Widows in the Wild: PERU with kids, 2026 Trip!
Join us for a beautiful time of culture, connection, history and unforgettable scenery in Cusco, Peru. Just 10 spots available.
JULY 2-7, 2026
Culture Chalk is READY to host this beautiful, one of a kind experience!
Join us for 5 nights in Cuzco, exploring the wonders of the ancient Incas in what is undoubtedly one of the most magnificent cities in the world. City tours exploring the walls founded by the Incas, built upon by the Spanish, and still inhabited to this day! Tours of the Coricancha Temple, the Sacred Valley, colourful handcraft markets, delicious local food, and the option to visit Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes for a night.
The Full Itinerary
Day 1
THURSDAY
JULY 2, 2026
Official start: 2:00pm at accommodations.
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Welcome, orientation, settling into rooms.
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Afternoon
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Guided city tour into the evening, exploring our surroundings, and a special welcome dinner hosted by Owen and his crew.
Day 2
FRIDAY
JULY 3, 2026
Cusco City Tour
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Breakfast at the accommodation
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The Cusco City Tour is the ideal option to start a trip to Cusco and Machu, offering an enriching introduction to the historic capital of the Inca empire. This tour covers the main tourist attractions of the city, starting with the emblematic Plaza de Armas, passing through the majestic temple of Qoricancha, and exploring the imposing ruins of Sacsayhuamán. Additionally, the tour includes visits to significant archaeological sites such as Qenqo, Pucapucara and Tambomachay, each of which offers a unique perspective on the cultural and historical richness of the region.
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Local guide Jamel and his team will provide transportation pickup directly from our hotel and will teach us about this wonderful city's rich history.
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Day 3
SATURDAY
JULY 4, 2026
Sacred Valley Tour
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Breakfast at the accommodations
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Local guide Jamel (Ya-mel) and his crew will pick up the group at the hotel and take you on an unforgettable tour.
The Sacred Valley
One of Peru’s most famous areas! On this guided full-day trip to the Sacred Valley from Cusco, our transportation will pass through the ancient Inca sites of Saqsaywaman and Tambomachay, and we will explore the Inca site of Pisac. Along the way, we'll visit a Peruvian weaving house and see a demonstration on dyeing and traditional weaving techniques.
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A lunch buffet is included in this tour.
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Dinners out as families.
Owen will have a wine and cheese spread set out late for moms to enjoy once the kids are put to bed! (Careful to drink plenty of water and not to enjoy tooooo much as the altitude and alcohol don't mix well!)
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Day 4
SUNDAY
July 5, 2026
Local interactions and "Mom time"
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Breakfast
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Visit to local handicraft markets, shopping and discovering the city of Cusco, the festivities on the main square and strolling through the San Blas neighbourhood.
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Lunch close to the accommodations
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Afternoon: Culture Chalk crew will take kids for an afternoon to a museum and or park with games to allow moms to connect and have some downtime together as a group.
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Day 5
MONDAY
JULY 6, 2026
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​Breakfast
A day exploring the outdoors! A short hike, picnic lunch and checking out more local landmarks.
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Light group lunch back at the hotel, and time to relax before setting out again.
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Families will be divided into groups, and a scavenger hunt will be organized for families to compete while enjoying the fresh mountain air!
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Day 6
TUESDAY
JULY 7, 2026
Early train to Aguas Calientes!
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6:15, we must be at the train station.
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Once we arrive in the small town of Aguas Calientes, around 11:00 am, we will drop our stuff off at our accommodations, and families can enjoy some nice free time until 3:00 pm.
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OPTIONS: (We will have one person guide each group to these locations)
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Machupicchu Butterfly Sanctuary
Hot Springs
Enjoy visiting coffee shops and downtown festivities, and shop.
ON THIS DAY MACHU PICCHU WAS DECLARED ONE OF THE 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD! This means all sorts of action. ​
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A special activity and dinner (Included)
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Machu-Picchu
Day 7
WEDNESDAY
JULY 8, 2026
Early shuttle to the majestic Machu Picchu!​
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We will be hiking route 1A, the most complete and panoramic view of the ancient city. This is a 3-4-hour hike, and the tour length is optional for families with younger children. We wanted to include a manageable hike on this trip, and what better place to do it than Machu Picchu??
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See route overview: MACHU PICCHU
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Once finished, we will have a light lunch and a bit more free time before embarking on the train journey back to our Cusco City Accommodations. 4:13 train.
Day 7
THURSDAY
JULY 9, 2026
Final Breakfast at our accommodations​
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Airport shuttles are organized for morning flights back.
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Leave bags packed and stored at reception.
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One final lap around Cusco as a group (for those with afternoon and evening flights), hanging out in the open air, sharing Peruvian snacks and talking about our trip highlights as a group!
(If the weather is not suitable we will plan an alternative fun activity)
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Final goodbyes and shuttles to airport.
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Pack list
KIDS
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3-4 PAIRS OF PANTS
8 SHIRTS
8 UNDERWEAR
9 PAIRS OF SOCKS
SWEATER
RAIN JACKET
PUFFER JACKET - IT GETS COLD!
FOOTWEAR: HINKING SHOES OR STURDY FOOTWEAR IS BEST
SWIMWEAR
TRAVEL TOWEL (OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED)
TOILETRIES
MEDS AND DRAMAMINE IF PRONE TO MOTION SICKNESS!
MOMS:
8 DAYS OF UNDERWEAR:
SOCKS, BRAS, UNDIES
8 TOPS
2-3 PAIRS OF PANTS
1 DRESS/SKIRT
1 SWEATER
1 LIGHT/RAIN JACKET
1 PUFFER JACKET
TOILETRIES
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1 DAY PACK TO CARRY SNACKS AND TO HAVE ROOM TO PUT LAYERS IN AS THE WEATHER WARMS UP.
Lima Recommendations
Those of you spending any time in Lima before or after the trip:
Lima is a massive City with beautiful spots, some places to avoid and a whole lot of good food. Here are our family's favourite things to do and restaurants to eat at:
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Miraflores: visit the cat park and cathedral.
Miraflores: best gelato and surreal 2D cafe, Helarte.
Centro de Lima: Visit the Plaza de Armas and eat a delicious Peruvian meal at a classic and historic old-time restaurant, Restaurante Cordano. Check out a tour of the San Fransisco Catacombs while you are there or the petting zoo nearby, where you can feed goats and llamas. (Buy alfalfa for 1 Sol by the Catacombs first!)
Miraflores: Enjoy a delicious ceviche, chicharrón de pescado, or lomo saltado at Misterio del Inca on Avenida José Larco.
Go for a surfing lesson at the beach with William at Mahalo Surf School: Whatsapp +51 978 845 714. 100S/. The lesson includes an instructor, a board, and a wetsuit.
Visit the Larcomar Mall (viewed in the picture)
RELIABLE AND TRUSTED TAXI SERVICE WITH 3 ROWS:
Jonathan's WhatsApp: +51 960 109 166
(He can coordinate several 3-row SUVs if you have a group wanting to be picked up to go somewhere)
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Parque de las aguas: A great fountain and light show from 6:00 pm on. Kids, bring swimsuits and a towel/dry clothes in a bag!
Fancy and delicious Peruvian seafood, views, and cocktails: Right beside William's Mahalo Surf school, is Restaurante La Rosa Nautica, on the water. Amazing! Open after 12:00noon.
PLACES TO AVOID IN LIMA:
CITY CENTRE AFTER DARK
EL CALLAO
LA VICTORIA
SAN JUAN DE LURIGANCHO
A bit about the host family:
Culture Chalk host, Owen Dargatz, grew up in Peru and has organized several tours around Arequipa, Huaraz and Cusco in Peru. They currently live in Guatemala where they host regular events and have organized WITW trips. In 2026, this will be one of 4 events hosted in Peru!
GENERAL INFORMATION
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Cusco remains a traditional and fairly conservative region. Please remember that we are guests, and we encourage everyone to dress and behave respectfully toward our hosts and the local community. During your time here, please dress modestly.
Bringing a small gift is optional but recommended, as we would like to support some of the families in the community. Suggested items include quality wool socks, children's toys, or useful kitchen utensils and gadgets.
We hope you will love Peru for what it is and not judge it for what it is not. Come with a spirit of adventure and expect that not everything will go smoothly all the time. Peru is a developing country, and its infrastructure and amenities continue to evolve. While the accommodations we arrange and offer during your visit are considered luxurious by local standards, occasional water interruptions, internet outages, and power cuts can still occur.
Peru is a vibrant and lively place. Roosters crowing, dogs barking, music playing, and fireworks going off at all hours of the day and night are considered normal. If you are a light sleeper, we recommend bringing earplugs.
As your hosts, our goal is for you to leave Peru better than when you arrived—in as many ways as possible.
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IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
1) CALL OWEN (1) OR TIFFANY (2) ON WHATSAPP: THEY WILL GIVE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE STEPS NEEDED AND WILL ORGANIZE ACTION ACCORDINGLY
2) IF ON TOUR AND YOU SEPARATE FROM THE GROUP OR GET LOST:
JAMEL - +51 918 495 677
FINDING YOUR WAY BACK TO ACCOMMODATIONS
3) HOTEL IN CUSCO (FIRST 5 NIGHTS) HOTEL SONQORI (Click to open in maps)
4) HOTEL IN CUSCO (LAST NIGHT) HOTEL AMERINDIA
5) HOTEL IN AGUAS CALIENTES: MAPI GARDENS
CUSCO HOSPITAL LOCATION HERE. In case of urgent action, it is best to hop in a taxi or if an ambulance is needed, CALL OWEN
Cultural Immersion Retreats