Meals: Breakfast included

Day 3: Puno

This morning you transfer to the airport for your flight to Juliaca, the gateway for Lake Titicaca. It is the world's highest navigable lake and the centre of a region where thousands of subsistence farmers eke out a living fishing in its icy waters. When Peruvians talk of turquoise blue Titicaca, they proudly note that it is so large it has waves.

When you land, you meet up with your tour leader before taking a relatively short drive to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca at 3800m. At this altitude the sun is extremely hot in the daytime and you can burn easily however, temperatures at night can drop below freezing in the winter months of June, July and August so bring warm clothes or buy some traditional Alpaca clothing.

The rest of the day has been left free to allow your body to acclimatize as much as possible. At this altitude you can feel shortness of breath and it is important to remain hydrated. For those that want there are a number of optional activities (additional charge) that you may like to do in the afternoon such as visit the Yavari iron ship, built in Scotland at the turn of the 19th Century, and carried in pieces to Lake Titicaca from the Pacific shores of Chile to be reassembled on the lake.
Accommodation: Hotel included | Meals: Breakfast included

Day 4: Lake Titicaca

Today you journey by boat out to the floating reed islands of the Uros Indians and the island of Taquile. The life of the Uros revolves around the Totora Reed, which grows in the lake and is used to construct houses and boats, thereby fostering the theory which led to Thor Heyerdahl's Pacific journey with Ra. It is said that the Uros began their floating existence by constructing the islands to isolate themselves from the infiltrating Inca tribes.

You will notice the islands are no longer as secluded and isolated as they once were however, still quite a remarkable sight to see. Continuing into the lake you arrive at Taquile Island covered in pre-Inca farming terraces and small villages. Life here has not changed in centuries - men dressed in 15th century attire sit in groups continually knitting intricate hats and belts, people toil in the fields using archaic, yet effective techniques and the views out across the lake to the snow-capped mountains on the horizon are breath-taking.
Accommodation: Hotel included | Meals: Breakfast included

Day 5: Across the Andes to Cusco

A long (7 hour) but classic journey across the wild open plains of the 'altiplano'. You will see panoramic views of the huge, high plateau dotted with llama, alpaca and the adobe dwellings of farmers and herders. Your route takes you over the La Raya pass (4321m) to Racchi, site of the Inca Viracocha temple. The temple was one of the largest roofed structures built by the Inca, and Racchi remains an important centre for folklore and tradition, hosting an annual folklore festival in mid-June.

Continuing on your journey you will notice the scenery change as you enter the lower fertile valleys still worked by farm animals and villagers using traditional agricultural methods for maximum results. It is impressive to see old traditions kept alive and knowledge being passed down to the next generations. On arrival in Cusco you check into your hotel and enjoy a first evening in this fascinating city. Cusco is a stunning city of old whose cobblestone streets are impressive to wander down.
Accommodation: Hotel included | Meals: Breakfast included

Day 6-7: Cusco

The first thing you will notice as you stroll around this Imperial City are the Inca walls; gigantic granite blocks carved to fit together perfectly without the aid of mortar beds. It is a tribute to the Incas that their anti-seismic design has survived the test of time while the Spanish colonial architecture has been rebuilt several times following a wave of earthquakes that have hit the city. Located at an altitude of 3,360m above sea level, Cusco was referred to as the 'Navel of the World'.

You have free time to explore the inner city on foot or visit the impressive Inca ruins of Sacsayhuaman just outside the city. This fortress of giant carved stones, some of which weigh over 300 tonnes, fit together with a watchmaker's precision with nothing to bind them. There are two days free to soak up the historic atmosphere, visit some of the museums, the famous market or wander through the artists' district of San Blas.
Accommodation: Hotels included | Meals: Breakfasts included

Day 8: Machu Picchu

In the early hours of the morning, you transfer to Ollanta station to board the train for a spectacular ride to Aguas Calientes (or Hot Springs) - the entrance point for the stunning 'lost city' of Machu Picchu - the most dramatic and enchanting of Inca citadels, constructed from white granite in an extravagantly-terraced saddle between two towering peaks, one of which you may climb.

The first time you cast eyes over Machu Picchu you will always have this vision imprinted on your memory and no description or picture can ever do it justice. The site was forgotten and covered by jungle for many years until it was rediscovered in 1911 by the American explorer, Hiram Bingham, who believed it to be the lost city of Vilcabamba. In the 1940s archaeologists decided that the city was conceived and built in the mid-15th century by Pachacuti, the first Inca emperor to expand beyond the Sacred Valley towards the forested gold-lands. Standing 2,430m above sea level, in the tropical mountain forest in an incredibly raw and beautiful setting. Its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem as if they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments. The natural setting, on the eastern slopes of the Andes, encompasses the upper Amazon basin with its rich diversity of flora and fauna. In the evening you have the option to soak in the warm waters of the Aguas Calientas hot springs.
Accommodation: Basic hotel included | Meals: Breakfast included

Day 9: Machu Picchu & Cusco

In the early morning you have the option of heading back up to Machu Picchu to explore it further (additional charge, please note this must be booked in advance).
The luxury of heading back to Machu Picchu is that you arrive there before the first train from Cusco meaning you should have the site pretty much to yourself with only those people who have walked in or stayed overnight in Aguas Calientes. The best way to explore the ruins is to wander around with a guide, or alone with a map to absorb the history and setting. Machu Picchu feels like it was built in the heavens overlooking a u-bend in the Rio Urubamba. Over one hundred steep stone steps connect its palaces, temples, storehouses and terraces, and command outstanding views not only of the valley below but also the snow-capped peaks around Salkantay (6271m). Wherever you stand, spectacular terraces appear to be suspended from steep cliffs, transforming the mountain into a garden. For the more energetic there is plenty of time to climb Huayna Picchu, the sugarloaf-shaped mountain overlooking the ruins, to be rewarded with incredible views of the site and the winding road trailing down the side of the mountain. In the afternoon you return to Aguas Calientes and rejoin the train heading back to Cusco.
Accommodation: Hotel included | Meals: Breakfast included

Day 10: Cusco

Your trip ends in Cusco after breakfast. If you want to add some post tour accommodation days to your trip request through our reservations prior to departure from your home town.
Meals: Breakfast included

You can easily book your trip online using our secure booking engine. You only need to pay a 10% deposit or (whichever is greatest) with full payment due 8 weeks before departure. We are members of ABTA (Association of Britsh Travel Agents) and are fully financially bonded so your money is 100% safe & protected at all times whether you pay by debit, bank or credit card. If you prefer to book by telephone, please contact our sales office and speak to one our friendly travel consultants.

Prices below are land only . For customers departing from the United Kingdom please call us on 0844 576 1370 for a flight inclusive quote.

Children 16 years and under will receive a 10% discount off the published prices below. This will be deducted on the payment confirmation page.

The minimum age on this tour is 7 years except for our July departure which is designed for teenagers. Younger siblings are welcome upon request.

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