What to Know Before Visiting Machu Picchu with Kids
/If you’re looking for the tips for visiting Machu Picchu with kids, you’re in the right place. This guide is all about going to Machu Pichu with kids and covers all of the best things to do, where to stay in Aguas Calientes, explanation of how to get tickets to Machu Picchu and which circuits are the best, and so much more. After a lot of research and one of the best family trips we’ve ever taken, let me help you plan your family trip to Machu Picchu!
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machu picchu with kids is one of the best trips we have ever done!
Nestled amidst the majestic Andes Mountains of Peru lies the awe-inspiring ancient Incan citadel of Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Steeped in history and mystery, this breathtaking archaeological wonder draws millions of visitors each year, including families seeking adventure and cultural enrichment.
It was like being inside of dream seeing MAchu Picchu for the first time
As we started our journey to Machu Picchu with our little explorers in tow, we were nervous about so many things. Will we get altitude sickness? Which Circuit is the best? How long do we need to plan? What happens if it’s foggy and we can’t see anything? Not to mention getting to Machu Picchu is not an easy feat — you’ll need a plan, a train, a car, and even a bus!
So, let me help you take away some of the confusion and fear surround a trip to Machu Picchu with kids in tow. We did it and so can you!
Check out my Instagram for more videos and photos from our time in Peru!
Here are 10 things you need to know before visiting Machu Picchu with kids:
1. Stay Overnight in Aguas Calientes
Aguas calientes is only 30 minutes by bus from machu picchu.
We stayed for 3 nights in Aguas Calientes for 2 main reasons.
The first is to cut down on travel time to Machu Pichu Citadel. If you come from Cusco, you’ll have to drive to Ollantaytambo (1.5 hours), and then take the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calients (1.5 hours), then get on the bus (30 minutes) to get into the site. All of this must coincide with your entry time too! Doing that with kids was not something we wanted to attempt.
aguas calientes is a great place to spend a few nights. it’s a cute little town at the entrance to machu picchu
The second reason to stay in Aguas Calientes was to be sure we saw Machu Picchu in without the fog. The citadel is known for unpredictable weather and I have seen countless photos of a completely fog covered site. If this happened to us, we wanted a second chance to see it for real.
A third reason to stay in Aguas Calientes is to have the change to do two of the circuits on the site. You do not get open access to the entire site of Machu Picchu, so if you want to see it from above one day and walk through the town the next like we did, having the extra day is a good idea.
our guide took our photo of us in “two places at once”
2. Get the Circuit you want. As I said before, you can not walk around Machu Picchu freely. You will walk a specific route with a specific entry time.
Which circuit is the best at Machu Picchu? There are 5 circuits. I recommend circuit 1 or 2 for your first day (or if you only have one day in Machu Picchu) and circuit 4 for your second day with the option to hike Huchuy Picchu.
You can find all of the options HERE. Circuit 1 & 2 give higher up views of the citadel while circuit 4 walks through the town. Both have great views and different experiences completely.
the photo on the left is from cicruit 4 and the photo from the right is from cicruit 1/2
3. Get your entry tickets for the afternoon.
Our first day we entered with our guide at around 1:30 PM. There were no crowds. The lines were non existent, the bus only had about 5 other people on it going up. We had such a wonderful experience and it felt like we had Machu Picchu to ourselves. I believe all of the day trippers from Cusco had already left by this time.
the second day in the park the morning crowds were insane
The second day we had tickets for 0800. We noticed right away a huge difference in crowds. There were lines to get on the busses. The queues to enter the Citadel were longer and there were way more people inside the site. We actually had to stand in lines to walk through parts of the site. It was madness.
Our first day we entered the park around 1:30 and our tour was about 3 hours. the sun was just starting to set as we left and the golden light was gorgeous
the kid’s guide sitting with them and teaching them all about machu picchu
4. Hire a guide at Machu Picchu.
We did one day with a guide and one day without a guide. You do not have to have a guide to enter the Citadel, but I think it’s a good idea if you only have one day or for your first day on the site.
the kid’s guide helping c take photos
We chose to splurge and hire a family guide through our hotel. The tour is called Adventures with Allco and his friends and it includes 2 guides plus each child gets a back pack full of adventure gear and a hat. One guide was for us (the adults) and one guide was specifically for the children. HIGHLY recommend this tour of Machu Piccu for families.
not only was our guide amazing, he took so many incredible photos for us!!
5. You need a bus ticket for the ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.
Where do you get tickets for the bus to Machu Picchu?
The ticket office address is: v. Hermanos Ayar S/N, before the Puente Ruinas. The office is open Monday to Sunday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
you will line up to board the bus by entry time into machu picchu. this photo is the 0800 line to board the buses from aguas calientes to machu picchu
Bus ticket for Machu Picchu do not need to be reserved in advance, but I do recommend getting them the day before so it’s one less thing to worry about the day you’re headed to the citadel.
The cost of roundtrip tickets for a foreign adult is $23 USD and for a foreign child is $12 USD.
Busses for Machu Picchu start at 05:30 AM and the last one going up stops at 3:30 PM. They run every 5 minutes.
the bus ride from aguas calientes to machu picchu is windy and takes about 30 minutes
6. Use the restroom before you enter the site.
the restrooms are located underneath the cafe where you see the wooden booth
There are no bathrooms inside the Inca citadel. This means that once you get off the bus at Machu Picchu, you need to use the restrooms available.
Once you go through the ticket area, there are no more restrooms. If you are visiting Machu Picchu with family, then please make sure the children use the restroom.
There is a cost of 2 soles per person, so bring some coins with you.
circuit 4 brings you down into the city of machu picchu
7. Bring Bug Spray
Machu Picchu is the start of the Peruvian Amazon. The biting bugs are out in full force and we saw so many of the hikers absolutely covered in bug bites.
Wear long pants and long sleeves for extra protection if you’re prone to bites!
READ NEXT: What to Pack for Day Trip to Machu Picchu
can you spot the spider?
8. Consider the Altitude
our baby had sickness our first 24 hours in the sacred valley, but was fine by the time we made it machu picchu
Machu Picchu sits at 7,972 feet above sea level. We traveled to Machu Picchu with a 7 year old, 8 year old, and 1 year old.
By the time we made it to Machu Picchu, no one had any issues with altitude. This is because we chose to stay 2 nights in the Sacred Valley before Machu Picchu. Our hotel in the Sacred Valley sat at about 9,000 feet, so even higher than Machu Picchu. We were all acclimated prior to getting to Machu Picchu.
the views are not just of the citadel, the entire mountain range around machu picchu is incredible.
9. Pack rain jackets for everyone.
The weather at Machu Picchu changes very quickly. It can go from bright and sunny to completely covered in clouds and raining in minutes. Don’t get caught un prepared. Bring a light rain jacket for everyone!
This is my favorite rain jacket for kids and this is a great lightweight rain jacket for women.
READ NEXT: What to Pack for Day Trip to Machu Picchu
at the peak of huchuy pIcchu
10. Hiking Huchuy Picchu is kid friendly.
On our second day in Machu Picchu, we did circuit 4 and opted to hike Huchuy Picchu. We did this hike easily with a 7 year old, 8 year old, and 1 year old.
I hiked up with the 1 year old on my back in a Toddler Tula and the big kids hiked up on their own. I would personally rate the trail as moderate.
the trail gets narrow but it’s not scary
Huchuy Picchu, which is the smaller mountain of the 2 at the citadel, is a rocky trail with thin steps, and steep incline. The trail rises 220 feet in elevation in only 0.3 miles.
You have to get tickets to hike this or Huayna Picchu (the larger mountain). We opted to get the tickets when we purchased our entry tickets for Machu Picchu. The entry times are one hour apart, so if you enter the citadel at 10, then your hike window starts at 11.
READ NEXT: The Best Hiking Gear for Kids
the family hiking down with Huayna Picchu in the background.
Check out my Complete 2 Week Itinerary for Peru
walking through the main city of machu picchu
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This is everything you need to know before visiting Machu Picchu with kids. Remember that preparation is key to ensuring a magical and stress-free experience for the whole family.
From acclimating to the altitude and selecting the right trails to embracing the unpredictability of the weather, knowing the tips before you go will ensure a wonderful trip for all.
So, pack your sunscreen, adventurous spirit, and a sense of wonder, and get ready for one of the most incredible family trips you’ve ever taken!
Check out my Instagram for more videos and photos of our time in Peru.
Have you ever been to Machu Picchu? Leave me a comment and let me know! Feel free to email me if you have any more questions.
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