Lima With Children: Parks, Zoo, Fountains

November 5, 2026

Lima has good options for children, mostly in parks and museums, plus a surf lesson for older kids. The city is at sea level, so there is no altitude to worry about. Prices are in soles (S/).

Circuito Magico del Agua

The fountain park in the Parque de la Reserva has 13 fountains and is open daily from 15:00 to 22:00. General entry is S/ 7, and children under 5 enter free with ID. Shows with music and projections run at 19:15, 20:15 and 21:10. Some fountains let children run through the jets, so bring a change of clothes and a towel. Go in the late afternoon, when it opens, to avoid the longest evening crowds.

Parque de las Leyendas

This municipal zoo in San Miguel is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00, and tickets are sold until 16:30. The 2026 adult fee is S/ 20 and seniors 60 and over pay S/ 4. Children 3 to 12 pay a reduced fee reported at S/ 8 to S/ 10. Visitors with a Conadis card enter free with one companion. The grounds also hold the Maranga archaeological complex, which has 54 monuments, and a lagoon. Many of the animals were rescued, and the zoo has areas for the coast, the Andes and the rainforest. A second site of the park is in Huachipa, in the Ate district. Wear a hat and bring water, since shade is patchy.

Museo Larco

Museums are easier with children at Larco, where ages 3 to 8 pay S/ 1, ages 9 to 17 pay S/ 25 at the door or S/ 20 online, and under 3 is free. The open storage rooms let children walk past rows of ceramic vessels. A separate gallery shows erotic pottery, so parents can steer around it. The museum opens daily from 9:00 to 19:00.

Parque de la Imaginacion

A children’s science and technology park stands beside the zoo in San Miguel. Check the hours and the fee on the day.

Beach and surf with older children

Beginner surf lessons run from the Makaha and Waikiki beaches in Miraflores and suit older children and teens. The beaches are pebble, the water is cold all year and a wetsuit is essential. The UK government warns that some surfboard rentals on these beaches are unlicensed and that lifeguards may be absent, so use a licensed school with an instructor beside the child. Younger children are better off at the park fountains than in the sea.

Safety with children

Keep children close in crowded places. Use app-based or licensed taxis, and do not hail a car in the street. A state of emergency over crime has covered Lima and Callao, so check the current position before you travel. The UK government lists express kidnapping and phone snatching among the risks, so keep phones out at the kerb.

Compare Lima family activities and the park’s own page at circuitomagicodelagua.pe .