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Small group family adventure holiday in Peru

country:Peru
location:Peruvian Amazon 
departures:2010: 14 Feb, 4 Apr, 11 Jul, 25 Jul, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 24 Oct, 19 Dec
price:From £795 (9 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
vouchers:Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
 
the amazing things you'll be doing
Our specialist knowledge of Peru allows us to put together a wide range of adventurous family trips. This small group family adventure is packed with a wide range of activities providing an adventurous, varied and educational family holiday.

Peru is a fascinating country to explore and this trip will appeal to all of the family. It is recommended for families with children over 10 years old. The former Inca Capital and Spanish Colonial city of Cusco is our base for this multi-activity family adventure. It is a wonderful place full of culture and history, and it is also a great base for activities and for sightseeing. From Cusco we explore rarely visited ruins on horse back, raft and canoe the fun and safe Rio Urubamba and descend into the Sacred Valley of the Incas by mountain bike.

You will also trek the famous one-day Royal Inca Trail to the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu. The following day you will enjoy a guided tour of Machu Picchu before you return to Cusco for a final day exploring this beautiful city.

Many families extend their time in Peru by taking a 3-night trip to either the Amazon rainforest or Lake Titicaca
day-by-day itinerary
Day 1:Arrive Cusco. On arrival in Cusco, you are met and transferred to your hotel , where you can rest after the journey. A guided walking tour of Cusco is available later in the day.
Day 2:Rafting on the Rio Urubamba. From Cusco we drive to the Rio Urubamba, the sacred river of the Incas for some fun grade II-III rafting.
Day 3:Incan Ruins by Horse-Back. From Cusco we explore the nearby Inca archaeological sites and local communities by horseback (or foot if preferred). A fun adventure through beautiful countryside.
Day 4:Canoeing on the Rio Urubamba. We venture back onto the water for some inflatable canoeing on a scenic and fun stretch of the Rio Urubamba. Afterwards, we continue down the Sacred Valley of the Incas to the quaint town of Pisac and visit the extensive artisan market. We overnight in a charming hotel / hacienda near Urubamba
Day 5:Mountain Biking in the Andes. A short transfer brings us to Chinchero plain for the start of probably the best one day mountain bike adventure in Peru. Largely downhill, we pass Lake Huaypo and enjoy great views of the Vilcanota mountain range.
Day 6:The Royal Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. We catch the early morning train from Ollantaytambo down the now raging Urubamba river to km 104. Here we start our trek along the Royal Inca Trail. The trail leads through the fascinating cloud forest leads to Inti Puncu, the Gateway of the Sun and our first glimpse of the amazing Machu Picchu.
Day 7:Visiting Machu Picchu. We return first thing in the morning and have Machu Picchu virtually to ourselves for a full guided tour, with time afterwards to climb Huayna Picchu or else just wander through the ruins, soaking up the atmosphere. Transfer to Cusco late afternoon.
Day 8:Cusco. There is so much to see and do in Cusco that we dedicate a whole free day to doing just that.
Day 9:Depart or join an extension. Transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your holiday with an extension to the Amazon or Lake Titicaca (enquire for extension options).
highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2009 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Daily Telegraph, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.

Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
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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