Places to visit in Peru

This picturesque valley is a stunning introduction to the delights of the Cusco area (we find that as it is lower than Cusco it helps families acclimatise to the altitude by staying here first). There is a gorgeous selection of hotels, many of which have extensive gardens full of flowers with lots of scope for wandering through nearby villages or sitting on the verandahs to enjoy the view. There are a wealth of activities including white water rafting, cycling, horse riding and hiking all of which can be tailored to suit your children’s ages and abilities. Roads and trails are quiet and you will pass charming Andean villages, patchworks of fields, ancient Incan pathways and scenic crop terraces.

Places of particular interest are the vast amphitheatre at Moray and the salt mines of Maras where hundreds of flat white terraces cascade down the mountainside. The local markets are where children can hone their haggling skills and the ruins at Ollantaytambo can whet your appetite for Machu Picchu and the sights to come.

Cusco is a mesmerising combination of ancient religious sites, colonial splendour, modern cosmopolitan restaurants and hotels and traditional, colourful markets. Once the capital of the Incas, the city is full of remnants of this past glorious empire. Turn a corner and you will come across huge stone blocks cut with incredible precision – get the children to try and insert pieces of paper between the walls and then explain that these were cut by hand way before modern day equipment. Enjoy a coca tea (this helps with altitude-induced headaches) in a café in a colonial square, surrounded by pastel-coloured building and attractive Spanish churches. Barter in the lively central market, packed full of traditionally dressed Quechua people, visit the holy temple of Qorikancha and enjoy the walk back into town from the impressive ruins of Sachsayhuaman – children will love learning to pronounce this one!

All family holidays to Peru start in the capital city and usually an overnight stay is the minimum requirement before heading off to either the Amazon, Cusco or further afield. Lima is home to beautiful colonial buildings, a massive central square, an impressive cathedral, colourful markets and a number of world-class restaurants and boutique hotels.

A half day city tour explores both the modern district of Miraflores as well as the UNESCO historic centre as well as enjoying superb views of the Pacific Ocean from the iconic Park of Love. In the evening perhaps head to the ‘Magic Water Circuit’, an impressive series of fountains that ‘dance’ to music and light in a spectacular show – perhaps not very Peruvian but it will certainly enthrall the younger ones.

The lost city of the Incas has to be one of the most impressive and enigmatic sites in the world, perched on a ridge, high in the Andes, with the dramatic Huayna Picchu towering over the ruins, lush cloud forest bedecking the mountain slopes and the Vilcanota River raging below. Whether you arrive on foot via the Inca Trail or by bus from Aguas Calientes, the nearest settlement, there is still an element of ‘Indiana Jones – eat your heart out…’

The ruins are vast and you can spend the morning exploring on a guided tour. Children will love following the small passageways through the vast rock walls, peering through narrow ‘windows’. The views over the vast Andean mountains are breathtaking.

Machu Picchu can be enjoyed on a day visit by train from the Sacred Valley, usually travelling to Cusco after your visit. Or you can also spend a night at Aguas Calientes and spend a further morning exploring before descending to the Sacred Valley and Cusco. Please also see ‘Trek the Inca Trail’ below for hiking options.

For active families the chance to follow the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The route is spectacular, following an ancient Incan pathway through the mountains and taking you through cloud forest and jungle into high mountains with incredible views over the Andes. On the final day you will arrive at the Sun Gate for sunrise, with the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu spread beneath you, framed by the jagged peaks of the surrounding mountains. This truly is a unique experience.

The trek itself takes four days (arriving at Machu Picchu on the final day) and is hard work. It is only 43km but the trail is at altitude and there are some steep ascents so this is not suitable for younger children (we recommend a minimum age of 12 although this is flexible).

The Inca Trail has had some bad publicity in recent years, as it does get very busy, although the government now issue a finite number of permits each day to control this. We have looked at alternative treks in the region and although these are wonderful and merit taking in their own right, we don’t feel that they are a substitute for the ‘original’ Inca Trail. This is the ONLY trail that actually finishes at the Sun Gate at the top of Machu Picchu, meaning that you arrive at the site on foot. Alternative treks may pass by Incan ruins and offer fabulous views, but they finish further away from the site, meaning that the last leg of the journey is by train and bus. Another option, if you felt that a four-day trek is just too much for the children, would be to take the one-day ‘Express Inca Trail’ which is a 15km hike following the end of the classic Inca Trail route through the cloud forest and up the Monkey Steps (aptly named for families) to arrive at the Sun Gate in the afternoon – just as the crowds are abating from the morning rush.

Including the Amazon on a holiday allows you to combine culture, ruins and scenery as well as wildlife. Parents and children alike will love the journey deep into the rainforest by boat to arrive at a delightful eco-lodge offering charming rustic accommodation and firsthand experiences of the Amazon’s rich eco-system.

Days are spent exploring the rainforest, following trails that take you through vast groves of giant lupuna trees keeping on the lookout for capuchins, tamarins and tarantulas. Climb into the tree canopy, search for giant otters on canoe rides and enjoy the unusual spectacle of ghostly eyes staring back at you through the darkness on nocturnal walks along the Tambopata River in search of caiman (alligators). Children will particularly enjoy a boat trip during which they can search for piranhas…keeping their hands inside the boat! Falling asleep to a backdrop of screeching from the local population of howler monkeys is one of the Amazon’s great pleasures.

A trip to the Amazon involves a short flight to Puerto Maldonado and can be included at either end of your trip as there are regular connections from Lima and Cusco.

Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world and stunningly beautiful. Straddling the border between Peru and Bolivia, the vast clear waters stretch for miles, framed by the snow-capped peaks of the Andes. The lake is home to the Uros people who were forced from their land by the Incans and who created living islands made from reeds on the surface of the lake.

There are many exciting ways in which to experience this area – a day trip to explore the Uros Islands as well as Amantani Island where you can enjoy village walks, short hikes to beautiful lookout points and visits to local family houses. Or stay overnight at a simple but memorable floating hotel. Kayaking options from the mainland are also available.

Arequipa is a gorgeous colonial city, its pretty centre a UNESCO world heritage site and packed with pastel coloured Spanish style villas, whitewashed churches and busy piazzas all set against the impressive backdrop of the El Misti Volcano.

Although well worth a visit in its own right, Arequipa is also the base from which you can head into the Colca Canyon, a dramatic gorge that claims to be the deepest in the world and which is home to an impressive population of condors. If you visit during the early morning you can see these giant birds, the largest land birds on earth with a wing-span of up to 3m, as they soar on the thermal currents that rise from the valley floor. It is a truly remarkable sight.

Approximately 4 hours drive south of Lima you will find one of South America’s most mysterious sites, the Nazca Lines. A series of strange figures etched into the desert thousands of years ago, they are best appreciated from the air in a small plane. Children will love spotting the monkey, condor, hummingbird, spider and fish amongst others and will enjoy embellishing the alien conspiracy theories surrounding their origins. This experience can be combined with a nature cruise to the Ballestas Islands where you can view penguins, pelicans, sea lions and dolphins, as well as a visit to the sand dunes of Huacachina and the ancient mummies at Chauchilla Cemetery.