Map of Peru Family Holiday with Teenagers  including Peru

An active Peru adventure for families with teenagers

Take a breathtaking family holiday among the clouds in Peru, designed to keep teenagers and adults alike captivated. Stroll cobblestone streets and see ancient Inca structures in Cusco. Glide through the Sacred Valley, passing the salt flats of Maras on a cycling adventure. Hike section of the Inca Trail and see Machu Picchu emerge among the clouds with your loved ones by your side. Rise early to row a boat across the calm waters of Lake Titicaca to a homestay on a floating island. This is family travel done different: active, immersive and authentic.


Start
Cusco, Peru
Finish
Lima, Peru
Destination
Peru
Style
Original
Theme
Family
Code
GGFT
Physical rating
Ages
Min 10
Group size
Min 2, Max 16

Why you'll love this trip

  • Spend one day hiking a section of the Inca Trail and emerge triumphant atop Machu Picchu, a bucket list item for many.

  • Descend from the Salt Flats of Maras on a mountain biking adventure like no other, riding around thrilling bends and past incredible scenery.

  • Row a boat across the serene waters of Lake Titicaca, then stay overnight with a host family on a floating island.

  • With travel through remote areas, a homestay and engaging history lessons from a local leader along the way, this tour immerses your family in a new culture.

  • This tour is designed for active families with teenagers – the kind of families that love adventure and doing thing differently, together.

  • At Intrepid we’ve always been about balancing profit and purpose and as the largest B Corp certified operator on the Inca Trail we’re committed to operating our treks for the benefit of all – join us and help make the world a better place.

Is this trip right for you?

  • Just as a heads up before you book: this trip is new to our range this year. And while we have thoroughly researched every detail of the logistics, new destinations can sometimes throw us some unexpected surprises. More often than not, it’ll be a great surprise. But every now and again there might be a hiccup. We like to think that’s what puts the ‘adventure’ in ‘adventure travel’.

  • The Andes mountains are breathtaking, but the heights reached on this trip can cause some people to suffer from altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health. Please see the ‘Medical and health information’ section of Essential Trip Information for more details on this.

  • Navigating the rugged terrain and in this region is unforgettable. The trade-off is that some of the activities can be challenging – particularly with the altitude. You will need to be moderately fit in order to enjoy the included activities on this trip. It's important to be patient as your body adjusts and alert your guide if you are feeling unwell.

  • It’s best to wear layers at all times of the year in case conditions change during the day. At night the temperature can really drop, so bring warm clothes.

  • Staying with a local family on Lake Titicaca is a rewarding and authentic travel experience, but keep in mind that the facilities will be basic. Water is cold, meals are simple, and bathrooms are shared.

Itinerary

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Cusco, the lofty heart of Peru! Cusco is the continent's oldest continuously inhabited city and was the home of the Inca for two centuries before the Spanish arrived. Your family adventure begins tonight with a welcome meeting at 5 pm in the hotel. With the formalities out of the way, head out for an included dinner at a local restaurant where you can get to know your fellow family travellers and tour leader.
Accommodation
  • Garcilaso Hotel I or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information

This tour includes a complimentary airport transfer. If you wish to use this service, please provide your flight details to your travel agent or Intrepid representative at least 15 days prior to arrival. If you are going to be late, please let your agent or hotel reception know.

It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information for each member of your family. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Be sure to take it easy until you have acclimatised to the city’s altitude of 3450 metres.
After breakfast, rally the troops and head out on a tour with your guide. You'll get to see some of Cusco's excellent sights and learn the stories of this old city. Visit the main square, wander the streets of the trendy San Blas Artisan's Quarter and pick up a snack at the food market. Following the tour, enjoy free time to do whatever your family feels like. Your leader will provide you with a Boleto Turistico (Tourist Ticket) which will give you access to many of Cusco’s attractions. You might want to get an overview of the area at the Museo Historico Regional (Regional History Museum) or perhaps take a taxi up to Saqsaywaman to explore the ruins. Your leader is on hand to help you make the best decision.
Accommodation
  • Garcilaso Hotel I or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Cusco - Full Boleto Turistico Pass (Entrance to 16 archaeological sites in/around Cusco)
  • Cusco - City walking tour
Optional Activities
  • Cusco - Totem painting workshop - USD59
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Make short drive (1.5 hours) to the archaeological site of Moray, thought to have been the centre of experimental agriculture under Inca rule. Saddle up and begin a mountain biking adventure, riding along an intermediate section of trail. Take a snack break then continue to the Salt Flats of Maras. The salt flats provide a great opportunity to snap some pictures and catch your breath before you begin the descent to Pichingoto. Don’t be fooled though, the downhill stretch can be tricky and requires focused riding. Your cycling adventure comes to an end at about 3 pm, when you’ll board a private vehicle and drive 30 minutes to Ollantaytambo. Enjoy a guided tour of the eponymous archaeological site on arrival. It’s wise to get an early night as tomorrow you tackle a section of the Inca Trail!
Accommodation
  • Pakaritampu Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Sacred Valley - Mountain Biking
  • Ollantaytambo - Archaelogical site entrance and guided tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Bike helmets are compulsory during this included activity. Though laws in other countries do not require riders to wear helmets we ask that all riders on Intrepid trips wear a bike helmet on all included riding activities. Bike helmets are provided.

Today's ride covers about 30–35 kms/ 22 miles. You will be provided with adjustable helmets, full-fingered gloves, elbow and knee pads (all of which are mandatory). The group will also be accompanied by a support vehicle for those who do not want to ride the whole way.

Lunch today will be a boxed lunch.
Today’s the day! Catch the train to KM104, where your trek begins. Cross the Urubamba River and enter the final stretch of the Inca Trail at approximately 9 am. The ruins of Chachabamba provide the first sight of the ancient Inca civilisation along the trail, followed by an upward climb to Winay Wayna (Forever Young) at an elevation of 2680 metres (8792 ft). This impressive complex includes numerous terraces, a religious sector and an urban sector. Many consider this the most impressive site on the entire Inca Trail. Continue for about 1 hour, emerging at the Inti Punku (Sun Gate) at an elevation of 2730 metres (8792 ft). From this vantage point, enjoy views of Machu Picchu below you. Take a few photos and have a brief look around before taking the bus to Aguas Calientes. Don’t worry, you’ll be back tomorrow to explore the site in depth!
Accommodation
  • Continental Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Sacred Valley - 1 day Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
The trek today will cover approximately 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) and take around 5 hours.

If a member of your family does not wish to hike it is possible to take the train to Machu Picchu and wait for the rest of the group to arrive. If you wish to organise this, please let your travel agent or an Intrepid representative know before your trip begins.

Your main luggage will be transported to your hotel in Aguas Calientes today. You will only need a small day pack with essentials like your camera, water bottle, sunscreen and jacket.
Return for an early morning exploration of Machu Picchu. Take a 30-minute bus ride and arrive at about 6 am. Built sometime between 1450 and 1460, the city was deserted less than a century later following the Spanish invasion and ‘lost’ for hundreds of years before it was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. The mortar-free design of the city is earthquake resistant and the stones so precisely cut that to this day not even a knife can fit between them. Enjoy some free time to wander the upper section and take some photos at your own pace, then enjoy a 2-hour guided tour. Head back into town and grab some lunch, then return to Ollantaytambo by train in the afternoon. Board a bus for Cusco and arrive at around 6.30 pm.
Accommodation
  • Garcilaso Hotel I or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Machu Picchu - Entrance and guided tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information

According to Machu Picchu visiting regulations, all visitors must follow a pre-determined route within the site. This route must be followed in one direction only and once the guided visit commences exiting and re-entering the site is not permitted. Once the guided tour concludes, visitors must exit the site and further personal exploration is not permitted.

Due to Intrepid’s internal safety policy, our leaders are specifically prohibited from recommending or assisting with booking trips to the mountaintop ruins of Wayna Picchu.
Make sure you’ve got some books or sparkling conversation ready, as today involves a 10-hour drive (including stops) to Puno. Break up the journey to check out the ancient cemetery Sillustani and archaeological site of Raqch’I, as well as a break for lunch. Make sure to keep an eye out for llamas, alpacas and flamingos during the drive. It’s a good idea to get an early night after arriving in Puno, as tomorrow there’s an early start to begin your Lake Titicaca adventure.
Accommodation
  • Hacienda Plaza Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Lake Umayo - Sillustani archaeological site entrance
  • Tinta - Raqchi archaeological site entrance
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Rise and shine! Shake off the sleep with an early morning row when you board a traditional Polynesian canoe for a 3-hour paddle across the lake. You’ll be able to spot local birds as you make your way towards the floating islands of Uros. On arrival, alight and transfer by boat to your homestay. You’ll arrive just in time to lunch, the perfect opportunity to get to know your hosts. The rest of the day is free for you to spend time with your hosts and help with activities like harvesting, feeding the animals and preparing dinner. Why not try a few words in Quechua or play a game of soccer? Both are great ways to make a connection. Enjoy a simple dinner and then bed down for the evening in one of the local homes.
Accommodation
  • Homestay (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Lake Titicaca - Polynesian canoe tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Say goodbye to your host family after breakfast this morning, and board a boat to Taquile Island (1 hour). The local handicraft and textile industry on Taquile is World Heritage-listed, so this is a great opportunity to pick up wearable gifts or souvenirs. Take a 1-hour uphill hike uphill to the main part of the island and enjoy views across the lake. Eat a local lunch, likely quinoa soup muna (Andean mint) tea, then descend to the boat and begin the 3-hour boat trip back to Puno. Enjoy a free afternoon and evening in Puno.
Accommodation
  • Hacienda Plaza Hotel or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Take some time this morning to explore Puno at your own pace, then return by plane to Lima (1.5 hours). If you have the energy your leader will be happy to show you around the city’s main attractions, and then you can choose how to spend the day. Later you might like to meet up with the other families for an optional dinner and then check out the evening water and light show of the Magic Water Circuit. Fountains are lit with multi-coloured lasers and set to music most nights. Ask your leader for details.
Accommodation
  • El Tambo II Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Lima - Orientation tour
Optional Activities
  • Lima - Reserve Park 'Magic Water Circuit' - Free
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Your tour comes to an end after breakfast today. If you plan to stay on in Lima, why not get under the city’s skin on an Urban Adventure? Find out more at urbanadventures.com/destination/lima-tours.
Optional Activities
  • Lima - Museum of the Inquisition - Free
  • Lima - Guided tour of San Francisco Monastery including The Catacombs - PEN20
  • Lima - Lima Discovery Urban Adventure - USD37
  • Lima - Private Lima: Home Cooked Tour Urban Adventure (Based on 2 participants) - USD85
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Meals

9 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 dinner

Transport

Private vehicle, Bicycle, Bus, Train, Canoe, Boat

Accommodation

Hotel (8 nights), Homestay (1 night)

Included activities

  • Cusco - Full Boleto Turistico Pass (Entrance to 16 archaeological sites in/around Cusco)
  • Cusco - City walking tour
  • Sacred Valley - Mountain Biking
  • Ollantaytambo - Archaelogical site entrance and guided tour
  • Sacred Valley - 1 day Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu
  • Machu Picchu - Entrance and guided tour
  • Lake Umayo - Sillustani archaeological site entrance
  • Tinta - Raqchi archaeological site entrance
  • Lake Titicaca - Polynesian canoe tour
  • Lima - Orientation tour

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Peru Family Holiday with Teenagers trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

Please note that these trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you.

Minimum age for children on this trip is 10 years old.

A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children 17 years and under at time of travel.

A single supplement is available on this trip with exception of Day 6 (Homestay)

PASSPORT DETAILS REQUIRED
Full passport details are required for all passengers at the time of booking, however passengers aged 17 and under (at time of entrance to Machu Picchu) must also provide a copy of their passport details page. This is required in order to secure child tickets.

1 DAY INCA TRAIL PERMIT
In order to obtain the necessary permit to trek the Inca Trail, Intrepid must be provided with accurate details of the passport to be used whilst travelling in Peru. If the name, passport number, nationality or date of birth shown on the permit are different from the passport, park authorities will refuse entry. If passport details have not been supplied, the permit cannot be issued. Please provide this at time of booking to avoid disappointment.

As you can choose different ways of reaching Machu Picchu (Inca Trail, Quarry Trail or Train), there is a small chance you may be the only traveller on your selected option.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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