Three hotels I trust with children, what your kids will love at each one, and how to plan a gentle first trip to Peru.
3 hotels · Sacred Valley · For young families
I’m Peruvian, and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been to the Sacred Valley. These days I go with my two small children, so when friends ask me where to stay in Peru with kids, my answer is always the same: start in the valley, not in Cusco.
Below are the three hotels I recommend to families, what your children will love at each one and which room to book, followed by everything else I tell friends before they go.
Editor’s Picks
Best for families who want a villa: Río Sagrado
Best for cold mornings and rainy days: Tambo del Inka
Best for a quiet, nature-filled stay: Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba
Why start in the Sacred Valley
Most families fly into Cusco and stay there first. I always recommend the opposite. The towns of the Sacred Valley sit several hundred meters lower than Cusco, and that difference really matters in the first days, especially with kids, while little bodies are still adjusting to the altitude.
The valley is also simply easier with children. Instead of steep cobbled streets, you get gardens, rivers, alpacas and open space, and you’re already on the way to Machu Picchu, which is lower still. So the plan I always suggest is simple: land in Cusco, drive straight to the valley (about an hour and a half), spend a few nights there, see Machu Picchu from the valley, and finish the trip in Cusco once everyone has adjusted.
3,400 m Cusco 11,150 ft
2,800 m Sacred Valley 9,200 ft
2,430 m Machu Picchu 7,970 ft
Start low, let everyone adjust, and finish in Cusco.
Where to stay: the three best family hotels
In the Sacred Valley you don’t need a kids’ club. What matters is space for children to run, rooms where the whole family fits, and things to do on the property for slow afternoons. All three of these hotels get that right, but each suits a different family: Río Sagrado if you want a villa and animals, Inkaterra if you want a quiet stay surrounded by nature, and Tambo del Inka if you want a resort with a heated pool and playground.
Río Sagrado
A Belmond Hotel · On the Urubamba River
Río Sagrado is the most intimate of the three, with 21 rooms and suites and two villas, set in gardens that run down to the Urubamba River, with lots of lawn, which is the first thing I look for with small children: a place where they can actually run.
The hotel feels made for curious kids. They can feed and pet the baby alpacas, join an open-air art class, paint a traditional Andean bull or make incense, and in the evenings there are movies under the stars. There’s table tennis and sapo, a traditional Peruvian throwing game, and a heated pool in the garden. Older children can go horse riding, rafting or e-biking through the valley.
For families, the villas are what really sell it: two stories, three bedrooms, a full kitchen and a terrace in a riverside garden. With young children, having a separate space where they can nap while you sit outside with a coffee changes the whole trip.
Two things to keep in mind: with toddlers, keep an eye on them near the river, and some activities have an extra cost, which I check when I book. Belmond’s luxury train to Machu Picchu, the Hiram Bingham, can pick you up right at the hotel, but it’s a splurge; the regular trains leave from Ollantaytambo.
Perks when you book with me
Daily à-la-carte breakfast for two
US$90 hotel credit per stay (US$200 in suites)
Complimentary upgrade at check-in, subject to availability
VIP welcome treats with local flavors and a note from the General Manager
Tambo del Inka
A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa · Urubamba
Tambo del Inka is the most resort-like of the three, with 128 rooms and suites on large grounds by the river, and it’s the most practical.
The best thing here for kids is the pool. Mornings and evenings in the valley are cold, and Tambo del Inka has a heated, glass-enclosed indoor-outdoor pool, so children can swim inside and then out toward the mountains when the sun comes out. On a rainy afternoon, it saves the day. Out in the garden there’s also a small playground, with a wooden play structure, a slide and a trampoline, right next to the beer garden, so parents can sit with a drink while the kids play. Parents get the Kallpa Spa, with one of the largest hydrotherapy circuits in the valley.
Several room types have two queen beds, so a family of four can share one room comfortably. With older children or a family of five, I’d book two rooms, and ask about rollaway beds when you reserve. The only thing to keep in mind is that it feels like a resort rather than a boutique hotel.
Perks when you book with me
Daily buffet breakfast for two
US$100 hotel credit, once per stay
Round-trip private airport transfers (book 72 hours ahead)
Upgrade on arrival, early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability
Personalized welcome amenity and a note from the General Manager
Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba
Urubamba · Sacred Valley
Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba is for families who want peace, space and nature. It’s a large estate set far back from the road, surrounded by farmland and mountains, and much of what you eat comes from its own fields.
Days here are about walking through the fields and gardens, cozy evenings by the fireplace in the suites and casitas, and simple outings. Of the excursions the hotel offers, two are recommended for children: the Inkariy Museum, about eight ancient Andean cultures, and an Andean picnic by Huaypo Lagoon.
The Owners Quarters are made for families: one sleeps up to four, with a suite and a superior room connected by a terrace, and a larger duplex sleeps up to six. With very young children, a suite with a sofa bed works well, and teenagers will love having their own casita.
Keep in mind that it’s a quiet, nature-focused stay, and the casitas are spread across the estate. If your children need a pool and constant activity, Río Sagrado or Tambo del Inka will suit you better.
Perks when you book with me
A 60-minute massage for up to two people, once per stay
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability
Daily breakfast for two, already included in every rate
How to spend your days in the valley
With children, I plan one outing a day and leave the afternoons free for the hotel. The valley is full of things kids enjoy, and most of them are a short drive away.
Start with the animals. At Awana Kancha, on the road between Cusco and Pisac, children can hand-feed llamas and alpacas and meet the different Andean camelids up close. From there, Pisac is an easy next stop: the market is full of color, fruit, toys and textiles, and the terraces above the town are spectacular if your family likes to walk.
Another day, drive up to the Maras salt pans, thousands of salt pools on a mountainside still worked by local families the traditional way, and to the Moray terraces nearby, giant circular Inca terraces that look like an amphitheater. A good guide will turn them into a story about how the Incas grew their food. Combine both with lunch at a working farm, like the corn fields of Hacienda Sarapampa. It’s one of the experiences families remember most.
In Chinchero, local weavers show how they wash, dye and weave alpaca wool with plants and minerals, which children find fascinating. Ollantaytambo is a living Inca town with water channels running through the streets; its ruins have many steps, so go slowly with little ones. For rainy afternoons, chocolate, pottery and cooking workshops are a perfect plan, and older children can go horse riding, rafting on the Urubamba or biking, depending on their age and the season.
A four-night plan
Put together, this is how I’d organize a first visit with children:
Day 1, arrive gently. Land in Cusco and drive straight to your hotel in the valley. No plans: a slow lunch, the garden, an early night.
Day 2, animals and markets. Llamas and alpacas in the morning, Pisac market, and a free afternoon at the hotel.
Day 3, salt and terraces. The Maras salt pans and the Moray terraces, with lunch at a farm.
Day 4, Machu Picchu. An early train from Ollantaytambo or your hotel, a morning at the site, and back to the valley or a night in Aguas Calientes.
Day 5, up to Cusco. Once everyone has adjusted, move to Cusco for a couple of nights before flying home.
With children, rushing is never worth it. One outing a day, and the afternoons free.
Machu Picchu with children
From the valley, Machu Picchu is an easy day trip or an overnight. Most trains leave from Ollantaytambo, about 30 minutes from Urubamba, and take around an hour and a half to Aguas Calientes. The Hiram Bingham picks up at Río Sagrado. Babies usually travel on a parent’s lap, and children often get a reduced fare. Trains have strict carry-on limits (on PeruRail, one backpack or one small carry-on per person), so leave big suitcases at the hotel and pack a day bag.
From Aguas Calientes, the bus up to the site takes about 25 to 30 minutes. Strollers aren’t allowed inside and the paths are uneven stone steps, so bring a good baby carrier. There are no toilets inside either: the last ones are at the entrance, and you can’t go back in once you’ve left.
Inside, choose your circuit by age. With babies and toddlers, a shorter, lower circuit is plenty, while children from about six can walk the classic circuit with the postcard view. Some mountain routes, like Huayna Picchu, have age limits. With young children, go in the morning and plan on two or three hours.
Very young children enter without paying, and older children get a reduced fare with their passport, so bring it. Entry tickets and trains sell out, especially from June to August, so book months ahead.
Altitude, health and when to go
Even in the valley, take the first day slowly. Plan nothing, let the children rest and play at the hotel, keep everyone well hydrated and choose light meals. Children don’t always say they feel unwell, so watch for headaches, nausea, poor sleep or unusual tiredness, and slow down early. Talk to your pediatrician before the trip, especially with babies and toddlers, and ask about any medication. The sun is strong at altitude, even on cloudy days, and it’s best to drink bottled or filtered water; ask the hotel for boiled water for babies.
The best time for families is the dry season, from May to September, with sunny days and cold nights. June to August is the busiest, especially around Inti Raymi on June 24 and Peru’s national holidays at the end of July. December to March is the rainiest time: the valley is green and quieter, but trails can be muddy. Days are usually around 15 to 21 °C (60 to 70 °F), and nights can drop to about 4 °C (40 °F).
What to pack
That range of temperatures is why layers matter most. This is what I’d pack for the family:
Layers: T-shirts for the day, a warm fleece and a light down jacket for mornings and nights
A rain jacket from October to April
Sun hats, high-SPF sunscreen and sunglasses
A comfortable baby carrier, since strollers aren’t allowed at Machu Picchu
Refillable water bottles and plenty of snacks
A small backpack per person for the train
Passports for every child, for Machu Picchu tickets
Any medication your pediatrician recommends
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sacred Valley good for kids?
Yes. It’s lower than Cusco, calm, full of space and nature, and the natural base for Machu Picchu. For families, it’s the best place in Peru to start the trip.
Do these hotels have kids’ clubs?
No, and here you don’t need one. Children spend their time with the animals, the gardens, the pools and the activities the hotels organize, and you can book a babysitter if you need an evening off.
How many nights should we spend in the valley?
At least three, ideally four, before going up to Cusco. It gives everyone time to adjust and leaves room for a slow day if someone is tired.
What’s the best age to visit Machu Picchu?
Children from about five or six get the most out of it and can walk the classic circuit. With younger children it’s absolutely possible: plan a shorter visit and bring a baby carrier.
Plan your Sacred Valley stay with me
Send me your dates and the ages of your children, and I’ll tell you honestly which of these hotels is the best fit for your family and which room to book. When you book through me, you pay the same rate as booking directly, and at many hotels you also receive extra perks such as daily breakfast and a hotel credit.
Curious how it works? Here’s how booking through me gets you breakfast, hotel credits and upgrades.
About the author. Natalia Soler is a Peruvian hotel advisor with Fora. She helps families and couples choose the right hotel and the right room, and books stays with extra perks at many hotels.
Travel Advisor
Natalia Soler
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