Planning a Family Trip to Peru: A Practical Itinerary
Focus your itinerary on the Sacred Valley and Cusco to allow for altitude acclimatization, and keep travel days short to manage energy levels. Plan for 10 days to cover Lima, Cusco, and Machu Picchu without rushing.
- Start in the Sacred Valley, not Cusco. Fly into Cusco and immediately take a pre-arranged taxi to the Sacred Valley (e.g., Urubamba or Ollantaytambo). The altitude is lower there, which significantly reduces the risk of altitude sickness for children.
- Book the Vistadome train. For the journey to Machu Picchu, pay the extra for the Vistadome train. The panoramic windows keep kids engaged during the 1.5-hour ride, and there is often traditional entertainment on board.
- Limit site visits to one per day. Peruvian ruins are massive and involve uneven stairs. Do one major site in the morning, have lunch, and return to the hotel for downtime or a local activity like a chocolate-making workshop.
- Use private transport for inter-city transfers. Skip public buses for family travel. Hire a private driver for full-day transfers between towns; it allows you to stop for bathroom breaks and photo opportunities whenever the kids need it.
- Are the ruins stroller-friendly?
- No. Bring a structured hiking carrier for toddlers. Strollers are useless on the stone steps of Inca sites.
- Is the tap water safe?
- Do not drink tap water. Use bottled or filtered water even for brushing teeth.