Machu Picchu with Kids
Wondering what is the best age to travel to Machu Picchu with kids?
Our son first started talking about traveling to Peru when he was in 5th grade. We took him when he was 12, and it is still one of our favorite experiences after experiencing 25 countries together.
But is Machu Picchu a good experience for kids?
We have all the tips, including our recommendation for the best age, for your trip to Machu Picchu.
What is the Best Age to Take Kids to Machu Picchu?
The short answer as to why you should wait until your kids are 12 is Huayna Picchu.
To see Machu Picchu itself is a great privilege. But as one of the top 10 tourist attractions in the world, it is not particularly unique.
In 2017, the Peruvian government limited the number of people allowed into Machu Picchu per day to roughly 6,000 people per day. However, the high number of daily visitors was causing damage to the site.
In 2024, only 4,500 people are allowed daily. While that is still a fairly high number, our favorite part of experiencing Machu Pichu was actually climbing Huayna Picchu.
What is Huayna Picchu?
Huayna Picchu is the large peak that you see in so many Machu Picchu pictures. And while it is awe-inspiring to look at from the site, hiking Huayna Picchu takes the already amazing experience of seeing Machu Picchu and through space and time–literally as you spend several hours climbing, gives you a whole new vantage point.
According to local historians, the peak is believed to be the residence of a high priest who conducted religious ceremonies and tracked the heavens.
When your group makes it to the top (note, I said “when,” and not “if,” as that is how confident I am), you can see a structure that is believed to be the remains of the priest’s residence.
In addition to history, Huayna Picchu offers the most stunning views of Machu Picchu. It also gives you, the pure satisfaction of making it to the top.
Is The Hike Up Huayna Picchu Safe For Kids?
The mountain is 8,835 feet and takes, on average, 2 hours to climb up and back.
With frequent water and snack breaks, the climb time for us was close to 1.5 hours. It took us about an hour to get down.
More adventurous hikers can also turn left when they reach the top to access the Gran Caverna trail. The Temple of the Moon is another 3 hours on this trail. We were not that adventurous.
In essence, the climb is a series of switchbacks. The climb is not technical, but it is steep. Where it is steep, like at the “stairs of death” the site provides cables. And yes, you heard me right, “stairs of death.”
When I read that part of the trail up was known as the “stairs of death,” I wasn’t sure that booking the Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu combined ticket was a good idea with our 12-year-old in tow.
But with the knowledge that, like all things, if it is too much we could turn around, we booked the tickets and made our plans. When we reached this point in the hike, we just took it slow.
We found the “stairs of death” to certainly be narrow and steep, but again, we went slow and were fine.
And the view from the top. Well, every picture you have ever seen of Machu Picchu in its entirety is taken from this spot. So technically you have already seen it. But as is so often said (and so often true) it is truly something different to experience it yourself.
Entries to Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu
As with many sites, booking tickets requires selecting an entrance hour. If you just visit Machu Picchu only, without climbing Huayna Picchu, tickets are sold every hour from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. However, if you choose to climb Huayna Picchu, there are only four entry times:
- Waynapicchu Group 1
- The first group allows you to enter the Inca City of Machu Picchu from 6 am
- The entrance to the Huayna Picchu mountain is between 6 am and 7 am
- Waynapicchu Group 2
- The second group allows you to enter Machu Picchu from 8 am
- The entrance to the Waynapicchu mountain is between 8 am and 9 am
- Waynapicchu Group 3
- The third group allows you to enter Machu Picchu from 10 am
- The entrance to Huayna Picchu is between 10 am and 11 am
- Waynapicchu Group 4
- The fourth group allows you to enter Machu Picchu from 12 pm
- The entrance to the Huayna Picchu mountain is between 12 pm and 1 pm
For us, we were a little nervous that we could get to the site for the 6 a.m. entry, as you have to either bus or walk from the town Aguas Caliente. So we chose the second time slot.
The site already had plenty of people. And yet, it was early enough that we definitely had moments when we were the only ones in a particular location.
Getting to the Machu Picchu
Just getting to the site takes a bus from Aguas Caliente, the town, and the foot of the site. You can see our full Peruvian itinerary and read how we got to Aguas Caliente, and how long we stayed in the town.
If you are coming to Machu Picchu from Lima, we also have a list of the best things to do with teens in Lima.
You can walk to the site itself, but we do not recommend it, especially if you are visiting Machu Picchu with kids. It is very steep and will tire you out before you even arrive at what you actually came to see, Machu Picchu.
You can buy tickets for the bus either in person in Aguas Caliente in Cusco or online.
You do not need advance tickets. However, lines are very long during the summer high season so buy in advance or in Cusco.
We actually bought our tickets in person the night before as we spent a night in Aguas Caliente.
If is not your intention to stay in town the night prior, I would absolutely buy them online. A roundtrip bus ticket was $24 for foreign adults and $12 for foreign children.
When to Go to Machu Picchu with Kids and What to Know
While most families won’t be able to make a trip to Machu Picchu until the summer, it is important to note that this is high season.
If you want to hike Huanya Picchu, purchase tickets to climb the mountain at least 4 months in advance.
Peru Rail or Inca Rail: Which is best?
The truth is both of these train services are close in price and in quality. They both have stations in Cusco. Peru Rail offers more trains each day, which is why we chose them.
If you go with Peru Rail, the cost of tickets varies based on the type of train you choose.
The most economical train is called the “Expedition.” We rode this train and it was very comfortable. Its large windows allow for great views.
Tickets on the “Expedition” begin at around $50. Tickets for children between the ages of 0-11 are 50% of adult tickets. Kids under 2, as long as they ride in your lap, are free.
And important note: none of the trains depart from downtown Cusco.
The PeruRail Expedition tourist services to Machu Picchu depart from the Poroy Station. Don’t be confused. Even though the station says Cusco, it is actually about 20-30 minutes from the main plaza. You will need to take a taxi to the station.
We nearly missed our time in Machu Picchu because we thought the train left from the downtown station. We were fortunate that our taxi was able to “catch” our train. But it was not without stress.
Moving Machu Picchu from Your Bucket List to “Experienced”
Experiencing Machu Picchu with kids takes research and planning. However, of our many experiences, it was and remains one of our most treasured.
Want more family tips about travel to Peru? Our time in Machu Picchu was part of a larger 3 week Peruvian Itinerary.
Another once in a lifetime experience we had had in Peru was a 4 day and 3 night tour in the Amazon.
