How to Plan The Perfect Peru Family Vacation in 2025

I’ve said this in pretty much every article I’ve ever written about Peru and I’ll say it again: Peru is my number one country to travel to.

If anyone ever asks me, “What’s your favorite country?” or “Where should I go if I can only pick one place?” then I always say Peru. And here’s why: Peru has everything. The mountains and Machu Picchu? Yep. The Amazon rainforest? Absolutely. A stunning coastline with some amazing beaches? Yes again. Oh, and it even has a legit sand desert. Add to that some of the kindest people and hands down the best food in South America.

Ok, so now we know Peru is incredible, but today we’re talking about how to plan a Peru family vacation, which definitely takes a bit more prep. Peru is super activity-heavy, so it’s not the kind of place where you just show up and wing it, especially if you’re traveling with kids.

Between the two of us, we’ve explored Peru three separate times and while we didn’t travel with kids ourselves, we recently helped plan a family trip for Carae’s side, which did include a few little ones.

So, we’ve seen firsthand what works (and what definitely doesn’t) when traveling Peru with a mix of ages. This guide pulls from that experience and how we organized the trip, what kept everyone entertained, and a few things we’d do differently next time to make it even smoother.

Family Trip to Peru – My Experience

When Carae’s family was heading to Peru we got a front-row seat to what it really takes to travel the country as a family. We weren’t traveling with kids ourselves, but we helped plan and organize the whole trip, which gave us a pretty clear picture of what works (and what doesn’t) when you’ve got a group with mixed ages.

Traveling Peru as a family definitely requires a different approach. What works for solo backpacking or couples’ trips just doesn’t cut it when you’re managing tired kids, jet lag, or multiple opinions on what’s for lunch. For this trip, we pre-booked everything—hotels, Airbnbs, flights, private transfers—because when you’ve got a full crew relying on things to run smoothly, winging it isn’t an option.

We basically became the unofficial travel agents. We double-checked every detail, added buffer time to every transfer, and made sure there was always a backup plan. It paid off, everyone had a great time, and no one had to stress about logistics. And now, after helping pull off that family trip, we feel pretty confident in what makes Peru work for groups and families.

Peru Family Vacation Itinerary (14 Days in Peru)

For our family trip to Peru, I built the itinerary around iconic activities at the start and some relaxing time at the end because after all the hiking, sightseeing, and early mornings, everyone appreciates a few easy going days in a nice beach resort.

We had them fly into Lima, but didn’t hang around too long just enough to land, eat something good, and regroup. From there, the trip really kicked off in Cusco, which is where we based most of the time. And honestly, Cusco is a dream for a family trip. There’s a ton to do, markets, cultural experiences, nearby day trips, and it’s the launch point for the big hitters like Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, and the Sacred Valley.

Cusco’s always been our favorite spot in Peru, and for good reason. It’s beautiful, super walkable, full of history, and has a chill-but-interesting vibe that works for every age group. If you’re planning a family itinerary, we’d 100% recommend spending more time here than anywhere else.

After Cusco, we sent them to Arequipa, another one of our favorite places in Peru, with volcano views, great food, and fewer crowds. Then it was off to Huacachina for a few days of pure chaos in the best way (dune buggies and sandboarding were the clear winners with the kids), and finally, Paracas for a relaxed beachy ending. That last stop was all about slowing down, we booked them a nice resort with good food and ocean views for days! The perfect ending before everyone flew home happy and sun-kissed.

Our 14-Day Peru Family Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive in Lima & Fly to Cusco

Days 2-6: Explore Cusco, Sacred Valley, Rainbow Mountain & Machu Picchu

Day 7: Travel to Arequipa

Day 8-9: Arequipa (and optional Colca Canyon day trip)

Day 10: Travel to Huacachina

Day 11: Huacachina – Dune Buggy & Sandboarding

Day 12: Travel to Paracas

Day 13: Paracas – Beach Resort & Relax

Day 14: Return to Lima & Fly Home

Where to Stay in Peru with Kids

When I’m traveling with kids or a whole family group, I usually lean toward booking apartments. But in Peru, the hotels are often so stunning that I couldn’t resist. A lot of them are set in beautiful old colonial buildings, and they just have so much charm.

The best part is though that the rooms in Peru are super affordable. In most places, we just booked an extra twin room for the kids right next door, and it worked out perfectly. And in quite a few hotels, you’ll also find proper family rooms with multiple beds, which makes things even easier when you’re traveling as a group.

Best Place to Stay in Cusco: Hotel Monasterio San Pedro

We loved this place. It’s right in the center, has a cute courtyard and old monastery vibes, and the rooms are super cozy. Breakfast is great too, and you can walk everywhere in Cusco from here. Super convenient.

Book Here: Hotel Monasterio San Pedro

Best Place to Stay in Arequipa: La Hosteria Boutique Hotel

This hotel is beautiful. It’s in an old colonial building and feels super charming. The rooms have that vintage feel, but everything’s clean and comfy. Plus, it’s just a short walk to the main square which makes exploring easy.

Book Here: La Hosteria Boutique Hotel

Best Place to Stay in Huacachina: Ecocamp Huacachina

Definitely a cool spot. These are glamping tents with real beds and proper bathrooms, right in the dunes. Great vibe, good food, and just a short walk into the oasis. The kids absolutely loved staying here, felt like an adventure.

Book Here: Ecocamp Huacachina

Best Place to Stay in Paracas: The Legend Paracas Resort

This one was the treat at the end. It’s a full-on beach resort right by the ocean with a pool and palm trees. Super relaxing after all the hikes. Great for kids and perfect for doing nothing for a few days.

Book Here: The Legend Paracas Resort

Peru Family Vacation Packages

If this all sounds a little too much for you in terms of planning and being responsible for everything, I get it. When we did it, I had to plan everything myself: flights, accommodation, transport, tickets, even meals each day. I personally loved doing it (it’s basically my job), but I can absolutely understand how it might feel a bit overwhelming.

There’s always the alternative option of booking a family tour in Peru. I haven’t tried every single tour company out there obviously, but I can vouch for G Adventures. They run small group adventure tours around the world and offer family packages too, which makes them a great choice for this kind of trip.

👉 Check out G Adventures’ family trips here if you’d rather skip the planning and just enjoy the ride.

Realistic Peru Family Vacation Cost (2 Weeks for 4 People)

Category	Estimated Cost (USD)	Notes
Flights	$2,000 – $3,500	International return flights, depending on season and where you fly from.
Domestic Flights	$400 – $800	Lima to Cusco and Cusco to Arequipa.
Accommodation	$1,400 – $2,100	~$100–150/night for family rooms or two separate rooms.
Private Transfers	$400 – $600	For airport pickups and city-to-city travel (private vans or cars).
Tours & Activities	$800 – $1,200	Includes Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Rainbow Mountain, etc.
Food & Drinks	$600 – $1,000	Eating out daily—Peru has great food and it’s super affordable.
Tickets & Entry Fees	$200 – $400	Machu Picchu, museums, and other attractions.
Miscellaneous	$200 – $300	Tips, snacks, souvenirs, SIM cards, etc.

💰 Estimated Total: $6,000 – $9,000 for 14 days
You could do it cheaper with hostels and buses—or spend more with full-on resorts and private guides—but this is a realistic middle ground based on how we did it.

Best Time to Visit Peru With Family

With or without kids, the best time to visit Peru is definitely during the dry season, which runs from May to October. If you’re tied to school holidays in the US, then a trip during the summer break works perfectly as it lines up with the best weather.

Peru is always pretty busy, especially around big attractions like Machu Picchu, so don’t stress too much about crowds during school holidays. Honestly, I didn’t notice a huge difference between peak season and regular season, it’s just one of those countries that always has a mix of tourists, backpackers, and tour groups.

☝️ But if you’re planning to visit in the dry season, book EVERYTHING ahead of time.
And I mean everything, hotels, transfers, Machu Picchu tickets, even domestic flights. Things sell out fast in this season and you don’t want to risk missing out with the whole family in tow. I’ll get into more detail on that later.

Best Things to Do in Peru with Family

As I mentioned earlier, Peru is all about activities, hiking, sightseeing, and cultural stuff. Yes, there are beaches and even some great surf spots, but most families (and I’m guessing you too) come here for the iconic sites like Machu Picchu and the Andes.

So here were our non-negotiables and why they are great for kids in Peru

Machu Picchu: The highlight of any Peru trip. It’s honestly one of the most impressive places I’ve ever been. You can hike there over 4–5 days, but for a family trip, I’d stick with the scenic train from Cusco. Just make sure to book your Machu Picchu entry and train tickets well in advance.

If you have little ones, keep in mind it can be a lot of walking and in the afternoon the heat can be brutal. I recommend getting the earliest time slot and explore before the sun is in full force.

Rainbow Mountain: Rainbow Mountain is one of the most popular things to do near Cusco besides Machu Picchu BUT it’s also at a much higher elevation. This was hard for me as a 30 year old but it’s definitely doable with kids.

I recommend hiring a private driver and taking your time. It’s not a far walk/hike it’s just hard with the thin air. Typically, I’m not a fan of taking a horse or donkey up but if this is something high on your list and your kids seems too little to do the hike, it’s just a 20 minute ride up and then coming down is much easier.

Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary Tour: If the kids are officially over ruins and uphill hikes (honestly, fair), this is such a good switch-up. The Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary is a great little half-day trip from Cusco and perfect for younger kids or just anyone who wants to hang out with alpacas instead of ancient stones.

A driver picks you up in Cusco and takes you straight to the sanctuary, where you’ll get to see rescued alpacas, parrots, tortoises, and even a few others we won’t spoil. It’s low-effort, high-reward, and a total hit with the family we planned this for.

Sacred Valley: The Sacred Valley is just outside of Cusco and full of cool ruins, cute towns, and beautiful landscapes. Great for kids and families since you can break it up into short, easy stops like Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Moray are all worth a visit.

One of the best activities for kids is doing the quad bike tour through the Sacred Valley! You will go in a line following the guide so they won’t have a chance to go super fast, or you can just share a bike. This makes an adult activity of seeing old ruins turn into a fun kid friendly activity. They’ll love the adrenaline.

Colca Canyon: If you’re heading to Arequipa, Colca Canyon is the go-to day trip. It’s one of the deepest canyons in the world, and spotting the massive Andean condors flying overhead was such a cool experience.

When I first did this hike in 2023 there was a 9 year old on our hike with us and I’ll be honest he looked like he wanted to be anywhere else BUT at the end of it, he was grinning and so proud of himself. This is typically an overnight hike, so I think this activity definitely depends on YOUR kid. If you know they’ll love exploring and hiking around, 100% bring them.

The trails aren’t too steep, it weaves around to get to the bottom rather than going at decline of 70. But coming up is quite a lot of big steps. But if you can hear the complaining from here, then maybe opt for the day trip, you’ll make quite a few epic stops and still see the condors flying over.

Sandboarding in Huacachina: If you’re traveling with kids from 8-65 then this sunset tour has to be on your list. A total change of scenery. You’ll drive dune buggies through the desert and sandboard down giant dunes, super fun and something completely different. It’s not as intense as it sounds, the kids in our group loved it.

Tips & Tricks for the Perfect Peru Family Vacation

Buy your Machu Picchu tickets well in advance: Get Circuit 2 tickets for the classic postcard view. Also pre-book train tickets and entry times.

Book Machu Picchu Tickets Here
Book Train Tickets Here

Book everything together here If you’d rather skip the chaos of booking everything separately and trying to decode train schedules, this tour is the way to go. It includes your Machu Picchu entry ticket, hotel pickup, transfer to the train station, and a guide to stick with you the entire time.

When we planned the family trip, this was hands down the easiest and most stress-free option. No last-minute panics, no running to catch a train, and no “are we even in the right spot?” moments. Everything’s handled for you, which makes a huge difference when you’ve got kids in tow.

Book hotels, flights, and shuttles ahead of time: Especially during high season. You don’t want to show up and have no transport or nowhere to sleep.

Acclimatization is key: Cusco is at 3,400m, and altitude sickness is real. Spend at least 1–2 days taking it easy before doing any big hikes.

Try all the food: Peruvian food is unreal. Loads of local dishes, Japanese fusion, and street food. Ceviche, lomo saltado, and fresh juices were all hits with our family. But if you’re traveling with a picky eater there are plenty of western style restaurants and even some McDonalds, I’m sure the chicken nuggets will do the trick!

Explore Cusco on foot: The city is walkable and packed with charm: cobblestone streets, cute courtyards, and colonial architecture everywhere. Your kids will have so much fun spotting all the alpacas around!

Bring layers: The weather changes fast, especially in the mountains. Mornings and nights can be chilly, even if it’s hot in the daytime. I recommend bringing ear warmers and some gloves for when you’re in Cusco.

Download Google Translate: Especially handy in smaller towns where English isn’t widely spoken. It saved us more than once.

Use soles, not dollars: Most places accept credit cards, but for markets or taxis you’ll need Peruvian soles. Get small bills if you can.

Be smart with the water: Stick to bottled or filtered water. Most hotels have refill stations so bring a reusable bottle.

Consider private drivers over tours: It’s often not that much more expensive, and with kids or bigger groups it makes the whole day way easier and more flexible.

Take it slow: Don’t pack too much into one day. Between the altitude and the distances, Peru is better enjoyed at a slower pace.

FAQs About A Peru Family Vacation

Is Peru safe for family travel?

Yes, totally. We never had any issues. Of course, like anywhere, use common sense, don’t flash valuables and be mindful in busy areas. But overall, Peru felt super welcoming and safe, especially in tourist-friendly places like Cusco, Arequipa, and Paracas.

How to prepare for a trip to Peru?

Book everything in advance, especially for the high season. That means flights, hotels, Machu Picchu tickets, and train rides. Bring layers (the weather changes quickly), and give yourself time to acclimatize in Cusco. Oh, and don’t skip out on travel insurance.

Can you do Machu Picchu with kids?

Absolutely. We took the train from Cusco, which is super easy and fun for kids too. No need to do the multi-day hikes, just book your train, bus, and entry ticket in advance. It’s a long day, but so worth it.

What to do in Lima Peru with Kids?

Lima has some fun stuff! The parks are great, especially Parque Kennedy and the cliffs around Miraflores. We also loved the fountains at Circuito Mágico del Agua. And the food in Lima is amazing with lots of good options even for picky eaters.

Are there Peru Family Vacation Packages?

Yes, tons. But honestly, we planned it ourselves and it was great. You can totally DIY this trip, just book your hotels, transport, and activities ahead of time. That way, you keep the flexibility but still make sure it’s all smooth.

Final Thoughts on a Peru Family Holiday

I get that Peru might seem a bit intimidating for a family vacation. It’s definitely not your typical beach weekend in Mexico or Florida. It takes a bit more planning, and it’s full-on when it comes to activities and moving around. So I really think this is something everyone in the group needs to be up for, you know?

If your kids are going to hate every second of hiking or long drives, then yeah, it might not be the right trip. But there are plenty of ways to make it fun for everyone. I mean, who doesn’t love a couple of days at the beach in Paracas or cruising around the dunes in Huacachina? With the right mix, Peru can be an amazing and unforgettable family adventure.

Related Articles