Cusco with Young Kids: Logistics and Activities

Cusco is a somewhat family-friendly city. There were plenty of local kids around and we saw a few tourist families traveling with kids but not many. Bringing a toddler to an unfamiliar environment away from the comforts of home might create some concerns. Here were some of our own, and how things turned out, as well as some ideas for activities in Cusco with kids.

Altitude

Cusco is located at 3,400 mt / 11,152 ft  above sea level, so the effects of high altitude was the first concern that came to mind. We followed standard recommendations of drinking plenty of water and taking it easy for the first couple of days. No jumping or running around. Our daughter didn’t seem to be bothered at all by the altitude.We experienced some minor headaches and tiredness, but were up for doing some easy outings and taking care of Vienna. Obviously this could vary by child, but in our personal experience this wasn’t an issue at all.

Getting Around

In the city there are various ways to move around. The most common ones are colectivos (small buses), and taxis. Colectivos are easy to catch and cheap (a few cents). There are several routes, so you should ask your host or hotel about the bus you need for a specific outing. The only challenge of taking a colectivo is that they are usually in a rush, and they may start moving quickly even as you are boarding with your toddler. 

Taxis take any kind of shape or color. Basically any car that blinks their lights to you is a taxi. We preferred the ones that say “taxi” somewhere, but sometimes we just took a car. Fees need to be agreed in advance and are usually under $3 USD anywhere in the city. This is still an economical option and way more comfortable than colectivos.  Note that there are some neighborhoods in Cusco (see below) that are limited to pedestrians and where access to taxis and buses is restricted.

Food

As a hub of international tourism, there are plenty of food options especially near the Plaza de Armas and in the San Blas neighborhood. A favorite international option of ours was was Qura, a casual place near Plaza de Armas. As you get farther from those places, the options are more limited to local cuisine (delicious, by the way). One exception is Bunnu Cafe, where we found ourselves several times in the neighborhood east of the historic center.

There are markets in several neighborhoods (the most common being Mercado de San Pedro) selling all kinds of local fruits. For our daughter it is always fun to try fruits, or enjoy more traditional ones.

Health and Safety

A common issue for international travelers is food poisoning. Some precautions are drinking bottled or boiled water (boiled for at least three minutes due to the altitude), avoiding street food and washing hands often.

Luckily we didn’t have to visit medical services during our stay, but our host family recommended Clinica SOS Cusco in case of any emergency or doctor visit.

Safety-wise, common precautions when walking in crowded areas are also applicable here. 

Accommodation in Cusco with kids

We stayed with a host family, which is not just a great way to get some local tips, but often another way to know someone else is looking out for your family. Peruvians in general love kids, and they would go out of their way to show your kid some affection (they have some sayings on what they should do too!). Of course there is a wide variety of other lodging options around the city as well.

Choosing the neighborhood to stay in Cusco with young kids is a bit tricky. Our favorite neighborhood to hang out was San Blas, but there are a lot of steps and since it’s mainly a pedestrian area one must walk a bit for a cab or bus. For that reason it can be a more challenging neighborhood for a toddler. Santa Ana is nice and central but also quite steep. The city center around Plaza de Armas is very convenient, but crowded. 

Some good options to balance walkability and fun are places east and south of the historic center, within a 10-minutes walk. That area of the city is mostly flat, less crowded but still with easy access to the main attractions. We spent a few days renting in the “Zaguan del Cielo” development, located between Lucrepata and Recoleta streets, and we really liked it. Just a few minutes’ (mostly flat) walking to the action but far enough to get a local feeling.

Things to do in Cusco with young kids

One important consideration when traveling extensively with kids is the kind of activities available to keep them engaged. We chose to visit Cusco due its cultural importance, but found plenty of things to do there with our toddler. Here are some of the experiences and places we visited with our three-year old daughter during our two-week stay:

1. Urpicha Park

We were lucky to have this park near our homestay, and we became regulars. There is a $0.25 USD entrance fee. There is plenty of play equipment for kids of various ages beyond the traditional swings and slides. Although some may look a bit old, they are totally functional. Don’t be surprised if you need to push some of the rides yourself! There are usually a few kids around on weekdays and lots on weekends, so our daughter found plenty of kids to play with!

2. Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary

This organization rescues and cares for injured or otherwise challenged wild animals. Some of them are released when they are healed, whereas others remain there when they can’t return to nature. The entrance includes a tour and explanation of the organization’s efforts. We saw condors, vicuñas, llamas, monkeys, parrots, and others animals. The place itself is small but interesting. It is located outside Cusco on the way to Pisac. We took a bus from Puputi Street, and back the same way. It’s an easy 30-minute ride, and it made for a nice half-day trip.

 

3. Kids City

This is a play space in Cusco for young kids (9 months to 7 years). It has a variety of toys such as a trampoline, a ball pool, play kitchen, small slides, and cars. They also have workshops in Spanish which would be a great opportunity to interact with local kids. The place itself is small, but with a nice set up where young kids are sure to have fun! Just call to make sure they are open. Their hours in Google might not be up to date, which did cause us a bit of difficulty one day.

4. Local Workshops

We like to look for workshops for local kids, which is to say activities not necesarily targeted to tourists. In Latin America, we usually search in Spanish to have better results (“talleres para niños” usually yields some ideas). In Cusco we found Casa Darte, an organization focused on scenic arts. They happened to be running different workshops for kids, including a “Circus Workshop” focused on acrobatics. The class was great and though it took some time for our daughter to “warm-up” to the class, she had a lot of fun!

5. Ice Cream Tasting

If you are wandering around, chances are you will bump into an ice cream place. Our favorite was Qucharitas, close to the Plaza de Armas. Ice creams are made in the moment with the fruit or flavor of your choice. Their patio is kid-friendly and they provide colored pencils and paper.

6. Public Library

There is a nice library in the city center, right across the Casa Concha museum although at the time of our visit the library wasn’t coming up on Google Maps. It has a small room for kids. Although the selection was a bit limited our daughter always loves to read new books!

7. Visit Ruins

There are plenty of ruins near Cusco and most of them are accesible by public transportation. How many visits you choose to do and for how long depends on how comfortable you are with walking around carrying your toddler while also learning some history. El Templo de la Luna is a great option in Cusco for young kids, as it’s an open area with no entrance fee and has beautiful landscapes for the entire family.

Although it’s hepful to consider a few logistics in advance, there are many things to do in Cusco with young kids. More importantly, in can be an unforgettable cultural immersion for the whole family.