Your Guide to an Adventurous Father-Son Trip to Peru 

Whether your son is 14 or 40, it’s never too early or late to bond with them and make incredible memories together — and an adventurous father-son trip to Peru is the perfect way to do so. That’s why we have created a thoughtful 14-day Peru itinerary specifically for father-son bonding.

From wild activities like whitewater rafting along Rio Apurimac and hiking along the Inca Trail to simple moments spent eating good food and relaxing in nature together, every moment of this trip is about bonding. Read on to find out what this once-in-a-lifetime trip entails and why it is going to make your bond as father and son stronger than ever.

Overview of your adventurous father-son trip to Peru

The itinerary takes you and your son on an escapade of Peru’s most prized sights starting with the ancient Inca streets of Cusco. Next, you’ll be challenged to complete the three-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, often considered among the best hikes in the world. After reaching Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World together, you and your son will be whisked to an eco-lodge deep in the Peruvian Amazon to share in the amazement of the Earth’s incredible biodiversity.

Having spotted rare and endangered animals most will never get to see in their life, you’ll be transported to the cinematic Peruvian Coast to see another rare sight, the Nazca Lines geoglyphs. But since, if we’re honest, there’s no better way to bond than by sharing a delicious meal together, the final days of your father-son trip to Peru will be spent eating your way through Lima, South America’s culinary capital. 

14-day itinerary for your adventurous father-son trip to Peru

Days 1+2 Culture in Cusco 

Start your father-son trip to Peru with a bang in the ancient Inca capital of Cusco for two days of history, culture, and wild adventure. For the best introduction to this famous Peruvian city, join an expert local guide on a private city walking tour. They will share fascinating stories about the ancient streets, show you the coolest Cusco landmarks, and treat you to samples of the best locally produced coffee and chocolate. Tonight you will sleep like kings in El Convento Cusco, a high-spec modern five-star hotel with hints of Inca heritage.

This morning prepare to be thrown into the deep end (don’t word, not literally) with the ultimate father-song bonding activity: whitewater rafting along Rio Apurimac. Thundering through a 3,000-meter-deep canyon, the adrenaline-pumping class IV white water rapids will test your strength, endurance, and team skills. Assuming you make it out unscathed, you will spend the afternoon with a private chef creating a delicious Peruvian-inspired meal together that you can cook for years to come and reminisce over your exciting father-son trip to Peru.

Days 3-5 Inca Trail & Machu Picchu

If you thought Cusco was an adventure, wait until you and your son set off on the three-day Inca Trail to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu. The 26-mile trek begins in the Peruvian Andes foothills and snakes gradually upwards toward the citadel over two days before the final stretch to catch Machu Picchu at sunrise on day three. 

While reaching Machu Picchu is the end goal, the journey will be equally beautiful as you and your son spend quality time together in Peru’s breathtaking cloud forests and take the chance for some deep conversations. On day two, conquer the highest point of the Inca Trail, Dead Woman’s Pass — with each other’s encouragement, you can accomplish anything. As a reward, you’ll get to see more of the Incas’ mind-blowing settlements including Cachachamba and Wiñay Wayna. 

On the morning of day three, you’ll wake before dawn and walk the final leg to Machu Picchu in time to watch it become drenched in golden light as the sun rises above the mountains. This will be one of the moments of the trip you and your son will treasure forever. Once daylight shows Machu Picchu in its full glory, a private guide will take you around the citadel sharing their knowledge and insight into this intelligent and creative ancient culture before you return to Cusco. 

Days 6-9: Explore the Amazon 

As the most beautiful and biodiverse place on Earth, there’s nowhere better to make some everlasting memories on an adventurous father-son trip than the Peruvian Amazon. During your four-day rainforest adventure, you’ll stay at the Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion, a gorgeous eco-luxury lodge resort on the Madre de Dios River where the private cabanas bring luxurious living into mother nature with glass walls. 

While there is plenty of time put aside for lazy moments in bed watching the jungle’s wild residents pass by, the Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion’s selection of exciting Amazon activities will no doubt tempt you to spend every moment exploring. Led by expert scientific guides, the activities will give you the chance to learn more about our natural world in an adventurous and memorable way. 

Start by spotting monkeys, exotic birds, sloths, bugs, and snakes on guided trail walks to learn about medicinal plants and jungle survival. Then get a monkey’s-eye-view of the jungle on canopy walks and a caiman’s-eye-view on wetland boat rides. You can even attempt to catch the world’s most vicious fish on a Pirhana fishing trip on the Amazon River. Each day spent in the rainsforest will bring you closer to nature and to each other as father and son.

Days 10-12 Paracas and Nazca Lines

Continuing the adventurous father-son trip of a lifetime, swap the sticky jungle air for the fresh sea air of Paracas Natural Reserve on the Peruvian Coast. Between its dramatic cliffs, dunes, wild beaches, and uninhabited islands, Paracas is the perfect playground for an adventurous father-son duo. 

To reach Paracas, you’ll take a speedy flight from the Amazon to Lima where a private driver will pick you up and drive you 3.5 hours along the Peruvian coast. Check your spacious suite at the Aranwa Hotel Paracas for some rest before zipping up your lifejacket for the Ballestas Islands speed boat tour for your chance to see seals, puffins, and other cool coastal creatures living freely on their unusual rocky islands. 

Prepare for another epic adventure the next day as you take to the skies in a private plane to see one of the world’s greatest mysteries, the Nazca Lines. Marvel over the scale of these ancient geoglyphs as your guide shares incredible insight into their origins, meaning, and creation. After a busy few days, nothing will beat a relaxing afternoon and evening of relaxation at your beautiful resort’s swimming pool, golf course, spa, and cinema. 

On your final morning in Paracas, take the opportunity to gain some surfing or kitesurfing skills alongside the country’s cinematic coastal scenes before the drive back to Lima. 

Days 13+14 Eat your way through Lima

Wake up in the best hotel in the coolest neighborhood of the Peruvian capital, Miraflores Park where you can soak up views of the Pacific Ocean while sipping on your morning coffee before heading out to explore. After a hearty Peruvian brunch at a trendy Miraflores cafe, you and your son can sit back and relax as you’re chauffeured around Lima on a private tour of the city highlights. 

In the afternoon, catch some waves together in Punta Hermosa, Lima’s best surfing beach to work up an appetite for the most epic dinner of your entire trip. As the culinary capital of South America, Lima is best explored through its food which is why you’ll spend the last night of your father-son trip to Peru at one of the city’s most revered restaurants. 

After 14 bond-affirming days on an adventurous father-son trip to Peru, it is finally coming to a close. But before saying your final farewell to the trip of all trips, take the opportunity to spend quality time together and reflect on the lifelong memories you’ve made over the weeks.

Surprise your son with an adventurous father-son trip to Peru

If you’re considering taking your son on an adventurous father-son trip to Peru, talk to our Totally Latin America travel experts who can create and book a fully bespoke itinerary that promises an unforgettable experience. We can include any or all of these excursions, stays, and activities in your itinerary plus much, more. For more information and booking inquiries, message us here or call on +1 855 217 9045.