Inca Archives : TRAVEL/FOOD

As part of their commitment to empowering women through exploration and cultural immersion, Alpaca Expeditions, a Peru-based travel organization, offers the Women-Only Salkantay & Sacred Valley, a 7-Day Tour to Machu Picchu. This multi-day hiking experience, led by only female guides and porters, is limited to women travelers as it follows the Salkantay.

It’s an off the beaten trek through an ever-changing landscape of stunning panoramic vistas of valleys, mountain peaks, waterfalls, and streams, stopping at places such as Pisac, a town on the Urubamba River known for having one of the best archaeological complexes in Peru and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu. This unique mix of culture, scenery, glamping, and experiences centered on Perusivan traditions also includes Peruvian wine tasting, a cooking class, the weaving women’s collective, and a coffee tour.

It’s an alternative trek, and participants won’t see many other hikers or groups on the trail, adding to the intimacy of the experience in the vastness of the Andes mountains.

The trip is a mix of glamping and tent camping. Guests will enjoy two nights in glass cabañas with stunning views of the snow-capped Salkantay mountain range. For a unique experience, one night is spent in the Lord of the Rings-inspired Hobbit Houses exclusive to Alpaca Expeditions. Hot tubs, showers, and a nearby glacial-fed river complement the mystical Hobbit House experience.

Two nights are tent camping, one within the Salkantay Mountains and the second at an exclusive campsite overlooking the ruins of Machu Picchu at Llactapata. The final night is at a hotel in the mountain village of Aguas Calientes (Spanish for hot springs), at the foot of Machu Picchu.

Sacred Vally and Salkantay Ultimate Hiking Tour to Machu Picchu–7 days is $995 per person. Group size is 8-12. Custom tours with groups of 6 or more are available. Dates are available May – October 2025.

For more information and a day-by-day itinerary, visit Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu Only Women.

All photos courtesy of Alpaca Expeditions.

ACCOMODATIONS

Sol y Luna (Cusco): They have forty-three casitas (houses) to accommodate families. They are surrounded by gardens filled with flora native to the Sacred Valley and all face the Andes Mountains. They offer experiences such as tandem paragliding, cycling or hiking through terraced fields, horseback riding to remote villages and kayaking.

La Base Lamay (Cusco): The main purpose of the daily activities they offer is all about conservation and sustainable development through responsible tourism in Lamay. Offerings Family fun offerings include activities such as hikes in the mountains, experiences in local communities, fly fishing, mountain biking, rock climbing, farming and culinary activities, as well asinteractive experiences in the village.

Colca Lodge (Arequipa): Their family suites are perfect for those traveling with children. Consider requesting activities such as lunches cooked by the riverside near the hot springs, visiting an alpaca ranch and condor room, hiking to a pre-Inca ruins near the hotel, or just relaxing treatment at the thermal spa.

Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica (Madre de Dios): An ecological luxury lodge. It offers a varied selection of excursions, including a visit to the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway, a system of bridges 30 meters above the ground. In 2013, Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica was chosen by National Geographic Traveler magazine among the top 25 eco-lodges in the world.

Hotel Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort (Paracas): They offer family-friendly accommodations with furnished terraces, sea views and garden views. There’s a Kids’ Club as well as an entertainment area for children, where staff organizes fun activities indoors and outdoors.

Decameron (Lima and Tumbes): It is a family-friendly resort with many activities throughout the day. In Peru, you can find them in Lima and Tumbres. You can enjoy activities such as shows, water sports and other sports, in addition to having specialized restaurants, unlimited food, beverages and alcoholic drinks.

FOOD

Traveling with kids can be an adventure, especially when it comes to mealtime. Peru offers an array of delicious and child-friendly dishes that will have your little ones asking for seconds.

Kick off your flavorful journey with a few sips of Inca Kola. A soft drink is a great special treat for kids, especially those who don’t have much soda at home. This soda is sweet and fruity—channeling its main ingredient, lemon verbena. Inca Kola has been around since 1935, so it’s definitely the perfect way to get a swig of authenticity during your trip!

Next on the menu is lomo saltado, a mouthwatering stir-fry that blends tender strips of beef with onions, tomatoes, and fries, served over a bed of rice. It’s like a Peruvian twist on beef and fries—and who doesn’t like fries?

For those with a sweet tooth, Peru offers a delightful treat called picarones. These fluffy doughnuts made from sweet potato and pumpkin are fried to golden perfection and drizzled with a decadent syrup made from molasses and spices. It’s a dessert that will have both kids and adults coming back for more. You also can’t miss out on classic churros, the sweet treat made from crispy fried dough covered in cinnamon sugar—and a side of chocolate dipping sauce.

To introduce your young ones to the bold flavors of Peruvian cuisine, try the savory delight that is anticuchos—or grilled skewers of marinated beef heart or chicken, seasoned to perfection and served with a side of roasted potatoes.

Peru for kids is an immersion into a different culture –a learning experience for the entire family from strolling through cobblestone city streets, exploring ancient remains, and hiking through Peru’s lovely to sampling the different foods and meeting new people. It’s more than that as well. It’s a way to bond with your family and also enjoy what the world has to offer.