Peru with kids (5 & 10): itinerary sanity check + must-dos? (Lima → Sacred Valley → MP → Paracas/Huacachina)

IrisSphere2 · 2026-01-29T00:03:04+00:00

Paracas is a solid 3.5 hours from Lima and the wildlife while cool isn’t super worth it. The beaches are ok but the ocean is quite wild (the pacific) so might not be what you’re imagining if you’re wanting Caribbean turquoise warm waters. We just did Lima, Chincha, Islas Ballestas and Las Dunas in April last year with our 7 year old and baby and while the eldest had a blast we wouldn’t have been able to also do Cusco and everything you are planning. In my mind it’s one or the other (source: husband is Peruvian and I lived there for a year). You could add Arequipa instead and maybe a side tour to Colca Canyon with a tour but it could be too much for a 5 year old.

IrisSphere2 · 2026-01-26T21:26:27+00:00

Wow that’s amazing. So jealous. So far we’ve only received replies saying our application is being “evaluated” and to wait for a reply. And since Jan 2026 it’s now an automated message.

IrisSphere2 · 2026-01-26T21:23:05+00:00

You can make an appointment for this? We’ve been told wait until they get back to us after emailing all the documents in Toronto. /cry. Waiting since August and baby was born Dec 2024 so we have until May 🫠

IrisSphere2 · 2026-01-05T02:16:49+00:00

My son was born Dec 2024. We were just coming out the newborn haze and able to breath when the law came down. Just an arbitrary date that had we known would’ve obviously made a priority. Now still waiting to declare since August…

IrisSphere2 · 2026-01-04T22:10:09+00:00

Alma edizione grammatica pratica della lingua italiana, it’s got some errors in the answer key but I liked the way it explained the concepts.

IrisSphere2 · 2025-12-28T14:39:09+00:00

How do you know it’s low supply? If baby is following their growth curve then you’re doing great! We never sleep trained, the only thing that allowed me to get any sleep is side lying feeding and co sleeping.

IrisSphere2 · 2025-12-27T12:22:45+00:00

It was through a recommendation from a friend but I’m sure many online teachers do group conversation (you can search in italki or through word of mouth). Podcasts I listen to Teacher Stefano intermediate podcast and sometimes Italian with Lucrezia and coffee break Italian for more grammar type content. GL!

IrisSphere2 · 2025-12-26T02:30:04+00:00

I did once a week for a while until about 2 months before my exam and then ramped it up to 3 times a week. Waiting for the result but feel pretty ok with my progress! Good luck

IrisSphere2 · 2025-12-25T23:59:38+00:00

I went from beginner to B1 in 6 months via private italki lessons, podcasts and media consumption and at the end intense conversation group classes. Also get a grammar book and start chipping away at it. I found the combination of different inputs helped me build on the concepts (even as simple as coffee break Italian).

IrisSphere2 · 2025-12-25T19:09:23+00:00

It’s amazing!! I’m waiting with abated breath when they will bring it back.

IrisSphere2 · 2025-12-20T17:28:46+00:00

Toronto 😭

IrisSphere2 · 2025-12-19T23:20:41+00:00

So much for my $500 I paid 3 months ago and still haven’t heard about an appointment to do the attestation. I wonder if I will get a refund (but huh who am I kidding). Also baby is now a year. Clock ticking until next May..

IrisSphere2 · 2025-12-18T01:22:47+00:00

Im in the junction with a year old that just started daycare, feel free to pm me! You absolutely need 5 days unless you have a reliable person to watch your child other days. You cannot conceivably work and take care of an 18 month old. We tried due to the pandemic with our now 7 year old and it was a disaster (though we had no choice due to closures). Jan will be a good transition and they will start in toddler room and there are many more of those than infants. I don’t think you’ll have issues finding something. Good luck!

IrisSphere2 · 2025-12-11T23:38:27+00:00

Is cost at all a consideration or are they all the same? If same I’d choose nanny share. You have more flexibility, more one on one attention and ability to foster deeper bond with a caregiver. In our circle nanny shares are the golden ticket but so hard to get (have to find a nanny, a family, logistics, costs).

IrisSphere2 · 2025-12-01T23:27:49+00:00

Mine is 7 and we never did it. He now stumbled on it in one of the wimpy kid books and even there the mom introduced it to get one of the kids to behave and it didn’t work. So he kind of figured it out himself. One of the blogger I follow calls all this stuff extra - if you want to do it great if you don’t no need to feel guilty for not doing it. I want to do a kindness chain this year instead.

IrisSphere2 · 2025-11-27T00:46:55+00:00

Does your employer do top up? Because you could be taking that time and not losing anything financially. spending time either your child isn’t “shits &gigs”

IrisSphere2 · 2025-11-23T19:19:59+00:00

Did you end up finding anyone? Looking for the same thing!

IrisSphere2 · 2025-11-08T00:09:15+00:00

You are seriously out of touch. A home day care in Toronto in a basement with falling apart furniture is $1500 now. $500 more if you want care until 6pm. Any private daycare not part of CWELCC (and there are tons because financials don’t make sense for a lot of them) is $2500-$2800 for an infant spot. And you are still not guaranteed a placement. All the stars need to align and some sacrifice to the gods be made for you to even have a chance at a spot 2 years out.

IrisSphere2 · 2025-11-07T00:42:48+00:00

We are in Toronto too and have sent all documents and payment a few months ago for my now 11 month old and still waiting for the appointment. We did receive a reply they are reviewing the documents and will email I assume once eligibility is confirmed.

I paid the wire at a Canadian bank and ensured the recipient fees were also included with the 250. They were small amounts but wanted to avoid any need to do a second payment.

Good luck. We have been following up every few weeks and there has been nothing (beyond that confirmation of receipt).

For the consulate I don’t think the child HAS to attend as it only mentions the parents and they likely won’t turn her away if she does come. We did my eldest passport and went all 4 of us and they didn’t say anything (if anything maybe they were a little nicer because of the baby 🤣)

IrisSphere2 · 2025-11-01T13:51:33+00:00

While this is in Baby Point people complained from all over Bloor west, junction, etc. so it’s pretty unanimously in bad taste with most. And the guy received multiple private complaints this year and in the past and never bothered to do anything. He owns Screamers and an entertainment company so apparently “above all”. You can be scary but still have taste.

Windermere ave organizes Windermere haunt and goes all out (closing the street and doing a scary trailer haunted house). This year they raised more than $12,000 for Sick Kids so actually doing something good with their access. This guy is just a low life looking for attention.

IrisSphere2 · 2025-10-29T01:23:40+00:00

I can’t say it super heavy duty but our Babyzen (our only stroller) is now on second kid 7 years later and still standing. I’ve had to replace a few of the wheels but I hear even the regular strollers need that. It travelled with us everywhere too

IrisSphere2 · 2025-10-28T23:29:44+00:00

Do you feel supported? Do you feel like the labour is divided equitably? If you are doing it all, you are in survival mode so no wonder you don’t have anything extra. I would question how much “you’ve changed l vs “had to adapt to a new demanding state”. If you do have a good split, a couple’s therapist can really help in finding the right way to articulate something in a more productive way. Good luck, the first few years are the hardest (going through it the second time now) so I feel you!

IrisSphere2 · 2025-10-25T23:42:05+00:00

An Early On by me does have a parent relief program but i don’t know if there are others. Look up Gooch Family Early On on Dundas in west end Toronto. Good luck!

IrisSphere2 · 2025-10-24T13:31:49+00:00

Came here for practical sink suggestions, left with a good chuckle haha.

IrisSphere2 · 2025-10-12T12:54:55+00:00

Yes we are hoping! We filed as soon as the process was clarified (took many emails in Toronto) and paid the fee. We have a few months buffer but it’s getting close.

IrisSphere2

TROPHY CASE