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@yellowbeach: so the short answer is no, I have not taken a toddler to Peru...but it is something I have considered. DH and I lived in Peru for a year and did a ton of traveling and have talked about taken the kids when he has gone back but haven’t done it yet.

We went to Machu Picchu in 2010 so this may be dated. To me the concerns would be the altitude and the accessibility to Machu Picchu. Aguas Calientes is the town at the base of the mountain and is very touristy. You take a bus up from town and then either take the bus down or hike down. We hiked down but it would be a little daunting with kids. The actual site is amazing but full of sheer drop offs and cliff faces so I would worry about a small child who would like to explore. How old is your kiddo?

I think googling would be a great option but I just wanted to add my two cents.

@yellowbeach: hey! Thanks for thinking of me! I used to be an adventurous traveler and have been to Peru twice, once to Lima and the other time an extended stay volunteering in the Sacred valley (Cusco, Machu Picchu, Urubamba) etc. I personally would not take a toddler. And actually I really didn't like Lima. It was my least favorite city of all time. Cusco and the sacred valley were my favorite but I am a Spanish teacher and was embedded in the culture so it was very rewarding. I was also young and carefree and anxiety-free lol. The altitude in Cusco (12,000ft) is astonishing and definitely can make you sick. Maybe it's different but I didnt find Lima very child-friendly at all. It's really quite far and not terribly safe. I've also been to Quito Ecuador which is definitely not a fun place for kids!
Sorry I can't be more positive. Again I'm more of a hesitant traveler (I have a 3.75 year old). I'd probably take him to Portugal, Costa Rica or Puerto Rico in the next few years. Hope this helps??

I'm going to be the outlier here and say that I'd do it, though I haven't tried. I spent time in the area, granted a long time ago and pre-kids, and have wonderful friends still there who someday I very much would like to take LO to visit.

People in the sierra ding on Lima for being a total dump, and sure there are a lot of not so nice things about it, but it also has really nice areas, food, hotels.... I personally wouldn't feel a need to spend that much time there because I don't think it's that long to see the interesting things. I'll also put in a plug for Arequipa, which is lovely.

I'm not a doctor, but wouldn't have thought the elevation in Cusco would be a problem for a toddler as long as they don't have coronary or respiratory problems, or other pre-existing health problems that can be exacerbated by altitude. It's not even that high by Peruvian standards; other (also great to visit) places like Puno are quite a bit higher. It's truly delightful, and the majority of tourists don't find the altitude to be an issue, if so typically it's a minor inconvenience. Machu Picchu is much lower. There are some really nice hotels around there if that's your thing. Sure, don't do precarious hiking trails with your toddler, but I think in general safety shouldn't be an issue as long as you are watching your child. You do see a fair number of kids there.

For me the main argument to wait would just be that it's a really cool and unique place with a super rich history that lots of kids find interesting, and your daughter might enjoy it more when she's a bit older if it's going to be a one time trip.

It's so interesting to read other people's opinions on this. Our daughter was 5 when we went, about a month after her birthday. I lived for a year in Quito and would not describe that as child friendly, but that was before I became a mom and perhaps I was just seeing the parts of the city that I wouldn't want to take kids. On the other hand, we had a great time in Lima with our kids--sticking mostly to Miraflores but exploring a bit during the day.

Our kids did so well in the mountains--we arrived and went into the Sacred Valley before going to Cusco and/or Machu Picchu. We hired a driver who took us to a lot of other Incan sites, most of which we saw as the sole tourists. Our kids LOVED them. They did cartwheels, climbed, explored and had a blast. Our day going to Machu Picchu was a long day from the Sacred Valley on the train/bus combo, and was absolutely not the highlight of the trip for the kids, but they did last all day.

The absolute best part of our trip was 3 nights at a jungle lodge. It was magical for the kids, and so cool for us as parents. The staff at the lodge bent over backwards to show our kids a good time (including showing them some local crafts, making them foods they knew would be a hit and providing us with our own guide so that our days were taken at our own pace). We saw almost all our bucket list animals, lost a rubber boot when piranha fishing and met a local farmer from the edge of a dugout canoe. It was freaking fabulous.

Would I take a 2 year old? No. Would I take a 4 year old? If it were either of my kids, totally.