ENGAGE THE KIDS with the Magic of the Amazon

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Travel With Kids to Peru – Updated Guide 2024

Thinking about visiting Peru with kids under 10? This blog is for you!

Traveling with kids requires good planning. Our top tips for Peru with small kids are:

  1. Pick two or three destinations
  2. Choose hands-on activities instead of just sight-seeing
  3. Seek out tour guides who are trained to guide kids.

With kids – you don’t want to be changing locations or hotels every night – it is better to spend longer in destinations that have a variety of activities for your little ones.

We recommend creating a balanced mix of culture and nature by visiting Cusco and the Amazon Rainforest! When you are traveling with kids to Peru, You’ll most likely stop in Lima, which merits two of three days of your time, too. You’ll want to book internal flights to each place – but they are well connected. Cusco is a convenient 30-minute flight from Puerto Maldonado, the gateway to Tambopata – the most accessible and kid-friendly part of the Peruvian Amazon.

Below, we list recommended activities for this Lima-Cusco-Tambopata itinerary!

Lima – 2 Days

You’ll most likely fly into Lima – and it’s a vibrant, kid-friendly city – so we recommend you spend two days here.

In Lima, stay in the San Isidro or Miraflores neighborhoods – find a hotel or guesthouse within walking distance of Larcomar, so if all else fails your kids can run around the modern entertainment area and watch the surfers on the beach below.

Activities in Lima

  1. Circuito Magico del Agua is a series of illuminated fountains located in Parque de la Reserva. This isn’t open every day, so check the website for opening hours.
  2. Colonial churches: The colonial churches in the center of town may be more appealing to the adults, but the catacombs of San Francisco Monastery are sure to be interesting for the whole family (though it might scare some kids!)
  3. ChocoMuseo: There are four chocolate museums in Lima! Several have workshops for kids – check their website for dates and times. A must-do activity when Traveling with kids to Peru.
  4. Food Tours: There are a plethora of excellent food tours available in Lima – and well worth your time. It will help your kids learn about Peruvian food, and make them better order-ers for the rest of the trip!

Cusco – 4 days

The region around Cusco is chock-a-block full of archeological sites, but if your kids are like ours, they’ll be happy to see Machu Picchu and move on to more immersive activities – so that’s what we suggest.

Beware of altitude sickness when visiting Cusco – at 3,4000 meters it is quite high, although the chances are that the adults suffer more than the kids! For everyone in the family to acclimatize, start your trip in the Sacred Valley.

Activities for Kids in Cusco

  1. Visit Machu Picchu: There is a reason this UNESCO World Heritage Site is on every traveler’s bucket list. Prepare your kids with an introduction to Incan history before you arrive – encourage them to speculate on how it was built, why it was built, and what it all means. The answers to these questions are still mysteries, so their guess is as good as anyone else!
  2. Cooking class and market tour: There is a reason that Peru is referred to as the gastronomic capital of Latin America – the food is simply divine. On Airbnb experiences, you can find a variety of people offering market tours and cooking classes. You’ll walk through the market to purchase ingredients – the experience is much more immersive when you’re actually shopping for food! And then the head cooks a meal with a local.
  3. Horseback riding: this region is home to Peruvian Paso horses and many operators offer rides around the Valley. If your kids aren’t up for long rides, it’s also possible to walk around the paddock at the Sol y Luna Hotel.
  4. Hike & Learn Spanish: You will be amazed at the amount of Spanish your kids pick up when they travel – so why not encourage it, and head off the dreaded ‘Are we there yet?’ that seems to come up during any hike. Many providers are offering ‘Hike and Learn Spanish’ tours – a great way to see more of the Sacred Valley and keep your kids focused on something other than the kilometers left ahead of them.

Tambopata, Peruvian Amazon – 4 days

From Cusco, an easy 30-minute flight takes you to Puerto Maldonado, the gateway to the Amazon. The Amazon turns into a natural classroom for your kids – where they learn about the flora, fauna, science, and conservation.

Take this opportunity to connect with nature, helping them to focus on sounds, smells, forms, and colors. And remember that you can maximize their experience in the forest by keeping quiet so they have more chances to spot wildlife along with the activities.

This is a comprehensive experience, where activities are chosen a la carte, letting you customize your experience and find something for everyone in your family. Usually, kids do between 3-4 activities per day. We have activities designed especially for kids and guides that are trained specifically to work with kids. We recommend three nights at Posada Amazonas

Activities for kids in Tambopata at Posada Amazonas:

1. Climb the Tower: Climb to the very top of the canopy tower to get a birds-eye view of the whole Amazon Rainforest!

kids in the canopy tower at posada amazonas

The tallest canopy tower in the region, surrounded by amazing Amazonian rainforest. Photo by Carlos Gonzales

2. Visit a jungle farm: a farm in the jungle? You bet! Meet the farmer tending to exotic fruit right in the heart of the Amazon.

3. Meet the Ese Eja Native Community of Infierno, during the whole experience, and share their traditions and stories. At Posada Amazonas, most of the team is from the Community.

4. Ethnobotanical walk: Learn about the plants that the native community has been using as medicine for centuries! You’ll learn about one plant that turns you blue and another that numbs your tongue!

5. Discover a new species: Your kids will delight in trapping insects at the light trap – and working with researchers to learn about the different species of moths and insects -and possibly identify a whole new species.

kids discovering new species at posada amazonas

Kids on the light trap discovering new species at Posada Amazonas

6. Nature Walks: Feel confident to send your kids on a nature walk with our highly trained guides – who will bring the forest alive with stories and ‘treasure hunts for your kids.

In addition, Posada Amazonas has a beautiful playground just next to the main restaurant, so you can feel free to take a cup of coffee or relax after your daily activities sitting nearby without losing sight of your little ones.

Playground at Posada Amazonas lodge

Playground at Posada Amazonas Lodge – Photo by Louis Guillot

Additional destinations you should consider? well Peru is wide and diverse, so if you have time consider:

  • Ica, Paracas, and Nazca, there you will find from nature to adventure experiences.
  • The beaches in the north of Peru are amazing, if you consider that, then visit Vichayitos and Organos

We hope you have found these places interesting. Most importantly, please make sure to bring your reusable bottle of water and drink a lot of water, bring with you a good first aid kit and games or activities to keep kids entertained during long trips

Have an amazing family adventure!

By Natasha Martin

NOW READ: 3 nights family expedition at Posada Amazonas

  • What our guest say

    • Valuation Excellent
    • 5/5

Paul H August 2026

FineSpitz August 2026

Jack Looney August 2026

Ching Han Toh August 2026

Maggie Kwok August 2026

Jim July 2026

Kai Liao July 2026

asbraziller July 2026

Tom K July 2026

Maria Carrero June 2026

Lauren Kuenstner June 2026

Adam C June 2026

We had an excellent 5 night stay at TRC with two couples. The remote Lodge and accommodation are unique especially with the open walls to the jungle in the rooms. The guides were first rate with superb knowledge and their ability to spot fauna in the dense jungle was incredible. We saw many species of monkeys; macaws, parrots, tapirs, etc.. even lucky enough to spot a jaguar. Food and service was really good. While not cheap it was I think very good value for money. We really enjoyed all the hikes and citizen science activities as well, he trips on the river and the clay licks. Overall amazing experience! As it’s the jungle not a zoo, you can’t guarantee that you’ll see everything all the time so allow enough days to properly explore. Read all

A once-in-a-lifetime experience in the middle of the rainforest. From airport pickup in Puerto Maldonado to the lodge and back, everything was exceptionally well organised. Communication was clear throughout, with the team always explaining what would happen, where to be and what to take care of. The staff at both HQ and the lodge were incredibly attentive, making the entire stay feel completely carefree. At this price point, this is the level of service you expect, but it is still impressive to experience it in such a remote setting. The food was another highlight: very well curated and balanced, with plenty of options at every buffet and, surprisingly, we never had the same dish twice. Read all

This was an excellent experience!! Highly recommend if you’re interested in visiting the Amazon Rainforest and Tambopata region. Especially happy with our guide Miguel, who was highly professional, informative, and organized. It was an immersive adventure and we got to see so many unique plants and animals. 10/10! Read all

Amazing experience at Refugio Amazonas. Rooms were comfortable and clean. Great buffet spread every day. Staff were friendly and attentive. Our guide Alan was very informative. Overall would definitely recommend a visit! Read all

We stayed 3 nights at Posada Amazonas during our summer trip to Peru, and it was definitely one of the biggest highlights of the whole journey. The staff were incredibly warm and welcoming. Our guide, Joss, was professional, friendly and amazingly knowledgeable. Sometimes it honestly felt like he could communicate with the animals — he could spot black caimans or giant river otters from hundreds of metres away! The excursions were unforgettable. We saw beautiful macaws, giant river otters, capybaras, sloths, tarantulas, an anaconda, different species of monkeys, toucans and so much more. I especially loved the rainforest walks and joined both the daytime and night walks. Every walk felt completely different, and you never knew what you might find. What also made the stay special was the lodge’s involvement in scientific and environmental projects. There was a talk every evening, and we learned a lot about the rainforest and its wildlife. We also joined the “Discover New Species” activity and helped search for possible new species of tiger moths — such a fun and memorable experience. The lodge itself is definitely rustic luxury rather than a city-style 5-star hotel. There is no air conditioning or hair dryer, but the hot shower, fan and hammock in the room were all very comfortable and suited the rainforest setting perfectly. And surprisingly, the internet connection was excellent — even the boats had Starlink! One of the things I appreciated most is that Posada Amazonas is a collaboration between Rainforest Expeditions and the local Indigenous community that owns the land. Many community members are directly involved in running the lodge, and you can really feel how much the staff care about and are connected to this rainforest, which is part of their ancestral home. If you are looking for an authentic, educational and truly memorable Amazon rainforest experience, I highly recommend Posada Amazonas. We absolutely loved our stay. Read all

The Tambopata Research Center (TRC) offers a well-organized immersive rainforest experience within the Tambopata National Reserve. The TRC and its accommodations put a spin on the term creature comforts by keeping guests comfortable while they commune among the creatures within the rainforest. I appreciated, through what I observed and the interactions I had, the attentiveness of the TRC team members. They knew their guests and seamlessly organized a lot for our benefit. The center assigns guests to a small group with a dedicated guide. In my case, Erick Arguedas was a superb ambassador for all things living in the rainforest, in part because it was the environment in which he grew up. His role was to ensure we got the most out of our visit. Being a long-term TRC guide gave him the expertise he needed to easily fulfill this role. Read all

Our stay at Refugio Amazonas was a great experience from beginning to end. The entire trip was very well organized, and having a tour guide with you throughout the experience made everything easy and enjoyable. Our guides, Dennis and Tuto, were excellent. They both spoke English very well and did a fantastic job explaining the different birds, trees, plants, and animals we encountered. Their knowledge really made the excursions much more interesting and helped us appreciate the Amazon on a deeper level. The expeditions were definitely a highlight. I highly recommend the clay lick, sunset cruise, observation tower, river boat tour, and night walk. Each activity offered something different, and we were able to see so much wildlife. The food was also excellent. Everything was fresh and tasted great. I especially enjoyed the protein dishes, fresh fruit, and yuca potatoes. Considering how remote the lodge is, we were very impressed with the quality of the food. The rooms are very open to nature, which is part of what makes the experience so unique. We saw monkeys right from our room, along with many birds and lizards. We even had a frog visit our room at night—which was definitely an interesting Amazon experience! 😂 One thing to be aware of is that the walls between rooms are quite thin, so you can hear your neighbors at times. Overall, the entire experience was absolutely worth the trip. If you’re visiting the Peruvian Amazon, I would strongly recommend Refugio Amazonas. The wildlife, guides, excursions, food, and being completely immersed in nature made this one of the highlights of our Peru trip. 🌿🦜🐒 Read all

Our stay here was one of the favorite parts of our trip to Peru. One of the most memorable parts of the stay is how wonderful the guides were. We had two different guides during our stay: Jos and Jorge. Jos had an amazing connection with the birds, knowing all the bird sounds by ear, he could imitate most of them. His passion for the birds was evident when we went out to see them, and during a visit to look for macaws at the clay lick, he moved locations just so we would have the opportunity to see them. When we viewed them up close through a new blind that had been built, his joy was as much as ours, delighting as if it was his first sighting. Jorge had a beautiful spirit that he shared with us during our time with him. Growing up in the community there, he had so much knowledge about the plants and trees. He introduced us to a medicinal plant, and had stories about some of the different trees. We felt well cared for by both guides. We also enjoyed the nightly science talks, teaching us about some of the ongoing projects which helped us feel more connected to the area. The food was wonderful, and all the staff were extremely helpful throughout our stay. Read all

Amazing location and truly deep jungle. This organisation has three lodges and this is the nearest to Puerto Maldonado but don’t think that the wildlife here is any less than the lodges further along the river. We saw a LOT of different animals, birds and variety of colours. Well worth the stay. Read all

We stayed last february for 4 nights in the TRC lodge. I never could have imagined that I would explore the amazon in such confortable and immersive way. The lodge itself is such a luxurious place, in the middle of nowhere! The food was nicely curated everyday to offer new bits and pieces of the Peruvian cuisine. The absolute highlight of our stay here was for sure the activities and our guide Carmen, who accompanied us everyday! We were able to choose our everydays activities with our very reduced group and our guide. Carmen guided us on very activity, spotting and explaining what animals we saw and interesting facts about our surroundings. Her knowledge and excitement were so infectious that it would even make the sightings even more special! Read all

One of the most unique experiences we’ve had! You are deep in the heart of the Amazon and truly feel immersed in nature. Our guide Dino was awesome and taught us so much about the rainforest-he is like a walking encyclopedia, and his love for the forest really shows. Also very unique to listen to nightly talks from the research team-it really adds to the experience. Food was great and staff very friendly. Bring lots of bug spray and an adventurous spirit! Read all

The lodge was fantastic; they were very attentive to our needs. The dining staff brought special bread for my wife because of her celiac disease and offered to prepare dishes specifically for her to meet her dietary needs. The lodge guides were truly knowledgeable and went out of their way to help us see all the local wildlife. I especially loved the mosquito net service they provided. I was worried we’d be eaten alive, but their setup is fabulous; I had no concerns once I saw how they installed the impenetrable nets and curtains. The meals were as good as—or better than—anywhere else we ate in Peru. We saw the following animals: macaws, parrots, parakeets, pale-winged trumpeters, tamarins, caimans, capybaras, and a ton of insects on our night hike. Read all