Cusco with kids works very well if you plan around two things: altitude and pace. The city is at 3,399 metres, but the Sacred Valley is about 500 metres lower, most visits are short and outdoors, and there are llamas, salt pans, looms, markets and rocks to slide down. What to avoid with young children are the mountain excursions above 4,000 metres and days that are too long. Here is what to do in Cusco with kids, how to handle the altitude, which tickets they pay and a five-day plan.
Altitude with children
According to the CDC, children are as susceptible to altitude illness as adults. The difference is that they find it harder to say what they feel: in children who cannot talk yet, altitude illness shows mainly as loss of appetite, irritability and pallor. If severe symptoms appear, such as extreme tiredness, drowsiness, confusion or shortness of breath, go down and seek medical care.
- See your paediatrician first, especially with babies or if the child has a heart or breathing condition.
- Keep day one easy: rest, light meals and short walks. No climbing on foot.
- Use the Sacred Valley: sleeping the first nights in Urubamba, lower than Cusco, helps acclimatisation. We cover it in where to stay in the Sacred Valley.
- With young children, nothing above 4,000 metres: neither Rainbow Mountain nor Humantay. With older, acclimatised children, the gentlest mountain option is Palcoyo, with a thirty-minute, almost flat walk.
Everything about the first days is in the acclimatisation guide, and the altitude of each place in the altitude guide.
What to do in Cusco with kids
| Plan | Why it works with kids |
|---|---|
| Sacsayhuaman | Giant stones, an esplanade to run around and the Rodadero, polished rocks that make a natural slide. |
| Private City Tour | Mostly by vehicle with short stops; on a private tour you can skip any climb. |
| Sacred Valley VIP | The Maras salt pans, Moray and Chinchero: short, flat walks, all lower than Cusco. |
| Chinchero with a weaving family | Touching the wool, watching the dye change colour and trying the loom. |
| Andean experience | Hands-on activities in the fields; the community’s children usually join in. |
| Machu Picchu | Circuit 2, with no mountains, is done calmly in about three hours. |
| South Valley | Short, flat walks, at Cusco’s altitude or lower. |
| San Pedro Market | Fruit juices, colours and stalls to explore, about ten minutes on foot from the Plaza de Armas. |
The Sacred Valley has its own guide, with which route to choose, what children like by age and a sample day: Sacred Valley with kids.
What to avoid with young children
- Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) and Humantay Lake: they go above 4,000 metres and leave before dawn. With older, acclimatised kids, Palcoyo is the gentlest alternative.
- The Hidroeléctrica route to Machu Picchu: many hours on the road and a stretch on foot along the railway.
- Days longer than eight hours with under-threes: choose shorter versions, such as Chinchero, Maras and Moray, of about seven hours.
Tickets: what children pay
| Ticket | Children |
|---|---|
| Cusco Tourist Ticket | Under-10s do not pay, showing their ID. |
| Machu Picchu | Under-3s do not pay; under-18s get a reduced rate. |
| Maras salt pans | Everyone pays, about 10 soles. |
| Inti Raymi (grandstands) | Children aged 5 to 12 pay half price; under-5s do not pay but get no seat. |
Our tours are private and priced per person according to group size: message us with the children’s ages and we will adjust the rate.
Logistics that make the difference
- Car seat: not compulsory in tourist vehicles, but we fit one if you ask when booking, two days in advance.
- Pace: on a private tour the schedule is yours: naps in the vehicle, extra stops or more time where they enjoy it.
- Sun: at this altitude children burn very quickly. Cap, sunglasses, high-factor sunscreen and reapply after lunch. More in what to pack for Cusco.
- Food and toilets: bring fruit and biscuits, and coins for the toilets, which charge one sol at some stops.
- Carsickness: some roads have many bends; sit them at the front and stop when needed.
A five-day plan with kids
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival and rest. A short walk around the Plaza de Armas if everyone feels well. |
| 2 | City Tour in the morning, with the Sacsayhuaman Rodadero. Free afternoon. |
| 3 | Sacred Valley VIP: Chinchero, Moray and the salt pans. Night in Urubamba or Ollantaytambo. |
| 4 | Train to Machu Picchu from Ollantaytambo, Circuit 2 and return. |
| 5 | Andean experience or the South Valley, without an early start. |
It is a calmer version of our 3-day and 4 or 5-day itineraries.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to travel to Cusco with kids because of the altitude?
Yes, with precautions: children adapt like adults, but plan an easy first day, sleep some nights in the Sacred Valley and avoid excursions above 4,000 metres with the youngest. See your paediatrician first.
From what age can children go to Cusco?
There is no minimum age. With babies, the decision is your paediatrician’s; on the trip, what matters most is going slowly and avoiding long days.
Do children pay entrance fees?
Under-10s do not pay the Tourist Ticket and under-3s do not pay for Machu Picchu. At the Maras salt pans everyone pays.
Can you visit Machu Picchu with kids?
Yes. Circuit 2 has stairs but no mountain, and is done calmly in about three hours. It is best to arrive by train from Ollantaytambo.
Can you go to Rainbow Mountain with kids?
It is not the best idea because of the altitude. With older, acclimatised children, the gentlest option is Palcoyo, with a thirty-minute, almost flat walk.
Which tour is best for kids in Cusco?
The Sacred Valley VIP, for the salt pans, Moray and Chinchero, with short walks and lower than Cusco. For the youngest, the Chinchero weaving experience or the Andean experience.
Message us on WhatsApp with your dates and the children’s ages, and we will plan a trip at their pace.
