Backroads | Peru Family Insider

Peru Family Insider

Weaving together stunning Andean landscapes, fascinating Inca history and captivating Quechua culture, our trip wraps you and your family in the essence of Peru. You’ll witness an engaging blend of Pre-Columbian, colonial and 21st-century cultures in Cusco, where trendy galleries rest on foundations of ancient Inca stonework and young locals clad in jeans pass rural women dressed in rainbow-colored pollera skirts and ponchos. Marvel at ancestral folk music during an interactive performance and lunch at a family home. While adults visit the ruins at Ollantaytambo, kids enjoy a special encounter and activities with students from a local middle school. Feel the energy of the apukuna (mountain spirits) as you explore Machu Picchu. And fun for all ages: put your artistic flair to the test at a famous ceramics studio dedicated to preserving ancient techniques. Along the way, delight in the company of our Peruvian guides, who offer personal insights into the region’s deep mythological and religious roots.

Monumental Mysteries

Wander in awe through Q’oricancha and Sacsayhuamán, home to some of Peru’s finest examples of Inca architecture. Though they may not have invented it, the Incas mastered the art of monumental stone masonry. The question is: how on Earth did these ancient engineers integrate enormous boulders with such precision that not even a needle can fit between them?

"Navel of the World"

Our walking tour of Cusco (and scavenger hunt for the kids!) provides a rich and fascinating context for the places we’ll discover and the people we’ll meet during these seven unforgettable days. Our local Peruvian guide and good friend gives us a close-up look at this vivacious and colorful city caught in an intriguing tug-of-war between its ancient heritage and thriving contemporary culture.

¿Como se dice "Baker's Dozen?"

Dive into the vibrant local market with your Trip Leader and bargain with vendors selling every manner of wares, from brilliantly colored textiles to local produce. It’s your chance to shop for ceramics, woven goods, jewelry and alpaca sweaters. We’ll teach you a few Spanish bartering phrases - little English is spoken here!

Lost City of the Incas

Suspended between two Andean peaks at 7,700 feet is one of the greatest architectural masterpieces of the ancient world: Machu Picchu. Certain to be an experience that surpasses your imagination, explore this enigmatic citadel and marvel at the magical play of sunlight, shadows and fog against perfectly constructed temples, baths and aqueducts.

The Amazing Salineras

Savor stunning views of mountains and glaciers while descending on foot through the famous Inca Salineras, a beautiful honeycomb of pools rising tier upon tier in the Sacred Valley. Fed by an underground river, these salt-encrusted basins have been raked and scraped clean for centuries, with families passing on their tiny plots of land from generation to generation.

A Gem of Quechua Culture

In the isolated weaving center of Huilloc, resilient villagers still speak the language of their Inca ancestors and grow their crops on small terraced fields 12,000 feet above sea level. Here we visit with a local family, who invite us into their home for an intimate look at the traditional Andean way of life.

Mountain Menu

Sample ají de gallina (shredded chicken in a spicy cheese sauce), camote (sweet potato), traditional cuy (yes, guinea pig), pisco sours (the citrusy "national drink") and ancient Andean grains such as quinoa. For dessert, indulge in custard-like chirimoya alegre, our chef’s secret family recipe, and ice cream made from lúcuma, a fruit native to Peru. The younger set particpates in two special kids-only dinners where they’ll enjoy a meal prepared just for them and learn a few fun techniques, such as carving fruits and vegetables with the chef.

Heavenly Havens: Premiere Inns

Hotel Monasterio del Cusco (3 nights): Delight in a unique encounter with Inca and Spanish traditions at this elegant museum-hotel, a favorite among readers of Condé Nast Traveler and Travel+Leisure.

Sol y Luna Lodge & Spa (2 nights): Located in the heart of the Sacred Valley, the Sol y Luna is surrounded by beautiful gardens and features comfortable and tastefully appointed bungalows.

Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge (1 night): Named one of the world’s top 500 hotels by Travel+Leisure, the Sanctuary Lodge is the only hotel located within the Machu Picchu citadel. Don’t miss the sunset view from the hotel’s orchid-filled garden and be sure to join the sunrise excursion to the ruins.

2009 DATES

FAMILY TRIPS

7/27-8/2Price: $4798 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1190 for sgl. occ.)

The trip you have selected is different from the one displayed. Here's how:
On Days 3 and 4 we stay at Willka T'ika, a family-run retreat in the heart of the Sacred Valley featuring a yoga room, herbal baths and massage services.

2010 DATES

FAMILY TRIPS

Reserve early for the best available price. Prices may change during the course of the year--if they do change, the best prices are available earlier. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.

Recommended Kids Ages

Minimum Ages:

Recommended minimum age for the trip: 12 years

General Info on Minimum Ages:

We strongly encourage families to join our Family Trips, designed with kid- and adult-friendly features. Please note that we have a minimum age requirement of 1 year for all Inn trips and 2 years for all Camping trips. Other than that, we do not restrict trips to a minimum age except in the rare case of a hotel age restriction. We do, however, recommend minimum ages based on the following criteria:

12+ cultural appreciation, difficulty of activities
9+ difficulty of activities
6+ several long adult dinners; there may be multiple activity restrictions
3+ activities are suited to young kids; there are few or no activity restrictions; and no long dinners (or we offer alternatives)

Please note that a trip may feature an activity with an older age requirement than the minimum age recommendation for the trip. Younger kids are still welcome on the trip and while they will not be able to participate in the activity, the leaders will suggest an alternate activity.

Guest Trip Reviews

Backroads is really excited to add our latest way to explore the world - Insider Trips - to our award-winning biking, hiking and multisport vacations. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus, or in a few excursions from a cruise ship or a secluded resort.

Tom Hale - Backroads President and Founder