Aracari Travel, an award-winning travel agency based in Lima, Peru, has announced a range of new family-friendly tour itineraries for summer 2013.

Responding to increasing demand for family-oriented experiences in Peru, Aracari Travel has developed two itineraries (www.aracari.com/traveling/family-trips.html) that incorporate the destinations, accommodations and activities that are most suited to younger families with children aged up to 12 years old as well as families with children aged 13 years and older.

Both itineraries include a broad range of adventure activities, educational visits and opportunities to meet and interact with local people and communities.

Activities for the younger itinerary include a trip to the Amazon rainforest, treasure hunts, interactive weaving lessons, a chocolate workshop and fishing excursions. The tour also includes a visit to Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and Cusco.

The older itinerary includes more adventurous activities such as surfing, mountain biking, hiking and driving sand buggies. In addition to visiting Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and Cusco, the older itinerary adds the Nazca Lines, Lima and Paracas National Reserve.

Interest in family travel to Peru has grown rapidly in recent years with Aracari Travel noting a substantial increase in family requests since 2010. The Lima-based company attributes this to improvements in travel infrastructure and hotel accommodations as well as a growth in the number of destinations and activities suitable for younger travelers.

This is particularly the case in the Amazon rainforest where a number of lodges have developed activities specifically for children, such as interactive rainforest trails and child-friendly field guides that are designed to teach youngsters the value of the natural environment.

Other family-friendly activities have become widespread throughout the country over recent years such as horseback riding, quad biking, hot-air ballooning and kayaking. Short treks have also become popular with day treks and short camping hikes that are more manageable for younger travelers.

Marisol Mosquera, founder of Aracari Travel, said: “When we first started in this business Peru was generally still a backpacker destination with very little to offer families, especially younger children. These days almost a third of our groups are traveling with their families, which is incredibly exciting for me.

“Peru has so much potential for families and younger travelers. I have been traveling in Peru for many years with my own son, who is now 11, and the experience for a child of traveling in a country like this cannot be over exaggerated. Our country offers so much for younger travelers, not only the fun and excitement of our outdoor adventures but also the richness of our culture and history that can be such an educational or even transformative experience for any youngster.”