Kid Friendly Lima: A Planning Guide

Children do well in Lima when the day is built around one anchor and a short list of fallback options. The city is at sea level, which makes it easier than the Andes for young travellers. Prices are in soles (S/).

Choose your anchor

For a morning with animals: the Parque de las Leyendas in San Miguel. It opens at 9:00 and closes at 17:00 every day, with ticket sales ending at 16:30. The adult ticket is S/ 20 in 2026, seniors pay S/ 4, and children from 3 to 12 pay a reduced rate that sources list as S/ 8 or S/ 10. The zoo has coast, Andes and rainforest sections, many animals were rescued, and the grounds hold 54 archaeological monuments from the Maranga complex.

For an afternoon with a museum: Museo Larco. Under-threes are free, ages 3 to 8 pay S/ 1, and ages 9 to 17 pay S/ 25 at the door or S/ 20 online. Open daily from 9:00 to 19:00. Rows of shelved vessels in the open storage rooms keep most children interested. A room of erotic pottery is separate, so adults can skip it.

For an evening with water: the Circuito Magico del Agua. Open 15:00 to 22:00, S/ 7 for most visitors, free for under-fives with ID. Shows run at 19:15, 20:15 and 21:10. Bring spare clothes.

Smaller extras

  • A children’s science park, the Parque de la Imaginacion, stands near the zoo in San Miguel. Check hours and prices on the day.
  • The clifftop paths of the Malecon in Miraflores are flat, paved and shared with cyclists, so they suit scooters and strollers.

Sea rules

The beaches below the cliffs are pebbled, the Pacific stays cold all year and shore breaks can be strong. For teenagers, a beginner lesson through a licensed school includes a wetsuit and an instructor. The UK government says some board rentals on Miraflores beaches are unlicensed and lifeguards may be absent. Younger children should stay out of the surf.

Quick answers

Is altitude a concern? No. Lima is at sea level.

Is the city safe with a stroller? Stay on well-travelled streets in daylight, keep bags in front, and use app taxis. Phone snatching and fake taxis are the risks the UK government names.

What about a rainy day? Lima has almost no rain, but winter is grey and cool, so museums fill those days.

Anything to skip? The catacombs are a burial site and the LUM museum covers the 1980 to 2000 conflict. Neither suits young children.

See the park’s own fountain site for current hours, and compare family tours if you want transport included.

Read more: animal activities in Lima and the 3 day Lima itinerary .