Peru and Machu Picchu Family Tour

9 Days/8 Nights

From $3,899 per person

(Dbl. Occupancy, Not Incl. Airfare)

Daily Departures Throughout the Year

Overview

Peru is one of the best family travel destinations in the world. It combines fascinating cultural heritage, awe-inspiring archaeological ruins, and world-class gastronomy. On this tour, you will visit an indigenous community in the Sacred Valley to experience their culture and traditions, including a weaving demonstration. You will explore the Inca ruins at Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Machu Picchu, and then learn how to cook Peruvian food in Cusco from a local chef. We also include kid-friendly activities such as Pizza Night, adventure sports options, and a visit to the Choco Museum in Lima.

Lodging, Meals, and Airfare: This tour includes accommodations for 8 nights (2 nights in Lima, 3 nights in the Sacred Valley, 1 night in Machu Picchu, and 2 nights in Cusco), 19 meals (8 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 5 dinners), and domestic airfare in Peru.

Best Time to Go: April-October.

[highlight]Departure Dates: Daily departures throughout the year.[/highlight]

Destinations: South America and Peru.

Interests: Adventure, Culture & History, Family Tours, Gastronomy, Horseback Riding, and Whitewater Rafting.

Places Visited: Lima, Cusco, The Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Lima.

Depart to Lima. After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our inbound services representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Lima.

Day 2: Lima-Cusco-Sacred Valley-Awanakancha-Pisac Ruins-Pizza Night.

Early morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, you will be taken by private transportation to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. You will visit Awanakancha, a living museum of the Peruvian Andes, where you can observe traditional textile dyeing and weaving techniques and the four types of camelids that are native to the region. You will also visit the Pisac archaeological site, and then be taken for lunch at a local restaurant (Tunupa).

Tonight, you will have “Pizza Night” at the hotel. A table is set up with all of the ingredients and utensils to knead the dough and prepare the pizza, including a chef’s hat and apron for everyone. Overnight in the Sacred Valley. (B,L,D)

Day 3: Sacred Valley-Amaru Textile Weaving Demonstration-Moray-Maras.

Today you will visit the indigenous community of Amaru to experience their culture and lifestyle, and to learn about the process of weaving traditional Andean textiles. This process includes shearing the llamas, making the wool, and the dying the wool with organic ingredients. After the weaving demonstration, you will have lunch at the community prepared with local ingredients.

After lunch, you will visit the circular agricultural terraces of Moray and the Maras salt mines. Dinner at the Hotel. Overnight in the Sacred Valley. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Sacred Valley-Choice of Excursions-Ollantaytambo.

For this morning’s excursion, you can choose between Horseback Riding, Whitewater Rafting, Mountain Biking, Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, ATVing, or Hiking. Lunch at your hotel.

After lunch, you will visit the Ollantaytambo Inca ruins. Ollantaytambo served as both a fortress and ceremonial center, and is the site of a short-lived victory by the Incas over the Spanish. Dinner at your hotel. Overnight in the Sacred Valley. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Sacred Valley-Machu Picchu.

Morning transfer to the train station for the ride to Machu Picchu, ‘the Lost City of the Incas’ (7,900 feet). This mountaintop citadel, which served as both a center of worship and an astronomic observatory, is located in the middle of the cloud forest overlooking the Urubamba River. There are both agricultural and urban areas constructed with the precision stonework that the Incas are known for. The agricultural area consists of terraces and food storehouses, and the urban area contains temples, squares, and royal tombs. Guided tour followed by lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to your hotel. Dinner at your hotel. Overnight in Machu Picchu. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Machu Picchu-Cusco.

Today you have the option to hike either Huayna Picchu or Intipunku (both are guided and included in the cost of the tour). Lunch at Café Inkaterra. Mid-afternoon, you will depart from Machu Picchu by train to Poroy Station in the Sacred Valley, and then be taken to your hotel in Cusco. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Cusco. (B,L)

Day 7: Cusco-Peruvian Cooking Class-City Tour.

Peruvian cuisine is world renowned due to its variety of flavors and ingredients. This morning, you will have a Peruvian cooking class conducted by a local chef. To start, you will visit a local food market (San Pedro) and be briefed by the chef about the local ingredients to be used in the meal. Then, you will buy the ingredients, providing an opportunity to interact with the local merchants. Afterwards, you will visit the chef’s house for a private culinary lesson, starting with the preparation of a Pisco Sour, and then you will prepare some entrées and main courses for lunch.

In the afternoon, you will have a city tour of Cusco that includes a walk-through of the Cathedral, the Koricancha (‘site of gold’), typical streets, and the four ruins that surround the city: the Sacsayhuaman Fortress, Kenko, Puca Pucara, and Tampumachay. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Cusco. (B,L)

Day 8: Cusco-Lima-Chocolate Museum-Folkloric Dinner Show.

Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Lima. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Lunch at Mangos Café Restaurant (Larco Mar).

In the afternoon, you will visit the Choco Museum, to learn about all of the steps involved in making chocolate, from harvest of the cacao to the making of a chocolate bar. Later that night, you will enjoy a folkloric dinner show at La Dama Juana Restaurant in Lima’s Barranco neighborhood. Overnight in Lima. (B,L,D)

Day 9: Lima.

Check out at noon. Transfer to the airport for your return flight to your final destination. (B)

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

What's Included

Price Includes

South American Vacations’ expert pre-departure planning services and documentation.
Domestic airfare in economy class.
Airport/hotel transfers including baggage handling.
Hotel accommodations including taxes and service charges.
Excursion to Machu Picchu including overnight stay and transportation via Vistadome train.
Other excursions as indicated on the itinerary including all applicable entrance fees.
Meals as indicated on the itinerary.
Local, English-speaking tour guides.

Price Does Not Include

International airfare.
Meals not indicated on the itinerary.
Gratuities to tour guides, drivers, and hotel staff.
Gifts and personal items.
Travel insurance.

We will be happy to quote the cost of international airfare and travel insurance and to make these arrangements for you.

Accommodations

Lima

4 Star – Hotel Costa del Sol Ramada

Casa Andina Private Collection Miraflores, Lima, Peru

4 Star – Casa Andina Private Collection Miraflores

5 Star – J.W. Marriott Hotel Lima

Sacred Valley

3 Star – Sonesta Posadas del Inca Sacred Valley

Sol y Luna Lodge & Spa, Sacred Valley, Peru

5 Star – Sol y Luna Lodge Spa

Machu Picchu

4 Star – Casa del Sol Machu Picchu Boutique Hotel

Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, Machu Picchu, Peru

5 Star – Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

Cusco

4 Star – Hotel Costa del Sol Picoaga

5 Star – Libertador Palacio del Inka

Additional Details

Group Private: All transfers and tours are private, except for the optional excursions in the Sacred.

Elevations: The Sacred Valley of the Incas is 8,944 feet (above sea level), Machu Picchu is 7,900 feet, and Cusco is 10,912 feet.

Passport/Visa: U.S., Australian, Canadian, and EU citizens require a passport valid for at least six months from date of entry and return ticket for stays of up to 90 days. Citizens of other countries are advised to contact the Peruvian embassy in their country before traveling.

Travel Insurance: In order to protect your travel investment from unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip, we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. We offer Allianz Global Assistance’s Classic Plan and other plans. The Benefits and Coverage Limits are summarized on our Travel Insurance page. Call your travel counselor if you have any questions or to purchase a plan.

To Book This Trip: We require a non-refundable deposit of $900 per person plus the cost of the international airfare (if we make the arrangements for you). The balance of the trip cost is due 60 days prior to departure.