Peru Family Adventure

• Walk in the footsteps of the great archeologists Hiram Bingham
• Bike, hike and canoe through the Andes to Machu Picchu
• Explore amazing Inca ruins culminating in the greatest of all, Machu Picchu
• Learn how to make chocolate, climb through tunnels, stand up paddle and more
• Walk among the giant Andes and their wonderous snow capped peaks.

Designed for you and your kids, by us and our kids. This fun family package is the result of years exploring Cusco and the Sacred Valley with our children and watching what makes their eyes sparkle. As we all know, if the kids are happy the adults can relax and enjoy their holiday too.

Carefully chosen activities such as chocolate making, canoeing and hiking the Royal Inca Trail to Machu Picchu allow you to experience the best of this fascinating country at a pace that all the family can enjoy. Give your family a holiday to last.

The former Inca Capital and Spanish colonial city of Cusco is our base for this great expedition, a wonderful place full of culture, history, good restaurants and excellent hot chocolate. From Cusco we travel through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, passing the Inca Fortress town of Ollantaytambo, before embarking on the famous Inca Trail to the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu. We will follow in the footsteps of Hiram Bingham who stumbled across one of the greatest archeological sites on the planet. This five day, four night trek involves spectacular Andean scenery along an ancient paved Inca trail. We have plenty of time to treasure each view and the many ruins en-route. A night is spent in the colourful town of Aguas Calientes before spending the whole day exploring the awe-inspiring, "new wonder of the modern world", Machu Picchu. The return to Cusco is by "Vistadome" train and private bus. The final day is spent relaxing in Cusco's ancient streets, artisan markets or excellent restaurants and bars.

MACHU PICCHU
Perched in a spur of the Urubamba Valley, nestled away in the Andes mountain range, high above the Urubamba River lays the deserted city of Machu Picchu, once home to the thriving ancient civilisation of Incas; a united community situated and dwarfed by the mountains of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. Abandoned a century after being built and swallowed by an overgrown extension of the jungle, Machu Picchu sat silent just waiting to be discovered, its existence remaining a secret to the outside world up until 1911.

After extensive excavating, archaeologists have been able to identify and develop a layout of the lost city, dividing areas into agricultural and urban sections. The agriculture section made up of both small and large terracing all built in accordance to the natural slope and layout of the land, extending onto the surrounding mountain fields and the urban areas divided into East and West, littered with plazas, temples of worship and staircases with a total of three thousand and something stairs.

Construction of the sanctuary of Machu Picchu began approximately around the mid- 15th century, the city flourished for a 100 years before being abandoned when the Incas became under threat from the invasion and conquest of the Spanish. There is no evidence in the Spanish invasion archives that they ever made it to the mountaintop and thus created speculation that the real reason for abandonment of the city was due to an outbreak of smallpox that ravaged the community.

The purpose of Machu Picchu to this day remains unclear. The discoverer of the "City of the Incas" Hiram Bingham, pondered theories that the city provided a convent for Inca women to be educated on how to serve the ruler of the Inca Empire and coterie, Bingham believed that 75% out of the hundreds of skeletons found on site were female, further modern studies deduced that a more accurate split of 50/50 between the two genders. Bingham also theorized that Machu Picchu was actually the fabled Tampu-tocco, the site that the forefathers of the Inca race were said to have originated from.

Today, the preserved history, artefacts and culture of Machu Picchu all contribute, to the newly claimed title of being one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.

The lost city, now found.

DAY 1: Arrive in Cusco and transfer to hotel. Town tour.
DAY 2: Cycle the Sacred Valley.
DAY 3: Stand Up Paddle day.
DAY 4: Visit Wiay wiay and arrive late PM into Machu Picchu, overnight hotel Aguas Calientes
DAY 5: Visit Machu Picchu early in the morning. Full day with private guide in Machu Picchu, PM luxury train & bus return to Cusco.
DAY 6: Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman and Chocolate time.
DAY 7: Inflatable canoes and visit Ccochahuasi animal sanctuary.
DAY 8: Our adventure ends. Maybe go on to another Peruvian destination like Lake Titicaca.

Note : Flights for Lima to Cusco can be booked through us. Price depends on how in advance you book and if there are school holidays or not. However as a guide prices are between $600 and $700 return.

Please Note: The price is based on twin share accommodation. Single supplement is $300 per person.

Hotels in Lima : We can arrange for accommodation in Lima as well as transfers there. We use the 4 star Hotel Boulevard, Miraflores. Per night twin for room is $160 and a triple room is $240. Transfers to and from airport are $55 each way. 

FLIGHTS TO PERU
There are no direct flights to Cusco. To fly into Peru you will generally need to transit via Santiago and possibly Lima first. Many stay overnight there before flying to Cusco. If you would like we can arrange your flight to Peru and your domestic flight from Lima to Cusco return.

Day 1

On arrival at Cusco airport your guide will meet and accompany you on the 90 minute transfer to the your Sacred Valley hotel. We recommend your flight arrives by 10am. You are sure to want to stop along the way for photos at the many fantastic viewpoints. You can have lunch at a local restaurant along the way.

After settling into your hotel you can visit a local potter and make your own souvenir under their expert guidance.

Finally your guide will take you back to your hotel where you can rest for the night and enjoy the peace and quiet of this beautiful rural area.

Hotel Sacred Valley

Included: lunch, entrance fees, transfer & orientation.
 

Day 2

Today we drive to the small town of Pisac to enjoy its market day. You can wander amongst the many artisan stalls at your leisure. If you look carefully you may also see some of the elder locals, who have come down from remote hill villages to barter potatoes, carrots and onions in exchange for tropical fruits brought up from the jungle.

We then head to Taray and unload the bikes. We cycle out of the plaza and follow a beautiful dirt road alongside the River Urubamba. Travelling slowly is the perfect way to appreciate the beauty of this traditional agricultural area. Vibrant fields of corn, kiwicha and quinoa line your route as cheery farm workers put down their tools to wave as you pass. En-route we enjoy a picnic lunch. 

The fit can cycle all the way back to the hotel, or the support vehicle can take us back at any time.

Hotel Sacred Valley

Included: breakfast, lunch, snacks, water, bike, helmet, gloves

Day 3

A day of variety awaits you today. A 40 minute drive takes you to the shores of Lake Piuray. Set amongst fields of corn with fantastic views across to the snow capped Urubamba mountains, this really is a special place.

You will help prepare a Pachamanca, a very traditional Peruvian meal where meat and vegetables are cooked on hot stones in a hole in the ground. Once the food is cooking, you can enjoy some fun on the water with the world’s highest fleet of stand up paddleboards. 

This fantastic new sport is spreading fast across the world and you will struggle to find a better backdrop to take your first steps. Under the careful instruction of your expert guides, you will soon pick up the skills needed to head out across the lake.

Once off the water, it is time to uncover your earthen oven and enjoy the succulent food you prepared. Finally you drive 15 minutes to the spectacular Salt pans of Maras. Worked by hand for generations these are a photographers dream. You then hike an old mule track, used to carry salt down to the valley.

Hotel Sacred Valley

Included: lunch, breakfast, transport, entrance fees

Day 4

Today is the day you reach Machu Picchu. Built over 500 years ago this is one of new seven wonders of the world. And rightly so. Words do not do it justice.

You take an early train to start your hike along the Inca Trail. A few hours climbing brings you to the beautiful Inca terraces of Wiñay Wayna where you enjoy a box lunch lovingly prepared for you by Alex our cook. A further gentle two hours, a final set of steps, you pass through the old Incan gateway, turn to your left and there it is. Machu Picchu unfolds before your eyes.

Tonight you spend the night in the town below, perhaps enjoy the medicinal waters of the hot springs, but above all dream about tomorrow and your chance to explore fully the ruins of Machu Picchu.

Hotel Machu Picchu

Included: breakfast, lunch, transfer, train, bus ticket, Inca trail permit.

Day 5

A 20 minute bus ride brings you back to Machu Picchu. Arriving before the crowds your guide will show you around and explain just how the Incas managed to build with such precision and such beauty, on such a remote hilltop.

From altars used for human sacrifices, temples carved in the shape of condors through to stones used to tie the sun, this is a history lesson everyone will enjoy. If you are really lucky you may even see Paddington Bear.

After a fantastic day, in a fantastic place, you board the train to sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery on your journey to Cusco.

Hotel Cusco

Included: breakfast, Machu Picchu entrance, bus ticket, train ticket, transfer, 

Day 6

A leisurely day today. A 15 minute drive to the old Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman. Standing guard above Cusco, the huge ramparts boast stones up to 28 feet high weighing 140 tonnes. Quite how the Incas moved them into place remains one of the world’s great mysteries.

After climbing to the top of the ramparts for a spectacular view of Cusco, it is time to play. Sacsayhuaman boasts an impressive system of tunnels just waiting for you to explore. Finally a 20 minute walk brings you back down to Cusco where you are free to relax and enjoy some lunch.

Late afternoon is chocolate time. You probably know you like it, but do you know how it is made? Your hosts will explain where it comes from and the story behind this most popular of foods before helping you make your very own bar of Peruvian chocolate. It’s the perfect gift to take home for a loved one. That is, if you don’t eat it first.

Hotel Cusco

Included:  breakfast, entrance fees,transport

Day 7

Time to work off all that chocolate. A 40 minute drive takes you to the Pinipampa section of river where you can ride the rapids in your very own inflatable canoe. The safe but fun rapids are perfect for beginners and your expert guides will show you all you need to know. Whatever your age, you are sure to get off the water grinning from ear to ear.

A tasty lunch at a local restaurant then it’s time to meet the locals. The four legged variety. At Awana Kancha you can feed the llamas and alpacas as well as seeing how the traditional cloth is woven and dyed. Then across the road at Ccochahuasi animal sanctuary you will see first hand just how big a Condor’s wingspan is as it swoops low over your head. Home to a variety of rescued animals, this is the ideal place to see native Peruvian animals such as condors, pumas, macaws and the Peruvian hairless dog.

Hotel Cusco

Included:  breakfast,  lunch, all white-water & safety equipment, entrance fees, transport

Day 8

Today you are free to wander around Cusco, explore the cobbled side streets of the San Blas artist district or stare in awe at the Inca treasures in the many museums.
This afternoon we will take you to the airport for your onward journey, perhaps to Lake Titicaca, the Amazon jungle, or even just home.

Included: breakfast, transfer departure

• All airport transfers
• Cusco walking tour
• The most professional Adventure Guides in Peru
• Top grade equipment
• Transport to and from the trail in private vehicle
• All camping and cooking equipment including Thermarests, spacious two person tents, dining, cook and toilet tent
• Extensive First-aid kit 
• Professional English and Spanish speaking guides trained in first-aid and C.P.R.
• Cook team with correct wages, transport to trail head, food, tent and insurance.
• 3* hotel in Cusco, Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes.
• All meals as indicated in the itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).  

• National or International flights
• Personal expenses
• Sleeping bag (available for rent at $10 a night)
• Airport taxes (if applicable)
• Travel insurance and tips.