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Tailormade family adventure holiday in Peru

country:Peru
location:Peruvian Amazon
departures:Family holidays to Peru can be tailormade at a time to suit you and adapted to suit your budget and requirements. The best time to visit is between May and October.
price:From £1490 (14 days) per adult/child including domestic flights only. We can arrange flights from the UK. Price includes accommodation, most meals, activities, entrance fees, guided tour of Machu Picchu and transportation. Minimum age 10 years
 
the amazing things you'll be doing
Our specialist knowledge of Peru allows us to put together a wide range of adventurous family trips. There is no substitute for experience and our tailor made itineraries have been carefully researched and personally assessed for style and quality. This particular trip is packed with a wide range of activities providing an adventurous, varied and educational family holiday.

The main focus for the trip is the former Inca Capital of Cusco and the surrounding area of the Sacred Valley. This vibrant and fascinating city is full of Inca culture, history and good hotels and restaurants. From Cusco, set off and explore the mountains and valleys with an exciting programme of activities.

Visit rarely visited ruins on horse back, raft and canoe the scenic, fun and safe Rio Urubamba and descend into the Sacred Valley of the Incas by mountain bike. The amazing ruins of the lost city of Machu Picchu are reached following a short trek along the famous Royal Inca Trail.

After trekking to the heights of Machu Picchu, head into the steamy heat of the Amazon, arriving at your jungle ecolodge by dug out canoe. From here you can experience the unforgettable sights and sounds of the Amazon. Enjoy guided naturalist walks with expert guides and journey by canoe deeper into the rainforest. A short flight back takes you back to Lima and the end of the holiday.

Each of our tailor-made itineraries are personalised to your family’s individual requirements and preferences. Detailed below is an example itinerary that is specifically designed for the needs of the modern adventurous family: educational, lots of exciting activities and ample time to relax and enjoy the Peruvian experience. It is just one of many possibilities that we can offer.
day-by-day itinerary
Day 1:Arrive Lima. Fly into the Peruvian capital of Lima. Overnight in a hotel in the capital city.
Day 2:Flight to Cusco. Spectacular flight along the Andes to Cusco, a chance to acclimatise to the rarefied air of this beautiful city (3326m). In the afternoon you can take a short walking tour of the city. (B)
Day 3:Cusco - horse riding/walking. Explore nearby Inca ruins on horse back through beautiful countryside (or foot if preferred).Visiting the impressive forts of Pucara, Tambo Machay, Quenqo and Sacsayhuaman. (B,L)
Day 4:Urubamba river - white water rafting. From Cusco we drive to the upper Urubamba, the sacred river of the Incas, for some fun grade II-III rafting. Full instruction is given so no previous experience is necessary. (B,L)
Day 5:Urubamba river - canoeing. A chance to do it yourself today with some inflatable canoeing on a scenic and fun stretch of the Rio Urubamba. Continue down the Sacred Valley of the Incas to Pisac and overnight. (B,L,D)
Day 6:Pisac. A day in the ancient Inca town of Pisac, renowned for its local markets. Optional hike around the impressive Inca ruins high above the town. An afternoon drive down the Sacred Valley of the Incas to a charming hacienda, your base for the next two nights. (B,L,D)
Day 7:Chinchero - biking. Transfer to Chinchero for your spectacular one day mountain bike adventure. This is mainly a downhill trip as you pass Lake Huaypo with great views of the snow-capped Vilcanota mountain range (B,L,D)
Day 8:Hike to Machu Picchu. Morning train from Ollantaytambo down the raging Urubamba river to Km 104. Here we start our hike along the Royal Inca Trail towards Machu Picchu. Pass through the ruins and catch a bus down to Aguas Calientes. (B,L)
Day 9:Machu Picchu. Return first thing in the morning to experience the magical Machu Picchu ruins at the best time. Guided tour with time afterwards to climb Huayna Picchu or simply wander through the ruins. Train back to Poroy and bus to your hotel in Cusco. (B,L)
Day 10:Cusco. There is so much to see and do in Cusco that we dedicate a whole free day to doing just that. Whether your interest is exploring Inca ruins, visiting Colonial churches, bargain hunting in Indian markets or just relaxing over a cappuccino on a terrace overlooking the Plaza de Armas, Cusco has it all. (B)
Day 11:Flight to the Amazon. Flight over the Andes to Puerto Maldonado, in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. Motorized dug out canoe from the town to your jungle lodge. Guided walks, canoe rides or night viewing of wildlife are all possible from this excellent lodge. (B,L,D)
Day 12-13:Amazon. Exploration of the jungle on foot into the pristine rainforest or by canoe on the nearby lake. Travel with naturalist guides and see several species of monkeys, many exotic birds and possibly some of the different mammal species. (B,L,D)
Day 14:Depart. Transfer back to Puerto Maldonado for your flight to Lima in time to connect with your international overnight flight home. (B)
how this holiday makes a difference
We always hope that those who travel with us to the world’s most inspirational yet fragile environments will leave with a stronger desire to support the preservation of these special places in the future. We believe this is especially relevant to our family trips, where the younger generation can experience and enjoy first hand the wonder of countries such as Peru.

This family trip to Peru contributes to the continued sustainability of tourism in the country in three distinct areas; the environment, the local economy and the local community.

The environment: Our focus is on small groups: by travelling in this way we are able to minimise our environmental footprint in the country. This is especially relevant to the sensitive environments such as the Amazon. This trip also focuses on experiences which do rely on human power rather than motorised transport e.g. rafting, mountain biking, canoeing or horse riding. Throughout all elements of this trip, we follow a robust policy of “leave no trace” which is relevant to flora and fauna, waste disposal, visual and noise intrusion and other land users. We also present educational briefings for all ages on environmental awareness, responsibilities and practice, with particular emphasis on local issues that exist in the mountain and jungle regions of Peru.

Our philosophy of environmental awareness is shared with our local partners, who are continually making concerted efforts regarding waste management, reduction of fossil fuels, recycling and equipment manufacture – many of which are new concepts in Peru. We also provide the opportunity for clients on our family trips to offset the carbon emissions arising from international air travel to Peru and within the country.

The local economy: We engage local business (tour operators, hotels, restaurants, guides and other ventures) throughout this entire trip and ensure that its economic benefits are shared in an equitable way. By visiting areas where tourism is less established, especially the community-owned ecolodges in the Amazon, this trip contributes to the even distribution of income and economic growth throughout the country.

We work with our in-country partners to ensure that every effort is being made to deliver tailor-made trips consistent with the policy of local economic benefit. This includes a commitment to fair wages and correct working conditions including insurance, health, clothing and equipment and the establishment of a robust Porter Protection Policy for the Inca Trail.

The local community: Our family itineraries are designed to ensure authentic interaction with the local population, customs and culture. This trip provides opportunities for all ages to learn and understand more about the fascinating culture and indigenous customs of Peru, through the use of qualified and experienced guides drawn from the local community. We inform clients of the socio-cultural considerations of the places visited and appropriate accepted behaviour, particularly with regard to sensitive sites or locations, such those who live in and around the jungle regions near Puerto Maldonado.

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We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel.

'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left).

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