NEW Family Adventures: PeruRecommended for families with kids ages 10 and up.

Jul 6 - Jul 15, Aug 3 - 12 and
Dec 21 - 30, 2012
For more details or to book your family vacation, enter your name and email below or Call 1-888-466-3590 M-F, 9 am-5:30 pm (EST)!
Adult Starting at $4,790
Child Starting at $4,390
Call 888-466-3590
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  • Peru is one of the great family travel destinations in the Americas. With stunning mountain scenery, vibrant local cultures, and phenomenal Incan ruins (not the least of which is Machu Picchu!), there is something here to captivate everyone in your family.
  • Explore Machu Picchu, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. The “lost city” of Machu Picchu was so remote and so well hidden that it wasn’t rediscovered until 1911, when Hiram Bingham stumbled onto the astonishing ruins hidden in the mists and perched on a rocky ridge in the sky. No longer “lost,” your family can discover first-hand why Machu Picchu was recently voted one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
  • Visit the studio of renowned ceramicist Pablo Seminario. Pablo Seminario’s work is dedicated to rediscovering and preserving the ceramic techniques and designs of ancient Peruvian cultures—an important part of this area’s cultural heritage.
  • Meet llamas and alpacas at the Awanacancha Llama Center. Here your family can learn about and see up-close llamas, alpacas, and other New World cameloids, which have been important to the way of life here for centuries.
  • Discover the charms of colonial Cuzco. Founded in the 11th century and capital of the Inca Empire from the 13th century through the arrival of the Spanish in the mid 16th century, Cuzco is a delightful mix of Inca and Spanish architecture. Around the city you can still see the remains of Inca buildings and foundations—many of which have proven to be stronger than buildings constructed in the present day!
  • Explore the Inca ruins of Raqchi. The ruins at Raqchi are among the few Inca ruins left that still have adobe covering the stonework at the base of the walls. The site features the ruins of a temple and a granary, and is a good example of the Incas constructing buildings in trapezoids—a design feature intended to help buildings withstand earthquakes.
  • Walk the pre-Inca burial ground at Sillustani. The pre-Inca burial ground at Sillustani was created by the Aymara culture, which was conquered by the Incas in the 15th century. The area is located at nearly 14,000 feet above sea level, and consists of several burial towers in various states of ruin.
  • Explore the floating reed islands of Lake Titicaca. Board a small chartered boat to cruise out onto Lake Titicaca. Your destination is a floating reed island Uros community in Puno Bay—this lively visit is very popular, and you will have time to explore these unique islands and talk with some of the residents.
  • Hike the remote community of Santa Rosa. Leave the main highway to follow a secondary road over a low range of hills and down to the lakeshore. Here, in tiny valleys tucked between folds of wind-eroded sandstone, the members of the community of Santa Rosa farm, fish, and raise a few animals. Hike to a ridge-top viewpoint, meet some local villagers, and make the most of the spectacular rural surroundings.
  • Visit to the Mercados Indios in Lima. You can opt to visit the Mercados Indios, a popular open-air market which aggregates the best of folk art from all over the country and is a great place to pick up some last-minute souvenirs.
  • This tour features the following World Heritage sites in Peru:
    • City of Cuzco
    • Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
    • The cultural heritage of Aymara communities in Peru (Intangible Cultural Heritage)
    See a complete list of all Smithsonian tours featuring World Heritage sites.


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