Let me start with a disclaimer: If you’re imagining a peaceful Peruvian vacation with your wife, kids, extended family, and two octogenarians, where everyone holds hands and sings “Kumbaya” in the Andes… well, I don’t know what kind of travel blog you’ve been following. But welcome to mine. This is the tale of our family trip to Peru—a saga filled with adventure, altitude sickness, sacred ruins, delicious buffet items, and one very lost Oura ring.
Now I’m a 50-year-old dad in decent shape, with two energetic boys (13 and 7), a wife of 17 years, and apparently a deep-rooted tendency to underestimate how chaotic a family trip to Machu Picchu can be when you throw in a stepsister and two 80-year-olds. That’s seven of us total, which is either the beginning of a heartwarming travel documentary or a sitcom pilot. You tell me.
Day 1: Business Class, Baby—And Immediately Loss of Something Close
We kicked things off in style: business class on LATAM Airlines to Lima. Ah yes, reclining seats, real cutlery, and that brief illusion that this trip might actually go smoothly. Naturally, I celebrated by promptly losing my Oura ring in the LATAM lounge. That’s right—$300 worth of high-tech health tracking, gone before we even hit cruising altitude. Somewhere in that lounge, it’s probably still tracking the sleep data of a confused businessman.
Five hours later, we landed in Lima at 10 PM local time (which is, of course, 11 PM according to my body and its now-dead Oura ring). By the time we reached the JW Marriott and checked into our three rooms, it was nearly midnight. I was exhausted, the kids were too, and one of the senior citizen’s was already talking about breakfast.
Day 2: Culture, Catacombs, and Carbs
The next morning, despite the siren call of my hotel bed, we met our guides from M & A Lux Experiences (shoutout to Milagros and our fantastic guide, Christina). We drove through Miraflores, admired the lush parks, and visited our first stop Huaca Pucllana, where my 7-year-old asked if ancient ruins always came with restaurants and gift shops.
Next up was a walking tour of Plaza Mayor, featuring the Municipal Palace, Lima Cathedral, and the Archbishop’s Palace. I tried to act cultured, but mostly I was calculating how long until lunch. The highlight? The San Francisco Convent, where we explored a centuries-old library and the catacombs—a.k.a. where the real “skeletons in the closet” live.
Back at the JW Marriott, we packed up (again) for our early flight to Cusco. Not ready to call it a day, I ventured down to the bar to watch the sun set and enjoy my first Pisco Sour! The bartender gave me the run down on the history of Pisco Sour and other Peruvian delicacies. Perfect way to end the first 1/3 of the trip!
Day 3: Planes, Trains, and Buffets
We start the morning bright and early with a flight to Cusco, where our local driver for the day, Fausto, picked us up and drove us to the Ollantaytambo train station. It was about a 2 hour drive where we stopped for lunch at Don Angel Inka Casona Restaurant—a solid buffet of Peruvian classics that actually impressed even my youngest picky eater. Petting the alpaca’s and llama’s outside clearly did not affect him as he took down a plate of alpaca and rice with a smile.
From there, we boarded the PeruRail Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes, a.k.a. Machu Picchu Town. It was scenic, delayed, and mildly chaotic—kind of like our family. Careless Whisper was played by the band, Cusqueña’s were passed around, and dances were had. We finally arrived at night and checked into the Inkaterra Machu Picchu resort, where we had a two-story suite with a private thermal pool that came in handy after those long hikes.
Day 4: Rain, Ruins, and Ridiculous Luck
Normally the sound of rain in the morning would keep one under the covers. In a family trip to Machu Picchu, or any tourist traveling to view the ruins, rain is your enemy. If it is too wet, it is not safe for any visitors. And it rained all night into the early hours. All morning tours of Machu Picchu were canceled. Some tourists were leaving in tears as they had bucket list-type plans only to be washed away by the rain. Luckily for us, by 2 PM the skies cleared, and we got a glorious, almost spiritual tour of the ruins. Nature definitely flexed for our family photo op.
Travel Hack: Book your Machu Picchu tour for the afternoon if you’re staying in town for more than a day—weather tends to improve later.
Day 5: Second Chances and Second Showers
The next morning’s tour of Machu Picchu started just the opposite as the day before – sunny in the beginning, soggy in the afternoon. Still, we were lucky—two perfect windows of good weather. The history was amazing, and the pictures were even better. We closed out our visit to Machu Picchu with a stop in the sauna, cold plunge pool, massages, and one final dinner together at the hotel.
Day 6: Return to the Land of Buffet
Our morning train back to Ollantaytambo reunited us with our MVP driver Fausto, and—because we know what we like—returned us to Don Angel Inka Casona for lunch. By now, the staff recognized us, and I was one plate of ceviche away from asking for a loyalty card.
We arrived in Cusco for a two-night stay at Inkaterra Casona, a charming boutique hotel that made me briefly feel like a man of culture again. Dinner was at El Tupay in the Monasterio Hotel across the plaza, where we dined beneath frescoed ceilings like royalty while listening to a live opera.
Day 7: Llamas, Lungs, and Local Legends
Our guide Giovanna from Yovis Travel Tours led us through Cusco’s historic wonders. We visited Qorikancha, met alpacas and llamas at Millmas (amazing experience), explored a eucalyptus forest, and headed up to Cristo Blanco for sweeping views of the city below.
As well as the day had gone, altitude sickness began hitting the adults like a Peruvian pisco hangover. My wife required an oxygen treatment, my stepfather kept asking if we were still in South America, and I was chewing coca leaves like a llama on espresso.
Dinner that night was at Ucho, joined by Giovanna and her two delightful kids. My own children were feral by this point, but no one was judging. Or if they were, they were too polite to say.
Day 8: Final Flight and Fond Farewells
One last early flight. One more flawless transport from Fausto (seriously, this guy deserves a medal or at least a generous tip). We connected through Lima and finally headed home—tired, grateful, and miraculously all still speaking to each other.
Travel Tips and Hacks from a Dad Who’s Been There
- Altitude sickness is no joke. Hydrate obsessively, go slow, and consider oxygen treatments if you’re sensitive. Coca and Muña tea are your friends.
- Layers are your friend. Machu Picchu weather is moody. Think “hormonal teenager” with clouds.
- Book afternoon tours at Machu Picchu. Weather improves and crowds thin out.
- Pack snacks for the train and long drives. They love Quinoa there. Your kids won’t.
- Hire local guides. Milagros, Christina, Giovanna, and Fausto were not only knowledgeable—they made our trip smooth and memorable.
- Embrace the chaos. You can’t control the weather, transportation delays, or what your 7-year-old says to the guinea pigs. Just laugh and roll with it.
Final Thoughts: Surviving a Big Family Trip
Here’s what I’ve learned on our family trip to Machu Picchu: traveling with family is like hiking a mountain—tiring, unpredictable, and sometimes you question your choices. But when you look back, all you remember are the views, the laughs, and maybe that one time someone drank some thermal pool water.
So if you’re considering a family trip to Peru, do it. Just maybe don’t bring all seven relatives unless you enjoy mild chaos and high-altitude drama.
As my 13-year-old said after our second Machu Picchu tour:
“This was amazing. Also, I think I left my hoodie on a llama.”
Coming next: Flying with Children Tips To Avoid Losing Your Mind (or Your Luggage).
Have questions or want local recommendations? Drop them in the comments—happy to share the good, the bad, and the buffet secrets.