How to Book Machu Picchu with Kids: Complete Step-by-Step Guide
If you’re planning a trip to Machu Picchu with kids, there’s one thing you need to know upfront:
This is not a place where you can just show up and figure it out.
Machu Picchu is incredible. It was one of the coolest things we’ve ever done as a family.
But it’s also one of those destinations where the logistics can get confusing really fast.
Because when people say, “We’re going to Machu Picchu,” it sounds simple.
It’s not.
You’re not just buying a ticket and hopping in an Uber.
You’re coordinating:
your Machu Picchu entrance ticket
your train ticket
your bus up to the ruins
your timed entry
your circuit selection
and your entire day around all of that
And if you get one piece wrong, it can throw off everything.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to book Machu Picchu with kids, the biggest pain points, how to avoid mistakes, and what I would do differently after doing this trip myself.
Visiting Machu Picchu with kids requires more planning than most people expect
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How Visiting Machu Picchu Actually Works
When people say they’re “going to Machu Picchu,” they’re really combining multiple steps into one idea.
You’re not just visiting a site.
You’re navigating a system.
Here’s what that looks like:
Fly into Peru (usually Lima)
Connect to Cusco
Decide where to base yourself (Cusco, Sacred Valley, or Aguas Calientes)
Take a train to Aguas Calientes
Take a bus up the mountain
Enter Machu Picchu at a specific time
Follow a fixed route (circuit)
Then reverse the entire process
There is no road directly to Machu Picchu.
You cannot drive there. You cannot Uber there.
Everything has to be coordinated.
If you want to see exactly how we planned our full Peru itinerary (including flights and hotels), check out this post: How Much Does a Peru Trip Cost for a Family? (Points vs Cash Breakdown)
The Most Important Rule: Book Your Machu Picchu Ticket First
If you take one thing from this guide, let it be this:
Everything revolves around your Machu Picchu entrance ticket.
Not your train.
Not your hotel.
Your ticket.
Because your ticket determines:
your entry time
your route (circuit)
how long you’re inside
what your entire day looks like
This is where people mess up. They book trains and hotels first…
Then realize their ideal Machu Picchu ticket is gone.
And now they’re forcing everything else to fit around what’s left.
The correct order:
Pick your date
Choose your circuit
Book your Machu Picchu ticket
THEN book everything else
Tickets are sold through the official government platform, and availability is limited.
Even booking 10+ weeks in advance, my preferred circuit and date were already sold out.
If you want help bundling tickets and logistics, some families use platforms like Viator to simplify the process.
Machu Picchu Circuits Explained (and Which Are Best for Kids)
Machu Picchu is not a free-roaming site.
You must follow a specific route.
There are 3 main circuits, broken into multiple route options.
Different circuits offer completely different experiences
Circuit 1: Panoramic
Upper terraces
Best for views and photos
Less access to lower structures
Circuit 2: Classic Machu Picchu
The most complete experience
Includes upper AND lower terraces
Best for first-time visitors
👉 This is what we did, and what I recommend.
Circuit 3: Royal Circuit
Focuses on lower structures
More historical emphasis
Less of the iconic “postcard view”
Best Circuits for Families
If you’re traveling with kids, you need to be realistic. Not every route is a good fit.
For most families, I recommend:
2A or 2B (best overall experience)
3B as a backup
Avoid:
intense hikes
add-on mountain routes
(unless you have older kids)
Because there’s a big difference between,“This sounds cool” and “This is realistic after a 5am wakeup and multiple transport legs”.
The Part Where This Gets Complicated (And Where Most People Mess Up)
At this point, you can probably already tell… this is not a simple destination to plan.
And this is exactly where people run into issues.
Not because they didn’t plan, but because they didn’t realize what actually matters when booking Machu Picchu.
The Ticket System Is Not Intuitive
We already touched on this, but it’s worth slowing down here because this is where things start to go sideways for a lot of people.
When you go to book your tickets, it’s not just “pick a date and go.”
You’re dealing with:
timed entry
multiple circuits
route names that don’t mean much if you’ve never been there
And as a parent, what you actually want to know is:
Will this give me the classic Machu Picchu experience?
Can my kids realistically handle this?
Will this turn into a meltdown halfway through?
Is this the route with the iconic view?
And the system doesn’t walk you through that.
So what ends up happening is people click around while tickets are disappearing… and then they panic-book something just because it’s available.
That’s how you end up with a route that doesn’t actually match your trip.
What I recommend is deciding your route before you ever open the booking site.
Go in knowing exactly what you want.
Because once you’re in there, you don’t want to be figuring it out in real time.
The “We’ll Just Buy Tickets There” Strategy
You might see people say that you can just buy tickets in person in Aguas Calientes.
And technically, that’s true.
The Ministry of Culture sells around 1,000 tickets per day in person.
But here’s what that actually looks like in real life:
You’re standing in line
You don’t know what’s available
You’re trying to adjust your plans
And you’re doing all of this with kids
And it’s important to know that those tickets are for the next day only.
Not two days later. Not flexible dates. And not same day.
Tomorrow.
So now your entire itinerary is being shaped around whatever is left. And unfortunately, there might not be anything left.
This strategy might work if you’re backpacking or traveling solo. But with kids, I personally would not build my trip around that level of uncertainty. For me, this was something I wanted locked in ahead of time so I knew exactly what our day was going to look like.
Perurail Train to Machu Picchu
Your Transportation Has to Match Your Ticket (This Is Where It Gets Stressful)
This is the part people underestimate the most. Your Machu Picchu ticket is timed, so your train and your bus timing need to support that.
On paper, it sounds simple:
You arrive → take the bus → go to the site.
But in reality, it looks like this:
You arrive in Aguas Calientes
You get oriented
You find a bathroom
Maybe grab food or water
Manage tired kids
Then get in the bus line….
And those bus lines can take 40 minutes to an hour during busy times.
Then you ride 25 minutes up the mountain, and you need to be on time for your entry. They are strict about entry times.
So if your train arrives late, or you underestimate the bus line, or your itinerary is too tight…
That’s when things start to feel stressful.
This is why I always recommend building buffer time into your day. Because nothing about this should feel rushed, especially with kids.
How to Get to Machu Picchu (And What I’d Actually Recommend for Families)
There are a few different ways to do this, but for most families, these are the three practical options.
And honestly, this is one of the biggest things I would think through differently if I were planning this again.
Option 1: Stay in Cusco and Do a Day Trip (What We Did)
This is what we chose. And on paper, it made sense.
We were already staying in Cusco, and I didn’t really want to spend a night in Aguas Calientes because it’s mostly a tourist town. So we booked PeruRail’s bimodal service, which combines a bus from Cusco, and then a train from Ollantaytambo. Inca Rail offers something similar.
This option is especially common during the rainy season (January through April), when the direct train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes isn’t running. So if you’re traveling during that time, this is likely what you’ll end up doing.
And one benefit is that everything is bundled together, so you don’t have to figure out your own transfer to Ollantaytambo. It also lets you stay in Cusco instead of spending a night in Aguas Calientes.
But here’s the tradeoff…
It’s a long day.
For us:
we left our hotel at 4:20 am
arrived in Aguas Calientes around 9:30 am
had time to eat and walk around
then went up for a 2 pm Machu Picchu entry
And then our train back didn’t leave until 8:50pm, so we didn’t get back to Cusco until around 1 am.
That’s about 20 hours traveling… with two young kids.
Now, it worked.
But it was exhausting.
And if I’m being honest, this is probably not what I would choose again with young kids.
👉 If you’re planning to stay in Cusco, you can browse family-friendly hotels here
Pro tip: I highly recommend Palacio del Inka. We had an amazing stay!
Palacio del Inka, Cusco - They have baby alpacas in the courtyard for the kids to interact with!
Option 2: Stay Overnight in Aguas Calientes
This is one of the least stressful options logistically.
You travel to Aguas Calientes the day before, stay overnight, and then go to Machu Picchu the next day.
This allows you to:
choose earlier entry times
avoid a long travel morning
take your time getting to the site
Which can make the day feel much more manageable with kids.
The downside is that Aguas Calientes is very touristy.
The food is okay.
It’s more expensive.
And there’s not a lot to do beyond Machu Picchu itself and the hot springs.
That said, if your priority is reducing stress and simplifying the day, this is a very solid option.
👉 If you decide to stay overnight, check here for hotel options in Aguas Calientes
Aguas Calientes
Option 3: Stay in Ollantaytambo (What I’d Do Next Time)
This, in my opinion, is the best balance for families.
Ollantaytambo is in the Sacred Valley, and it’s much closer to the train station.
So instead of:
waking up in Cusco, doing a bus transfer, then getting on a train (if you’re traveling in rainy season)
You’re already near the train station.
Train rides from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes are usually around 1.5 to 2 hours. That alone makes a big difference!
Because every extra transfer adds complexity:
more waiting
more opportunities for delays
more chances for kids to get tired or overwhelmed
And from a family logistics perspective, simpler is always better.
We actually loved our time in Ollantaytambo, and if I were planning this again, I would absolutely spend more time in the Sacred Valley and use this as our base for Machu Picchu.
👉 This is where I’d personally stay next time. You can check hotel options in Ollantaytambo here
Pro tip: Consider staying at the Hotel Tierra Inka Sacred Valley. We absolutely loved it. The views are unreal!
We booked a family room at the Hotel Tierra Inka Sacred Valley. Absolutely beautiful!
Do You Need to Take the Bus? (Or Should You Hike Instead?)
Once you get to Aguas Calientes, you’re still not at Machu Picchu. You’re at the base of the mountain. From there, you have two options: you can hike up, or you can take the bus.
Technically, hiking is an option. But for most families, this isn’t going to be the best option.
The hike isn’t just a casual walk. It’s a steep climb that takes about an hour to an hour and a half, and you’re basically walking alongside the same road that the buses are driving up and down all day. That means narrow paths, elevation, and buses constantly passing you.
Could you do it? Yes.
Would I recommend it with young kids? No.
This is one of those situations where you don’t want to burn all your energy before you even enter the site.
The bus, on the other hand, is simple and predictable. It takes about 25 minutes to go up and around 20 minutes to come back down, and buses run continuously during operating hours, so you’re not waiting for a specific departure time.
IMPORTANT: The bus lines can get long, especially in the morning and around peak entry times. It’s not unusual to wait 40 minutes to an hour just to get on a bus.
So when you’re planning your day, you need to factor that in. Your Machu Picchu entry time doesn’t change, which means you need to build enough buffer to get in line, wait for the bus, ride up the mountain, and still arrive on time without rushing.
With kids, I think the bus is completely worth it. Save your energy for the experience inside Machu Picchu. That’s where you want your patience, your attention, and your stamina… Not on a steep uphill climb before you even get there.
Let’s Talk About Baby Gear
If you’re traveling with infants or toddlers, you’re probably already thinking about what you need to bring, like strollers, diaper bags, snacks, carriers, all of it.
So here’s something really important to know: strollers are not allowed inside Machu Picchu.
And even if they were, you wouldn’t want one. The paths are uneven, there are stairs everywhere, and some areas are narrow and crowded. It’s just not a stroller-friendly environment in any way.
This is 100% a baby carrier destination.
If you have a younger child, you’re going to want them on you. That’s what we did, and it made a huge difference in how manageable the day felt. Trying to navigate those paths while carrying a toddler in your arms would have been exhausting.
This is also where you want to think practically about what you’re bringing overall, because everything you carry, you’re carrying for the entire visit. There’s no quick trip back to the hotel or car here.
So keep it simple. Bring water, snacks, layers, and whatever you actually need for your kids, but not more than that. This is one of those places where lighter really is better.
👉 If you’re looking for a solid carrier for a trip like this, I personally like structured carriers like the Ergobaby Omni Breezeor the besrey Baby Hiking Backpack that distributes weight well for longer days. I’ll link the exact ones I own here:
Ergobaby All Carry Positions Breathable Mesh Baby Carrier with Enhanced Lumbar Support & Airflow (7-45 Lb), Omni Breeze
besrey Baby Backpack Carrier, Toddler Hiking Backpack with Safety 3-Height Seat, Adjustable Straps&Waist Belt, Foldable Frame Lightweight
So… Is Machu Picchu Worth It with Kids?
Short answer? Yes.
But there are definitely some conditions.
Machu Picchu is absolutely worth it with kids if you plan it the right way. It’s worth it if you build your itinerary around what your family can realistically handle, not what sounds impressive on paper. And it’s worth it if you go into this understanding that the logistics are part of the experience, not something you can just figure out as you go.
Because this is one of those trips where the planning really is the price of admission.
If you try to wing it, or if you stack too much into one day, or if you pick a route that’s too physically demanding, that’s when it starts to feel overwhelming. But when it’s planned well, it’s incredible.
And even with young kids, it’s still worth it.
Your kids might not remember every detail or understand the history the way adults do. They’re not going to fully appreciate the engineering or the archaeology. But they will remember the train ride, the winding bus up the mountain, and the feeling of being somewhere completely different.
And you’ll remember experiencing that with them.
That’s what makes it worth it.
If you prefer to keep things simple, you can browse Machu Picchu tours and bundled options here:
What I’d Do Differently Next Time
If I were planning this trip again, there are a few things I would change, especially when it comes to how we structured our day and how many days we spent in each location.
I go into all of that in detail here:
👉 5 Things I’d Do Differently in Peru
If you’re in the planning phase, I would absolutely read that next. It’ll help you avoid some of the mistakes we made and make this whole experience feel a lot smoother.
How We Booked This Trip Using Points and Miles
If you’re wondering how we actually booked a trip like this for a family of four, this is where it gets really interesting.
Because this Peru trip would have cost us thousands and thousands of dollars if we had paid cash for everything, especially flights and hotels.
Instead, we used a combination of points, miles, and credit card benefits to drastically reduce the cost.
I break down exactly how we did that here:
👉 How We Booked Peru Using Points and Miles
Where to Stay for Machu Picchu (Quick Recap)
If you’re still deciding where to base yourself, here’s the simple version:
Cusco → works, but long day
Aguas Calientes → easiest, but very touristy
Ollantaytambo → best balance for families
If you want to browse hotel options in each area:
👉 Cusco: Explore hotels
👉 Aguas Calientes: Explore hotels
👉 Ollantaytambo: Explore hotels
Want to Plan Trips Like This for (Almost) Free?
If you’re new to points and miles and you’re thinking, how are people actually affording trips like this for a family…
I put together a free beginner’s guide that walks you through exactly how to get started.
👉 Get my free beginner’s guide to points and miles
This is the same strategy we use to book trips like Peru without paying full price.
Final Thoughts
If you take one thing away from this entire guide, let it be this:
Book your Machu Picchu ticket first.
Build everything else around that.
Keep your route realistic for your kids.
And don’t underestimate the logistics.
If you do that, this can be one of the most memorable trips you ever take as a family.
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