Peru family holidays

Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley with Kids

• Head up to these spectacular ruins in the mountainous jungle, which are still shrouded in mystery. Machu Picchu was clearly a crucial Inca settlement yet was overlooked by the Spaniards and not rediscovered until 1911. See our feature about why, when and how to visit Machu Picchu with kids.

• With fit older kids, hike to Machu Picchu over several days along the iconic Inca Trail, camping at high altitude as part of an organised Peru family adventure (see tab). See our feature on why Peru should be on your bucket list for holidays with teens. 

• Alternatively, take one of the spellbinding train journeys from Ollantaytambo (which has its own fantastic ruins) in the Sacred Valley.

• Tour the rest of the Sacred Valley, perhaps visiting Sacsayhuaman Fort, browsing in Pisac markets and trekking to or from the Pisac ruins.

• Explore Cusco, South America’s longest-established city and the gateway to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, Permanently inhabited for more than 3000 years, it has great museums, markets, shops and cafés.

The Peruvian Amazon with Kids

• Take a guided trip into the Amazon jungle in the east of Peru – it covers about 60% of the country and is one of the  most biodiverse places on Earth, with jaguars, pink river dolphins, sloths, howlers and squirrel monkeys, giant river otters, tapirs, harpy eagles, anacondas and many macaw species. It's best visited as part of an organised adventure holiday (see tab).

• Access the northern part via Iquitos (itself only accessible by air or river boat), or the southern region through Puerto Maldonado and Manu National Park. Puerto Maldonado is a short flight from Cusco so can be good to combine with Machu Picchu.

Peru History and Culture 

• Marvel at the Nazca Lines from a light aircraft over the desert. Amidst its hundreds of lines, some up to 19km long, you'll spot giant pictures of an ‘astronaut’, hummingbird, monkey, spider and other shapes. Although they were ‘drawn’ several hundred years ago, the lines were not rediscovered until the 1930s, and the fact you can’t truly appreciate them from the ground only adds to the mystery of how they were created – and by whom.

• Explore Lima, Peru's capital, with an enchanting old town, an interesting gold museum and spooky catacombs.

• In the north, explore the ancient Moche capital Cerro Blanco near modern-day Trujillo, with its Huaca de la Luna and Huaca del Sol - the remains of ancient adobe temples of the sun and moon.

• In the south, head to Arequipa, Peru’s second city more than 2000m above sea level in the Peruvian desert, with a historic centre known as 'the White City' (a World Heritage site) since almost all its 16th-century colonial buildings are in a white volcanic stone. Sights include the nearby Sillar Route quarries.

Peru Outdoor Activities and Adventure

• Visit the Colca Canyon, the world’s deepest at 3000m. Lovely in its own right, it’s most famous for being home to majestic giant condors (best seen from the Cruz del Condor viewpoint). Activities here include multi-day hiking to the Sangalle oasis, relaxing in natural hot springs, horse-riding, rafting on the Colca River, and spotting pre-Inca terraces.

• Venture to Lake Titicaca, the world's highest lake, at 3800m above sea level. Activities here include visiting the Uros floating islands, kayaking, hiking and exploring the Sillustani tombs.

• Head to Puerto Inca near Chala, for sand and sea, plus Humboldt penguin-viewing.