Introduce your family to the wonders of Peru, from the mysteries of the Inca to the amazing creatures of the Amazon. Venture into the colorful swirl of village markets and experience Andean traditions firsthand. Ride a train high into the mountains to explore the “lost” city of Machu Picchu, investigating its ancient ruins. Cap off the trip with a wild Amazon adventure, spying monkeys, sloths, butterflies, and toucans while staying at an eco-lodge nestled in the rainforest.
Travel Style
National Geographic Family Journeys
Service Level
Upgraded
Physical Grading
3 - Average
What's Included
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Cusco Planetarium, Cusco
Your G for Good Moment: Ccaccaccollo Community and Women's Weaving Co-op visit, Ccaccaccollo
Your G for Good Moment: Parwa Community Restaurant the Sacred Valley, Lamay
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group, Lima
Your Family Journeys Moment: Piuray Lake Picnic, Piuray Lake. Arrival transfer. Sacred Valley tour including Ollantaytambo ruins. Guided tour of Machu Picchu. San Pedro Market visit. Machu Picchu Museum visit. Three-day (2 nts) excursion to an Amazon rainforest lodge. All tips included for activities and meals, except for Expedition Leaders and porterage. Internal flights. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
What are the main highlights of this trip?
Venture into mysterious Machu Picchu, exploring Inca ruins and hiking the surrounding slopes in search of stunning views, Visit a women’s weaving cooperative and a community-run restaurant to experience Andean culture, Discover the biodiversity of the Peruvian Amazon, exploring rainforest trails, oxbow lakes, and treetop canopies, Learn about the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere while peering through telescopes at the Cusco Planetarium.
How large will the group be?
20
What meals are included in this trip?
9 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
What are the modes of transportation on my trip?
Private van, plane, train, boat
Is there an extra cost for travelling solo?
We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Odd number adult travellers in your family will be paired in twin accommodation with another adult traveller of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Where will we stay during the trip?
Hotels (7 nts), Amazon Lodge (2 nts)
Itinerary
Lima
Welcome to Lima–your arrival transfer to the hotel is included. Check in and get excited to meet your fellow travelers during a welcome meeting this evening where all families can bond before the Journey ahead.
Lima/Sacred Valley of the Inca
Board an early flight to Cusco, the gateway to Peru's Inca heartland. Take in spectacular Andean scenery as we drive north into Urubamba Valley—also known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Arrive at Piuray Lake, an azure oasis framed by snowcapped peaks. Enjoy a lakeside lunch and soak up free time amid the mountain views. Continue to your hotel and settle in before dinner.
Sacred Valley of the Inca
Begin the day with a visit to a G Adventures–supported women’s weaving cooperative, where we’ll observe traditional weaving and dying techniques and meet some of the weavers. Next, test your Spanish skills as you bargain with vendors at the famed Pisac Market—a wonderland of colorful Quechua handicrafts. Break for a farm-to-table lunch at the G Adventures–supported Parwa Community Restaurant, tasting Peruvian dishes while learning how this resident-run restaurant helps fund community projects. In the afternoon, opt to relax at our hotel or visit the Inca ruins of Moray and the salt pans of Maras.
Sacred Valley of the Inca/Aguas Calientes
Explore the former Inca stronghold of Ollantaytambo, stepping back in time amid ancient terraces, storehouses, and an enormous temple-fortress. Then hop aboard a train for the journey through the Urubamba Valley to the end of the line: Aguas Calientes, a frontier town nestled beneath Machu Picchu. The afternoon is free for optional excursions, including a visit to a butterfly farm or to the nearby hot springs.
Machu Picchu
Rise and shine! After a light breakfast, head to Machu Picchu to see the citadel in the early morning light, before the crowds arrive. Spend the morning exploring the ruins with our guides and pondering the mysteries of this “lost” city of the Inca, forgotten at the Spanish conquest and rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham with support from National Geographic. This afternoon, return by train to Ollantaytambo and transfer to Cusco.
Cusco
Set out to explore the beautiful streets and plazas of Cusco, once lavishly adorned with Inca gold that was stolen by the Spanish during the conquest. Visit the sprawling San Pedro Market, where you’ll find everything from pickled snakes to savory tamales, and visit the Machu Picchu Museum to see an array of Inca artifacts that were discovered at Machu Picchu. Later, enjoy a star-filled evening at the Cusco Planetarium, learning about the importance of astronomy to the ancient Inca and peering at the glittering night sky through high-powered telescopes.
Cusco/Tambopata National Reserve
Today, we set out to discover a wilder side of Peru! Catch a morning flight to Puerto Maldonado, then continue by motorized canoe along the Tambopata River to our jungle lodge in the Amazon rainforest. Have lunch on board the boat and keep an eye out for wildlife and birds along the way. Upon arrival, settle into your thatched lodging, situated near Tambopata National Reserve—a biodiversity hotspot. In the afternoon, join a naturalist guide to seek out the wildlife of the rainforest—from colorful butterflies to huge spiders—and learn the uses for medicinal and other forest plant resources through traditional techniques. En route, spot bird species typical of the local river and forest edge. The Tambopata Rainforest area holds the world record for the most bird sightings in one area.
Local community members make up the majority of lodge staff, including multilingual naturalist guides. Take the opportunity to learn about the area’s rich flora and fauna and locals' extensive use of medicinal plants and other forest plant resources.
The lodge itself combines local architectural style and materials with low-impact, eco-friendly technology. Rooms are simple but comfortable, with mosquito netting for individual beds, flush toilets, and showers (with solar-heated hot water). Please bring a small battery powered lantern or flashlight.
Tambopata National Reserve
Grab your binoculars and head out with naturalist guides to explore the rainforest’s complex ecosystems. Search the forest canopy where colorful toucans, boisterous howler monkeys, and sloths may be spotted. Hike to an oxbow lake, and paddle dugout canoes to glimpse river otters, turtles, and, if we’re lucky, an anaconda or two! This evening we’ll venture out in a motorized canoe to spot the jungle’s elusive nocturnal species. If we're lucky we'll spot caimans, the smaller cousins of alligators, hiding along the muddy banks.
Tambopata National Reserve/Lima
Enjoy a final breakfast at our lodge, then board a motorized canoe and return upriver to Puerto Maldonado. Fly to Lima and check in to our hotel. This evening, celebrate our adventure at the farewell dinner.
Lima
Depart at any time.
Is travel insurance required for my trip?
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency evacuation and repatriation. A minimum coverage of USD200,000 is required. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Some tours include adventure activities that require extra coverage (e.g. crampon use); please review your itinerary and make sure that you are covered for all included activities. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Terms, conditions and restrictions apply; pricing, availability, and other details subject to change and/ or apply to US or Canadian residents. Please confirm details and booking information with your travel advisor.
