Cusco with kids: altitude, itinerary and family activities

Cusco and Machu Picchu are a fantastic family destination: ruins straight out of an adventure story, llamas and alpacas, colourful markets and trains through the Urubamba canyon. The key is planning around altitude and pace. This guide covers the essentials for travelling with kids of different ages.

Start here: Cusco tips · things to do in Cusco

Altitude comes first

• Cusco is at about 3,400 m. Children can get altitude sickness too, and little ones can't always say how they feel: watch for unusual tiredness, irritability, loss of appetite, vomiting or trouble sleeping.
• Talk to your paediatrician before the trip, especially with babies or children with respiratory or heart conditions.
• Keep the first days slow, with plenty of fluids and light meals.

• Altitude sickness in Cusco: how to prevent it and what to do
• Where to stay in the Sacred Valley: Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo and more

A sample family itinerary (6–7 days)

1. Arrival and transfer to the Sacred Valley; quiet afternoon.
2. Pisac or a valley town at a slow pace; market.
3. Maras and Moray: the salt pans and circular terraces usually delight kids.
4. Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes; night there.
5. Machu Picchu in the morning; train and transfer to Cusco.
6. Cusco: Plaza de Armas, Qorikancha and San Blas.
7. Sacsayhuamán, with room to run and explore.

• How many days in Cusco + 3, 5 and 7-day itineraries
• Moray and the Maras salt mines: how to visit from Cusco or the Sacred Valley
• Machu Picchu day trip from Cusco: timings, logistics and whether it's worth it

Activities kids love

• Seeing llamas and alpacas around Sacsayhuamán or at valley textile centres.
• The Maras salt pans and the terraced "bowl" of Moray.
• The trains to Machu Picchu: the ride itself is an adventure.
• Chocolate or pottery workshops and family-friendly cooking classes.
• San Pedro Market, with its fruit juices.
• An alternative rainbow mountain: Palccoyo is shorter and gentler than Vinicunca, though still very high; consider whether it suits your children.

• San Pedro Market in Cusco: what to eat, what to buy, opening hours and tips
• Palccoyo: the alternative rainbow mountain, easier and quieter than Vinicunca
• Cooking classes in Cusco: what to expect, typical dishes and how to choose

Machu Picchu with kids

• Children need a ticket; minors usually get a reduced rate and must carry ID or a passport.
• Some mountains within the sanctuary have minimum ages or specific recommendations; check current rules before booking.
• Sleeping in Aguas Calientes avoids a 15-hour day, which is very hard on little ones.
• Strollers aren't practical: there are stairs everywhere. A baby carrier is better.

• Machu Picchu tickets: how to buy them on the official site and not miss out
• Machu Picchu rules: what to bring, bag size, banned items and guides

Practical tips

• Pack layers: cold mornings and evenings, strong midday sun.
• High-SPF sunscreen, hats and sunglasses: UV radiation is intense at altitude.
• Bottled or filtered water and familiar snacks for long days.
• For long transfers, a private tour or driver gives more flexibility for stops.
• Choose heated accommodation and, in Cusco, avoid very steep streets if you have a stroller.

• Where to stay in Cusco: best areas for your trip and budget

By age

• Babies and under-2s: altitude is the most delicate issue; talk to your paediatrician, prioritise the Sacred Valley and bring a carrier. Trains and most hotels accept babies, but confirm cots and heating.
• Ages 3–7: shorter days work best, with one main activity and free time. Llamas, trains and markets are usually the most memorable.
• Ages 8–12: they can enjoy short hikes, such as walking down from the Pisac ruins, visiting Moray and Maras or a gentle horse ride.
• Teens: activities like ATVs at Maras-Moray, rafting on easy sections or ziplining (always respecting each operator's minimum ages) turn the trip into an adventure.

• Pisac: Inca ruins, craft market and how to visit from Cusco
• ATV tour to Maras and Moray: what the quad-bike trip from Cusco is like
• Rafting in Cusco: Urubamba sections, the Apurímac, seasons and safety

Food and health

• Start with simple meals: soups, rice, chicken, potatoes and fruit you can peel.
• Drink only bottled or treated water and avoid ice where hygiene is doubtful.
• Bring a small kit with what your paediatrician recommends for fever, diarrhoea and car sickness: mountain roads are very winding.
• Coca tea is a traditional drink, but ask before giving it to children.

• Altitude sickness in Cusco: how to prevent it and what to do
• What and where to eat in Cusco: typical dishes, markets and tips

Before you go

Airport transfer

Book a private Welcome Pickups transfer from Cusco airport to your hotel before you land, with your driver waiting in arrivals. Check the price and cancellation terms when booking.

Book your airport transfer →

Notice: This guide shares advice and recommendations based on research and local experience. Prices, opening hours and rules may change: always check with official sources and operators. Cusco Tips is not responsible for third-party services, bookings or decisions made using these guides; some links are affiliate links (see our affiliate policy).