2024 Peru Complete Family Tour of Peru

As you arrive into Lima airport and exit customs and baggage, you will be assisted with your luggage before driven to your hotel, Casa Andina Classic.

After breakfast, pick-up for a group visit of colonial and modern Lima, starting in the centre of this vibrant, metropolis. The tour will include a visit of the cathedral, dating from 1654 which still houses the remains of the conquistador Pizarro in the foyer; the Main Square, with the original bronze fountain built in 1650, the Government Palace where the President has his official residence and the San Francisco Convent, with its famous catacombs. Lima, known as the city of the kings, was founded in 1535 by Pizarro and after several devastating earthquakes was rebuilt in 1991; the same year that UNESCO declared Lima a world heritage site. In the afternoon, enjoy an afternoon cycling around Miraflores.

After breakfast, free morning. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight to Arequipa, the most beautiful city in Peru. After the two-hour flight, reception and transfer to your hotel, the Casa Andina.

Today enjoy a group tour of the white city, so-called because many of the buildings are made of volcanic sillar. Visit to the Chilina valley and the old San Lazaro district with a general view of the city from the Yanahuara Belvedere. There are marvellous views including the imposing Misti Volcano overlooking the city. A visit to the Plaza de Armas and its Cathedral, the cloisters of La Compañia Church, the Church and Square of San Francisco and the extraordinary Santa Catalina convent.

Today, you will enjoy a biking tour of Arequipa. Travel by van from the city of Arequipa (2325 m) until the traditional town of Pocsi (3050 meters) which will take 1 ½ hours. Arrival and then you will begin your descent from Pocsi until we arrive at the traditional village of Mollebaya, later we will continue until the traditional village of Characato; then we arrive at the traditional village of sSabandia where we will visit the Sabandia mill. We will continue the trip to visit la mansión del fundador and continue along the trail to return to the city of Arequipa. This route by bike will take 4 hours and the trip is approximately 40 km. You will be descending by bike between the village of Pocsi (3050 m) to Characato village (2400 m) and then the rest of the trip is flat. You will have the support of the van for the whole duration of the trip. Return to your hotel.

After breakfast, early departure in group service, you will climb up towards the National Reserve of Pampa de Cañahuas at 3800m. Here groups of alpacas, vicuñas and sometimes-even guanacos can be seen. After driving several hours more, the descent to the Colca Valley begins. The trip continues down the valley, passing next to several villages until you arrive at Chivay, the most important town of the valley. Accommodation at the Colca Lodge.

After breakfast an early departure to descend into the valley to visit some of the villages, all of which have beautiful, colonial-style churches. You shall also see the Inca terraces, some of which are still in use and can be seen all along the valley. Start the ascent up to the Cruz del Condor, a few kilometres before Cabanaconde. Here one can appreciate a fine view of the flight of the condors as well as of the depth of the canyon. Return to your hotel in Arequipa.

After breakfast, with boarding passes in hand, you will be driven to the airport for your quick-check-in and brief flight to Cuzco, the ancient Inca capital of the Incas. In Cuzco, you will be warmly welcomed and assisted with your luggage before your private drive to your hotel in the Sacred Valley. We recommend the San Agustin Recoleta. Free day.

Free day at leisure.

Today you will have an early start and enjoy breakfast before taking the Expedition train to Aguas Calientes. The train will depart at 10.25am for the 1 ½ hour journey. Arrive to Aguas Calientes train station, gateway to the lost city of the Incas. As you disembark, check in to your hotel. We recommend the El Sanctuario. Shortly after, your guide will again lead you on a guided tour of Machu Picchu, the most spectacular ancient city in the world. Built by the Inca Pachacutec, and comprising stone blocks fitted with masterful precision, Machu Picchu harmoniously blends into the mountain landscape. There are many theories as to the origins behind Machu Picchu but three of the most popular ideas include a temple to the sun, a fortress against the jungle inhabitants or a sanctuary for the Incas. This fabulous city has houses, temples, warehouses, a large central square, all connected by narrow roads and steps, and is surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side which were used for agriculture.

Today you will enjoy a free day in Machu Picchu with an opportunity to see the site at sunrise. Time for some private reflection before returning for breakfast. Today no guide is provided as we feel that Machu Picchu requires a certain amount of self discovery to be fully understood. Take a trek up to the Sun gate. Return train to Cuzco. Transfer to your hotel. We recommend the Casa Andina Classic.

Free morning. In the early afternoon, group tour of Cuzco, including the Qoricancha temple or temple of the Sun, the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman overlooking Cuzco city, Qenko, Tambomachay and Puka Pukara. Return to the hotel in the evening.

After breakfast at your hotel, full-day’s group excursion to the beautiful Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, situated between Pisac and Ollantaytambo. It is an exceptionally fertile valley that was and remains the larder of Cuzco. You will visit the village of Pisac, founded during colonial times, and set at the foot of a hill crowned by the remains of an ancient Inca city. On Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, you will witness Indians bartering their products in the main square and artisans from around the area sell their woven alpaca wool blankets and ponchos, engraved gourds, antique reproductions, jewellery, etc. Buffet Lunch before continuing your trip to Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town that was not defeated by the Spanish with an opportunity to explore the ruins which tower above. You will then return to Cuzco after this full day with wonderful memories of the heart of the Inca land. Arrival to your hotel for accommodation.

Today, we will visit Chinchero, a small Andean Indian village located high up on the windswept plains of Anta at 3762m about 30km from Cusco. There are beautiful views overlooking the Sacred Valley of the Incas, with the Cordillera Vilcabamba and the snow-capped peak of Salkantay dominating the western horizon. Chinchero is believed to be the mythical birthplace of the rainbow.The village mainly comprises mud brick (adobe) houses, and locals still go about their business in traditional dress. The village may have been an important town in Inca times. The most striking remnant of this period is the massive stone wall in the main plaza which has ten trapezoidal niches. The construction of the wall and many other ruins and agricultural terraces (which are still in use) are attributed to Inca Tupac Yupanqui who possibly used Chinchero as a kind of country resort.In the main plaza an adobe colonial church, dating from the early seventeenth century, has been built upon the foundations of an Inca temple or palace. The ceiling and walls are covered in beautiful floral and religious designs. The church is open on Sundays for mass where we will start our mountain bike ride, totaling over 22 miles on back roads and trails. We continue our tour onto the Inca site of Moray. This is a fascinating, unique ruin; a fabulous amphitheatre of terracing that was used as an agricultural experimental site by the Incas by taking advantage of the microclimates produced by the varying altitude to breed new varieties of their crops. Finally, we go to the village of Maras, and the salt pans, an unforgettable site where the people from Maras have diverted a salt-laden spring coming out of the hillside, evaporating the water to collect salt, as their ancestors have done for centuries. We will walk among the salt pans, witnessing a scene largely unchanged from Inca times. From the salt pans we will return to our hotel

Free day at leisure.

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Puerto Maldonado. Reception and transfer to the Tambopata River port in Puerto Maldonado for the canoe trip to your jungle lodge. After arrival a short orientation and a complete briefing on the lodge before visiting a 35 metre scaffolding tower for a spectacular view of the river, the surrounding forest and an opportunity to observe birds from the canopy including parrots, toucans and macaws. Return to the lodge.

Early wake at dawn for a visit to the Tres Chimbadas oxbow lake. Here we will take a long, easy canoe ride around the lake looking for giant river otters, turtles, hoatzin, and wading birds. The giant river otters that are seen in Tres Chimbadas belong to a resident family of nine. Return to the lodge for lunch before embarking on your afternoon outing to the community’s ethno botanical center. We will hike the trails around the centre with one of the residents who will explain the everyday uses of forest resources in medicine, construction, food and fiber. Return to your lodge.

After an early breakfast departure by boat back to the city of Puerto Maldonado, directly to the airport, for your return flight to Lima. Transfer to the bus terminal for the bus to Paracas, some 4 hours south of Lima. Reception and transfer to your hotel in Paracas. For 3 star, we recommend the San Agustin and the Aranwa for 4 star. Free day to enjoy the swimming pool and beach.

After breakfast, transfer to the port for the boat to the Ballestas islands. Commonly referred to as the "little Galapagos", here you will see an amazing concentration of sea birds and sea lions in their natural habitat along with the famous "candelabra" enigma, marked into the desert hillside. This engraving has nothing to the do with the Nazca Lines but is thought to be an old pirate warning over two centuries old. After the boat tour, return to the mainland and transfer to the oasis at Huacachina at the foot of huge sand dunes. Enjoy some sandboarding and some dune-buggy racing.

Free day at leisure.

After breakfast, return by bus to Lima and transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

End of our services.