Discover 22 family-friendly activities, venues, and restaurants in Cusco.
1 Upcoming EventThe highest-rated places we recommend first — start here.
🎨 MuseumThe Retablo Museum offers a colorful, culturally immersive experience perfect for introducing children to Peruvian folk art. The three-dimensional retablo boxes depict vibrant stories from Andean life, featuring tiny handcrafted figures, animals, and scenes that captivate young imaginations. This small, manageable museum provides an educational yet entertaining way to explore local traditions without overwhelming little ones.
Parque Arví offers families an unforgettable cloud forest adventure just outside Cusco, featuring a thrilling cable car journey over stunning Andean landscapes. Kids will be mesmerized by the aerial ride and excited to explore gentle hiking trails through misty forests where they can spot hummingbirds, butterflies, and other Andean wildlife. The combination of exciting transportation and nature exploration makes this a highlight for families visiting Peru.
The Planetario de Cusco offers an enchanting introduction to astronomy through interactive shows that bring the southern hemisphere's night sky to life. Located at high altitude where stars shine brilliantly clear, this planetarium uses immersive visuals and engaging presentations to spark children's curiosity about space, constellations, and Incan astronomy. It's an educational escape that works perfectly on a rainy day or as a fascinating complement to exploring Cusco's ancient sites.
🌳 ParkPlaza de Armas serves as Cusco's beating heart, offering families a perfect blend of open space for kids to explore and stunning colonial architecture to admire. The central square buzzes with street performers, local vendors, and colorful festivals, giving children a vibrant introduction to Peruvian culture while parents soak in the historic atmosphere surrounding this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Tap for hours, tips & photos →
🧗 AdventureSaqsaywaman is an awe-inspiring ancient Inca fortress where kids can explore massive stone walls fitted together without mortar, some weighing over 100 tons. The site offers easy-to-moderate walking paths with breathtaking views over Cusco, making history come alive as children climb on ancient stones and imagine life in the Inca Empire. It's an outdoor classroom where families can combine adventure, exercise, and cultural education in one spectacular setting.
Tap for hours, tips & photos →
🎨 MuseumQorikancha offers families a fascinating glimpse into Inca civilization through remarkably preserved stonework and engaging museum displays that bring ancient history to life. Kids are captivated by the mysterious precision-cut stones that fit together without mortar and the stories of this temple once covered entirely in gold, making it an educational adventure that feels like stepping into a real-life history book.
Tap for hours, tips & photos →
⭐ ActivityThis remarkable site offers children a tangible history lesson where they can see and touch both Inca stone walls and Spanish colonial architecture in the same building. The visible cultural layering makes abstract historical concepts concrete, as kids can observe how the Spanish built directly atop the Inca Temple of the Sun (Qorikancha), creating a unique dual-architecture experience that brings Peru's complex past to life.
Tap for hours, tips & photos →
🎨 MuseumThe Museo Larco offers an engaging introduction to ancient Peru through beautifully displayed pottery, textiles, and artifacts that tell visual stories kids can actually understand. The interactive displays and stunning ceramics collection (including some cheeky adult pieces in a separate gallery) make pre-Columbian history come alive, perfect for curious minds before or after visiting Machu Picchu.
Tap for hours, tips & photos →
🌳 ParkSan Blas View Point offers breathtaking panoramic views of Cusco's terracotta rooftops and the majestic Andes Mountains, making it a memorable stop for families exploring Peru. This free hilltop park provides an easy introduction to Cusco's high altitude with a gentle uphill walk, perfect for stretching legs between museum visits and creating postcard-worthy family photos.
Tap for hours, tips & photos →
🌿 NatureLaguna Huaypo offers families a serene escape from Cusco's bustling streets, where kids can explore gentle walking trails around a stunning Andean mountain lake at 3,600 meters elevation. The wide-open spaces are perfect for picnicking while spotting local wildlife like ducks, coots, and if you're lucky, Andean geese against a backdrop of snow-capped peaks.
Tap for hours, tips & photos →
🎭 TheaterTeatro Municipal is a stunning 19th-century theater in the heart of Cusco that offers families a chance to experience Peruvian culture through dance, music, and occasional children's performances. The ornate architecture alone is worth a visit, and catching a traditional folk show provides a memorable cultural experience that helps children connect with Peru's rich artistic heritage.
Tap for hours, tips & photos →
⭐ ActivityMercado San Blas offers families an authentic, sensory-rich Peruvian market experience in Cusco's charming artistic neighborhood. Kids will be captivated by the rainbow of colorful textiles, fresh produce displays, and the bustling energy of local vendors, while parents can browse handicrafts and sample traditional foods. This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce children to Andean culture in a safe, family-friendly environment that feels genuinely local rather than touristy.
Tap for hours, tips & photos →
🎨 MuseumThis interactive textile museum offers children a fascinating hands-on introduction to Peruvian weaving traditions through live demonstrations by local artisans. Kids are captivated watching skilled weavers transform alpaca and llama wool into colorful textiles using centuries-old techniques, making it an educational and culturally enriching experience that brings Peru's indigenous heritage to life.
Tap for hours, tips & photos →
🎨 MuseumThis compact natural history museum offers an excellent introduction to Peru's incredible biodiversity and indigenous heritage, perfect for families exploring Cusco. Educational displays showcase regional wildlife, fascinating geology, and cultural artifacts that help children understand the unique environment of the Andes and surrounding regions. Located right on the Plaza de Armas, it's an ideal rainy day activity or a great way to spend an hour between other Cusco adventures.
Tap for hours, tips & photos →
🎨 MuseumThe Inka Museum offers an engaging journey through ancient Inca civilization with artifacts, textiles, and mummies that captivate young minds. Kids become history detectives as they explore well-curated displays showing how Inca children lived, played, and learned thousands of years ago. The museum's clear explanations and fascinating objects make pre-Columbian history accessible and exciting for curious youngsters.
Tap for hours, tips & photos →
1 upcoming family event in Cusco
Annual religious festival, typically May or June (date varies)
Corpus Christi in Cusco is one of Peru's most spectacular religious celebrations, featuring elaborately decorated saints carried through cobblestone streets accompanied by music, dance, and colorful processions. Families will witness a vibrant blend of Catholic and Andean traditions, with the entire city transforming into an open-air cultural experience filled with traditional costumes, flower carpets, and authentic Peruvian festivities. This living museum of tradition offers children an unforgettable immersion into Cusco's rich cultural heritage that goes far beyond typical tourist activities.
Year-round outdoor artisan market with textiles, crafts, and local products
The Cusco Artisan Market in the charming San Blas neighborhood offers families an authentic cultural immersion into Peruvian craftsmanship and traditions. Kids will be fascinated watching artisans demonstrate weaving techniques, wool spinning, and textile dyeing using ancient Incan methods while surrounded by vibrant colors and mountain-town charm. This year-round market provides an educational shopping experience where children can learn about alpaca wool, traditional patterns, and connect with local culture in one of South America's most historic cities.
Annual carnival celebration in February/March
Cusco Carnival is a vibrant, multi-day celebration where families can experience authentic Peruvian culture through colorful parades, traditional dances, and joyful water fights that take over the historic city center. Kids will be enchanted by the elaborate costumes, lively music, and the playful tradition of locals spraying water and throwing talcum powder at passersby. This is a rare opportunity for children to participate in indigenous Andean traditions while exploring one of South America's most spectacular historic cities.
Year-round daily market with fresh produce and local goods
Cusco Central Market offers families an authentic, sensory-rich Peruvian experience where kids can discover exotic fruits, vibrant textiles, and the bustling energy of daily Andean life. This sprawling traditional market is a cultural immersion adventure where children can practice Spanish phrases, taste tropical fruits they've never seen before, and witness local vendors in colorful traditional dress selling everything from fresh-squeezed juices to handwoven alpaca goods. It's an educational, memorable alternative to typical tourist attractions that helps kids understand how Peruvian families actually shop and eat.
Seasonal market running November through December
The Cusco Christmas Market transforms the historic Plaza de Armas into a magical holiday wonderland filled with traditional Peruvian crafts, festive decorations, and local holiday treats. Set against the backdrop of stunning colonial architecture at 11,000 feet elevation, this market offers families an authentic Andean Christmas experience with handmade nativity scenes (retablos), colorful textiles, and live music. It's a wonderful way to introduce children to Peruvian holiday traditions while shopping for unique gifts and enjoying the festive atmosphere of one of South America's most beautiful cities.
Annual festival held on June 24th
Inti Raymi is the spectacular Festival of the Sun, an ancient Incan celebration reenacted annually at the breathtaking Sacsayhuamán ruins overlooking Cusco. This colorful pageant features over 700 performers in elaborate traditional costumes, dramatic ceremonies, music, and dance that bring pre-Columbian history vividly to life. It's an unforgettable cultural immersion that transforms history lessons into an awe-inspiring theatrical experience your children will remember forever.