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

Alan U November 2024

Neal H November 2024

Sergio J October 2024

Megan Jackson October 2024

Hayley October 2024

Jonathan K October 2024

Jonathan Krejci October 2024

Hannah E October 2024

Dave L October 2024

Magnus O October 2024

David G October 2024

T T October 2024

I am normally not a nature-oriented person but spending a few days in the rainforest was mind-blowing. Our guide, Juan Carlos, was knowledgeable, passionate about his work, and a fun person to go on a several hours long hike to boot. He made sure we were taking the activities at our own pace, answered all our questions and had a seemingly endless knowledge of the plants and animals. The lodge is located in a protected area of the rainforest and as a result, the biodiversity is amazing and the staff are very respectful and protective of the wildlife. For a note on the lodging, late september is the end of dry season and also the hottest time of year. If I were to come back, I would upgrade to a room with a fan as there is no AC in the facility. Lodging was clean and I personally enjoyed the chance to unplug and sleep so close to nature. Without hyperbole this was a once in a lifetime experience and I cannot recommend it enough. Read all

We had the experience of a lifetime at Posada Amazonas! For our first trip ever to Peru, we wanted to see as much of the country as possible, and started our journey here. Everything went seamlessly- from the pick up at the airport, check in at the office, to the delicious lunch on the boat during our transfer. The next 3 days were filled with wonderful experiences including the canopy hike, oxbow lake cruise, sunset cruise and more. Luis was our guide extraordinaire. His knowledge and ability to spot interesting flora and fauna were amazing. The rooms are clean and spacious and perfect to experience the jungle. You haven't lived until you are awakened by the calls of howler monkeys at 4:15am! Highly recommended! Read all

We had a truly amazing time at Tambopata Research Center and its sister lodge, Refugio. Days were filled with long walks in the jungle to see all the incredible wildlife and plant life, the evening talks with the researchers were thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring, and meals with like minded travelers were a pleasure. Our rooms were extremely comfortable and well laid out, the food was varied, healthy and tasty, and the staff really went out of their way to ensure we had everything we needed and that our stay was going well. Truly couldn't recommend this experience more. Read all

My husband and I recently had the opportunity to visit the Tambopata Research Center in the Amazon rainforest, and it was truly an unforgettable experience! We did the 5 day, 4 night experience, which was so worth it. I personally think this is the perfect amount of time as it gave us the flexibility to have more opportunities to see wildlife, but also moments of relaxing at the lodge. We booked the trip through Tambopata Travel, with Mike. He was extremely helpful, very organized, and answered all 5 million questions I had haha. He was a very effective communicator and I would recommend anyone and everyone use him to help plan your rainforest experience. Before I get to my review, my only recommendation to the center would be for them to incorporate more of a variety of activities. A majority of the available activities are equivalent to walking around the rainforest looking for animals and learning about the surroundings. Which was amazing to me, but could lead to boredom for some. Thankfully, we had out guide Timo who made every walk through the rainforest interesting. Reaching the lodge does take about 3.5 hours, but if you embrace this part of the journey it only makes everything better. Once we arrived, I found the lodge to be absolutely amazing given its remote location. There will be bugs and there will be loud animal sounds, I think it’s important to remember we are guest in these animals home. Having spent 11 days in Peru prior to this trip, I can confidently say that the food at the lodge was the best we had consistently enjoyed throughout our travels. We also had the opportunity to work with other guides in Peru, all of whom were booked through reputable companies, but none compared to our guide, Timo, in terms of his English proficiency and extensive knowledge. The bar manager was also a highlight; he was very knowledgeable about alcohol and offered great recommendations and was able to make a variety of drinks based on what we were wanting to experience. All of the staff at Tambopata were very friendly and always had a smile on their face, especially the busser, I unfortunately missed his name, but he was great and so friendly. From start to finish, the trip was filled with incredible moments, largely thanks to our amazing guide, Timo. Timo was hands down the most knowledgeable guide I have ever encountered. His expertise about the rainforest was impressive, and he had an uncanny ability to spot wildlife that we would have completely missed without him. It was raining one day and we were willing to go out in the rain and Timo was right there with us. We had the chance to see a wide variety of animals, far exceeding my expectations.Timo also provided us with extensive knowledge about the plants and trees, helping us to understand the ecosystem as a whole. I was seriously blown away by how much he knew about the rainforest. Timo’s insights made the experience not just about the wildlife we saw, but also about the profound interconnectedness of life in the rainforest. We also appreciated Timo’s insight about the nature of wildlife viewing in the rainforest; some days were bustling with activity while others were quieter. I think it’s important for anyone wanting to travel to the Amazon to remember, this is a vast ecosystem with thousands of acres of wilderness- not a zoo. Overall, my time at the Tambopata Research Center was filled with awe-inspiring moments, and I learned so much about the rainforest. I highly recommend this experience to anyone looking to connect deeply with nature. Just remember to go with the flow and appreciate the rainforest for what it is! Read all

Fantastic lodge and research station deep in the reserve and the Amazon forest far from all visible signs of humanity, dense rainforest teeming with birds, animals, insects - it balances the discomfort of the steamy forest heat and biting insects perfectly with a little luxury when you are not out on excursions in the jungle - exactly what one would want from an Amazon experience. Read all

This lodge is a bit of a splurge, but for me, totally worth it. The staff were, without exception, cheerful, friendly and helpful. Our guide, Dino, was a true professional: a calm presence and a genius at spotting wildlife, and having no more than seven people in our group at all times was a plus (the other Rainforest Expeditions lodges have up to ten). We opted for a Comfort Room, and it was lovely; spacious and attractive, with a hammock and a terrific shower. The biggest surprise for me was the food, which was consistently terrific. Finally, it is clear to me that Rainforest Expeditions is truly committed to environmental preservation and giving back to the local community. As for the rainforest itself, it was interesting and we saw lots of wildlife, but don't expect it to be like an African safari. You can walk for a long time without seeing much, and often the animals are far way or well hidden (this is one reason group size matters; we often took turns looking through our guide's high-powered telescopic lens). Also, your experience will depend a lot on the weather. Two of the days we were there were quite nice; the other two were oppressively, stultifyingly hot and humid. Read all

This lodge is a bit of a splurge, but for me, totally worth it. The staff were, without exception, cheerful, friendly and helpful. Our guide, Dino, was a true professional: a calm presence and a genius at spotting wildlife, and having no more than seven people in our group at all times was a plus (the other Rainforest Expeditions lodges have up to ten). We opted for a Comfort Room, and it was lovely; spacious and attractive, with a hammock and a terrific shower. The biggest surprise for me was the food, which was consistently terrific. Finally, it is clear to me that Rainforest Expeditions is truly committed to environmental preservation and giving back to the local community. As for the rainforest itself, it was interesting and we saw lots of wildlife, but don't expect it to be like an African safari. You can walk for a long time without seeing much, and often the animals are far way or well hidden (this is one reason group size matters; we often took turns looking through our guide's high-powered telescopic lens). Also, your experience will depend a lot on the weather. Two of the days we were there were quite nice; the other two were oppressively, stultifyingly hot and humid. Read all

We had an amazing time during our trip to the Tambopata Research Center. The staff make your stay as comfortable as possible, and the food is delicious. From the moment they collect you at the airport, you don’t have to worry about anything - you’ll be in good hands. Our guide, Boris, did an incredible job of planning our daily activities, and we were spoiled to see and learn about the incredible wildlife - parrots, macaws, monkeys, capybara, innumerable insects, and more! This is a fantastic trip is highly recommended if you are keen on science, nature, and not too fussed about some pretty big bugs! We did a 3-night, 2-day trip (with a travel day on both sides), and would recommend one more day if you can swing it! Read all

This is not a resort but rather a very nice and comfortable eco lodge to view wildlife with friendly and knowledgeable staff. Keep in mind that there is a lot of walking and stairs (almost 0.5 miles) to get to the lodge from the water transport river bank where you are dropped off. The clean spacious rooms are open air concept with mosquito nets for the beds and you can listen to rainforest creatures all night. The activities they offer are diverse (e.g., night hikes, water excursions to see caimans, otters and bird watching, visit to local farm and 40 meter observation tower). You are fed well with breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets. Many thanks to our tour guide Luis M. for his extensive knowledge of the rainforest and keen eyes/ears to find hidden creatures while keeping our group safe. Read all

Fint och trevligt ställe inne i regnskogen. Maten var enkel men god, serverat som buffé. Vatten från egen brunn fanns för påfyllning i medhavda vattenflaskor (fanns att köpa om man missat). Kaffe och te fanns alltid tillgängligt men var oftast kallt och svagt. Mycket häftiga rum som är helt öppna mot naturen på en sida. Var beredd på besök av smådjur och insekter. Gästerna fick komma överens om vilka aktiviteter vi ville genomföra med guiden på plats. Turerna var bra men med mycket tidiga starter. För oss som hade värmebölja med temperaturer uppåt 40 grader passade detta bra. Read all

Our 3-night stay at the Tambopata research was an experience we will never forget. Everything was well coordinated starting with our pickup at the airport. We then took a 10 min bus ride to the Rainforest Expeditions office where a busload of us all repacked our stuff into 30 lb duffel bags. The remainder of our items stayed at the office. Next, we got back on the bus for a 90-minute ride to the boat dock. Along the way, we had a box lunch and had an overview of the area and our upcoming days. Once on the boat, the guides slowed down for wildlife photo ops of capybaras and the many birds we saw. When we arrived at the lodge, Mary gave an overview of the facility while our bags were taken to our room which was a 10-minute walk from the main lodge/dining area on an elevated boardwalk in the rainforest. The room as advertised was open on one side to the rainforest and yes, we did have some nighttime visitors, but the mosquito netting kept them off us. The room was spacious and well-appointed with a fridge, ceiling fan, water, etc. At dinner we met our own personal rainforest guide – Timo. We made our plans for the next day which included a 5AM boat ride to the clay lick where we saw the most amazing macaws. Timo was very knowledgeable, fluent in English and well equipped with a telescope which provided some great pix even with using just an iPhone. Timo also took us on several hikes around the facility and up to the top of the canopy tower where we saw various species on monkeys and more birds. Each evening there were lectures presented by the researchers on various topics. Then there was the food! Each meal was freshly made and well prepared. Quite a variety for all tastes. The food is amazing and goes quickly so be sure to load up your plate. And the bar had a decent variety of beer, wine and liquor! We spent more at Tambopata than we normally would, but I can say it was definitely well worth it!! Read all

Had an amazing stay of 3 nights here. Guide (Lucia) was fantastic, even having a phone attachment to allow you to take photos through her telescope and get fantastic shots, and much of the trip was solo with her. The lodge had blazing fast wifi, mix of craft beers, and was very comfortable (as long as you don't mind the odd butterfly or frog wandering into your room). Friendly service and really well organized w/ lots of variety of things to do - I happened to stumble across a giant Harpy Eagle right outside the lodge, just incredible. Only thing that could be improved is more variety of food and condiments to spice it up, but it is in the middle of the rainforest after all Read all

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