Lima is easy for families in one way: it sits at sea level, so children do not need to adjust to altitude. The main planning points are crime, cold water and travel time between districts. Prices are in soles (S/). By age Age What suits Notes Under 5 Fountain park, zoo Under 5 free at the fountains with ID 5 to 12 Zoo, Larco, fountains Zoo child fee about S/ 8 to S/ 10 for ages 3 to 12 Teens Surf lesson, Larco, food Surf only with a licensed school Fountains in the evening The Circuito Magico del Agua in the Parque de la Reserva opens daily from 15:00 to 22:00 and costs S/ 7, with half price for seniors over 65 with ID.

Three routes cover most of what visitors want to see on foot in Lima. Each is a separate outing, so link them by taxi or bus rather than trying to walk between districts. Take a small amount of cash, a card and your phone, and leave the rest at your hotel. Route 1: Historic Centre Start: Plaza San Martin. Length and terrain: about 3 km, flat, paved and mostly pedestrian. Stops: Jiron de la Union, Plaza Mayor with the Cathedral, the Government Palace, the San Francisco convent and catacombs, and Bar Cordano on Jiron Ancash 202.

Two days in Lima on a budget: what it actually costs Two days in Lima realistically covers Miraflores, Barranco and a Centro Historico half-day, not the whole country, and definitely not Machu Picchu (a separate flight-plus-train trip to Cusco, never a Lima day trip). Peru’s currency is the sol, PEN, running roughly S/3.38 to S/3.41 per US dollar in 2026 (the old “Nuevo Sol” name was dropped back in 2015). Lima sits at sea level, so altitude is a non-issue here, unlike Cusco’s thin air.

Three days in Lima on a budget: what it actually costs Three days in Lima covers Miraflores’ free clifftop parks and Parque Kennedy’s cats, a Barranco-plus-Centro-Historico half day, and the Larco Museum paired with a real cheap-eats food day, all on the Peruvian sol. Lima sits at sea level, so there is no altitude concern here, unlike Cusco’s roughly 3,400 meters; the sol runs roughly 3.38 to 3.41 to the dollar in 2026.

Lima in 4 Days on a Budget (With Daily Costs) Four days keeps the 3-day itinerary ’s spine, Miraflores, Barranco, the Centro Historico and the Larco Museum, then adds a full day trip to the Pachacamac ruins. Lima sits at sea level, so there’s no altitude to worry about, and the trip runs comfortably on Peruvian soles. Staying longer? The 5-day itinerary adds Paracas. Book these before you go Compare rates in Miraflores or Barranco on Booking.

Five days in Lima on a budget: what it actually costs Five days in Lima keeps the 4-day itinerary ’s route whole, Miraflores, Barranco plus a Centro Historico half-day, the Larco Museum and a cheap-eats food day, then Pachacamac’s ruins, and adds the one day trip the shorter plans skip: a long run south to Paracas and the Islas Ballestas, priced here at bus-and-boat rates rather than an all-inclusive tour. Lima sits at sea level, so there’s no altitude to plan around, unlike Cusco’s roughly 3,400 meters, and the sol runs roughly S/3.

Six days in Lima on a budget: what it actually costs Six days in Lima on a budget covers the full circuit: Miraflores, Barranco, a Centro Historico half-day, the Larco Museum, Pachacamac’s ruins, a long Paracas/Ballestas day, and a closing day mixing Callao Monumental with San Isidro’s El Olivar. Peru’s currency is the sol, PEN, roughly S/3.38-3.41 per US dollar in 2026. Lima sits at sea level, so this trip carries no altitude planning, unlike Cusco.

Seven days in Lima on a budget, with daily costs Seven days is enough to see Lima properly on a budget without touching Cusco or Machu Picchu, which sit a separate flight and several more days away and don’t belong bolted onto the end of this trip. Lima sits at sea level, so there’s no altitude to worry about, only the sol (PEN), running roughly 3.38-3.41 to the US dollar in 2026.