ENGAGE THE KIDS with the Magic of the Amazon

Stories

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

AMJNZ November 2025

Real CBakes November 2025

C M November 2025

giovannaBorneo November 2025

Alyssa Zhen November 2025

citlalli October 2025

Pat October 2025

John W October 2025

Talitha Nizama October 2025

Ronit B October 2025

Rick8469 October 2025

Ronit Bhat October 2025

Fantastic to be deep in the forest surrounded by incredible wildlife with our amazing guide Juan Carlos Yatto, who really knew his stuff! Also his photography skills meant that we could share our experience even better through his telescope using our phone cameras! We learned so much!! He went to extra lengths to find butterflies and moths for us along with so many different birds and monkeys. This was a travel highlight for us as experienced wildlife travellers. We loved our spacious room with no windows and open to more wildlife visitors but after 5 nights the bed could have been a little more comfortable. Luckily we had a second bed to use. Otherwise it was fantastic with hot water showers and fresh drinking water all the time. We were amazed at the variety of food on offer for breakfast, lunch and dinner and couldn’t believe they could have such a wonderful food offering in such a remote location. Even the wine and cocktails were great. I highly recommend spending the extra money and time getting to this location. We stayed at another lodge later which was closer to Puerto Maldonado and there was far less wildlife. Read all

Ederson made the stay at the lodge amazing. I have had many guides around the world and Ederson may be the best I have had across 50 countries. The lodge itself is nice, and has electricity. Food is good, and you really feel immersed in the amazon staying there. Its great that a portion of the money goes back to conservation and research. Noteworthy details: Ederson, the "commander" is the best guide! Read all

Through a travel agency in Lima we booked a 4day/3-night stay at Refugio Amazonas. We were looking for a lodge that was far away from Puerto Maldonado but didn't require almost a day to get there (like TRC), with extensive walking trails and with the principal jungle highlights nearby. We were not disappointed. As we later learned, this is probably the best lodge in the region! Well run, quiet, excellent food, beautifully located in the middle of the forest, everything was "right". Surprisingly there were few mosquitos or bugs. Emperatriz (MP as some call her), our guide, has a keen eye and took us on some unforgettable walks and boat rides, both day and night. The birds at the clay lick were fantastic. The lodge also had evening lectures by young researchers as well as special activities such as collecting night moths and setting a trap camera. We later received videos and photo's of what was found (including a puma!). I can recommend this lodge without reservation. Read all

Abbiamo scelto il Tambopata Research Center perché il nostro obbiettivo era di poter vedere le are da vicino. Ci siamo stati ad inizio dicembre scorso, l'inizio della stagione delle piogge, perciò abbiamo scelto di restare 5 notti/6 giorni, abbiamo messo in conto di perdere delle giornate a causa della pioggia e per la lontananza da Puerto Maldonado, per nostra fortuna durante il nostro soggiorno ha piovuto solo il giorno di partenza proprio quando arrivavamo in aeroporto. Non c'é stato un giorno che non ne abbiamo visto: are di diverse specie e colori e molti altri uccelli e primati, spettacolare l'incontro a pochi centimetri con un formichiere bianco, ma non il giaguaro. Consigliamo di pernottatre almeno 3 notti, il viaggio é molto lungo. Noi eravamo all'aeroporto di Lima già alle 8:00 di mattina e tra un volo in ritardo, uno spostamento in bus di ca. 45 minuti per arrivare al fiume, ed un trasferimento in barca veloce, siamo arrivati al lodge verso le 16:30. All'aeroporto ci ha accolto la nostra guida privata Alfred, che ci ha seguito per tutto il soggiorno, di giorno in giorno abbiamo deciso le escursioni da fare, ed Alfred si é rivelato essere una super guida, un occhio di falco per scoprire anche il più piccolo uccellino, con pazienza é riuscito a farci camminare chilometri nella giungla, ci ha spiegato molto sulla flora e fauna. Bravissimo a far video e foto con i nostri telefoni col suo binocolo e cavalletto che si portava sempre appresso, queste foto sono dei magnifici ricordi. TRC non é un hotel, é un centro di ricerca per le are, in mezzo ad una foresta ed a ore dal primo centro abitato, perciò non avevamo delle grandi aspettative ne sul cibo ne sull'alloggio Read all

This place is a treat!! Incredible flora & fauna, food and service - the staff is quite attentive. Interesting research, with lots of potential. Visiting the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest is a must do! Read all

We had the most amazing time EVER at Refugio Amazonas, and I am so very glad I booked our stay here. Honestly, this is to date probably the best travel experience we have ever had and I will never forget our time in the Amazon here. First of all, the lodge is beautiful. Our room was lovely. The beds were comfy. The bathrooms are large. It is incredible waking up to the sounds of the jungle and falling asleep to the insects at night. We did have some insects in our room, and a rodent, and even a tarantula (non poisonous)! But it was part of the experience. The food was great and they prioritize native and local ingredients. My partner and I are both vegan and they took SUCH good care of us. The food was delicious, and we had ample vegan options every meal. Everything from the first email contacts with Katia to the transfers to the first night info session to the activities-- which I will get to in a second-- was incredible. It is a bit pricey, but everything is included and there is nothing you need to worry about, and it was so worth it. OK now for the best part-- the activities. Holy wow. First of all, we had the best guide EVER-- Juan Carlos. He was amazing. He is a bird expert, knows so much about the animals who live in the rainforest, the insects, the trees, the plant life, it was incredible. He also so clearly cared that everyone in our group had an amazing time. He took so many pictures for us, pointed out so many animals for us, and made sure we all enjoyed every moment. I can’t thank him enough because it made our time here so very special. We went on many activities that were amazing, and we saw so many animals— capybaras, howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, so many incredible insects, frogs, tarantulas, so many many birds and butterflies. Every activity was amazing but the highlights were the macaw clay lick and the canopy tower. And we were super impressed and happy to hear about their commitment to conservation, protecting the animals, and supporting the native community nearby. There is so much I could say about our stay here but I would recommend a 3 night stay over 2 nights (so you can do more activities), and make sure you read the guides they send via email before you come so you pack correctly and know what to expect and bring--the guide includes everything so that there are no surprises, and we knew exactly what to expect, although our stay exceeded our expectations! I highly, highly recommend staying here, it was magical, it was a once in a life time adventure, and I will never forget it. I also want to shout out the manager of the lodge, I forgot her name, but she was incredible, as well as the service staff at meal times, who were so kind and helpful to point out what was vegan all of the time. I truly hope we can come back some day!! Read all

The lodge was kept very clean, and the staff paid close att to people's needs. It was very easy find activities and the guides were excellent with a genuine intended approach towards sustainability and environment longevity. Read all

A superb stay in a top class Lodge which gave a wonderful insight into the Amazon wildlife. Our guide was Juan Carlos who has incredible knowledge and a lovely sense of humour. The staff in the lodge were so friendly and the meals provided were something to look forward to. A wonderful experience! Read all

I traveled with my mom, who is elderly, and we were a little scared but decided to go for it. Upon arrival, our guide, Christian Herrera, was waiting for us. He was very friendly and had extensive knowledge of the area. The lodge is wonderful, 100% connected to nature. The food is delicious, and everything there is to do near the lodge is incredible. I highly recommend going to the tower at sunset and the macaw clay lick at dawn. Thank you guys for everything, the stay was a dream. Read all

This place totally stole the show! We came to Peru for Machu Picchu, but I think it’s safe to say Refugio Amazonas became the absolute highlight of our trip.​It manages to be as luxurious as a stay in the Amazon can be without feeling like too much hand-holding. The rooms don't have windows, which lets you be super close to nature. Sure, that means moths, but it also means drifting off to the peaceful sound of cicadas and waking up to howler monkeys. I honestly can't remember the last time I had such deep, peaceful sleep.​The food is another major plus; it's exceptionally fresh, especially considering it’s a buffet. You should absolutely check out their menu, too—it’s one of the most thoughtful and best-designed ones I’ve ever seen. Kevin hosted us at dinner most nights, and he was such great company and so mindful of my wife's dietary restrictions. It really adds to the experience when you feel that people genuinely care.​We also took advantage of the exceptional massage here. After a long trip, a massage by Kelly was exactly what the doctor ordered.​But the real star of the show is the activities and the guides. We got incredibly lucky with the very best: Juan Carlos. He was funny, great company, and extraordinarily knowledgeable. All the guides at Refugio Amazonas understand that it's not about just ticking a box but about living the experience. That’s why you might take 30 minutes longer to complete a hike—because you decided to spend some time watching Tamarins playing with each other. Jonathan was another guide we had a wonderful, very knowledgeable, and fun time with. We honestly just didn't want to leave and wish we could have stayed longer. Read all

We just finished three weeks in Peru and without a doubt Refugio Amazonas lodge was a real highlight of the trip. You need to know there is NO AC but honestly you don't need it at night in October, There's a ceiling fan and the bed was super comfortable with netting and additional fan within the bed area. The sounds of the jungle at night and Howler monkeys in the morning was great experience. The staff was excellent with a special mention for Paul our guide. He is an excellent Birder as well and can't thank him enough for over 110 new bird species during our four days there. The early morning Macaw clay lick experience with the boat ride in the dark was very cool. The buffet style meals were ok, make sure you bring shoes for mud and extra to walk around with in the lodge. Refugio provides boots for water on trails. See photos Read all

This place totally stole the show! We came to Peru for Machu Picchu, but I think it’s safe to say Refugio Amazonas became the absolute highlight of our trip.​It manages to be as luxurious as a stay in the Amazon can be without feeling like too much hand-holding. The rooms don't have windows, which lets you be super close to nature. Sure, that means moths, but it also means drifting off to the peaceful sound of cicadas and waking up to howler monkeys. I honestly can't remember the last time I had such deep, peaceful sleep.​The food is another major plus; it's exceptionally fresh, especially considering it’s a buffet. You should absolutely check out their menu, too—it’s one of the most thoughtful and best-designed ones I’ve ever seen. Kevin hosted us at dinner most nights, and he was such great company and so mindful of my wife's dietary restrictions. It really adds to the experience when you feel that people genuinely care.​We also took advantage of the exceptional massage here. After a long trip, a massage by Kelly was exactly what the doctor ordered.​But the real star of the show is the activities and the guides. We got incredibly lucky with the very best: Juan Carlos. He was funny, great company, and extraordinarily knowledgeable. All the guides at Refugio Amazonas understand that it's not about just ticking a box but about living the experience. That’s why you might take 30 minutes longer to complete a hike—because you decided to spend some time watching Tamarins playing with each other. Jonathan was another guide we had a wonderful, very knowledgeable, and fun time with. We honestly just didn't want to leave and wish we could have stayed longer. Nearby activities: We did the macaw clay lick, mammal clay lick, night walk, medicinal trail, canopy walk twice, and the oxbow lake. Safety: As safe as you can be in the Amazon rainforest Food & drinks: Excellent varied buffet lunches and dinners every day. Read all

Join To Our Newsletter

Write your e-mail

Join