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7-Nights Mystical Peru - Tauck Bridges Family Travel from $5,090
Tauck
OFFER ID 1494492
Mystical Peru
See, smell and taste what makes Peru unique at The Peruvian Experience... meet llamas and alpacas... as the height of adventure, the thrill of discovery, and the hunt for centuries-old mysteries old come together for your family on the ultimate vacation adventure...
Discover the secrets of this ancient land from today's capital, Lima, to its original Incan capital of Cusco, the Sacred Valley and mysterious Machu Picchu, you'll paint pottery, get blessed by a shaman, go horseback riding or river rafting (or get a massage!), see Peruvian Pasos dance, weave bracelets with schoolchildren, ride the rails to a lost city, take a chocolate-making class, meet endangered spectacled bears, play a pan flute and much more.
7 nights from $5,090 per person
Itinerary Details
Tauck World Discovery: Mystical Peru
Day 1 Lima, Peru
Welcome to Lima
Tour begins: JW Marriott Hotel Lima. A transfer is included from Lima Airport to the JW Marriott Hotel Lima, ideally located in one of the city's best neighborhoods. Most international flights arrive late evening, so settle into your room for a snack and a good night's rest.
Meals:
Day 2 Urubamba, Peru
The Peruvian Experience
A drive to the Barranco neighborhood of Lima leads to a visit to "Exquisite Peru" – an opportunity for hands-on learning about the "about the history, traditions, customs, Pisco and gastronomy of Peru." Early this afternoon, take a short flight from Lima to Cusco and travel to the Sacred Valley. Join us tonight for a welcome reception followed by dinner at your hotel.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3 Urubamba, Peru
Pupils and prayers in the Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley... a mountainous region of Peru that offers mystical awe-inspiring sights to discover... along with farms and villages that welcome you with a taste of daily life. This morning you'll be introduced to a local community and will have a host of activities to choose from learning to ride a donkey to a weaving demonstration to tree planting, before enjoying lunch with fellow guests. This afternoon, discover the meanings behind the sacred markings of ancient Peruvian cultures at a renowned pottery studio, then let your creative spirit take over when you paint your own ceramic masterpiece. Enjoy dinner at your leisure at the hotel tonight.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4 Urubamba, Peru
Paso horses, rafting or a spa & more
Today offers a choice of adventures* in the Sacred Valley today: hit the trail for a horseback ride through a small village and on into the countryside or don a wet suit for a rafting trip on a nearby river... or, you can choose a massage in the hotel spa! Later, meet up for a barbecue lunch at a private ranch, followed by a show starring the country's beautiful smooth-gaited Peruvian Paso horses, protected as part of the Patrimonio Cultural (Cultural Heritage) of Peru. Back at your hotel, a local shaman will provide blessings for your journey and give spiritual insight to the Sacred Valley area and Machu Picchu. Enjoy dinner tonight in the hotel's 17th-century colonial hacienda.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5 Machu Picchu, Peru
Train to Aguas Calientes & on to Machu Picchu
Experts are still not exactly sure what Machu Picchu was used for, but for centuries, this remarkable Inca citadel lay hidden from the world by mountainous jungle and mist until Yale archaeologist Hiram Bingham accidentally stumbled on it in 1911 while looking for other major Incan ruins. His discovery revealed myths and mysteries that still confound visitors today, making your rail journey on the Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes, the "gateway to Machu Picchu," and your drive up the mountain to what Bingham called the "Lost City of the Incas" that much more exciting. You'll spend the afternoon exploring Machu Picchu – a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was recently named one of the "new seven wonders of the world" – with our expert guides. This evening, head back down into Aguas Calientes for an overnight in whitewashed casitas (bungalows) at your pueblo-style hotel surrounded by a cloud forest.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 6 Cusco, Peru
Endangered species, a village market & ancient Cusco by rail
The morning is free for you to do as you please; there are lots of great optional activities for your family to choose from! You can take a guided nature walk on the flower-filled grounds of your hotel, seeing the collection of orchids and herbs that thrive here; or head into the colorful local market in Aguas Calientes, for an eye-opening parade of locally made arts and crafts, including woven tapestries, ponchos, jewelry and more. After lunch, make your way by train and coach to Cusco for a two-night stay in the historic city center at the JW Marriott Hotel Cusco, featuring an indoor pool to cool off in, as well as ancient walls and treasures uncovered during the hotel's recent construction.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 7 Cusco, Peru
Sacsayhuamán, chocolate & Incan lore in Cusco
Wake up this morning in the heart of Cusco – South America's oldest continuously inhabited city, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the shape of a puma, Cusco astounds with both Incan relics and some of the oldest Spanish colonial architecture in the "New World." At the archaeological site of Sacsayhuamán, the "House of the Sun," view awe-inspiring stone fortresses built by the Incas more than five centuries ago. Get a sweet taste of local traditions during a hands-on, mouth-watering chocolate-making class at the Choco Museo. Then learn how to tell the difference between an alpaca and a llama at the Awanacancha farm, where you'll meet these unique animals whose wool is woven into beautiful colorful textiles by local artisans. Spend the afternoon at leisure. Music's in the air at our farewell dinner in Cusco, as you learn how to play the Peruvian pan flute – which you'll get to take home with you as an unforgettable musical memento of your Tauck Bridges family Peru vacation!
Meals: B, D
Day 8 Lima, Peru
Homeward bound
Tour ends: Lima. Fly from Cusco to Lima for lunch; rooms have been reserved for you at the JW Marriott Hotel Lima whether you choose to fly out tonight or stay overnight and fly out in the morning. A transfer is included to Lima Airport from the JW Marriott Hotel Lima. Allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in.
Meals: B, L
Excursions
SACRED VALLEY: Hat making lessons at Maras community - 1 hour
SACRED VALLEY: Hat making lessons at Maras community - 1 hour
Mrs. Grandonia and Mrs. Álvarez, the renowned hatters of Maras, run an attractive crafts shop that produces top hats. They want to share their art with the travelers who visit their town. Dare to learn this ancient Andean activity.
Tour duration: 1 hour
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair accessible: No
Physical activity level: Moderate
Included: Private guide and transportation, participatory classes
Not included: Tips for guide and driver.
Excursions
CUZCO: Pottery workshop by Totemiq - 3 hours
CUZCO: Pottery workshop by Totemiq - 3 hours
Let your imagination soar in two magnificent workshops offered by Totemiq, an artistic and cultural development project where Cusco traditions are rescued and given new life in artistic sessions. In the first activity, Cusco Colonial Glazed Ceramics, learn how to make a horse or bull of Pucara, a traditional Cusco figure, and apply fine finishes with a layer of enamel, giving it a glazed effect. In the second, the Colonial Gold Leaf application, enjoy painting with the characteristic colours of the mountain range and then finish decorating your work with gold leaf, a traditional technique that Art Trail has recovered and applied to contemporary crafts. Both workshops are taught by renowned Cusco artists. By the end of the sessions, you’ll have two personalised works that will be delivered to your hotel the following day. After the workshops, return to your hotel.
Tour duration: 3 hours
Tour can operate: Morning / afternoon
Wheelchair accessible: No
Physical activity level: Moderate
Included: Private guide and transportation, materials and souvenir
Not included: Tips for guide and driver.
Excursions
LIMA: Lima´s boardwalks and gastronomic experience - 4 hours
LIMA: Lima´s boardwalks and gastronomic experience - 4 hours
Start with a scenic tour of the boardwalk, crossing the bohemian district of Barranco and the modern district of Miraflores, passing by Love Park where you can admire an imposing view of the Pacific Ocean. After the tour, arrive at a thematic restaurant and participate in a cocktail demonstration class, learning how to prepare the famous pisco sour. Then, enjoy a demonstration cooking class, learning how to make a delicious, typical Peruvian dish. After both classes, enjoy a tasty lunch overlooking the sea. At the end of your tour, transfer back to your hotel.
Tour duration: 4 hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair accessible: No
Physical activity level: Moderate
Included: Private guide and transportation, gastronomic experience
Not included: Tips for guide and driver.
LIMA: Participative cocktail class offered by Hotel B - 1.5 hours
LIMA: Participative cocktail class offered by Hotel B - 1.5 hours
Learn to prepare some of the most representative cocktails of Peru in a participatory class at the elegant Hotel B. The class is carried out by an experienced bartender who explains the history of the drinks and the elements used for each one. Each cocktail will be accompanied by a tasty pairing. Take advantage of this experience to learn about local cocktails in this luxurious hotel, located in a mansion of the early twentieth century.
Tour duration: 1 hour 30
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair accessible: No
Physical activity level: Moderate
Included: Private guide and transportation, seasonal cocktail accompanied by a pairing
Not included: Tips for guide and driver.
Huacas and Shrines on a bike (Lima - 4 hours)
Huacas and Shrines on a bike (Lima - 4 hours)
Lima is a big and modern city, it has been in continuous occupation for almost 2,000 years. Scholars have found more than 30 archaeological sites at different locations within the city limits. “HUACAS” are pyramidal constructions with superimposed platforms ending on a flat top, they were used for religious and administrative purposes by prehispanic civilizations along the Peruvian coast.
Our specialized Guide and his assistant will pick you up at the hotel with the bikes and the necessary equipment for the activity. After the briefing you will ride along one of the principal avenues of Lima towards the heart of Miraflores while enjoying the architecture and everyday life of the city folks. The first stop is at Huaca Pucllana, built 1,300 years ago, this visit is a great introduction to the history of Lima, traditions, cuisine and economic activities of ancient inhabitants. Then, we continue to the commercial and financial district, San Isidro, to visit Huaca Huallamarca, which has been through a magnificent restoration by the City Hall, you´ll appreciate the contrast between history and modern life. Finally, we return to the hotel completing a 12 km circuit on the bike. This activity is offered for mornings and afternoons. It lasts for 4 hours. The advantage of being at sea level and our moderate weather is that we can provide it all year round. We include a vehicle as support in case someone in the group decides to stop biking during the tour.
Highlights:
- Huacas, pyramidal constructions
- Bike to admire the arquitecture
Tour can operate: the morning or afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate/Heavy (we provide a vehicle as support in case someone in the group decides to stop biking during the tour)
Inclusions:
- Transportation from/to hotel (as back up)
- Guide
- Bikes
- Assistant
- Bottle of water
- Items not mentioned in the Included section
Historical and Natural Sanctuaries (Lima - 6 hours)
Historical and Natural Sanctuaries (Lima - 6 hours)
Highlights:
- Villa Wetlands, a natural reserve
- Pachamac, a historical sanctuary and important ceremonial center
The south limits of Lima house two important sanctuaries for the visitor: Villa Wetlands, a natural reserve holding a great variety of flora and fauna, its bodies of water attract a good array of biodiversity, they have identified more than 200 species of resident and migratory birds. And Pachacamac, historical sanctuary and important ceremonial center of the central coast in Perú, it was occupied by 4 consecutive civilizations before the arrival of the Spanish.
Our specialized guide and the vehicle will pick you up at the hotel. It´s necessary to reach Villa Wetlands early in the morning to enjoy the ecosystem. You walk for 2 km. around a lagoon facing the ocean with good opportunities for pictures and a clear understanding of the migratory patterns. The next stop is Pachacamac, the highlights of this massive archaeological site are visited. You will also enter the Site Museum displaying important pieces found during excavations, one of them is the wooden idol of Pachacamac, the most important prehispanic god in this area, carved in local wood more than a thousand years ago.
Return to the hotel is after noon, the activity takes almost 6 hours and you walk almost 5 km during the visits.
Tour Duration: 6 hours
Tour can operate: daily (excepts Monday)
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Transportation from/to hotel
- Guide
- Entrance Fees
- Bottle of water
Not Included:
- Items not mention in the Included section
Walking the history center of Lima (4 hours)
Walking the history center of Lima (4 hours)
WHAT YOU'LL VISIT
Depart the pier to Lima's main square where the Spanish conqueror, Francisco Pizarro, founded the "City of Kings" in 1535. The Government Palace, Lima City Hall, Archbishop's Palace, and the Lima Cathedral surround the square.
Lima was founded to be the capital and most important town of the Spanish domain in South America until the 18th century. The Historical Center represents the model of architecture and urban planning of Spanish colonial cities with high political, economic and cultural importance, as devised by Charles V in 1542.
Our expert Guide will take you to the colonial section of Lima, you will walk among historical monuments, religious and political buildings located within the perimeter declared Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1988. This learning experience will allow you to appreciate typical examples of Hispanic American baroque style as well as some other different styles like Art Nouveau.
Besides the stops for great pictures of Limenian architecture, you will have the opportunity to visit Casa de Aliaga, a mansion still inhabited by the same family since the foundation of the city, an extraordinary experience that will take you back in time. To finish the experience, we will visit the Dominican Convent, which was the first catholic order to arrive in Perú with Francisco Pizarro and they have a lot of history, traditions, and sainthood to impress our travelers.
Highlights:
- Colonial section of Lima
- Visit Casa Aliaga, a mansion still inhabited by the same family since the foundation of the city
- Dominican Convent
Tour can operate: daily
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light/Moderate
Inclusions:
- Transportation from/to hotel
- Expert Guide
- Entrance fees
- Bottled water
- Snack
Not Included:
- Items not mention in the Included section
The Amano Textile Museum (4 hours)
The Amano Textile Museum (4 hours)
WHAT YOU'LL VISIT
This excursion brings us to the Amano Textile Museum, renowned globally for its extensive collection of archaeological artifacts from pre-Columbian Peruvian civilizations, as well as the significant efforts of Mr. Yoshitaro Amano in safeguarding the world's global textile heritage. The museum's inception followed Mr. Amano's decision to settle in Peru, leveraging his success as a Japanese entrepreneur.
During his journeys across Peru, Mr. Amano encountered relics abandoned by grave robbers. Recognizing their cultural importance, he dedicated a substantial portion of his time to recovering and preserving these artifacts scattered throughout Peru's coastal deserts. These treasures were then exhibited in his residence in Miraflores.
The Amano family remains deeply committed to advancing conservation and research initiatives centered on Peru's textile legacy, in accordance with the vision of the museum's founder, while also paying homage to his memory.
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Moderate level of activity (easy walking for short distances/stairs)
DURATION: 4 Hours
(Suggested) Departure Time(s) 10:30 and/or 14:30
Note: Filming and photography are not permitted in the Amano Textile Museum, we suggest leaving your cameras in the bus.
Museo Larco (4 hours)
WHAT YOU'LL VISIT
This excursion brings Larco Museum, founded by Rafael Larco Hoyle in 1926, to showcase ancient Peruvian history through its extensive collection of artifacts spanning 5000 years. Housed in an 18th-century viceroyalty mansion built atop a pre-Columbian pyramid, the museum is renowned for its erotic pottery, accessible archives, and beautiful gardens. Andres Alvarez Calderon, actual owner of the collection, emphasizes the importance of museums in preserving humanity's heritage and engaging the public through immersive experiences.
Since it was established in 1926, the Museo Larco has been acknowledged as a pioneer in terms of public access to its collections. It was one of the first museums in the world to open its storerooms to the public, and to provide online access to its entire collection, encouraging in this way the multidisciplinary research first promoted by its founder.
Larco Museum in focused on storytelling, allowing visitors to connect with Peru's ancient civilizations and their profound relationship with nature and the cosmos.
After this stop reboard the motor-coach to return to the pier.
WHAT YOU'LL SEE ALONG THE WAY
Museo Larco´s collections
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Moderate level of activity (easy walking for short distances)
DURATION: 4 Hours
(Suggested) Departure Time(s) 09:00 and/or 14:00
Flash photography is not permitted in the Museum.
Includes:
- Pick up/drop off at the Port of Callao.
- Touring in a private vehicle with air-conditioning. All vehicles are fitted with cellular phones.
- Qualified, registered English-speaking tour guide.
- Entrance fees.
- Bottled Mineral Water and Tissues and hand wipes provided to all guests.
- Tips to drivers and guides.
- Any services not mentioned above.
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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