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Trip Inspiration

12 Days: A Family Adventure in Peru

Ecosystems and Activities for All Ages!

Ancient, natural and wondrous, Peru offers history, culture, and activity in a combination that will have the entire family enthralled. From exploring Machu Picchu to learning traditional weaving, trying your hand at chocolate making to hiking alongside llamas, the country has something for everyone and will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.

Trip Highlights

Locations

  • 2 nights in the seaside city of Lima
  • 3 nights deep in the Amazon rainforest
  • 3 nights in the Sacred Valley of the Incas
  • 1 night at the base of Machu Picchu Citadel
  • 2 nights in the charming city of Cusco

Activities

  • Privately guided tours in Lima and Cusco
  • Experience Peruvian cuisine at its best on a food tour
  • Observe (or swim among!) the sea lions of Palomino Island
  • Explore the Amazon basin via boat, hike and canopy walk
  • Visit villages, colorful markets and historical highlights
  • Hike with llamas, dine at a local home and learn to weave
  • Travel in opulent style aboard the famed Hiram Bingham train
  • Explore the mystical Machu Picchu returns
What does “Trip Inspiration” mean?

At Travel Beyond, we believe your travel should be designed just for you, not for the masses. Our consultants create custom itineraries for each client, offering recommendations for places and experiences that best fit your style. The itinerary below was planned for a past client, but we’re sharing it for travel inspiration and as an example of what a family trip to Peru might look like. Let us know when we can design an adventure just for your family!

Day 1

Arrive Lima, Peru

Welcome to Peru! Upon arrival in Lima, you will be transferred to the Belmond Miraflores Park Hotel where you will spend two nights.

Belmond Miraflores Park is set in one of Lima’s most fashionable areas, taking you straight to the heart of all that’s best about this great capital city. Colonial architecture, superb museums with Inca gold and Pre-Columbian antiquities and glamorous shops and restaurants are all just moments from the hotel. Your family will love the personalized service, ocean views, swimming pool and indulgent facilities that create the perfect home base for your time in Lima.

Belmond Miraflores Park Meals: N/A

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Day 2

Lima

This morning, you will enjoy a private half-day Lima food tour, during which you’ll get to know this culinary city and the culture of Peru through its cuisine. Along the way you’ll sample organic Peruvian coffee at a traditional roastery, visit a local market to see and taste exotic Peruvian fruits, discover a secret garden café and try a lucuma smoothie, participate in a ceviche and Pisco Sour class (adaptable for kids) with a chef at a top seafood restaurant, and finally dine on a gourmet Peruvian lunch and dessert while you admire pre-Incan ruins at la Huaca Pucllana.

This afternoon, you will set sail via boat on a half-day wildlife viewing adventure to the Palomino and San Lorenzo Islands off the shores of Callao, the seaport of Lima. During your 90-minute boat ride to the islands, you will observe diverse species of seabirds, including pelicans, sea gulls, cormorants, and boobies. Arriving at Palomino Island, you will first hear and then see hundreds of playful sea lions. You can observe them from the boat or don a wetsuit and experience what will certainly be among the highlights of your Peru trip – an up-close encounter with wildlife as you swim with the sea lions! After, motor over to San Lorenzo Island to observe its thriving colony of attractive Humboldt Penguins, the only species of penguin native to Peru.

Following your tour, you will be transferred back to the hotel.

Belmond Miraflores Park Meals: Breakfast / Lunch

Day 3

Lima to the Amazon Rainforest

Today, you will be transferred to the Lima Airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival you will be met by a lodge representative for your transfer to Hacienda Concepción, your home for the next three nights. Your stay includes all meals, private guide services, a treasure hunt for the kids, and sunset drinks on the river one afternoon during your stay. The Amazon experience begins almost immediately as you travel to the lodge in comfortable outboard dugout canoes, leaving civilization behind on the short 20-minute river journey.

Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción is an immersive eco-lodge situated just off the steep bank of the Madre de Dios River and at the heart of a 29,650-acre private ecological reserve. It boasts a stunning open-air main building, with Casa Grande (with 6 additional rooms) and the dining room nestled into the jungle on one side, and a Cocha (or natural pond) bordering the other. Its particular placement gives visitors a truly unique wildlife experience, as here you are enveloped by the rainforest and merely a visitor among its inhabitants, including local howler and squirrel monkeys, caiman, and more. Please note: the itinerary here is a sample only, and activities may vary based on weather, time of year, water levels, etc.

Once you have settled in, take a walk along the property’s trails for an immersive introduction to the intricate ecosystems of the Amazon basin. Backed by the protected Tambopata National Reserve and built on the grounds of a former cacao and rubber plantation, Hacienda Concepción harbors primary and secondary rainforest, teeming with exotic wildlife and tropical plants.

At dusk, you can then witness the enchanting transformation of the rainforest from a diurnal to a nocturnal environment on a guided twilight river boat ride. See if you can spot caiman lurking on the riverbanks or look up at the sky to find the stars of the southern hemisphere. In the evening, enjoy dinner prepared by chefs who draw on local Amazon ingredients for inspiration and then retreat to your cabaña to listen to the curious calls and croaks of the rainforest at night.

Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

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Day 4

The Amazon Rainforest

This morning after breakfast, visit Lake Sandoval, a glassy, oxbow lake located inside the protected Tambopata National Reserve, one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet. Reached via a sun-dappled jungle trail, your guide will look for poison frogs and other camouflaged creatures.

Board a dugout wooden canoe to quietly paddle through mangroves and glide onto Lake Sandoval, flanked by picture-perfect palms. This serene lake is home to thousands of species of birds, the endangered giant river otter, red howler monkeys, red-bellied macaws, anacondas, side-neck turtles and black caimans. (Note: This excursion may be replaced with a different activity depending on weather conditions and time of year.) Return to the lodge in time for lunch.

In the afternoon, take a 20-minute boat ride across the Madre de Dios River to experience the Inkaterra Canopy Walkwa, a sophisticated and safe network of seven ecologically constructed hanging suspension bridges, strung between eight treetop observation platforms above the forest floor. Originally constructed to help the non-profit Inkaterra Asociación carry out conservation projects, this is an unforgettable opportunity to observe the rainforest from the rooftop and gain a sense of its colossal size. Ascend the first vertiginous tower 124 feet above ground, keeping an eye out for white-throated toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, squirrel monkeys and the three-toed sloth.

Back at the base, you will follow the Anaconda Walk, strolling the seasonally flooded aguajales wetlands on an elevated wooden boardwalk. Come nightfall, under the cover of darkness explore the rainforest on foot as your senses heighten to movements in the undergrowth and the raucous sounds of the rainforest. Dinner will be served beginning at 7:30pm.

Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 5

 

The Amazon Rainforest

This morning after breakfast, discover the rainforest´s tropical plants and learn about their intriguing medicinal uses by visiting the organic bio-orchard. Later, continue to the 30-hectare collection of 19 Amazonian palms in a plot reserved for rainforest restoration and conservation.

After lunch, enjoy a relaxing paddle boat ride in a dugout canoe. Row out onto the lagoon’s caramel-cultured water to enjoy the scenery and spot hoatzins, fly catchers and gray-necked woodrails, perhaps with the sounds of red howler monkeys bellowing in the distance. Get close to the surprising remains of a semi-submerged steamboat in waters that also hide caiman and piranha. Using the practice of catch and release, you can fish for piranha like the local indigenous communities do, using a simple wooden rod.

This evening, you will be able to participate in the Inland Collpa where you will see different species and their night routines by observing through your “blinds.”

Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 6

The Amazon Rainforest to the Sacred Valley

Enjoy your last morning waking to the cacophony of jungle sounds in this unspoiled natural wonderland, as parakeets chatter away in the trees and monkeys swing through the treetops. You will then board your motorized wooden boat for the 25-minute return trip along the snaking Madre de Dios River. Check-in for your commercial flight to Cusco.

Upon arrival in Cusco, you will be transferred to the Sacred Valley, including lunch and visits en route. Your guide will accompany you on all of your scheduled excursions until you depart from Cusco.

You will travel through a spectacular panorama of patchwork fields en route to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The route includes picturesque Andean towns, agricultural terraces and archaeological sites. The mild climate and the varied and dramatic scenery of snow-capped mountains, flowering meadows, lush green hills and spectacular flora and fauna make the Sacred Valley a prime adventure destination in South America. At a lower elevation than Cusco, it is a warm and comfortable environment in which to begin your exploration of the region. Along the way, visit Pisac and experience the sights and sounds of the town’s famous market, which boasts a variety of handicrafts and fresh produce. If time and energy allow, continue to the Pisac ruins in the hillside overlooking town and wander the maze of trails through the complex while being introduced to the Inca marvels of this region.

Just outside of Urubamba, you’ll arrive at Hotel Sol y Luna, nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. A contemporary doorway to the vast cultural richness of this region, you’ll love lingering in your elegantly designed hotel room or suite with mesmerizing views of the Andes and the Vilcanota River from a private balcony. Families with children will appreciate the swimming pool after a day of exploration.

Hotel Sol y Luna Meals: Breakfast / Lunch

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Day 7

Sacred Valley

This morning you will embark on an Amaru community visit.

Near the Pisac Citadel, you will arrive at Amaru, where your hosts, the locals from the Association of Traditional Laraypas Weavers of Amaru, will welcome you and explain their daily life, customs, and the work that the Association does on behalf of the traditional culture. After a short briefing, you will begin the weaving workshop. Hike through a native forest and visit the association’s nursery, where you will choose the plants that you will use to dye your fibers. Along the way, you will discover the medicinal and culinary properties of some of these plants. After your walk, you will be shown the entire handmade weaving process, from shearing and hand-spinning the wool, dyeing the fibers and designing the patterns with warp and wefts, to weaving the final product using the traditional telar de cintura, or waist loom. Community artists or children from the school will share some local music with you as you work.

Following your tour, you will be returned to your hotel for the evening.

Hotel Sol y Luna Meals: Breakfast / Lunch

 

Day 8

Photo by Paul Lequay on Unsplash
Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash

Sacred Valley

This morning you will set off on a Llama Pack Project excursion, including lunch.

You will be hosted by members of the Local Guilds of Llama Breeders and an interpreter who will share information about the Llama Pack Project. After that, you will assist in a packing activity led by your local hosts. Then you will leave the base camp and start a slow uphill walk following behind the llamas until you will reach the designated spot where you will stop for snacks at a lovely overlook. You will then head to your host’s home for a delicious homecooked lunch. After this rest, you will head back with the llamas to the base camp where the visit ends. (Note: this excursion takes place around 13,000 ft of altitude, and the length of the hike is approximately 4 miles. Modifications to the length and elevation can be made with advance request.)

Following your tour, you will be returned to the hotel.

Hotel Sol y Luna Meals: Breakfast / Lunch

Day 9

Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu

This morning, transfer to Poroy to begin your journey to Machu Picchu aboard the Belmond Hiram Bingham train. Travel through the Peruvian Andes in opulent style on this 3-hour journey complete with gourmet brunch on board. Named after the explorer who rediscovered the Inca citadel, and designed to emulate the Pullman cars of the 1920s, the train combines old-world class with modern day luxury. The train is equipped with dining, bar, and observation cars, with an attentive staff to ensure the highest levels of comfort and personalized service.

Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, board the bus with your guide for a winding uphill journey to Machu Picchu. Here you will spend the afternoon with your guide, who will lead you through the mysterious maze of stone buildings at this magnificent site.

Machu Picchu, which means “Old Mountain,” is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the seven new wonders of the world. Lose yourself in awe in the “lost city of the Incas” as you admire the ruins. You’ll feel as though you’ve been transported into a work of art as you marvel at the landscape of this iconic Inca civilization. Brought to world attention by Hiram Bingham in 1911 and believed to have been built to control the economies of neighboring communities, these ancient ruins evoke a time of innovation, artistry and expansion of one of Latin America’s most notable historic empires. Thought by some historians to have been a sacred religious site due to its location, there is certainly a spiritual energy on this green mountaintop cloaked in clouds.

When you have finished your exploration, you will return by bus to Aguas Calientes and make your way to Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, where accommodations will be reserved for one night.

The Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel is like an intimate Andean village with terraced hills, waterfalls, stone pathways and 83 whitewashed adobe casitas tucked away in the cloud forest. The property has 12 acres of exquisite natural beauty, where 214 bird species – such as the golden-headed quetzal and the iconic Andean cock-of-the-rock – and the world’s largest native orchid collection have been registered. Enjoy the Unu Spa, which combines the classic nurturing with a mystical Andean approach.

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

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Day 10

Machu Picchu to Cusco

Return to Machu Picchu this morning for another half day of exploration with your guide.

This afternoon, return to Cusco aboard the Vistadome train, with the journey beginning in Aguas Calientes and ending in the town of Ollantaytambo. As the name suggests, this train offers picturesque views though its panoramic windows, connecting you with nature like no other experience.

Upon arrival, you will be met for your private transfer to the Palacio del Inka in Cusco, where accommodations will be reserved for two nights, including breakfast.

Considered a historic landmark, Palacio del Inka is a five-centuries-old mansion located in the heart of downtown Cusco. You’ll find stone archways, authentic Hispanic art, and ornate gilded antiques. Each of the unique guest rooms and suites are fashioned with traditional colonial decor and a rich color palette evocative of the local Peruvian heritage. This luxury hotel is just minutes from the shops and museums in the main square.

Palacio del Inka Hotel Meals: Breakfast / Lunch

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Day 11

Cusco

With an early departure from your hotel in Cusco city, drive to the outskirts of town to the Temple of the Moon, where you will prepare for a short hike. Each child will receive a special journal to take note of all details observed during the day. The temple of the Moon is known for being a sacred place for the Incas. The light of the full moon shines through the holes of the top of this ruin, illuminating the rocks within.

Continue to nearby Monkey Temple, where you willl be able to observe different animals the Incas carved into the stones including monkeys, snakes, and puma. Snacks will be enjoyed and traditional stories shared before moving onto the eucalyptus forest, where you will be on the lookout for and collect special seeds. There’s also the opportunity to play a few games and learn some local songs.

The final stop for the day is Sacsayhuaman. This site was first constructed by the pre-Inca Killke culture, with the Incas adding walls consisting of custom- shaped square, trapezoidal, and rectangular stones, some of which are so finely fit together that you can’t insert even a thin sheet of paper between them! Walk down the hill through Cusco’s artsy San Blas neighborhood, and enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant which forms part of a social project that supports children in Cusco with its earnings.

Following your tour, you will be returned to the hotel.

Palacio del Inka Hotel Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 12

Depart Peru

This morning, enjoy the icing on the cake with a chocolate workshop! You will learn how to make your own chocolate, starting from the cacao bean and ending with a creamy chocolate bar of your own. You will have the chance to choose from among 15 different flavorings to make your chocolate even more delicious! You’ll end up with your very own bar to gobble up or share with family and friends.

This afternoon, transfer to the Cusco Airport. Check-in for your commercial flight to Lima.

Upon arrival in Lima, you will be assisted with check in for your overnight international flight back home. Flight cost not included. You will proceed through the VIP service entrance for fast-track security and customs formalities, the escorted to a comfortable private lounge where you can relax and enjoy some refreshments before your flight.

N/A Meals: Breakfast

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