We just took our two kids, ages 2 and 4, all the way to Peru — including Machu Picchu.

And overall? It was one of the best trips we’ve ever taken.

But if I’m being honest… there are a few things I would absolutely do differently.

Not small things either. The kind of changes that would have made the trip smoother, less stressful, and a lot more enjoyable… especially traveling with young kids.

Because Peru is incredible. But it’s also one of those destinations where the logistics really matter.

And if you get them wrong, you feel it.

So in this post, I’m breaking down the 5 biggest mistakes we made, and exactly what I would do instead if I planned this trip again.

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Before You Start: Learn How We Book Trips Like This

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And if you want to see exactly how we booked this entire Peru trip (business class flights, hotels, etc.), make sure you check out:

Mistake #1: Spending Too Much Time in Lima

The first thing I would change?
Less time in Lima.

We spent about two full days there after landing at 5 AM, before flying to Cusco early in the morning.

On paper, this made sense. I assumed:

We’d be exhausted from the red-eye flight coming into Lima
We wouldn’t do much the first day
Extra time would help us ease into the trip

But in reality… it backfired.

What Went Wrong

We had to wake up at 3 AM for our Cusco flight. I had booked the 6 AM flight so that we could maximize our time in the Sacred Valley and Cusco. But…
We arrived already sleep-deprived
Then immediately had to deal with altitude

And with kids? That combination is brutal.

My 4-year-old actually got sick on the drive to the Sacred Valley, and we had to skip stops we were really looking forward to (Moray and Pisac).

What I’d Do Instead

Spend ~1.5 days in Lima max
Take a later flight to Cusco, something in the afternoon so that you aren’t sleep deprived.
Prioritize arriving rested over maximizing time

Lima is a great city. The food is amazing, it’s easy to get around, and it’s a nice way to ease into the trip.

But if you’re traveling with kids and trying to balance energy, altitude, and logistics…

It’s not where you want to spend your time.

If I had to do it again, I would absolutely take time away from Lima and give it to the Sacred Valley, no question.

👉 If you’re looking for hotels in Lima (especially in Miraflores), you can browse options here.

Mistake #2: Not Spending Enough Time in the Sacred Valley

This was, hands down, our favorite part of the entire trip.

The Sacred Valley is just completely different from Cusco and Lima. The scenery is incredible, the mountains are everywhere, and everything feels quieter and more relaxed. It’s one of the only places on this trip where it actually felt like we could slow down and just enjoy where we were, instead of constantly moving from one thing to the next.

And with kids, that matters more than anything.

We only stayed two nights, and looking back, that just wasn’t enough.

We made it work, but three nights would have been so much better. It would have given us more time to actually take it in, spread things out, and not feel like we were rushing through one of the best parts of the trip.

Why This Matters More Than You Think

But the bigger issue wasn’t just the time. It was how that limited time affected everything else, especially Machu Picchu.

Because we only had one full day in the Sacred Valley, I had very little flexibility when it came to booking Machu Picchu tickets. And by the time I went to book them, the circuit we really wanted, Circuit 2, was completely sold out for that day.

So instead of visiting Machu Picchu while we were staying in the Sacred Valley, I had to push it to our Cusco portion of the trip.

And that one decision ended up making the entire day a lot more complicated than it needed to be.

What I’d Do Instead

Stay at least 3 nights in the Sacred Valley
Build flexibility around Machu Picchu ticket availability

Sacred Valley Peru with kids hotel view Andes mountains — Our room at Tierra Inka Hotel in the Sacred Valley

👉 If you’re planning to stay here, you can check hotel options in the Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo or Urubamba) here.

My personal recommendation: Check out the Hotel Tierra Inka Sacred Valley. We loved it there!

Mistake #3: Doing Machu Picchu from Cusco Instead of the Sacred Valley

Originally, the plan was to visit Machu Picchu from Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, which is by far the easiest and most efficient way to do it.

From there, it’s basically just a train ride.

But because of ticket availability, we ended up doing Machu Picchu from Cusco instead, and that completely changed the experience.

What Went Wrong

Instead of a relatively simple and smooth day, it turned into a full travel marathon.

We had to wake up before sunrise, another 3 am wake up, get on a bus from Cusco. Then we sat through about two hours of winding mountain roads to get to the Sacred Valley (where we just were!), then transfer to a train for another two hours. And even after all of that, we still weren’t there yet. We had to take another bus up to Machu Picchu itself.

What should have been a straightforward journey turned into hours and hours of just getting there.

And with kids, that’s where things really started to fall apart.

The early wake-up meant everyone was already tired before the day even started. The winding roads triggered motion sickness for my daughter. And by the time we finally arrived, we weren’t walking in excited and energized. We were walking in completely exhausted.

It didn’t ruin the experience, but it made it a lot harder than it needed to be.

👉 If you’re looking for family-friendly hotel options in Cusco, you can browse them here.

What I’d Do Instead

If I could do this again, I would prioritize Machu Picchu tickets first and build the rest of the itinerary around that.

Those tickets go fast, especially Circuit 2, and even booking ten weeks in advance wasn’t enough for us. I should have booked them the moment they were released.

That’s one of the biggest lessons from this trip. Don’t plan your itinerary first. Plan around the hardest thing to book.

This was probably the biggest logistical mistake we made.

Originally, I planned to visit Machu Picchu from Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley), which is the easiest route.

But because tickets were sold out on the dates that we were booked to stay in Ollantaytambo, we had to go from Cusco instead.

👉 I break down exactly how to book everything step by step here:
How to Book Machu Picchu with Kids

Mistake #4: Not Fully Accounting for Altitude and Pacing

This one comes down to trying to do too much, too quickly.

We live at sea level, so we’re not used to altitude at all. And when you land in Cusco, you’re coming in at around 11,000 feet. That’s a big adjustment, especially for kids.

I thought I had planned this part really well by having us first stay 2 nights in the Sacred Valley instead of first staying in Cusco.

What Went Wrong

We arranged a private transfer from Cusco airport to the Sacred Valley, and I turned it into a mini tour with stops at places like Moray and the Maras salt mines, plus lunch along the way.

It sounded like a great use of time, but in reality, it made things worse.

Between the altitude and the winding roads, my 4-year-old got really sick in the car and ended up throwing up. We had to skip a couple stops entirely and just go straight to the hotel.

Instead of getting down to the Sacred Valley quickly, which sits at a lower altitude, we kept her at higher elevation for several extra hours while trying to sightsee.

That made the adjustment much harder than it needed to be.

maras salt mines family travel — Mara’s Salt Mines

What I’d Do Instead

If I could do this again, I would go straight from the airport to the Sacred Valley, get settled, and give everyone time to adjust.

Then later in the trip, once everyone is acclimated, I would add in stops like Moray, the Maras salt mines, and possibly Pisac on the way back to Cusco.

This is one of those situations where slowing down actually leads to a much better experience.

Browse Cusco and Sacred Valley Tours Here:

Mistake #5: Booking the Expedition Train Instead of the Vistadome

The last thing I would do differently is the train we chose to get to Machu Picchu.

We booked the Expedition train with PeruRail, which is the most basic option, mainly to save money.

What Went Wrong

The Expedition train is perfectly fine, but it really does feel like basic transportation. You get a seat, you get a view, and that’s about it. We were given a glass of water, but there wasn’t anything about it that made it feel like part of the experience.

It felt like getting from point A to point B.

And for most trips, that’s fine. But for something like Machu Picchu, which is a once-in-a-lifetime destination for many people, it made the journey feel less special than it could have been.

What I’d Do Instead

If I could do this again, I would book the Vistadome.

It has larger panoramic windows, food included, and a more immersive experience with music and cultural elements. It feels like part of the journey, not just transportation.

For a destination like Machu Picchu, I think that upgrade is worth it.

It got us there… but that’s it.

If you don’t want to coordinate everything yourself, there are options that bundle your Machu Picchu ticket, train, and guide together, which can make the day a lot simpler.

👉 You can browse those options here:

Final Thoughts

Even with all of these mistakes, this was still one of our favorite trips we’ve ever taken.

Peru is an incredible destination, especially the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. The landscapes are unlike anything else, the culture is rich, and once you’re there, it’s actually a very affordable place to travel.

But it’s also a destination where the logistics really matter.

Small planning decisions can have a big impact on how smooth or stressful the trip feels, especially when you’re traveling with young kids.

Looking back, none of these mistakes were deal breakers. But each one added a layer of difficulty that didn’t need to be there.

And that’s really the goal of this post.

Not to make the trip perfect, because traveling with kids never is, but to make it easier, smoother, and more enjoyable from the start.

What I’d Do Differently Overall

If I were planning this trip again, I would:

Spend less time in Lima and more time in the Sacred Valley
Book Machu Picchu tickets first and build the itinerary around them
Visit Machu Picchu from the Sacred Valley instead of Cusco
Slow down the first few days and prioritize altitude adjustment
Upgrade the train experience instead of treating it as just transportation

If you’re still in the planning phase, I put together a full step-by-step guide on exactly how to book Machu Picchu with kids including tickets, trains, and timing:

👉 How to Book Machu Picchu with Kids: Complete Guide