For many travelers Peru is defined by Machu Pitchu but it is one of the most diverse and culturally rich countries in the world. Two thirds of the land mass is Amazonian Rainforest and many of the national reserves, parks and historic sites are only accessible with registered tour operators. Don’t let any of that put you off. Peru is an amazingly welcoming country and makes it wonderfully easy to enjoy every fascinating corner

Why visit Peru?

A rich history for all to enjoy- The home of the great Inca civilisations is immersed in ancient history and home to several world icons including Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and the Colca Canyon.

Excellent weather- Temperatures on the coast rise to 30˚ in summer with low levels of humidity and little rain.

Beaches- Peru has hundreds of beautiful beaches and beach resorts but over 3000km of the long, narrow coast is desert. Peru is the third largest South American country and over 50% of the population live in the western coastal regions.

Nature- Peru is the 17^th most megadiverse country in the world and has over 1700 bird species. Two thirds of Peru is Amazonian Rainforest and there are a total of 75 nationally protected areas covering almost 16% of the country.

What to do 

Family Cruises in the Amazon Rainforest 

Over two thirds of Peru is Amazon rainforest and only accessible by boat. A wide range of cruises on delightful, historic boats are designed for families with children and give you a choice of itineraries and lengths

Machu Picchu, Cusco 

The Valley of Machu Picchu is Peru’s biggest attraction. Tickets are limited to 2500 per day and most visitors take the Inca Trail to the 2430m high site. All tourism’s strictly managed here and the best way to see Machu Picchu with kids is with a registered tour

The Sacred Valley, Cusco 

This lush, fertile valley an hour north west of Cusco was a main Inca settlement and contains several villages, monuments, temples and agricultural sites. The entire circuit is 170km round and, again, works best with kids as part of a tour 

Manu National Park 

This UNESCO World Heritage site contains the entire Manu River basin and is one of the world’s most bio-diverse areas. 30 indigenous communities live within the park and there are over 200 different species of animals including spider monkeys, jaguar and capybara

Tambopata National Park 

The national macaw sanctuary’s in this reserve and it’s one of the most accessible area in south east Peru for Amazon River cruises and guided jungle trekking

Colca Canyon 

3270m deep Colca Canyon is one of the world’s deepest and over twice the depth of the Grand Canyon. It’s one of the only locations to see Andean Condor and the valley has several remarkable colonial towns, ruins, temples, monuments and traditional villages

How to get around Peru 

Some of the country’s sites can be visited independently but many more are only accessible with a tour guide. Several UK companies now specialise in Peru for families. If you’re travelling with children a holiday with pre-arranged travel and accommodation is worth considering.