Family Andean Discovery

Overview
Dates & Rates
Accommodations
Extensions

A Fun Tour of Peru’s Cusco and Machu Picchu With Kids and Teens

Type of Trip: Cultural, Family Length: 9 days Season: April-December Rating: Grade II

Machu Picchu, the “lost city of the Incas.” It sparks the imagination of kids and adults alike. All members of the family will find “wow” moments and make lifelong memories with this colorful family-oriented itinerary.

This expertly crafted program blends awe-inspiring historical sites with interactive cultural experiences, creating lasting memories for all ages. From hands-on weaving demonstrations in Chinchero to exploring Cusco’s vibrant markets, families will immerse themselves in Andean culture.

The journey includes a scenic train ride to Machu Picchu, a visit to a local school, and a captivating Paso Fino horse show. With a perfect balance of educational activities, easy-to-moderate outdoor adventures, and comfortable accommodations, this trip offers an enriching exploration of Peru’s diverse landscapes and rich heritage, sparking wonder in both children and adults alike.

Southwind offers two versions of this trip: the first is for families with kids ages 5 and up, and the second is for more active families with teens ages 12 and up.

Trip Highlights:

Get up-close with wooly llamas, vicuñas and alpacas and learn to tell them apart

Practice counting in Spanish as you bargain for handcrafted souvenirs in lively local markets

Learn about a day in the life of young Peruvian students at a village school visit

Spot the Southern Cross and other night sky wonders at a planetarium and observatory

Get hands-on with clay at an artistic ceramics workshop

Watch the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu emerge from the clouds

Find out why the Incas chose this spot for building Machu Picchu at the Manuel C. Ballón Museum

Learn about an endangered species at the spectacled bear conservation project

Get creative in the kitchen with a Peruvian cooking class

Dance and play inside the enchanted water fountains in Lima’s “magic water circuit” park

Brief Itinerary

DAY 1: USA / LIMA OR CUSCO
Land in Peru’s lively capital, Lima, settle into a nearby hotel for a restful evening while you prepare for a journey of discovery.

DAY 2: LIMA / CUSCO / SACRED VALLEY
Early morning fly to Cusco (11,150′), then descend into the Sacred Valley (9,708′) while acclimating. Explore the colorful Pisac town, where children can practice bargaining skills and discover unique Andean crafts. Walk by the impressive Incan ruins above town.

DAY 3: SACRED VALLEY/OLLANTAYTAMBO
Immerse in local culture with a school visit and a hands-on ceramics workshop. Visit the fascinating Inca salt mines of Maras, where kids can learn about ancient salt harvesting techniques. With older kids enjoy a thrilling family mountain biking adventure through stunning Andean landscapes.

DAY 4: MACHU PICCHU
Board the scenic Vistadome train at Ollantaytambo, offering panoramic views that will captivate young imaginations. Alternatively, embark on a day hike following a portion of the Inca Trail. Arrive at the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu (7,973′), where children can explore ancient Incan engineering marvels.

DAY 5: MACHU PICCHU
Wake up to a magical Machu Picchu sunrise. Families discover and photograph different sections of the citadel, such as the Sacred Plaza, Temple of the Sun, water fountains, or follow kid-friendly trails to Intipunku (the Gateway of the Sun), the Inca bridge or up to Huchuy Picchu hill.

DAY 6: MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO
Morning birdwatching excursion to spot up to 18 hummingbird species. Learn about wildlife and bear conservation efforts, perfect for young animal enthusiasts. Return to Cusco via the Vistadome train and private vehicle, marveling at the changing landscapes.

DAY 7: CUSCO
Embark on a private, kid-oriented tour of Cusco. Explore vibrant markets, historic squares, colonial buildings, Hatunrumiyoc street with the 12-angled stone and walk by the impressive Sacsayhuaman Incan fortress. Cap off the day with a fun, family-friendly Peruvian cooking class.

DAY 8: CUSCO / LIMA OR USA
Fly to Lima to tour the colonial center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For a final adventure head to the “Magic Water Circuit,” featuring interactive fountains that will delight children of all ages.

DAY 09: USA
Return home with unforgettable family memories of your Peruvian adventure.

All Southwind itineraries are fully customizable to your personal interests and travel dates. Please contact us for firsthand knowledge and help with your travel plans.

Detailed day-by-day itinerary (PDF) for families with kids ages 5 and up

Request a Private Trip
Departures

On request any week throughout the April-December season.

You can pick your own dates and have Southwind design a custom itinerary anytime during the season for a minimum of two participants. Please contact our Travel Specialists.

2025 Land Cost

4-6 participants: from $6,300 p.p.d.
7-12 participants: from $5,900 p.p.d.
Single Supplement: from $1,700

p.p.d. = per person based on double occupancy. Price does not include international or local flights.

Detailed day-by-day itinerary (PDF) for families with kids ages 5 and up
With full trip profile, inclusions/exclusions, estimated airfare, and other info.
Lima: Costa del Sol

After a long flight to Lima travelers can step out of the International Terminal, walk a short distance, and enter the lobby of Ramada’s newly constructed Costa del Sol Hotel. This stylish four-star, 130 guest room hotel is the perfect place to unwind before exploring the wonders of Peru.

Sacred Valley: Sol Y Luna Lodge

Designed to promote the allure of nature and the magic of the Sacred Valley, the 4-star Sol Y Luna Hotel features 14 bungalows distributed throughout a delightfully landscaped site. Each bungalow is an integration of adobe, wood, stone from the area, resulting in a construction that lives in harmony with nature.

Machu Picchu: Inkaterra Pueblo

The Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel is a unique, 4-star ecological hotel situated in a cloud forest above the Urubamba River. Featuring 83 spacious, sunlit rooms, the style is Spanish colonial with stone archways and red tiled roofs. Cottages and gardens are reminiscent of a traditional Andean village.

Palacio del Inka

The city’s first 5-star hotel, the former Hotel Libertador Cusco is ideally located within the historical center of the city, only three blocks from the main square and across from Santo Domingo Church and Coricancha Inca site. It occupies the fabulous Casa de los Cuatro Bustos, where Francisco Pizarro once lived.

Lima Upgrade Option: Miraflores Park Hotel

Located on the Malecon de la Reserva, the 5-star Miraflores Park Hotel has 81 suites offering guests the ideal space for work and rest. Enjoy ample private bathrooms in marble and granite, comfortable king-size beds, and a splendid ocean view.

Lima Upgrade Option: JW Marriott Hotel

Enjoy a view of the Pacific Ocean against the shoreline at one of Condé Nast Traveler’s Top-20 Latin American hotels, the JW Marriott Hotel Lima. This 5-Star facility has prime location near the Larcomar shopping and entertainment center, and luxurious amenities.

Machu Picchu Upgrade Option: Sanctuary Lodge

Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, by Belmond, enjoys a unique position at the entrance of the Inca Citadel ruins. The unequaled location of this upscale 4-star hotel allows guests easy access to Machu Picchu, as well as breathtaking scenery and bird watching.

Cusco Upgrade Option: Monasterio Hotel

Built in 1592, the original monastery was given the seal of royal approval in 1692. The San Antonio Abad Seminary and was converted into Cusco’s best and most delightful 5-star hotel in 1995. Only two blocks from Cusco’s main square, the Monasterio Hotel features 109 guest rooms.
Amazon Lodges

Length: 4 Days/3 Nights from Cusco or Lima
Season: April to December
Families and travelers with limited time, who want a taste of the Amazon Basin rainforests, will enjoy the Reserva Amazonica or Sandoval Lake lodges, 45 min by motor boat from Puerto Maldonado.

Lake Titicaca Tour

Length: 4 Days/3 Nights from Cusco
Season: April to November
For those who want to experience authentic Quechua culture first-hand and feel like you’ve traveled back in time, nothing beats a visit with a family on Taquile Island.

Arequipa and Colca Canyon

Length: 5 days/4 nights from Lima
Season: Mid-April to mid-November
Twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, Colca in southern Peru is one of the deepest canyons in the world. Since its walls are not as vertical, the valley is filled with small towns that preserve their traditions.

Paracas Reserve

Length: 4 Days/3 Nights from Lima
Season: Year-round
A visit to Paracas is a journey to one of South America’s most important protected coastal-marine systems. Whales, orcas, dolphins, sea lions and sea otters are just a few the 36 species of marine and land mammals found in the reserve.

Manu Biosphere Reserve

Length: 5 Days/4 Nights from Cusco
Season: April to October
For travelers wanting to maximize their wildlife viewing opportunities in a short extension, few places in the Amazon Basin can compete with Manu National Park in southeastern Peru. It is considered to be one of the most pristine and important rainforest reserves on the planet!

Northern Peru

Length: 4 days/3 nights from Lima
Season: Year-round
Long before the Incas controlled the country, sophisticated cultures existed along the Peruvian coast; and northern Peru is one of the best destinations for visiting the remains of their cities. Moche sites including the renowned Lord of Sipan and the pyramids.

Nazca Lines Tour

Length: 3 days/2 nights from Lima
Season: Year-round
The mysterious lines etched into the coastal plains near the town of Nazca have fascinated scientists, archaeologists and visitors for decades. Best viewed from the air, Nazca figures such as the monkey, fish, hands and whale are highlights.

Carnal Ruins

Length: 2 days/1 night from Lima
Season: Year-round
In 2001 researchers stunned the archaeological community by carbon-dating the ruins at Caral back to 2627 BC. Step back in time to an early civilization while touring this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Testimonials

“We enjoyed the entire trip! Highlights for us include seeing all of the Inca ruins at Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Sacsayhuaman, and especially Machu Picchu. The Sacred Valley was so magnificent that even the train ride to Aguas Calientes was fun (we spent most of the time staring out of the window in awe). We also really enjoyed hanging out with the camelids, seeing the Maras salt mines, and visiting the weaving cooperative in Chinchero.”

Molly Koren – Denver, CO
★★★★★
“We have taken quite a number of “adventure trips” and this was one of the best organized. It was an excellent well-rounded, well-spaced program.”

Robert Biddulph – McHenry, IL
★★★★★
“We enjoyed the entire trip! Highlights for us include seeing all of the Inca ruins at Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Sacsayhuaman, and especially Machu Picchu. The Sacred Valley was so magnificent that even the train ride to Aguas Calientes was fun (we spent most of the time staring out of the window in awe). We also really enjoyed hanging out with the camelids, seeing the Maras salt mines, and visiting the weaving cooperative in Chinchero.”

Molly Koren – Denver, CO
★★★★★