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Cusco with Kids: Our 2-Day Family Itinerary

ByJessica Lee Updated on

Cusco was the highest stop on our Peru itinerary, and traveling there with a 6-month-old baby and 2.5-year-old toddler meant we needed to think carefully about the altitude.

Rather than making Cusco our first extended stop in the Andes, we worked our way through the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu before spending two nights in Cusco at Costa del Sol Wyndham Cusco . By then, we had already given our bodies some time to adjust to the higher elevations, and we could focus more on exploring the city.

Cusco deserves that time. The former capital of the Inca Empire is filled with layers of history, where Inca stonework, Spanish colonial architecture, busy plazas and archaeological sites all come together. We spent much of our time exploring the historic center around Plaza de Armas, but also ventured beyond the center to see more Inca sites and the mountains surrounding the city.

Even with very young kids, we found plenty to experience in Cusco. We walked when we could, used Uber when little legs or the altitude called for it, slowed our pace and kept our plans flexible.

Below, I’m sharing how we spent our short stay, family-friendly things to do in Cusco, foods to try and practical tips for visiting with a baby and toddler. If Cusco is part of a larger Peru trip, also read about our time exploring the Sacred Valley with a baby and toddler and exactly what it was like bringing two very young kids to Machu Picchu.

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Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas for Cusco, Peru

  • Explore Cusco’s historic center – a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was once the Inca Empire’s capital
    • Take it slow to acclimate to the altitude change
    • Plaza de Armas – formerly the Great Incan Square used for various ceremonies and important events, today a busy modern city square
    • Cusco Cathedral (Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin) – home of Catholic Church in Cusco built in 1560-1654, right on Plaza de Armas
    • Church of the Society of Jesus (Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús) – Spanish Baroque style church, right on Plaza de Armas
    • Twelve-angled stone – Incan masonry marvel
  • Overlook at San Cristobal Church – go up the bell tower for a higher viewpoint
  • Qorikancha (Coricancha) – an Incan archaeological site historically an important temple that the Spanish constructed a church (Convent of Santo Domingo) on top of, the site itself is NOT included in the Cusco Tourist Ticket, but the small museum is
  • Saqsaywaman (Sacsayhuaman) – an Incan archaeological site, formerly a fortress, a great lookout over the city, Cusco Tourist Ticket required
  • Awana Kancha – a living museum where you can visit and feed llamas, alpacas and vicuna, see weaving demonstrations and shop for native goods, about a 30-minute drive outside of Cusco
  • Pisac – an Incan archaeological site historically an important citadel, about a 45-minute drive outside of Cusco, Cusco Tourist Ticket required

Food Ideas for Cusco, Peru

  • Foods/drinks to try: huatia (meats, potatoes, corn cooked in a traditional Peruvian underground earth oven), choclo (large kernel Peruvian corn), chicharron (fried pork belly), pollo a la brasa (Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken), alpaca, cuy (guinea pig), tamales, Inca Kola (popular local soft drink), coca tea (can help with altitude adjustment), fresh fruit juice
  • Los Toldos Chicken – casual, local restaurant known for pollo a la brasa
  • Inka grill– creative traditional Peruvian and international food right on Plaza de Armas
  • Qespi– upscale traditional Peruvian food in JW Marriott Cusco

Top Tips for Cusco, Peru

  • Cusco sits at 11,200ft (3,400 m), which is higher than Machu Picchu and higher than many of the other towns in the Sacred Valley. Take it slow when you first arrive to help yourself better acclimate to the altitude change.
  • Bring layers and some cold weather accessories, even in summer the mornings and evenings can be very chilly. 
  • There are countless tour providers in Cusco selling a wide variety of tours in and around Cusco. There are so many things to see not far from Cusco (Pisac, Moray, Mara, Rainbow Mountain, Humantay Lake). Compare your options before deciding. 
  • For the ruins sites, you cannot purchase separate single tickets, you need to purchase a Cusco Tourist Ticket.

Is Cusco Worth Visiting with Kids?

Cusco was one of the most interesting stops on our Peru trip, but it was also the place where we needed to be most conscious of slowing down.

At more than 11,000 feet above sea level, the altitude is noticeable. Traveling with a 6-month-old baby and 2.5-year-old toddler, we deliberately kept our plans flexible, walked when it made sense and used rides when we needed to conserve energy.

Even at a slower pace, there was plenty to experience. We loved wandering around Plaza de Armas, seeing the mix of Inca and colonial architecture and exploring archaeological sites beyond the historic center.

Cusco is often treated simply as the jumping-off point for the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, but I think it deserves some time of its own. If your Peru itinerary allows, spend at least two days here rather than rushing straight through.

Keep Planning Your Family Trip to Peru

Cusco was part of a larger Peru trip we took with our 6-month-old baby and 2.5-year-old toddler. Continue planning with these related Peru travel guides:

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