With kids · Cusco · Peru
Cusco with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Pavel Špindler, CC BY 3.0
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Quick answer
Cusco is rewarding for families with older children who can cope with altitude and walking: Inca sites, llamas, markets and train journeys are highlights. Plan rest time and acclimatise in the lower Sacred Valley. Top picks: Sacsayhuamán, Qorikancha and Santo Domingo and Plaza de Armas. Families usually base themselves in Urubamba.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 6
- Best area for families
- Urubamba
- Rainy-day options
- 0
- Busiest months
- June–August
Best things to do with kids
Historic site · San Cristóbal
1.Sacsayhuamán
This vast Inca complex above the city has three tiers of zigzagging walls made of huge, perfectly fitted stones, some weighing many tonnes. It is the stage for the Inti Raymi festival every 24 June, and its hillside gives views over Cusco.
Walk up from San Cristóbal early in the morning; the site is included in the Boleto Turístico.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Outdoors
Historic site · Historic Centre
2.Qorikancha and Santo Domingo
The Inca Empire's most important temple, dedicated to the sun god Inti, was once covered with sheets of gold. The Spanish built the Convent of Santo Domingo on top, and its cloister now reveals the temple's inner chambers with some of the finest Inca stonework anywhere.
Look at the curved Inca wall from Avenida El Sol below, which survived earthquakes that toppled the Spanish church.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Landmark · Historic Centre
3.Plaza de Armas
Cusco's main square was the Inca city's ceremonial plaza, Huacaypata. Today it is framed by the Cathedral, the Jesuit church of La Compañía and arcades with balconies, with the hills around the city as a backdrop. Locals and visitors gather on the benches and steps.
Climb to a café balcony overlooking the plaza for views of the churches at night when they are lit.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- After dark
- Photo spot
Experience · Cusco hills
4.Planetarium Cusco
A small family-run planetarium in the hills above the city explains how the Inca read the stars and dark constellations of the Milky Way, followed by stargazing through telescopes when the sky is clear.
Book a spot for the evening session and dress warmly; nights are very cold.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- After dark
- History
Market · San Pedro
5.San Pedro Market
Cusco's central market, in a large covered hall near San Pedro station, sells potatoes, maize, fruit, bread, cheese and herbs, with fresh juice stalls and lunch counters serving soups and stews.
Grab a fruit juice blended to order at the juice stalls, and keep your bag in front of you.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Photo spot
- Shopping
Historic site · Ollantaytambo
6.Ollantaytambo archaeological site
Steep terraces climb to a temple complex where the Inca resisted the Spanish in the 1530s. Its Temple of the Sun has six huge pink granite monoliths, hauled from a quarry across the river.
Visit early in the morning or late afternoon, before or after the tour buses from Cusco.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Views
- Iconic
- Active
Where families should stay
$$$ · Best for families, luxury and quiet stays
Urubamba
Urubamba is the valley's largest town and a hub for transport between Cusco, Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Many of the valley's resort hotels and haciendas sit in the countryside nearby, with gardens, mountain views and spas. It is a convenient base for Moray, Maras and Chinchero.
- Good
- Resort hotels with space and gardens; Central for valley sights; Lower altitude than Cusco
- Watch out
- Town centre is unremarkable; Need taxis or tours to get around
- Nearby
- Moray, Maras salt pans, Chinchero, Ollantaytambo
Family travel tips
- Consider staying in the Sacred Valley first, which is lower than Cusco, to ease altitude effects.
- Children are often affected by altitude too; watch for headaches and tiredness.
- The train ride to Machu Picchu, with its panoramic windows, is a highlight for kids.
- Pack warm layers; temperatures drop sharply at night.
- Check age rules and child prices when booking Machu Picchu tickets and trains.
Day trips for families
- Machu Picchu (About 3.5–4 hours each way by train and bus) — The 15th-century Inca citadel on a ridge above the Urubamba River is one of the world's most famous archaeological sites.
- Moray and the Maras salt pans (About 1.5 hours by road) — Moray's circular Inca terraces are thought to have been used for agricultural experiments, with temperature differences between levels.
When to go with children
The best months overall are May–September. June–August are the busiest, so book the big sights early. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Cusco good for kids?
Cusco is rewarding for families with older children who can cope with altitude and walking: Inca sites, llamas, markets and train journeys are highlights. Plan rest time and acclimatise in the lower Sacred Valley.
+What can kids do in Cusco?
Sacsayhuamán, Qorikancha and Santo Domingo, Plaza de Armas, Planetarium Cusco and San Pedro Market.
+Where should families stay in Cusco?
Urubamba: Central Sacred Valley town surrounded by countryside resort hotels.