Peru Family friendly

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY Peru Family friendly

• Day 1: Arrival to Lima & Overnight in Lima

  Upon your arrival one of our representatives will meet you at Lima airport and take you to your hotel. *An extra day in Lima can be added upon request as well as additional activities and meals.

• Day 2: Family Bike Tour, Parque de las Aguas & Overnight in Lima Casa Andina Private Collection (B,L)

  After breakfast at your hotel you will be met and taken from your hotel to the starting point of your bike tour through Lima. We will show you amazing sights around the bay, starting with Barranco, the old and bohemian neighborhood of the city, and its mansions, bars and parks. We also visit the neighborhood of Chorrillos with its old fishing pier, beaches, and promenade and the historic Morro Solar hill. Finally, we bike through the vibrant district of Miraflores with its amazing cliff edge sidewalks and parks overlooking the ocean. Next, you will be taken to have lunch at a nice Lima restaurant. At the conclusion of your tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Lima to rest and relax. In the late afternoon, you will visit Lima’s famous water park, where you have the chance to have an interactive experience with amazing waterfalls and a great show of lights and music. At the conclusion of the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Lima.

• Day 3: Flight to Cusco, Sacred Valley, Awanacancha & Pisac Market (B, L)

  You will be transferred to the airport for the short domestic flight to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incas, located at 11,100 feet above sea level. You will be met upon arrival by one of our representatives and directly transferred to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. You will check in at your hotel and have some time to rest and allow your body to adjust to the altitude. It is best to take it easy this day ; some find a cup of hot coca tea a real help in adjusting to the high elevation and that is what the locals traditionally use coca for. You will then visit Awanacancha, where you can meet native weavers and see South American camelid species, including llamas, alpacas, guanacos and vicuñas. You will then continue to the Pisac Market, which has a wide variety of artisan arts & crafts and you have the chance to see the many different products that the Sacred Valley produces. At the conclusion of your Pisac market tour, you will go back to your Hotel in the Sacred Valley to rest and enjoy your dinner. *Depending on which domestic flight you choose you will have more or less time to rest.

• Day 4: Hike the Salt Mines of Maras, Pottery class & Overnight in the Sacred Valley (B, S, L)

  After breakfast at your hotel in the Sacred Valley you will head to Maras for a quick tour of this colonial city. Then, we will take you by bus to the top of the salt mines where we will begin our hike down through the salt mines. This is a unique 2 ½ hour hike, full of beautiful scenery and not overly challenging, it is good for kids. In order to ensure that your energy levels never drop, you will be provided with a delicious and nutritious snack before your hike. At the conclusion of your hike, you will be taken back to the Sacred Valley and to the Tunupa restaurant for lunch. After lunch we will go to our pottery class, taught by the talented Pablo Seminario, whose ceramic studio has been dedicated to the discovery of techniques and designs from ancient Peruvian cultures. Pablo presents a new art expression, providing continuity to these cultural inheritances. This pottery class will provide your family with an interactive class that will be a fun experience for the whole family. At the conclusion of your class you will be brought back to your hotel in the Sacred Valley for the evening.

• Day 5: Sacred Valley Fun Adventure (River Rafting & Andean Hourseback Riding) + Overnight in the Sacred Valley (B, L)

  After breakfast, your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Sacred Valley and lead you to our private vehicle for the transfer to Pachar, where our river rafting adventure on the Sacred River of the Incas begins. Upon arrival, you’ll be provided with all the necessary rafting equipment, and your guide will conduct a thorough safety briefing. (Toilet facilities are available.) After a brief practice session in the shallow parts of the river, we’ll set off on calm waters, taking in the spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and ancient archaeological sites. As we continue towards Ollantaytambo, the rapids become more exciting, with class 2-3 sections offering a fun and thrilling ride. Our adventure culminates in the exhilarating “El Resbaladero” (The Slide), a strong rapid featuring waves and small whirlpools that add an extra dose of excitement. After rafting, we’ll enjoy lunch at our base, Tambo Apumayo, located by the river. The site features bathrooms, showers, and a riverside restaurant with stunning views of La Veronica mountain. This is a fantastic opportunity to savor authentic Andean cuisine while supporting community projects. After lunch, we’ll meet the horses and muleteers waiting for us in the restaurant gardens. Your guide will provide a short safety briefing before we mount the horses and begin our horseback riding adventure. The trail follows the left bank of the Urubamba River, passing through small villages, farms, and Andean terraces hat have been used for centuries. The horseback ride lasts about 1.5 hours, offering a peaceful and scenic journey through the Sacred Valley. At the end of the ride, our private vehicle will be waiting to transfer you back to your hotel. 

• Day 6: Ollantaytambo guide visit, Train to Mapi & Oovernight in Aguas Calientes (B, L)

  After breakfast at your hotel in the Sacred Valley, you will checkout from the Sacred Valley Aranwa Hotel and continue on your way to your Ollantaytambo Tour. Today you visit the Inca town of Ollantaytambo, still inhabited by the locals in much the same way as it was during the time of the Incas. The lodging area is formed by complex structures known as “canchas” or apartments. The Inca built a temple on a terraced site above the town. The impressive, standing stones they erected, conjure up images of Atlantis. This is the site where Manco Inca and his warriors staged a temporary victory over the Spanish Conquistadors, led by Francisco Pizarro. During this victory, the Inca warriors flooded the fields, while raining down spears and arrows from above, making it difficult for the Spanish horses to maneuver, ultimately forcing a rare retreat on the part of the Conquistadors. At the end of the tour you will be taken to the train station in Ollantaytambo to catch your train to Aguas Calientes. We recommend packing a small bag for this trip and we will send your luggage directly to your Cusco hotel. Once you arrive in Aguas Calientes you will be picked up by one of our representatives and taken to the Inkaterra hotel in Aguas Calientes.

• Day 7: Machupicchu tour, Back to Cusco & Overnight in Cusco (B)

  After breakfast at your hotel in Aguas Calientes we catch a short 20-minute bus ride up to the citadel of Machu Picchu. You will have the option to take the first bus available in Aguas Calientes to see the sunrise from the citadel. This day you will enjoy a full tour of the lost city, especially catered for kids, and have lunch on your own after the tour. In the afternoon, we say farewell to Machu Picchu as we set out by train heading to Poroy train station and then to the Casa Andina Private Collection Hotel in Cusco arriving by car at night.

• Day 8: Partial City tour of Cusco: Koricancha, Sacsayhuaman and San Blas Neighborhood, Flight back to Lima & Flight back home (B,L)

  After breakfast you will set out on a partial tour of Cusco, the former capital of the once vast Incan Empire. We walk Cusco’s impressive Plaza de Armas and visit both the Spanish cathedral and Inca temple of the sun, Qoricancha. Next, we set out to visit the ruins above the city that were considered an essential part of the ancient capital. We start from Sacsayhuaman, where Inti Raymi the Festival of the Sun, is held during the Summer Solstice. After lunch your journey to Peru winds to a close as we take you to the Cusco airport for the flight back to the coast. Flight times will depend on your flight back home.*An extra day in Cusco can be added upon request. Please let us know if you like us to add additional activities and meals.

IMPORTANT:

As price depends on each passenger choices, please contact us to send you an updated price based on your specific request. Please send us the following information and we will respond within 24 hours with your updated price.

• Number of people in your party
• Level of accommodation (3,4,5*). Please see options
• Private or Group Tour
• Train choice. Please see options
• Adding options: if you like to add day tours, extra days, meals, etc
• Need domestic or international flights?
• Have a special request (ie: special diet, wheelchair, children, senior, etc)

IMPORTANT NOTES:

About Machu Picchu Entrance Tickets

As of 2023, due to the increase and popularity of Machupicchu and in order to preserve the ancient paths, the government has implemented new regulations to control the crowds. The maximum number of visitors allow per day is 4004. This means that, once all the tickets are sold out, no further entrance tickets will be available. Tickets are now issued with specifics entry time and routes, and visitors are required to enter at the time stated on their tickets and show their passport or ID used to issue them. Visitors can stay up to 4 hours to reduce crowds. When you leave the site you cannot re-enter on the same ticket, and it is mandatory to be accompanied by a licensed guide. Tickets are not refundable and non-transferable.

About Huayna Picchu Tickets

Entrance tickets to Huaynapicchu are no longer free, Accessing comes with specific rules and a separate ticket from Machupicchu’s general entry. Only 200 visitors are allowed per day divided in 4 time slots (7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM).  The average time allowed to complete the hike is about 3 hours. The minimum age for entry is 12 years and you must register at the entry and exit control points. The price of the ticket is slightly more than Machupicchu and get sold out quickly. 

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

• Vistadome train Roundtrip. Change to other trains: Expedition Train, Hiram Bingham Train upon request
• Bus to Machu Picchu roundtrip
• Expert leadership, guides & support personnel for all listed tours
• Accommodations: 2 nights in Sacred Valley, 2 nights in Cuzco, 1 night in Aguas Calientes, 1 night in Lima.
• Meals as noted (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, S = Snack). We can add any meals upon request
• Land excursions as noted including entrance fees (Maras, BTG, Cathedral and Qoricancha, MachuPicchu, Water Fountain Park, Lima Cathedral, San Francisco & Catacombs)
• Private Transportation: Cusco Airport/Sacred Valley Hotel, Train Station/Cusco Hotel, Cusco Hotel/Cusco Airport, Lima Airport/Lima Hotel, Lima Hotel/Lima Airport

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?

• Airport taxes: Local (USD$ 5.00 – 6.00) and International (USD$ 31.00) departure tax of payable in local currency by each passenger at Lima International Airport upon departure (if applicable)
• International and domestic airfares, usually quoted separately
• Excess baggage charges
• Medical immunizations
• Insurance of any kind: mandatory evacuation insurance; suggested cancellation insurance, interruption, baggage loss, damage and delay
• Tipping & Gratuities (Guides USD $10.00 per person per day / Drivers USD $5.00 per person per day)  
• Items of a personal nature (clothing, sodas, liquor, snacks, laundry, etc.)
• Visas. Please be advised that some citizens other than Canadians and US may need visa to travel to Peru. Please advise us of your nationality to help you or check with the Peruvian Consulate

TYPE OF TOURS

All of our tours are offered in both Group and Private services; however, as we like to maintain control of the quality of our tours, even our group tours include PRIVATE transfers. This is important, as when you get picked up; you will go directly to your hotel without having to drive around the city to drop off other people in their hotels. Transportation is just for you.

MIXED GROUP/PRIVATE
Destinations Tours: Private Transfers + Group Cultural Tours
Special Interest Tours: Private Transfers + Private Special Interest Activities + Group Cultural Tours

All PRIVATE
Destinations Tours: Private Transfers + Private Cultural Tours
Special Interest Tours: Private Transfers + Private Special interest Activities + Private Cultural Tours

ACCOMMODATIONS

We offer all level of accommodations. When creating an itinerary it would be important to know which your preferred level of accommodation is. Please be sure that at all levels our recommended hotels offer great service and nice comfortable rooms. Our team has personally tried all our recommended hotels.

STANDARD
Hostels: Even though we can consider hostels in your itinerary, for travelers on a budget, we make sure to include a private room with private bathroom. We do not work with shared rooms. Hostels we work with have great location and service to travelers and include breakfast.
 3-star: Basic 3-star hotels with nice comfortable rooms. Perfect for travelers that prefer a less expensive option, but do not feel comfortable with a hostel. Buffet breakfast included. All hotels we work with are very well located and have 24-hour front desk service.

MODERATE                                                                                                                                                                                    
3-star Superior: These are 3-star that should really be considered as 4-star Hotels. Nice location, great rooms and charming decoration. Excellent service, with restaurant, room service, business center, laundry, etc. Buffet breakfast. Best value. Perfect for someone looking for an inexpensive option and still having some superior services.
4-star Hotels: Good location, very nice rooms, great decoration and excellent service. This hotel includes more services such as room service, business center, laundry, spas, more room features, etc. Some have gourmet restaurants. Buffet breakfast. Perfect for someone looking for some luxury and special services and do not need a 5-star option.

LUXURY                                                                                                                                                                                          
4-star Suites: Some 4-star hotels have suites that offer the same room features of a 5-star option. Perfect for someone looking to upgrade from a 4-star standard room and get more space and features.
5-star Hotel: What you usually imagine a 5-star hotel is. Great location, luxury accommodations and excellent service. Gourmet restaurants, spas, room service, business center, etc. Perfect for someone looking for a 5-star service but do not need the 5-star Deluxe option.
5-star Deluxe: These 5-star deluxe hotels offer ultimate luxury with outstanding service, luxurious rooms with deluxe room features and “you ask-you will get” concierge service. Properties have privileged locations or particular history behind it. Gourmet restaurants and spas. Ideal for the luxurious traveler.

TRAINS

Expedition: The least expensive tourist train, recently renovated offers nice seats and good train service.
Vistadome: A higher category of train service, with panoramic roof windows. It offers a snack and fashion show.            Vistadome Observatory: An upgrade from the regular Vistadome. This category of train has an observation car for a 360 view and an open-air balcony. Also, a bar car for drinks (at extra cost) and a show on board. It also offers a snack and fashion show.
Hiram Bingham: Luxury train which offers VIP service, includes a traditional welcome show, gourmet brunch, live music, tea-time at the Sanctuary Lodge a Belmond Hotel, entrance tickets to Machupicchu, and dinner service. This category of train has a Dining car, observation car and bar car.  

FLIGHTS

DOMESTIC AIRLINES
Latam: It offers great service and many frequencies to Cusco (almost 13 flights per day).  Prices are the highest on the market, but it is the most reliable airline.
Sky Airlines: Low-cost airline is an alternative for domestic flights. It flies to many destinations within Peru and offers good value prices. However, it has few frequencies and makes a lot of changes and cancellations of flights, especially in bad weather.
Jet SMART Airline: Low-cost airline. It flies to many destinations within Peru and South America. It has more frequencies than Sky to and from Cusco, but it usually has changes and cancellations, especially in bad weather.

Lima/Cusco/Lima:                                                                                                                                                                         
From US$185.00 per person. This is an example price, based on Full category; including selection of seat, 1 backpack, 1 carryon of 10kg. and 1 cheeked bag of 23kg. Other categories: Basic, Light (less expensive options) and Premium Economy category (fully refundable with more room for legs and middle seat blocked). Price will vary, depending on the date, time and category booked.

INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES
Depending where you are coming from, Lima is serviced by all major Airlines.  A few airlines offer non-stop services from major cities such as Miami, New York, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Montreal.                     

From USA: American, Latam, Delta, United, Spirit, Avianca, Copa
From Canada: Air Canada, Air Transat, America, Latam, Delta, United, Copa, Aero Mexico