Peru Family Adventure
Suggested Itinerary
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Overview
Enter the ancient world of the Incas set amongst spectacular lands of valleys, mountains and historical ruins waiting to be explored. This active Peruvian holiday takes you from the stunning landscapes of the Sacred Valley to the mystical ruins of Machu Picchu and on to the captivating streets of Cusco. From the famous sites, however, you’ll also venture well and truly off the beaten track, for a real sense of adventure.
Beginning in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, you’ll ...
Enter the ancient world of the Incas set amongst spectacular lands of valleys, mountains and historical ruins waiting to be explored. This active Peruvian holiday takes you from the stunning landscapes of the Sacred Valley to the mystical ruins of Machu Picchu and on to the captivating streets of Cusco. From the famous sites, however, you’ll also venture well and truly off the beaten track, for a real sense of adventure.
Beginning in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, you’ll hike and cycle between traditional, indigenous villages and Incan ruins. Swapping land for water, there’ll also be the chance to paddle across the glimmering Andean Lake Huaypo. Then, hiking part of the iconic Inca Trail will bring you to the legendary Machu Picchu for a chance to tour this archaeological wonder up close.
Enjoy some downtime in the colonial city of Cusco, one of the cultural gems of the Americas, before a final few days hiking out in the Peruvian wilderness on an epic journey to the hardly visited ‘Rainbow Mountain’ of Palcoyo and ruins of Waqrapukara. Filling up on gourmet, three-course picnics and camping for two nights under the stars is the perfect way to reflect on your once-in-a-lifetime Peruvian adventure.
**PRICE BASED ON 2 ADULTS AND 2 ADULT CHILDREN TRAVELLING**
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
Suggested Itinerary
This is a suggested itinerary. Our experts have all travelled widely in the region and will be happy to tailor any of our itineraries to suit your tastes, or build a trip from scratch.
Day 1 Arrive Cusco - Sacred Valley
Day 1 Arrive Cusco - Sacred Valley
The adventure begins as you head from Cusco into the timeless landscapes of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. First stop in the valley is a cameloid farm where you’ll meet different members of the cameloid family and learn about their importance in eye-catching Andean weaving. Next, you’ll have the opportunity to browse the rows of colourful stalls and textiles at the well-known indigenous market in Pisac. If feeling up to it, there’s also the chance to walk up to the ruins on top of the town’s hill, before continuing on to your hotel in the quaint town of Yucay, where you’ll have the rest of day to relax and acclimatise to the altitude.
Day 2 Sacred Valley: Lake Huaypo Paddle & Ceramics Workshop
Day 2 Sacred Valley: Lake Huaypo Paddle & Ceramics Workshop
Head deep into the valley to the quiet shores of Lake Huaypo this morning for your first active day. Set amongst cornfields with fantastic views to the snow-capped Vilcanota mountains, this relaxing rural setting is the perfect place to get away from the Sacred Valley’s tourist hotspots and just soak up classic Andean landscapes. You can choose between exploring the lake on stand-up paddleboards or ‘sit on top’ kayaks. Along with your expert guide, glide across Lake Huaypo past spectacular views of local farms in the distance and the Andes mountains further back still, hopefully catching glimpses of some of the birdlife that use the lake as a migration base, including the rare Andean flamingo. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, jump back on dry land for a gourmet picnic lunch. With bellies full of food, head back to town in time for your private family workshop at a local studio. After learning about pre-Columbian ceramics, the whole family can try their hand at making a plate each using ancient techniques. At the end of the class, your plates will be dried in the sun and fired in the kiln. The process takes three days, and the finished result will be sent to your hotel in Cusco, ready for you to take home.
Day 3 Sacred Valley: E-Biking & an Ancient Andean Lunch
Day 3 Sacred Valley: E-Biking & an Ancient Andean Lunch
Enjoy a gloriously scenic day today as you bike through the impressive Andean countryside to the next hotel on your state-of-the-art, electric-assist mountain bikes. With an e-bike fleet of extra-small and extra-large bikes, this adventure is suited to all ages, abilities and sizes. Taking a fairly flat cycle path, you’ll breeze through the vibrant agricultural fields of corn, potatoes and quinoa alongside the Urubamba River to the picturesque town of Ollantaytambo. Hopping off the bikes, you’ll check into your family ‘casita’ (cottage) and sit down to a well-earned, private pachamanca lunch - an ancient Andean way of cooking food in the earth. Whilst waiting for the food to cook, you can enjoy a tour of the hotel’s organic farm and distillery. After about 45 minutes, you’ll watch the chef dig up your meal from the ground ready for you to tuck in. The rest of the afternoon is left to relax.
*If still feeling energetic, you can head out for a stroll around the town and its powerful Inca fortress standing watch over all.
Day 4 Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu: KM 104 Inca Trail
Day 4 Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu: KM 104 Inca Trail
A magical day ahead takes you from the Andean valleys up into the steamy cloud forests to one of the most famous ruins in the world - Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas". Beginning with an early train ride, your trek begins at the KM 104 checkpoint, from where a section of the famous Inca Trail leads up towards the recently restored ruins of Chachabamba and the base of Wiñay Wayna. After, a steep Incan staircase leads you past beautiful terraces and various buildings and water features surrounded by lush vegetation and the scent of wild orchids. Following the full day’s hike and a scenic picnic stop along the way, you’ll reach the famous Sun Gate, entering the magnificent site of Machu Picchu just as the Incas would have done centuries ago. Making a beeline for the exit, you’ll take the bus down to entry town of Aguas Calientes for the night.
Day 5 Machu Picchu – Cusco: World Famous Ruins
Day 5 Machu Picchu – Cusco: World Famous Ruins
The pinnacle of your journey (quite literally), today you return to the ruins to enjoy a guided tour of one of the world’s most spectacular archaeological wonders. Lost for centuries amongst the towering Andean peaks, this awe-inspiring World Heritage Site was ‘rediscovered’ in 1911 by the American explorer, Hiram Bingham. Exploring one of a handful of set trails with your guide, you’ll weave in and out of the impressive stone structure as well as having the chance to climb Huayna Picchu peak (if energy levels permit) for a bird’s eye view over the ruins. After the tour, retrace your journey by bus and then the scenic train back down to the Sacred Valley and on to the city of Cusco, considered by many to be the archaeological capital of the Americas.
Day 6 Cusco: Historical City Tour & Chocolate Museum
Day 6 Cusco: Historical City Tour & Chocolate Museum
A leisurely morning walking tour around Cusco’s central square, the Plaza de Armas, allows you to enjoy the sights and sounds of this historic city whilst learning about its history. During the tour, you’ll stop at the Chocomuseum for a short chocolate making demonstration with the thick smell of melted chocolate tempting you before tasting it. The afternoon is left free to relax before a big couple of nights of camping and hiking.
Day 7 Cusco - Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain - Lake Pomacanchis
Day 7 Cusco - Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain - Lake Pomacanchis
Set off early this morning by road towards the lesser visited ‘Rainbow Mountain’ of Palccoyo, standing over a staggering 4,500m. A short trail brings you to the incredibly photographic scenes of the colourful mountains and, on a clear day, the snow-capped peaks of the Vilcanota Mountain Range in the background. Enjoy a picnic with these incredible views (and likely few other visitors) before heading back to the vehicle and driving to your base camp at Lake Pomacanchis for the evening. After camp has been set up, sit down to a spectacular sunset followed by a three-course dinner under the starry night sky.
Day 8 Lake Pomacanchis - Waqrapukara
Day 8 Lake Pomacanchis - Waqrapukara
After a chance to kayak through the water in the morning sun with not another soul around (save for the birds), camp will be packed up and you’ll drive higher into the mountains to the next trailhead. Filling up on a sumptuous picnic lunch, you’ll then begin the mainly flat hike which leads you through a series of different landscapes, each more beautiful than the last, and an ancient Inca trail. The hike lasts approximately four hours before reaching the hilltop fortress of Waqrapukara. The name itself means ‘horned fortress’, and it is thought to have been an ancient ceremonial centre. Here, you’ll have some free time to explore the site while camp is set up and a hearty meal is prepared. As the sun sets, the star-spangled sky becomes more vivid with very little light pollution around.
Day 9 Waqrapukara - Cusco
Day 9 Waqrapukara - Cusco
This morning, hike a mainly flat and downhill trail of around 7km to the small village of Ccampi. The path passes beneath huge rock walls with impressive views out across the mountains and takes around three hours. You’ll arrive at Ccampi to meet your vehicle in time for lunch, after which you can relax on the three-hour drive back to Cusco.
Day 10 Depart Cusco
Day 10 Depart Cusco
Depending on your flight time, you may have some free time back in the city before you are taken to the airport in time for your onward flight, where your family adventure ends.
SUGGESTED ACCOMMODATION
La Casona De Yucay, Sacred Valley
La Casona de Yucay features understated, yet elegant, contemporary décor set within an 18th-century building and colonial courtyards. Bordered by the magnificent mountains that surround the village of Yucay, guests can immerse themselves in the magic of the Sacred Valley from the hotel’s beautifully manicured gardens, which provide an ideally tranquil setting to relax after a day of hiking and touring. Rooms are simply furnished featuring natural, wooden floors, light colours and large windows with views out to the gardens, mountains or courtyard. For some downtime, a stroll around the quaint village is recommended, before heading back for a soothing drink in the hotel’s garden and a fresh lunch or dinner at its Restaurant Tika, using ingredients from their organic vegetable garden and local farms
El Albergue, Sacred Valley
Widely considered one of the best places to stay in town, the boutique El Albergue Hotel is something of an institution in Ollantaytambo, right in the heart of the Sacred Valley. Fixed on the train station platform on the edge of town, it is perfectly located to welcome and see off adventurers travelling up to Machu Picchu. The converted colonial building houses a few rooms and a family casita set around quaint gardens. Rooms are simple and offer a rustic yet comfortable stay. Standard rooms face the train station platform whilst Superior Balcony rooms offer scenic views of the back garden and the surrounding Andean mountains. Also regarded as one of the best places to eat in town, the French manager has refined the dining experience here, serving impeccable Peruvian and international dishes at the hotel’s ever-popular restaurant.
Waqrapukara Campsite, Waqrapukara
An unbelievable chance to camp next to ancient ruins, often with no one else around. This wild camping set up includes large and comfy, private two-person Eureka tents with full-length, inflatable Thermarest mattresses. Pulling out all the stops, your private camp features a dining tent, furnished with tables and chairs, a separate cook/kitchen tent and also a toilet tent. To complete the experience, sleeping kits are available to rent which include a comfy Eureka (or similar) sleeping bag with a thermal liner and a Thermarest pillow. The food on the hike is pretty amazing too with a three-course meal, bedtime tea and plenty of good healthy snacks to be expected. Purified/filtered water is available at all times, and a bowl of hot water for washing on arrival and first thing in the morning are provided for your convenience. Safety is a priority and all gear and equipment, including a first aid kit and oxygen, are carried in on mules and an emergency horse is available if needed.
Standard Camping, Lake Pomacanchis
Enjoy wild camping at its best, with stunning scenery, welcoming campfires and glittering night skies that will keep you mesmerised for hours. The wild campsites are basic but your specialist team will take good care of you and provide a comfortable and totally unique experience in the heart of one of the world's most dramatic landscapes. There are no real washing facilities but there will be a separate on-site toilet tent provided which also has a hand washing area. You will be sleeping in a high-quality Eureka tent (3-person tent for 2 people, 2-person tent for a single person), and will be given a thick, full-length Thermarest inflatable mattress as well as a sleeping bag, including a pillow and removable fleece liner. All meals are included whilst camping which are prepared and served in the dining tent, equipped with a communal dining table and stools. Most dietary requirements can be catered for, but please discuss these with us far in advance. We ask that guests bring their own refillable water bottle.
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Accommodation listed here is intended as a guide only, to give you a taste of what we can do. Our experts can tailor any aspect of this itinerary and accommodation to suit your budget and tastes.
GUIDELINE PRICE & WHAT'S INCLUDED
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EXPERT TEAM
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WILD MILES
ACCOMMODATION
Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
This itinerary is aimed to give you an idea of what we can offer. The price shown above is per person, based on a family of four (children 12 years or younger), travelling outside of peak periods. As this itinerary is only a suggestion and can be tailor-made to suit your interests and budget, your final price may differ.
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Richard is our Latin America expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.
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