9-Nights Peru Family Journey: Machu Picchu to the Amazon - National Geographic Family Journeys from $3,699

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

• Transportation from/to hotel (as back up) 
• Guide 
• Bikes 
• Assistant 
• Bottle of water 

• Items not mentioned in the Included section

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

An experience designed to get to know the history of Lima through songs from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries by the hand of Javier Lazo a Peruvian Musical Curator, two times Latin Grammy nominated. Enjoy a private concert along with a conversation with Javier, while walking through the bohemian district of <span 1px="" border-bottom:="" cjwvc3znpg="=" ));"="" class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 SCXW201443356 BCX0" data:image="" solid="" span="" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-repeat: repeat-x; background-position: left bottom; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2,url(">where travelers will sing and learn about the best artists and composers of musica criolla (creole music, from the Peruvian Coast) such as Rosa Mercedes Ayarza, Felipe Pinglo, Eduardo Márquez Talledo, Chabuca Granda, Manuel Acosta Ojeda and Andrés Soto. 

Our specialized guide will pick you up at the hotel and will drive you to Barranco where you will visit Main Plaza, Puente de los Suspiros, Bajada de baños, while gazing at the amazing mural artwork made by top Peruvian urban artists. 

Highlights:

• Learn the history of Lima through songs
• Conversation with an expert
• Walk through the bohemian district and learn about local music

• Transportation from/to hotel 
• Tour Guide 
• Music expert (He will meet the guests for around 30 minutes) 
• Bottle of water 

• Items not mention in the Included program

Lima, the city of the Kings, 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 pick you up from your hotel and will take you from the modern part 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 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

• Transportation from/to hotel 
• Expert Guide 
• Entrance fees 
• Bottled water 
• Snack 

• Items not mention in the Included section