- ✓ Wander Lima’s markets and colonial plazas with a local guide
- ✓ Sail Ballestas Islands, see sea lions, dunes, and desert lagoons
- ✓ Watch condors soar in Colca Canyon and stay with locals
- ✓ Trek to Machu Picchu’s Sun Gate and explore the Sacred Valley
If you’re looking for a family holiday with a bit more adventure, then Peru is the place for you. We’ve tailored this itinerary especially for families, so you’ll get to experience Peru’s amazing wildlife, learn how to make some of the local cuisine, and see jaw-dropping lakes and canyons. Top it all off by taking on the challenge of trekking a section of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu together (don’t worry, you can also get the train if you prefer)!
Since there is a little trekking involved, we recommend this itinerary for children aged 10 and over.
Days 1 & 2 – Market Plazas of Lima
You’ll start your Peru family adventure in Lima. A proud Latino city, often cloaked in mist from the Pacific Ocean and with a famed food scene, Lima fizzes with energy and is more than just a handy starting point for your holiday. You’ll spend two nights in a cosy hotel in a pleasant part of town.
The following morning you’ll be shown around the lively Miraflores food market and the charming colonial centre by your local Limeño guide. You’ll learn a little about the history of the city, as well as trying some of the local snacks.
Days 3-5 – Sea Lions and Sand Dunes
Today you will be collected very early in the morning from your hotel and transferred south along the coast to the port of Paracas – gateway to the Islas Ballestas – about 3 hours from Lima.
From Paracas you’ll join a boat trip to the Islas Ballestas – Peru’s own ‘mini-Galapagos’. The islands are home to huge colonies of sea lions, as well as Humboldt penguins, pelicans and other seabirds, making this a brilliant experience for wildlife-loving families. You’ll cruise around the islands, getting surprisingly close to the animals as they bask on the rocks and splash around in the water.
Afterwards, continue to Huacachina, a tiny desert oasis surrounded by towering golden dunes. Take in the sunset from the top of a dune, or you could even try your hand at sandboarding.
In the early evening you’ll be transferred to the bus station in nearby Ica to board the overnight Royal Class bus to Arequipa. Your travel time is roughly 11.5 hours, but the bus is modern, safe and comfortable with fully reclining seats so you’ll hopefully all get a decent night’s sleep.
Days 6 & 7 – Culture and Cookery in Arequipa
On arrival, early the next morning, you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel. If you can’t check in straight away, why not leave your bags behind and head out and explore for your first taste of this incredibly beautiful city.
Arequipa is an understated highlight of Peru – an attractive city with a distinct personality and a striking volcanic backdrop. Wander along cobbled streets to the local market and enter an explosion of colour, sounds and smells, before exploring the nooks and crannies of the fascinating Monasterio de Santa Catalina. During your time here your family will be welcomed into local home to learn the secrets of how to cook perfect quinoa, chicha or caldo verde.
Days 8 & 9 – Condors in the Colca Canyon
Early this morning you’ll be picked up in Arequipa for the five hour drive across the Altiplano to Coporaque. You can doze off for the first couple of hours, until the bus starts to wind its way up into the mountains.
Zigzag into the dizzying Colca Canyon, watch silver-winged condors and visit traditional villages to see a different type of family life. With ancient terraces carved into the hillsides and alpacas grazing on the plains, it’s an area packed with Peruvian romance. You’ll spend your first night in a cosy hotel and your second with a local family in their home. Enjoy a typical Peruvian breakfast then help out with the daily chores around the farm – it’s a fantastic and eye-opening experience.
Days 10 & 11 – Typically Titicaca
Next, you’ll travel with a small group of other travellers in a comfortable mini-van to Puno. There’ll be a couple of interesting stops along the way to stretch your legs with the travel time being roughly 4 to 5 hours.
You’ll spend the next 2 nights in the town of Puno, from where you’ll set off on a boat trip to the islands and communities of Lake Titicaca. Meet the locals who call this place home, visit a floating reed island, help prepare your lunch using underground ovens, and sit back as you glide across the still waters. Titicaca was a sacred place for the Incas, believed to be the birthplace of the sun, and the lake remains one of the most peaceful and beautiful spots on the continent.
Days 12 & 13 – Going Loco in Cusco
This morning, make your own way to the bus station. There are several ways to get from Puno to Cusco, but we’ve arranged the comfortable express bus, which takes about 7 hours. On your arrival a Spanish speaking driver will be waiting at the bus terminal to take you to your hotel in Cusco, the Inca heartland and a city of colourful contrasts.
You’ll spend two nights in a cosy pousada, set in the heart of the artistic San Blas district. Cusco is the gateway to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. Travellers from all over the world meet here before heading into the mountains, making it a lively hub of restaurants, bars and museums. Scattered with Inca ruins and colonial churches, it’s a brilliant place for an atmospheric wander.
During your stay we’ll arrange a chocolate-making workshop. You’ll roast and grind cocoa beans, learn how chocolate is made and, of course, taste plenty along the way! Then create and decorate your own chocolate treats to take home as a tasty souvenir.
Days 14-16 – Trails & Valleys: Machu Picchu & Sacred Valley
If you feel that four days of trekking might make your children disown you, then this one day version might be the perfect solution for your family. After some time acclimatising in Cusco, you’ll head into the Andes and trek the final section of the famous Inca Trail, arriving at Machu Picchu in the afternoon. You’ll spend the night in a cosy local posada in Aguas Calientes, before returning to the ruins the following morning to see them at sunrise. With the mist lifting from the mountains and Machu Picchu appearing below, it’s a pretty special moment and one for the family photo album.
After your time exploring the ancient Inca ruins, you’ll hop on a train to the village of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. It’s the best preserved example of Inca city planning, so it’s packed with fascinating sights. Explore ancient courtyards and climb up to the impressive Inca fort for sweeping views. The following day you’ll journey on to the village of Urubamba, where you’ll have time to relax and enjoy a slower pace in the Sacred Valley.
Days 17 & 18 - Return to Cusco and depart Peru
After marvelling at Machu Picchu you’ll travel back by train to spend a final night in Cusco where you’ll stay in the same hotel. The following morning you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight to Lima where you’ll connect on to your flight home.
Accommodation
