Lima offers numerous outdoor attractions for children including parks, zoos and theatres. You will not find the multitude of theme parks that you may find elsewhere in the world, but your children are still guaranteed to be entertained for the whole trip, as there are also beaches, kids clubs and museums.

Apolo Ice Skating Park and Magdalena del Mar Kart Circuit
These two attractions are very popular among both local and international children. It is possible to hire equipment for both attractions. The go-karts are safe and cannot be driven without helmets. The ice skating park gets very busy at weekends, so it is advisable to visit during the week.

Centro Huachipa
This site covers an area of 15 hectares and is the perfect place to bring children if you want to show them the importance of nature and its preservation. The centre is home to many species of animals which are in danger of extinction. These animals include the maquisapa monkey, gallito de las rocas, wide-eyed bear and the white-winged turkey. There are many recreational areas which are designed especially for children as well as displays on nature and tour guides. Phone: +511 356 3141

Gran Parque de Lima
The construction of this park generated a lot controversy in the capital. The idea was to place ‘culture within the reach of the majority’. This objective was only reached with the help of a multi-million dollar investment. You will find numerous stages used for live music performances as well as theatre shows. Children will enjoy running around in the green open spaces as well as watching the daily puppet shows.

Parque de las Leyendas
This popular zoo can be found just outside the city centre and houses many animals such as lions, elephants and giraffes as well as a large number of native Peruvian species. The zoo is divided into three areas which represent the coast, the Andes mountain region and the Peruvian rainforests. Each animal can be found in the zone to which they are native. The zoo also has mechanical toys for children as well as a restaurant serving items such as snacks, drinks and hot meals. Phone: +511 452 1316

Peruvian culture is not just about opera houses and theatres, it is also part of everyday life. There are often local festivals and colourful exhibitions. Painting, dance and song are the way that different regions distinguish themselves.

Art Museum
This impressive museum offers visitors a panoramic exhibition of Peruvian culture. Displays include pre-Columbian ceramics and textiles as well as colonial furniture and silverware, costumes and paintings. Phone: +511 423 4732

Bullfighting Museum
This museum is dedicated to the traditional Spanish entertainment of bull fighting. You will find numerous paintings, costumes and photos of the world’s most famous bullfighters.

Gold of Peru Museum
This museum houses exhibits of ancient gold jewellery and relics such as necklaces, ceremonial cups, nose rings, earrings and idols. Each pieces shows how advanced the gold and silver works were in ancient Peru. Phone: +511 435 2917

National Museum of Anthropology, Archaeology and History
This museum is home to a chronological display of Lima’s history. Collections include relics from the Chavin, Paracas, Nasca, Mochica, Huari, Chimu and Inca periods. Paintings, objects and documents of the independence process and republican period are also exhibited.

San Francisco Church
This stunning colonial church complex includes the church of San Francisco, a monastery and the chapels of La Soledad and El Milagro. The monastery is decorated with authentic Sevillian tiles, which date back to 1620. The grounds of the church are also home to the Museum of Religious Art and a library containing many historical titles. The complex was built on top of catacombs, which were used as cemeteries during the colonial years. These tombs can be visited today.

San Pedro Church
This historical church was built by the Jesuits in 1624. It has side aisles which contain stunning arcades and gold-leaf-covered altars, designed in a Baroque style, and the altars of San Ignacio de Loyola and Santa Lucia. The church is home to numerous colonial paintings, which add to its magnificence.

Ever since the Spanish viceroyalty, food and drink have always been an essential aspect of life in Lima. Today, Lima is considered to be the culinary capital of Latin America. International and national delights can be found in restaurants across the city. International cuisine includes: Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, French, Italian, Arabian, Argentinean, North-American and Brazilian.

Despite being incredibly tasty, Peruvian food can be very spicy and heavy, causing stomach upsets because of its richness. This should not put you off trying the national dishes, as you can ask for them to be not spicy and sample a small portion. Peru’s national dish is ceviche. In its classic form, this dish is made up of chunks of raw fish, lime or bitter orange juice and chopped onion. This mixture is marinated and served at room temperature with cancha (toasted maize) and slices of cooked sweet potato and seaweed.

Other excellent examples of national dishes include: escabeche, poached or fried fish marinated in an acidic mixture; jalea de pescado, deep fried fish served with marinated onions and tomatoes; and coctail de camarones, sweet juicy shrimps mixed with tomato, avocado, minced jalapeno and lime.

For a lighter meal, you might like to try papa rellena, mashed potatoes stuffed with ground meat, eggs and olives, or anticuchos, a marinated thin steak. Alternatively, try a burger at Peru’s very own fast food establishment, Bembo's Burger Grill. These are guaranteed to be a lot better than anything from Burger King or McDonalds.

Both international and local restaurants can be found all across Lima. Chinese restaurants are especially popular. Middle Eastern fare can be found close to Parque Kennedy, while European cuisine can be found at hotels as well as restaurants throughout the city centre.

Lima is an excellent place to buy traditional Peruvian handicrafts. You will find many handicraft shops located on avenida La Paz or in the large shopping centre on avenida Petit Thouars. Most handicraft shops offer a wide range of silver and gold artefacts as well as locally crafted textiles, ponchos, rugs and blankets. Lima also specialises in arpilleras, which are native pictures of typical Peruvian life.

Local markets offer an excellent way to experience a shopping trip like a local and they also offer plenty of bargains for those counting their pennies. If you would rather visit a modern department store, the new Ripley store offers many mainstream and designer goods. There are also plenty of shopping centres to be found across the city, with most being found in Miraflores. Most shopping centres also house restaurants, entertainment venues and bars.

Lima and its surroundings are famous for the Inca trails and other treks. Hiking and trekking dominates the outdoor activities which are available here, but you can also enjoy a spot of surfing as well as other water sports, and for golf enthusiasts, there are numerous golf courses where you can tee off and enjoy a couple of rounds.

Hiking on the Inca Trail
The Incas built paths to travel around their empire and these paths were extremely well-maintained. The Inca Trail is a 50km section of the road that would have gone from Cuzco to Machu Picchu. The trail was rediscovered in 1915, although research has since shown that parts of it were used during the colonial and early republican eras. Today, it is a famous trekking route, which is used by thousands of people every year. The path is largely paved with stones and will take you past ruins and stunning scenery, ending in Machu Picchu's dense forests.

Surfing
The beaches around Lima are very popular surfing destinations. One of the best women surfers in the world grew up on these beaches. The best beach for surfing can be found in Lima, below the cliffs of Miraflores. Unfortunately, the beach can get very busy at the weekends, so it advisable to visit during the week, especially if you are a beginner.

Trek the Cachiccata Trail
This is an alternative to the Inca Trail and explores Peruvian history and modern Inca communities. Treks usually last for four days and begin at the famous Inca temple of Chokekillka. The trail will take you through secluded waterfalls, ancient terraces and exotic wildlife, while offering breathtaking views of the Sacred Valley and the snow-capped mountains. You get the chance to visit local families and explore an active quarry. On your final day, you can catch a train to the amazing city of Machu Picchu.