Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Peru – Lima – the Amazon – the Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu – Cusco
100% customisable for you
Your epic adventure to Lima kicks off today. Rally the family, head to the airport and whizz through security. While you’re waiting for departure, don’t forget to nip into the lounge for some complimentary nibbles, refreshing drinks and stronger Wi-Fi (you’re welcome, teens). Flights to Lima take between 13 and 18 hours, with a stopover in a US transit city. So, crack open a book, throw on a movie or sit back with a topical podcast. Refresher on Inca history, anyone?
When you arrive, you’ll be privately transferred to the city centre, where you’ll check in for two nights at a charming hotel.
Thanks to the time difference, it’ll be mid-afternoon, giving you time to drop your bags, freshen up and head out for your first delicious Peruvian dinner. Not sure where to go? Bypass the back-and-forth and contact your trusty Concierge for some stellar restaurant recommendations.
Today, it’s time to sink your teeth into Lima. Make sure you have a light breakfast this morning, because you’ll be hitting the streets for a gourmet tour through the city in the company of a local chef.
Start in the market, where you’ll peruse the fish, fruit and vegetables traditionally used in Peruvian cuisine while the chef explains how he uses each ingredient. Depending on the season, you’ll also be able to sample some custard apples or Inca berries. Once you’ve gathered the necessary ingredients, head to the chef's home to whip up a series of Peruvian specialities, including causa limena, lomo saltado and suspiro a la limena for dessert – plus a pisco sour, of course. Once the chef’s class is over, sit down and enjoy the (literal) fruits of your labour.
Now that everyone’s fuelled up, it’s time to venture out to the upscale Barranco district, one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in Lima. If your youngster is an art lover, visit the Larco Museum, home to a collection of ceramics, textiles and goldsmithing, displayed in a 17th-century Viceregal building. Prefer something a little more leisurely? There’s also plenty of fun to be had on the nearby beaches and in the boutique stores dotted about town.
Bid a fond farewell to Lima this morning as you prepare for your private transfer to the airport for the one-hour-and-45-minute internal flight to Puerto Maldonado, where your adventure in the Peruvian Amazon begins.
Before retiring to your hotel for the evening, enjoy a quick discovery of the city centre with a local guide. Then, check in for three nights, drop your bags and divvy up the beds.
Following some wind-down time this afternoon, venture out to the caiman lagoon, where everyone can observe small black and white caimans (large reptiles native to Central and South America) while enjoying panoramic views of the Selva.
This evening, return to your hotel and tuck into a delicious dinner, energetically discussing the first (of many) animal encounters with your teens.
Lace up your walking shoes; it’s time to venture into the Amazon. Today, you’ll hike through a series of riparian and flooded forests, encountering a medley of local fauna and flora as you go.
You’ll reach Lake Victor around midday, where an observation platform allows you to soak up the sheer scale of your surroundings – all while the teens snap some Instagram-worthy shots, of course. Travelling with an animal lover? While you’re here, you’ll also be able to observe several species of birds, as well as caimans, turtles and giant otters.
As the name suggests, the Isla de los Monos (or Monkey Island) is equally promising on the wildlife encounter front. Boasting a wide variety of – you guessed it – monkeys, there’s enough here to draw even the trickiest teens out of their shell. The pygmy marmoset and white-bellied spider monkey are particularly photogenic.
Another day, another Amazonian adventure. Today, you’re embarking on an excursion to the Cocha Perdida (or Lost Lagoon). On the way, keep your eyes peeled as you pass tropical trees and plants, as well as an array of insects, butterflies and birds. On arrival, you’ll be greeted by even more magnificent nature, such as black caiman, river turtles, giant river otters and a variety of fish.
This afternoon is yours to enjoy as you please. If the teens are tuckered out, you could all indulge in some downtime at your hotel. But if everyone’s still raring to go, there are ample opportunities for further exploration – this is the world’s largest rainforest, after all.
After a hearty breakfast this morning, leave Puerto Maldonado (and the Amazon) behind as you’re privately transferred to the airport for the 45-minute internal flight to Cusco.
When you land, meet your private driver for the hour-and-a-half transfer to Urubamba, in the Sacred Valley, where you’ll check in for three nights in your next home away from home.
Tonight, tuck into a delicious dinner and sink into bed – a world of adventures awaits tomorrow...
Rise and shine, today, you’ll visit the Pisac Market, home to a colourful collection of textiles and ceramics – ideal for some souvenir scouting.
Afterwards, explore the archaeological remains overlooking the village. Beyond the site’s historical significance, these remains offer sweeping views of the Urubamba River, also known as the Vilcamayo, and the picturesque panoramas of the Sacred Valley.
Once everyone’s been suitably wowed, head to the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo. A gigantic (deep breath) agricultural, administrative, social, religious and military complex of the Inca Empire, Ollantaytambo is a must-see on any Peruvian adventure.
After a delicious breakfast this morning, transfer to Ollantaytambo station to catch the panoramic train to Aguas Calientes – also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo.
While you’re winding up the road to Machu Picchu in the shuttle bus, keep your eyes glued to the windows as the captivating citadel of Pachacutec emerges.
Here, the beauty of the mountains, the scale of design and the engineering required to build this stunning site all come together to create a truly jaw-dropping spectacle – a brilliant display of the genius of the Incas. To give context to all your oohing and aahing, a private local guide will accompany you on your exploration of the site.
This evening, spend the night in Aguas Calientes, where your trusty Concierge will be able to point you towards the best (by which we mean most delicious) restaurant in town.
Hop back on the panoramic train this morning for the hour-and-a-half-long return journey to Ollantaytambo, keeping your eyes – and phone cameras – glued to the windows for more seriously scenic sights.
When you arrive, you’ll be privately transferred to the historic Andean city of Cusco, your base for the next two nights. Once everyone’s enjoyed some downtime (and screentime), venture out into the streets in search of tonight’s dinner. Cuy al horno (deep-fried Guinea pig), anyone?
Where better to spend your last full day in Peru than in the capital of the Incas?
The colonial city of Cusco is brimming with rich history, majestic monuments and fascinating fortresses. Some of its walls and foundations even date back to the pre-Hispanic period – head to the old colonial quarter of San Blas to see them up close. Other must-see sites include the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral and the Church.
If the teens are keen to see more impressive Inca ruins, venture north out of Cusco for the fortress of Sacsayhuaman. This triple zigzagging wall in the shape of a puma's head is bound to leave everyone’s jaw dropped. During the winter solstice, the Inti Raymi (festival of the sun god Inti) is celebrated here. Throughout the rest of the year, people go jogging and practice tai chi between the ramparts – it certainly beats a crowded gym.
This evening, dine in style at another Concierge-approved restaurant. Time to toast to a trip well spent.
Sadly, all great adventures must come to an end. Tuck into one last tasty Peruvian breakfast before transferring to the airport for your hour-and-a-half flight to Lima.
Your return flight to the UK takes around 17 hours and includes a stopover in a transit city, so you’ll arrive the following day. This means you’ll have plenty of time to sit back, relax and start dreaming up your next family getaway.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from checking you in for your flights to our network of local Concierges
