Peru & Machu Picchu: A Family Adventure

Depart the U.S. on a flight to Lima, Peru. Transfer to the hotel conveniently located on the airport property. (1 Night)

Fly to Cusco. Transfer to the spectacular Urubamba Valley, known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit Awana Kancha, a weaving project of Andean communities to see the four kinds of American Camelidae (alpaca, llama, vicuña, and guanaco.) Continue to the village of Pisac known for its colorful Indian market. Lunch is in the beautiful gardens of the Hacienda Sarapamapa specializing in the cultivation of the giant Andean corn. (2 Nights)

Drive through beautiful Andean scenery to visit the village of Chinchero. Explore its main plaza, nearby Inca ruins, and craft market. At the workshop of Nilda Callañaupa attend a weaving demonstration using authentic Peruvian dyes and implements. Then onto a biking excursion to the ancient agricultural site of Moray and onwards to Maras to see the salt mines—a photographer’s paradise! Alternative transportation is available to Maras and Moray for those not wishing to go biking.

Morning at leisure. Optional horseback riding. Have lunch followed by an exhibition of Peruvian Paso Fino Horses. Next visit the fortress and village of Ollantaytambo, the last living Inca town where ancient agricultural terraces are still in use. See residents still wearing their native dress. Then depart on a train ride through the Urubamba Valley to Machu Picchu and your hotel set in 12 acres of forest with gardens including over 372 species of orchids, 214 species of birds, and a spectacled bear sanctuary. (2 Nights)

In the morning, depart on a winding bus ride to Machu Picchu: one of the New Seven Wonders of the World (altitude 7,600 feet). Enjoy a guided tour through the ruins. Buffet lunch overlooking the ancient citadel. In the afternoon, continue enjoying this amazing site. Bus down to the town of Machu Picchu. Your two-night stay affords the opportunity to fully explore this extraordinary archeological site surrounded by stunning peaks.

This morning opportunities to bird watch, join an orchid tour or visit the spectacled bear project. Alternatively, you may return to the ancient citadel on your own. Those who seek adventure may climb Huayna Picchu, the peak that rises dramatically above the ancient ruins. Those who desire an easier option may choose to walk to the “Gate of the Sun” (Inti Punko). Lunch is at the hotel before departing to Ollantaytambo by train and transfer to Cusco, formerly the capital of the Inca Empire. (2 Nights)

Travel to the outskirts of the city to explore the renowned fortress and religious site of Sacsayhuaman. Here massive stone blocks were fitted together so tightly, without mortar, that a knife blade cannot be inserted between them. After lunch, tour the bohemian quarter of San Blas known for its attractive narrow streets, ateliers, and handicraft shops. Continue walking towards the Main Square for a visit to the cathedral. The remainder of the afternoon is free. Gather for a festive farewell dinner.

In the morning, visit the famous Santo Domingo Church built on what was, during the Inca Empire, the Temple of the Sun or “Koricancha” in Quechua. Afternoon transfer to the airport for a flight back to Lima. Assistance is provided at the airport. Passengers who prefer to take an early morning return flight home may overnight at the airport hotel for an additional charge. Overnight flight.

Arrive this morning in the U.S. and connect to your home airport.