How to Book Peru with Points and Miles for a Family: Flights, Hotels, and the Best Itinerary
If you’re trying to book a trip to Peru with points, it can feel way more complicated than it needs to be, especially if you’re booking for a family.
But once you understand the main ways to book flights, how to think about hotels, and how to structure the itinerary, it becomes much easier.
We just did this as a family of four, booking our flights and hotels using points, miles, and credit card benefits, including multiple seats and even business class options.
So in this guide, I’m going to walk you through exactly how I would book Peru with points, from flights, to hotels, to the itinerary I’d follow with kids.
If you want the full cost breakdown from our trip, read this next:
👉 How Much Does a Peru Trip Cost for a Family? Points vs. Cash Breakdown
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products, services, and travel resources that I personally use and trust.
Is Peru a Good Trip to Book with Points?
Yes. Peru is one of the best trips to book with points, especially for families.
Flights can be expensive in cash, but award availability is often good if you’re flexible. Hotels are a mix of strong points options in Lima and Cusco, and very affordable cash options in the Sacred Valley.
The biggest opportunity for value is using points for long-haul flights and paying cash for lower-cost hotels where it makes sense.
How to Book Flights to Peru with Points
Let’s start with flights because this is usually the hardest part, especially if you’re trying to book for a family.
There are three main ways to get to Peru using points. Once you understand these options, you can pick the one that makes the most sense for your situation.
LATAM Airlines
Option 1: Transfer Points to Airline Partners
The first option, and usually the best value, is transferring your credit card points to an airline program and booking an award ticket.
For Peru, there are really three airlines you’re usually looking at:
LATAM, Avianca, and American Airlines.
But here’s the important part: just because you want to fly one of those airlines does not mean you have to use that airline’s miles.
For example, if you’re looking at LATAM flights, you’ll often book those through partner programs. You can book LATAM flights through Avios programs like British Airways or Finnair, Japan Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, or even Delta.
This works because you’re using airline partnerships and alliances to book flights across programs.
If you don’t understand how airline alliances work yet, make sure to watch my video or read my beginner guide on airline alliances because that concept makes points and miles so much easier.
👉 Watch next: How Airline Alliances Work
Searching for Award Availability
So what you’ll do is search different programs and compare prices, because pricing can vary depending on which program you use and whether award availability exists for your dates.
For Avianca, they are part of Star Alliance. You can transfer points directly to Avianca LifeMiles to book your flight, or you can book through other Star Alliance programs like Air Canada Aeroplan or United.
That means you may be able to transfer credit card points from programs like Chase, Amex, Capital One, or Bilt to the partner that makes the most sense for your route.
Just make sure you always confirm there is award availability before transferring points, because most transfers are irreversible.
Then you also have American Airlines.
You can book directly using American Airlines miles, or you may be able to book through one of American’s partners, like British Airways or Atmos Rewards, depending on the route and availability.
Read more: What Are Transfer Partners?
How to Search for Flights to Peru
When you start searching, I would not start with a specific points program. Start by figuring out what flights actually exist.
Go to Google Flights, plug in your home airport and destination, and see which airlines fly the route.
Then go to a site like Seats.aero or PointsYeah to search for live award availability.
From there, you can adjust dates, compare programs, and figure out what works best for your family.
And if you’re booking for a family, availability matters more than anything.
You may not get the absolute lowest redemption possible, but getting four or more seats on the same flight is usually the priority.
That is still a win, even if it costs more points.
👉 Read next: How to Find 3+ Business Class Seats Using Points and Miles
Option 2: Book Flights Through a Travel Portal
The second way to use points to fly to Peru is by booking through a travel portal. You can use your bank’s travel portal, like Chase Travel or Capital One Travel, and use points to offset the cost.
Capital One miles are worth 1 cent per point when redeemed this way. Chase points are usually worth 1 cent per point this way too, unless you happen to find a Points Boost offer on the flight you want to book.
If you don’t understand Chase Points Boost yet, I have a video on that as well.
Watch Next: Chase Points Boost Explained
Booking flights through a bank travel portal can make sense if you need multiple seats, don’t want to deal with searching for award space, searched and could not find award space, or found a good cash fare where the points cost is reasonable.
But there are trade-offs.
It’s rare to get more than 1 cent per point in value when booking this way. So if a flight costs $2,000, it may cost around 200,000 points, which is a lot.
Another downside is that you’re booking through a third party. Cancellation rules may be less flexible than booking directly, and if something goes wrong with your flight, like a delay, cancellation, or rerouting issue, the airline may send you back to the travel portal for help.
That can become a headache.
So travel portals can be useful, but I would usually compare that option against transferring points to partners first.
Option 3: Use Repositioning Flights
The third option for flying to Peru with points is using repositioning flights. This is something a lot of people overlook, but it can make a huge difference.
For our Peru trip, we repositioned to a different airport before our international flight.
That opened up more options and is how I was able to book four business class seats for my family on LATAM for only 35,000 points per person each way.
I was not able to find those flights out of my home airport, but I found them out of another airport and then booked cheap repositioning flights using points to get there.
So instead of only searching from your home airport, try searching from major hubs. Then book a separate flight to get there if the savings or availability are worth it. This can open up some great flight options, especially when you’re trying to book multiple seats for a family.
View of the Andes Mountains
Domestic Flights Within Peru
Once you’re in Peru, you’ll likely need domestic flights between Lima and Cusco.
For domestic flights in Peru, you’ll usually be looking at:
LATAM, JetSMART, or Sky Airline.
You can check partner programs if you want to use points. For example, you can use American Airlines miles to book JetSMART flights, or Delta miles to book LATAM flights.
Sometimes these can be inexpensive, around 7,000 miles each way.
But you should always check the cash price too. Domestic flights in Peru can be cheap, and it may make more sense to save your points for more valuable redemptions.
I would also compare the cost of cash fares that include checked bags versus booking with points and then paying separately for bags.
In our case, it made more sense to pay for an upgraded cash fare that included checked bags so we could save our points for better redemptions.
View current flight prices:
👉 If you’re planning a trip like this, I’d also recommend reading these next because they’ll help you avoid some of the biggest mistakes we made:
How to Book Hotels in Peru with Points
Let’s talk about hotels, because where you stay in Peru really depends on your itinerary and the points ecosystems you have available.
Where to Stay in Lima with Points
In Lima, you’re generally going to want to stay in Miraflores.
This is the main tourist area. It’s safe, walkable, close to restaurants, and the easiest place to base yourself, especially with kids. You have a few solid options across the main hotel programs.
Hyatt Centric San Isidro Lima
Hyatt Centric Lima
If you have Hyatt points, I would look at the Hyatt Centric Lima.
We stayed here for one night, and it was really nice. It’s in a great location, walkable to restaurants, and the rooms were modern and comfortable.
The hotel also went above and beyond for our family. They placed a fruit bowl in our room and set up a teepee for our kids to play in, which was such a thoughtful touch.
When I booked this property, it cost 8,000 Hyatt points per night, which I thought was reasonable.
You can transfer points to Hyatt from Chase or Bilt, or earn Hyatt points through Hyatt credit cards.
Souma Hotel Lima, IHG
Souma Hotel Lima, IHG Vignette Collection
If you have IHG points, I would look at Souma Hotel Lima, which is part of the Vignette Collection.
This is a newer property, so it feels more modern and upscale than some older options in Lima.
We stayed here for two nights and liked the property.
You can book it with IHG points or earn points through IHG credit cards. When we stayed in April, it cost 75,000 IHG points for two nights.
There are also other IHG options in Lima, so you can search the IHG website and compare what works best for your dates and budget.
JW Marriott Lima
JW Marriott Lima
If you’re using Marriott points, the standout option is the JW Marriott Lima.
This hotel is right on the cliffs overlooking the ocean, next to Larcomar, so the views are incredible.
You can book this with Marriott points, or use Marriott co-branded credit cards to earn points.
If you want something a little more elevated for your Lima stay, this is a strong option. But Marriott has several other properties in the area too, so if you need something closer to your budget, you have other options.
Hotel Credits in Lima
Lima can also be a good place to use hotel credits from premium cards.
For example, Miraflores Park is part of Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts, and the JW Marriott Lima is part of The Hotel Collection.
So if you have an Amex Platinum or Business Platinum, you may be able to use your hotel credit and get benefits like breakfast, potential upgrades, and property credits.
Miraflores Park is also part of Chase’s The Edit collection. If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve and book two nights, you may be able to use your credit and get similar luxury hotel benefits.
👉 Read next: Amex Platinum Review
👉 Read next: Chase Sapphire Reserve Review
👉 See my current best card offers here
Hilton Garden Inn Lima Miraflores
Hilton Options in Lima
Another option in Lima is Hilton.
You can earn Hilton points through Hilton credit cards or by transferring Amex Membership Rewards to Hilton.
There are several Hilton options in Miraflores, including Hampton, Garden Inn, and Motto. These are usually more budget-friendly, easy to book, and totally fine for a short stay.
For Lima, I wouldn’t overthink this. You’re probably only here for one or two nights.
Pick the program where you already have points or credits, stay in Miraflores, and keep this part of the trip easy.
If You Don’t Want to Stay in Lima: Stay at the Airport
If you do not want to spend much time in Lima, another option is staying right near the airport.
This can make sense if you land late, have an early flight, or are just using Lima as a transit stop before continuing to Cusco or heading home.
But this is important: the area around the Lima airport is not somewhere I would just casually book a random hotel.
If you’re going to stay near the airport, stay somewhere secure and convenient.
The safest and easiest option is the Wyndham Grand Costa del Sol Lima Airport, because it is connected directly to the airport.
That means you do not need to get into a taxi, Uber through the surrounding area, or deal with extra logistics after a long travel day.
So if your goal is to minimize time in Lima, I would either stay in Miraflores at a solid points hotel or stay directly at the airport at the Wyndham.
I would not book a random cheap hotel near the airport just to save money.
You can book the Wyndham Costa del Sol Lima Airport hotel with Wyndham points. However, points price is kind of steep for this property, and it might make sense to pay cash.
👉 Check current pricing for the Wyndham Grand Costa del Sol Lima Airport here
Wyndham Grand Costa Del Sol Lima Airport Hotel
If you’re paying cash for any of these hotels or want to compare prices across different platforms,
Where to Stay in the Sacred Valley
Now let’s talk about the Sacred Valley, because this is probably the most important part of your hotel strategy.
Where you stay here will affect your entire Machu Picchu experience.
The first thing to understand is that there are really two main areas you’re deciding between:
Ollantaytambo and Urubamba.
And they are very different.
Ollantaytambo: Best for Machu Picchu Convenience
If you stay in Ollantaytambo, you are staying right near the train station that takes you to Machu Picchu. This is the most convenient option, especially with kids.
You are also right beside the Ollantaytambo ruins, which honestly feel like a mini Machu Picchu and could almost serve as a replacement if you were not doing Machu Picchu itself.
The trade-off is that Ollantaytambo does not have many traditional points hotels.
So your options are usually paying cash, booking through a travel portal like Chase or Capital One, or using your points to erase the purchase afterward via a statement credit or Capital One travel eraser.
One exception is a Hyatt option through Mr & Mrs Smith called Las Qolqas.
Las Qolqas - A Hyatt Hotel through Mr & Mrs Smith Program
You can book it with Hyatt points, but when I priced it out, hotels were running around 20,000 to 30,000+ points per night.
Even if it’s a nice hotel, I personally did not think that was a great deal when paying with points, because hotels in the Sacred Valley can be really affordable. I would rather save Hyatt points for a more expensive stay where I can get more value. Check the cash price for Las Qolqas here.
We stayed at the Hotel Tierra Inka Sacred Valley in Ollantaytambo.
We booked a family room for our family of four, and it cost only $149 per night. Breakfast was also included.
This property is small and intimate, with only 15 rooms, and the owner was incredibly friendly and actively working to make the property better and better.
I highly recommend it! View rates for Hotel Tierra Inka Sacred Valley here.
This was our room at Hotel Tierra Inka Sacred Valley
If you’re booking a hotel in the Sacred Valley, especially in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba,
👉 You can browse Sacred Valley hotel options here
I would choose Ollantaytambo if you want the easiest possible Machu Picchu day, if you’re traveling with kids and want to minimize logistics, or if you want more of a small-town, local feel.
Urubamba: Better for Resort-Style Stays
If you want more of a resort-style experience, then you’ll want to look at Urubamba.
This is where many of the nicer hotels are located.
A great option here is Tambo del Inka, which is a Marriott property.
Tambo Del Inka
This is also an Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts property, so if you have an Amex Platinum or Business Platinum, you may be able to use your hotel credit and get FHR benefits.
Rio Sagrado is another Fine Hotels and Resorts option.
So if you have Marriott points, an Amex Platinum, or an Amex Business Platinum, you have some ways to offset the cost of a stay in Urubamba.
But these properties are usually much more expensive than hotels in Ollantaytambo. Even with credits, you may still pay more per night than if you simply paid cash for somewhere like Tierra Inka.
Either way, you have options. Compare both and decide whether convenience or resort atmosphere matters more for your family.
But overall, I would prioritize actually staying in the Sacred Valley instead of spending all of your time in Cusco.
It adds so much beauty to the trip.
👉 Browse Sacred Valley hotel options here
Where to Stay in Cusco with Points
Cusco has a lot more traditional points options. If you have Marriott points, this is where you’ll probably get the most value.
Baby Alpaca in the courtyard of the Palacio del Inka
Palacio del Inka
One of the best options is Palacio del Inka, which is where we stayed.
You can book this with Marriott points or through Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts.
It’s in a great location, it’s a really unique property, and it was a fantastic stay overall.
I booked through Amex FHR, so we got free breakfast and a room upgrade. They upgraded us to a suite, which was incredible with kids.
This property also came with a $150 spa credit, which covered the entire cost of a 60-minute hot stone massage.
I have several Amex Business Platinum cards in my household, so I booked consecutive nights back to back, and each night I got $300 off because of the FHR credit.
That saved us $900 on our three-night stay.
10 out of 10, I would recommend this property.
JW Marriott El Convento Cusco
JW Marriott Cusco
Another popular option is the JW Marriott Cusco.
One nice thing about this property is that they have oxygen-enriched rooms, which can help with altitude. The property is also extremely beautiful!
Hilton Options in Cusco
If you’re using Hilton points, there are a few options as well, including Hilton Garden Inn, Motto, and Hampton.
These are more budget-friendly options, but they work well for a short stay.
Palacio Nazarenas
Palacio Nazarenas
If you want something really high-end, there’s also Palacio Nazarenas, which is part of the Belmond collection.
You can book this through Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts or Chase The Edit, so it can be a good place to use credits if you have the Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Overall, Cusco is pretty straightforward.
You have good options across Marriott, Hilton, and luxury hotel programs, so pick the one that fits your points, credits, and budget.
How Many Points Do You Need for a Trip to Peru?
The number of points you need for a trip to Peru can vary a lot depending on how you book your flights and hotels.
For flights, a good baseline is:
Economy: around 25,000–40,000 points each way per person
Business class: around 35,000–70,000 points each way per person
For our trip, we booked business class flights for 35,000 points per person each way, which is on the lower end and an excellent redemption.
Hotels are more flexible.
In Lima and Cusco, you can use points through Hyatt, Marriott, IHG, or Hilton. But in the Sacred Valley, many of the best options are actually inexpensive cash stays.
So overall, a realistic range for a family trip could be:
200,000–400,000 points total for flights (depending on cabin and availability)
Plus additional points or cash for hotels
👉 If you want a full breakdown of exactly what we spent, read this:
How Much Does a Peru Trip Cost for a Family?(internal link)
When Is the Best Time to Book Peru with Points?
If you’re trying to book Peru with points, timing matters more than most people expect.
For flights, I would ideally start searching 6–10 months in advance, especially if you’re trying to book multiple seats or business class.
Award availability can open early, and the best flights, especially on partners like LATAM, can disappear quickly.
For Machu Picchu, timing is even more important.
Tickets, especially for popular circuits like Circuit 2, can sell out quickly once they’re released.
So I would:
Book Machu Picchu tickets first
Then build your itinerary around those dates
This is one of the biggest mistakes people make, and it can completely change how smooth your trip is.
👉 For a full breakdown, read:
How to Book Machu Picchu with Kids (Step-by-Step Guide)
The Best Peru Itinerary for Families
Now that you have your flights and hotels, the last piece is putting the itinerary together so it actually flows well, especially with kids.
Based on what went well for our trip and what I would change next time, this is how I would plan it.
Start in Lima
First, you’re going to fly into Lima.
Personally, I would not spend a lot of time here. Maybe one or two nights max, just enough to recover from travel and adjust a little bit. If you want to explore Lima, stay in Miraflores.
If you’re just passing through, stay at the Wyndham Grand Costa del Sol Lima Airport.
Go Straight to the Sacred Valley
From Lima, fly to Cusco, and then go straight to the Sacred Valley. You can take an Uber transfer to Ollantaytambo or Urubamba.
This is smart because the altitude in the Sacred Valley is lower than Cusco. Cusco is around 11,000 feet, while the Sacred Valley is closer to 9,000 feet. That is still high, but it’s better than 11,000 feet, and it gives your body time to adjust.
This matters even more with kids because they cannot always tell you exactly how they feel.
Spend Most of Your Time in the Sacred Valley
This is where I would spend the majority of my time. Stay in Ollantaytambo if you want convenience for Machu Picchu. Stay in Urubamba if you want more of a resort experience.
This is also where I would slow down.
Explore the ruins, enjoy the scenery, and do not rush through it. This ended up being one of the best parts of our trip.
If you’re planning to visit places like the Maras Salt Mines, Moray, or do a guided Sacred Valley tour, I would look at booking ahead of time so you’re not trying to figure it out last minute.
This is especially helpful if you don’t want to deal with transportation logistics yourself or want a more structured experience.
Visit Machu Picchu from the Sacred Valley
While you’re in the Sacred Valley, plan your Machu Picchu visit.
I would not try to do Machu Picchu from Cusco if you can avoid it.
Doing it from the Sacred Valley is closer, easier logistically, and makes for a much smoother day, especially with kids.
I would plan for about three nights in the Sacred Valley so you have time to enjoy the area and build in flexibility for Machu Picchu tickets.
If you want a full breakdown of exactly how to book tickets, choose circuits, and plan your timing:
👉 Read: How to Book Machu Picchu with Kids (Step-by-Step Guide)
Machu Picchu is one of those places where having a guide actually makes a big difference in understanding what you’re seeing.
Just make sure you already have your entrance tickets secured first, because those are separate and sell out quickly.
End in Cusco
After the Sacred Valley, head to Cusco and spend a couple of nights there.
This is where you can explore the city, visit markets, enjoy the food, and experience the culture.
By doing Cusco later in the trip, your body has more time to adjust to the altitude.
Return Through Lima
From Cusco, you’ll typically fly back through Lima to get home.
You may need to spend one final night in Lima before your long-haul flight the next day.
Again, if you want to enjoy the city, stay in Miraflores. If it’s just a transit night, stay at the Wyndham Costa del Sol Lima Airport.
And if you want to avoid some of the biggest mistakes that can make this trip harder than it needs to be:
👉 Read: We Took Our Kids to Peru… Here’s What I’d Do Differently
Should You Use Points or Pay Cash in Peru?
One of the most important things to understand about Peru is that not everything should be booked with points.
Flights are where you’ll usually get the most value.
Hotels depend on the location.
In Lima and Cusco, using points can make sense, especially if you have hotel credits or want a nicer stay.
But in the Sacred Valley, many hotels are very affordable, so paying cash can often be the better value.
This is why I think of points as a tool, not something you need to use for every part of your trip.
Use points where they save you the most money, and pay cash where it makes more sense.
Start Planning Your Peru Trip
Booking Peru with points does not have to be overwhelming. The key is understanding how to approach each piece.
If you want to plan a trip like this for your family, here’s where I would start:
👉 Grab my free beginner’s guide to points and miles
👉 See the best travel credit cards
Then:
👉 Read: How Much Does a Peru Trip Cost for a Family? Points vs. Cash Breakdown
👉 Read: We Took Our Kids to Peru… Here’s What I’d Do Differently
👉 Read: How to Book Machu Picchu with Kids (Step-by-Step Guide)
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