Peru Vacation: Top 10 Activities for Families in the Sacred Valley

A Peru vacation with kids feels limitless. From coastal deserts to soaring peaks, sky-touching mountain ranges to verdant jungles, you’ve got endless choices for adventure. With this diversity of landscapes, your family will enjoy opportunities to engage with your destination. But nature-scapes represent just one side of Peru.

A visit to this nation also comes with chances to engage with locals in meaningful ways. For example, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, you can gain more significant insights into the nation’s Inca past.

Here are ten must-do activities for families visiting the Sacred Valley on a Peru vacation.

1. A Special Cooking Experience

When it comes to memorable ways to engage with locals on a Peru family vacation, nothing beats an authentic cooking experience. Not only does it invite you to interact with local chefs, but it lets you engage all your senses as you explore the culture, history, and foodstuffs of Peru. What does a cooking class involve? It starts with a visit to the vibrant San Pedro Market, where you’ll handpick produce and ingredients from local providers.

Then, enjoy an interactive cooking lesson from a talented Peruvian chef in a rustic countryside kitchen. Whether your family includes inveterate foodies, culinary adventurers, or even picky eaters nervous about trying something new, this unique cooking experience will lead to delicious endings.

2. Adrenaline in the Peruvian Highlands

About 90 miles north of Cusco, you’ll find the verdant Urubamba Valley, where the Inca Empire once flourished. The valley proved an important agricultural area, supplying food to the surrounding settlements, and it contains some of Peru’s most famous ruins, including Machu Picchu.

Get your adrenaline pumping on a climb in Peru’s via ferrata, where you and your family will be greeted by sweeping views of mystical landscapes in the Sacred Valley. Your experience culminates in next-level adventure, rappelling 328 feet (100 meters) down a mountain face. In the process, you’ll enjoy an incredible rush of adrenaline.

3. Salute the Magnificent Ausangate Mountain

A visit to Peru wouldn’t be complete without traveling to the heart and soul of ancient Inca beliefs. What’s one of the most profound and memorable ways to connect with this ancient past? Through an early morning trip to Ausangate Mountain. There, enjoy spectacular views from the lookout point of San Cristobal.

Enveloped in the fresh air of the Andes, you’ll bask in beautiful scenery, from snowy peaks to icy glaciers and breathtaking mountain lakes. While the entire trek would take multiple days to complete, an experienced family-friendly travel specialist can arrange a hike that’s both age- and fitness-appropriate.

4. The Ancient Craft of Master Ceramists

Are you fascinated by pre-Columbian pottery? Would you like an insider’s view into the techniques and designs used by indigenous artists of the past? If so, a visit to Pablo and Marilu Seminario’s workshop is a must-do activity.

The Seminarios have spent years studying Inca art and artifacts of the past and have translated the artistry of previous generations into breathtaking contemporary works. Best of all, when you plan ahead and work with a well-connected family travel specialist, you can arrange a visit to their studio to take one of the many pottery classes they offer.

5. Discover Cusco from a Different Perspective

Although stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) may not be the first thing you associate with Cusco and the Sacred Valley, the region offers many exceptional opportunities to give this sport a try. Soak up the majesty of the Andes on the mirror-calm, crystal-clear waters of Piuray Lagoon located a breathtaking 11,269 feet above the world! Not only does it offer an excellent workout, but it’ll challenge and entertain your children. Best of all, engaging in new adventures strengthens family bonds, creates unforgettable memories, and boosts confidence.

6. Grab a Golden Ticket and Head to Cusco’s Version of the Chocolate Factory

Remember when Charlie found the golden ticket permitting him to tour Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory? If your kids (or you) have ever fantasized about how amazing it would be to see where the sweet stuff gets made, Peru has a special treat for you. Cusco’s delicious CHOCO Museum.

On a trip to Peru with kids, learn about the chocolate-making process, from cacao bean to chocolate bar. But don’t stop there! The CHOCO Museum offers chocolate-making workshops that let you and your kids gain hands-on experience with this delicious treat. As you learn how top-quality producers such as Quillabamba make decadent treats, you’ll also gain a greater appreciation of this yummy delight.

7. The Incas and the Stars

The ancient Inca excelled at astronomy, mapping out the stars to synch with animals and objects from their daily lives. Through their observations, they concluded that Viracocha had provided each animal with a corresponding star and protection. Over time, grouping stars into constellations developed into a critical activity for the Inca who assigned them specific purposes.

A family trip to Peru provides an excellent way to learn more about the Inca’s fascinating take on astronomy. What’s a family-friendly way to do this? With a visit to the Cusco Planetarium located in Llaullipata, near Sacsayhuaman. There, enjoy an interactive exhibition that explains Inca astronomical beliefs. The southern skies will come to life right before your eyes, and your family will gain a deeper appreciation of the Incas as you watch the stars during this surreal experience.

8. Weaving Workshop in Chinchero

Besides stargazing, there are other unforgettable ways to increase your knowledge of how the ancient Incas saw and interacted with the world. What’s one of our family-friendly favorites? A visit to the town of Chinchero, where locals have preserved their ancestors’ weaving traditions through the centuries.

Learn about the richness of Inca heritage as locals share techniques and patterns preserved for generations. You’ll have the chance to interact with indigenous weavers, both young and old. They’ll share their priceless wisdom with you at the Traditional Textile Center, helping you gain a greater appreciation of their handiwork.

9. Flying Without Wings

Have you ever longed for a bird’s eye view of things when traveling? Fortunately, you don’t need wings to see the Sacred Valley from an avian angle. Instead, head out on a zip-line for expansive views and heart-pumping action. This safe yet exhilarating activity provides opportunities for people of all ages to soar above this spectacular valley.

Your family adventure starts with a leisurely 30-to-40-minute hike that includes a small portion of the via ferrata climbing course. (It’s a great way to decide if your family would like to do more of the via ferrata later.) Once you reach your destination, you’ll have a choice of different zip-lines, each offering a unique experience based on your level of expertise.

10. Traditional Artistic Legacy

A meaningful family vacation blends the best of great athletic adventures with rich cultural experiences. When exploring Peruvian culture, you’ll find unique opportunities to interact with individuals keeping age-old traditions alive.

For example, handmade hats have long been crafted in the town of Maras. Techniques have been handed down for generations and can’t be duplicated by modern manufacturing methods. To learn more about this Peruvian artisanal tradition, head to the workshop of Don Teodosio. He has been in the business of repairing hats for nearly 40 years, and your family will quickly come to appreciate his incredible artistic legacy.

A Peru Vacation Your Family Won’t Forget

When planning a Peru vacation for your family, you must find the ideal balance between adventure, history, and meaningful interactions with locals. This approach to travel will open your children’s eyes to the authentic history of the New World and the indigenous cultures that dominated it.

In the process, you’ll gain significant insights into Peru’s vibrant heritage and the locals who continue to keep ancient Inca traditions alive. And don’t forget to book a family photoshoot with a professional through flytographer. Find out more about hiring a flytographer in Cusco or Lima to commemorate your Peru family vacation.

Is your family ready to travel through the Sacred Valley of the Incas? I’d love to help bring your next culturally immersive and adventure-filled family vacation to life.