Your immersive 8-day family vacation to Peru and Machu Picchu will create the ultimate experience for children of all ages. Your adventure is custom-tailored for a fun and educational exploration of the Inca Empire's massive ruins or with a whitewater rafting excursion down the Urubamba River. You will make priceless memories with your family as you travel through Peru's history, heritage, and enchanting landscapes.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Lima – Arrive in Lima and Enjoy the Remaining Day at the Family’s Leisure
Lima is a city of many names but remains most notably the capital of Peru. Spanish explorer Francisco Pizarro dubbed Lima the “City of Kings,” due to city’s founding during the important Catholic holiday of the Epiphany of the Three King’s. Lima continues to wear the crown of its former name by combining the marvelous vistas overlooking the Pacific and the desert hills spreading to the east. The cultural and national capital of Peru offers a cosmopolitan ambiance with a variety of traditions found around the country, from the Andes to the northwest sea, and deep in the arid plains that hide the Nazca Lines.
Your flight lands at Jorge Chavez International Airport, and your private transfer greets the family upon arrival and escorts you to a gorgeous hotel overlooking the stunning cliffs of Miraflores. The seaside neighborhood provides a fashionable and contemporary perspective to the historical city outside of the Spanish colonial architecture of the classic city center. The sea breeze carries the aroma of the water and a cooling mist beneath the warm sunlight. The electric railways have traversed the interior city since the mid-19th century and continue to add charm and valuable transport around Lima leading to the funicular along suburban Chorrillos.
Hang gliders ride the wind, circling the thermal pockets around the cliffs like a bird. After dinner, you make your way to El Circuito Magico del Agua to view the illuminated fountains that transform the park on the edge of downtown into a ballet of dancing water and light. More than a dozen fountains spout water into the air while music echoes across the city center. The lights flicker with brilliant color as the family, other visitors, and awed locals enjoy the fantastic display.
What's Included:
Day 2
Lima – Explore Historic and Cosmopolitan Lima with your Private Guide
Day 3
Sacred Valley - Fly to Cusco to Visit the Textile Center and Pisac Town
Day 4
Sacred Valley – Enjoy a Rafting Excursion and the Ruins of Ollantaytambo
Day 5
Sacred Valley – Relish a Biking Adventure to View the Towns Moray and Maras
Day 6
Sacred Valley – Experience the Excitement of a Half-Day in Machu Picchu
Day 7
Cusco – Transfer to Cusco to Find Spanish Colonial Charm and Incan Style
Day 8
Cusco – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Wander through the historical temples, homes, baths, and plazas of the famous Inca Wonder of the World, Machu Picchu
- View the majestic water dancing of El Circuito Magico del Agua in Lima at the fountains near the downtown area
- Learn how to craft textiles and imitate nature’s vibrant colors by hand when visiting the Center of Traditional Textiles
- Travel a portion of the Upper Urubamba River on a class II and III rapids rafting excursion, which is safe and fun for the whole family
- Climb the unique agricultural terraces of Moray, where the Inca cultivated varieties of crops with microclimates changing up to 25 degrees Fahrenheit
- Discover ancient history at Lima’s Huaca Pucllana adobe pyramid, which was erected around the 6th century AD
- Traverse the Incan splendors of Cusco at Coricancha, the former Sun Temple, draped in gold
Detailed Description
Peru is a land of ancient civilizations, secluded mysteries, thrilling excursions, and educational activities. Llamas graze on the highlands, and colorful textiles decorate the merchant stalls in bustling markets. Your 8-day family-friendly tour embraces the distinctive landscape and vibrant history of Peru, immersing the family in an exciting exploration of cities, towns, ruins, and scenery. Whether witnessing the adobe pyramids of Huaca Pucllana, traversing the stone fortress at Ollantaytambo, wandering through the market at Pisac, or climbing the narrow stairwell to reach the top of Huayna Picchu, the family will bond, celebrate, and enjoy getting up-close to the cultural history of Peru.
The adventure begins with your arrival at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, where your private transfer escorts you to a hotel in the heart of the seaside neighborhood of Miraflores. The remainder of the day is yours to get acquainted with the charms of the Peruvian capital at your leisure. The majesty of Peru is quickly evident in the distinctive properties of Lima, from its cultural melting pot ambience to the historic Spanish colonial architecture. The Sacred Valley provides insight into the past and present life of Andean peoples inherently shaped by the Inca Empire.
Women craft elaborate textiles utilizing historical methods to capture the landscape’s natural colors. The magnificent market of Pisac depicts a traditional village in which the surrounding communities gather for the market, set beneath the dramatic ruins rising up the hillside. Locals continue to reside in the Incan architecture at Ollantaytambo while the former fortress crowns the looming summit. The family will find thrills in a whitewater rafting excursion and excitement wandering through and climbing the agricultural terraces hidden in the hills. Enjoy a train ride through the Sacred Valley to reach Machu Picchu and discover the stunning features of the Lost City of the Inca. Enjoy a private tour of the Cusco, capital of the empire, for insight into the temples, fortress, and antique foundations supporting the Spanish colonial architecture.
Starting Price
$2,900 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.87 stars based on 906 reviews.
We loved working with Zicasso’s tour operator for our trip to Peru. Our agent was incredibly responsive and organized. She listened to our ideas and preferences, and immediately got to work planning a trip that was perfect for us. She answered messages immediately and was flexible, but also gave honest and helpful feedback and suggestions. We would recommend this tour operator wholeheartedly to anyone planning a trip to Peru!
Reviewed By Dana B.
Fantastic!!!! I can't say enough good things about this trip. Zicasso's travel partner did an excellent job at everything! Communication was excellent, our tours were perfect, and our guides and drivers were so helpful.
The guides were beyond our expectations with their knowledge, flexibility, and always going above and beyond. I ended up in the hospital and our guide came to the hospital and helped with all the details, getting me a refund on parts of my bill and getting us to our flight home in less than three hours from being released from the hospital!!
Reviewed By marla H.
From the first communication, Zicasso's travel partner listened to our hopes for the trip (multiple locations, epic adventures, keeping teenagers engaged) and crafted a perfect itinerary. Every aspect of the trip was seamless, with the best tours and the best guides, and perfectly appointed hotels.
Our trip coordinator was super-accessible and helpful before and during the trip for any questions that came up. She had great recommendations and insights that we appreciated as first-timers to Peru. She even came by mid-week to say hello, which was an incredible surprise and so wonderful to get to meet her in person!
When one of our return flights home was cancelled, she quickly pivoted and took care of everything to ensure we could still enjoy our last day without stress. The whole family is still talking about the trip and I am so grateful to our trip coordinator for helping us to create a lifetime of incredible memories!
Reviewed By Amanda T.
Overall, the trip was outstanding. It was on our bucket list for a long time and it lived up to all expectations. Zicasso's tour company and travel agent were very knowledgeable and helped plan all the details. As with all travel, there were a few small things that came up, but they resolved the issues quickly and effectively. I would highly recommend this travel agency.
Reviewed By Jesse D.
Zicasso’s travel agent managed to ensure we were able to see and do all the things on our list, plus more! It was an amazing family adventure. We only had one issue with an airline delay, but she went above and beyond to help us. The guides and drivers were also spectacular.
Reviewed By Pamela N.
Zicasso's travel consultant planned the perfect itinerary for our family trip to Peru. She really listened to the types of experiences we wanted to have and absolutely delivered on everything she planned. All of our travel logistics went smoothly, with no issues, hiccups, or delays. She was also very responsive prior to our trip and the few times we reached out during our travels. And the app she used was extremely intuitive and helpful. I would highly recommend Zicasso's tour operator!
Reviewed By Jenifer Z.