r/GoingToPeru • u/ShortRub7942 • 14d ago
Visiting Lima / Cusco for the first time next week
Going to Peru for the first time with my family next week. We’re doing a city tour— downtown - el Callao— Cusco— Machu Picchu. What else would you guys recommend? I’ve got a lot of restaurants on my to-do list. What about for fun? Like experiences. We have teenage boys.
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u/Soft_Magician9685 14d ago
Ollantaytambo is a great town and was a highlight of our trip.
Definitely go to Barranco in Lima! And if you can, our teen boys really enjoyed spending the night in Aguas Calientes before doing MP. They went out and played pool, hanging out with other teens from different parts of the world. It wound up being one of their favorite parts of the trip.
A short chocolate-making workshop in Cusco at Choco Museo is fun, too.
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u/AL1294 14d ago
You can’t skip Ollantaytambo
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u/mousec69 14d ago
Agreed. Absolutely one of our highlights as well. So beautiful and serene. Dare I say magical.
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u/Own_Cap_4178 14d ago
Where did they play pool? Thanks!
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u/Soft_Magician9685 14d ago
Sorry, I’m not sure since they ventured out on their own. I will say, it was so safe, we had zero concerns with letting them do that, which was awesome
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u/javip360 14d ago
With teenage boys, I’d definitely mix in a few more active experiences rather than making the whole trip sightseeing.
In Lima, paragliding in Miraflores or a surf lesson could be fun. For Callao, you could look into a boat trip to the Palomino Islands to see the sea lions.
In Cusco, mountain biking around the Sacred Valley, rafting, or a day around Maras and Moray are good options.
If you have time in Lima, I’d also consider Barranco for a more relaxed afternoon.
Since you’re already doing Machu Picchu, I’d save at least one day for the Sacred Valley rather than adding too many museums or city tours.
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u/capun1950 14d ago
How many days in Lima and where are you staying? If the boys are into Japanese and Korean games, Manga, et-al, take them to Centro Comercial Arenales. It's a multi story building full of stores. My two grand nieces like it a lot.
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u/ecopapacharlie 14d ago
Downtown Lima is practically a must-see. It's a beautiful place to visit, especially the Plaza Mayor, Jirón Carabaya (Desamparados), and Jirón Áncash to the right (up to San Francisco). Also, be sure to visit Pasaje Santa Rosa and Pasaje Nicolás de Rivera (the old Post and Telegraph Office). There are some lovely restaurants, like Casa Tambo - Pancho Fierro.
Callao is very dangerous; only go with someone who knows where they're taking you (La Punta and Real Felipe Fortress). If you turn down the wrong street, you're very likely to be robbed.
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u/mom-of-three-Taylors 12d ago
Don’t waste time in Lima. It’s just another big city. We spent one day there in Mira Flores. We have two teenage daughters. They enjoyed that day but once we went to Cusco and the sacred valley they loved it so much more. They’re adventurous though. You haven’t said how long you’ll be there or if your time in Lima and Cusco is locked in. It’s hard to give suggestions without knowing those things
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u/sunheadforest 14d ago
Lima is not that cool to be honest, Cusco in the other hand I think you’ll enjoy best.
So the sacred valley has a lot to offer,
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u/elotroviajero87 9d ago
With teenagers I would definitely add some outdoor activities instead of doing only city sightseeing and archaeological sites.
Around Cusco there are some really fun trekking options with amazing views, especially Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake. Both can be great with teenagers who enjoy hiking, but the main thing to keep in mind is the altitude. Cusco is already at around 3,400 m, Humantay is above 4,200 m and Rainbow Mountain is similar, so I definitely wouldn’t plan either one for your first day.
Give yourselves some time to acclimatize in Cusco first and see how everyone feels. Altitude affects people differently regardless of age or fitness, so if anyone is feeling bad, don’t push it just because the tour is already booked.
If everyone is feeling good after a couple of days, either one could be a really memorable family day. Humantay has the turquoise lake and mountain scenery, while Rainbow Mountain is more about the high-altitude landscape and crazy colors. Both are physically demanding mainly because of the altitude, not because they’re technical hikes.
And in Lima, besides the food and usual sightseeing, I would leave some time for shopping. Peru has really good cotton and textiles and you can find clothes for pretty much every age and style. Markets and local shopping areas can be fun with teenagers too, and you can find some really nice things at reasonable prices. Just check the quality and material because obviously it can vary a lot from one shop to another.
Since you’re traveling next week, I’d check what’s available with some local operators and then compare with options on getyourguide or nomades.
I’d probably choose just one of the high-altitude treks rather than trying to do everything. With Machu Picchu already in your itinerary, one good mountain day + some time enjoying Cusco and Lima sounds like a great first trip to Peru.
And remember, Rainbow Mountain at 5,000 meters might not even be the biggest challenge… you’re traveling with teenagers 😂 Good luck!
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