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This family adventure will take you on a historical and cultural journey to discover the most fascinating highlights of Peru. Your family will find themselves flying over the intriguing Nazca Lines that are geoglyphs created throughout 400-650AD and cruising the Ballestas islands that are teeming with sea lions, penguins, dolphins and birds. The adventure continues at the heart of the Incan Empire in the Andean mountains. Here, your family will tour privately through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to explore the mystical Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo and Moray.
Day 1 Lima
Day 2 Lima / Ica
Day 3 Ica, Nazca - Paracas
Day 4 Ballestas Islands /Paracas Reserve / Lima
DAY 5 Lima – Cusco
DAY 6 Sacred Valley
DAY 7 Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu
DAY 8 Machu Picchu / Cusco
DAY 9 Cusco - Free Day
DAY 10 Cusco - Departure Day
Day 1 Lima
Arrive in Lima at any time. Our representative will greet you at the airport and private transfer to your hotel. There are no planned activities today so check-in and enjoy the city, although there is an optional walking tour or city tour in a van. This afternoon you are free to explore colonial and modern Lima, with visits to the Government Palace, cathedral, Plaza de Armas and the Archaeological Museum. Or hang around the bustling commercial districts of and Miraflores and Barranco.
Day 2 Lima / Ica
In the morning, your driver and guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Ica. After a five hour journey along the Peruvian coast, you will arrive at your hotel, where you can spend the rest of the afternoon at your leisure. There are a number of optional activities that you can do; however, we recommend a visit to the stunning Huacachina Oasis for adrenaline junkies or landscape lovers as it´s a beautiful oasis surrounded by pristine sand dunes. You can experience the dunes and sand-boarding on an unforgettably wild sand buggy adventure. If you are a lover of history and museums, you must visit the Museo Regional de Ica, considered to be one of the country’s best archaeological museums. (B, L)
Day 3 Ica, Nazca - Paracas
In the morning, we will meet you in your hotel and take you to the Nazca Airport where you will board your 30 minute flight over the incredible Nazca Lines, a series of ancient geoglyphs in the desert made by the Nazca culture (approx. 400 – 650AD). Nowadays the reason and for what purpose these geoglyphs were created continues to remain a mystery, during the flight you will be able to see the most fascinating figures such as, the monkey, hummingbird, tree, parrot, astronaut, dog, condor among others. After viewing the spectacular lines, we will take you to the ancient Chauchilla Cemetery, which was used during 200AD to 800AD. The cemetery has been plundered of treasure over the years; however, the skeletons have been remarkably preserved due to the dry desert climate and their customs for funeral rites, being dressed in cotton and painted with resin in a mud-brick tomb. Today, fascinating full skeletons, bones and skulls are protected and visible above the ground. After visiting the cemetery, we will take you to visit the Cantalloc Aqueducts, which was created two thousand years ago to irrigate crops that were growing in this dry desert land. The design of the aqueducts is not only highly practical but also beautiful. From here, we will take you to the coastline town of Paracas, where we will drop you off at your hotel and you will have the evening to relax and enjoy some delicious fresh seafood at one of the many seaside restaurants. (B)
Day 4 Ballestas Islands /Paracas Reserve / Lima
In the morning, we will take you to the Chaco Harbor in Paracas for your remarkable boat ride to the Ballestas Islands, which are three small islands filled with animals a short distance off the coast. On the boat ride to the islands, you will be able to see the ‘Candelabro,’ which is a giant geoglyph in the shape of a candle holder. When you arrive at the Ballestas Islands, you will stay on the boat to observe a chaotic flurry of amazing animals including noisy but playful fur seals and sea lions as well as a huge number of sea birds including, Humbolt penguins, pelicans, tendril, Inca tern, the Peruvian booby, red legged cormorant and guanay. You will travel closely around the islands to have a spectacular view of the animals on the shore, those flying overhead, and those swimming underwater. After touring the islands, we will take you to the beautiful Paracas Reserve. Your time in the reserve will allow you to see several species of birds, oceanic fossils now trapped in the desert, the only red sand beach in Peru and the famous Cathedral Rock formation. Towards the end of the tour, we’ll enjoy a delicious seaside lunch and an opportunity to swim at the beach. After lunch and a nice dip in the water, we’ll make our way back to Lima and we’ll take you to your hotel. (B, L)
DAY 5: Lima – Cusco
A morning flight brings us to Cusco, high in the Andes Mountains, upon arrival to Cusco Airport, our staff will be waiting for you to drive you to the Hotel where you will receive an aromatic coca tea then you have the free morning to rest for a while. Later in the afternoon we’ll take you on a guided visit to see Cusco’s highlights, including nearby ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Q’enko, followed by a visit to the Main Square and famous ‘Koricancha’ or Temple of the Sun and of course the local market. (B)
DAY 6: Sacred Valley
One of the most spectacular days of the tour takes us through the Sacred Valley of the Incas; once an important source of food for the Inca, the Sacred Valley is a lush agricultural region that continues to supply the city of Cusco with much of its produce. As it is 600m lower than Cusco, temperatures are on average 5 degrees Cº higher in the Sacred Valley.
Our travels will bring us through the major archaeological sites of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. At Pisac, an optional two hour or 5km hike will allow us to fully appreciate the Incan city nestled high in the Andean range. Later, the colorful artesian market at Pisac will no doubt be a highlight for those in search of unique souvenirs.
The day trip finishes in the picturesque village of Ollantaytambo, location of another large Inca site. This major ruin is known as the best surviving example of Inca urban planning and engineering. But more than that, Ollantaytambo is a living breathing Inca City. Here we catch our breath and prepare for our train voyage to Machu Picchu. (B)
DAY 7: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu
This morning we’ll make our way to the train station in Ollantaytambo and board the train to Aguas Calientes traveling northeast through the lush Sacred Valley of the Incas. Arrive at Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu village, check into your hotel and enjoy the atmosphere. Aguas Calientes is about 30 minutes from Machu Picchu, which you’ll visit this afternoon after the crowds. Today you can soak in the hot thermal springs and explore the village. (B)
DAY 8: Machu Picchu / Cusco
A pre-dawn start from takes us by bus to Machu Picchu. Enjoy the ruins in virtual solitude for the first hour until sunrise. Make the hour-long hike up to the ‘Intipunku’ or Sun Gate. See Machu Picchu in all its glory and discover Machu Picchu on an expert 2-hour private guided tour. Then, free time at site to explore, rest, meditate or simply chill out in the ruins.
Climb Wayna Picchu (Young Peak 2 hrs, not included), hike to the Moon Temple (2 1/2 hrs), or venture to the Inca Draw Bridge! There is no shortage of things so see and do in Machu Picchu. Generally we’ll have lunch in Aguas Calientes although it is your choice, afternoon train to Ollantaytambo and transfer to your hotel in Cusco. (B)
DAY 9: Cusco - Free Day
Today is a free day in the Incan Imperial Capital. We’ll do our best to discover Cusco’s enchanting network of narrow streets and white wash mud-brick walls, all built atop Incan stone foundations. A true amalgamation of cultures! Explore the many markets, churches, museums, plazas and first-rate restaurants, all at your fingertips while exploring the city center on foot. Or, visit nearby ruins of Sacsayhuaman and Tambomachay on horseback. More active options include river rafting, motorcycle tours and mountain biking.
Also recommended is stop by the Incan Archaeological Museum located a block from the Plaza de Armas. Then, time permitting, visit the recently opened ‘Casa Concha’, which houses hundreds of pieces removed from Machu Picchu by Hiram Bingham in 1912 and recently returned in 2011 (Centennial Anniversary of Machu Picchu’s scientific discovery) to Peru by Yale University in the United States.
Also worth a visit is the colorful local market at San Pedro and the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas, full of artists, craftsmen and street vendors, both only minutes from the hotel. (B)
DAY 10: Cusco - Departure Day
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima or to continue with an extension program. We can arrange a later flight date out of Cusco or additional post tour accommodation in Cusco or Lima upon client request. (B)
End our services
Add on this Trip: Amazon Rainforest, Titicaca Lake, Colca Canyon, and other extension tours or treks. Let us know.
What’s Included
What’s Not Included
