South America is a wonderful place to travel as a family. Children walk among sea lions in the Galápagos, feel the spray of Iguazú Falls, meet llamas at Machu Picchu and watch icebergs fall from a glacier in Patagonia. With private guides and a pace that suits everyone, from toddlers to grandparents, it is the kind of trip that families talk about for years.
Easiest for young childrenThe Galápagos, Iguazú Falls, Patagonia and Rio de Janeiro
Best for school-age kidsPeru: Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and the Amazon
Time needed10 to 14 days for one or two countries
Plan aroundAltitude, school holidays and short travel days
The best family destinations in South America
| Destination | Why kids love it | Altitude | Ages (our advice) |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Galápagos | Sea lions, giant tortoises and iguanas that let you come close; snorkelling and beaches | Sea level | All ages; best when children can swim |
| Iguazú Falls (Argentina and Brazil) | Walkways right over the falls, a boat ride into the spray and a bird park | Low | All ages |
| Patagonia | Glacier boardwalks, boat trips among icebergs, penguins near Ushuaia and the End of the World Train | Low | All ages; the Perito Moreno Minitrekking is for ages 8 to 65 |
| Rio de Janeiro and Búzios | Sugarloaf cable car, Christ the Redeemer and easy beaches | Sea level | All ages |
| Peru: Lima, Paracas and the Amazon | Sea lions on the Ballestas Islands, dune buggies and rainforest lodges | Low | All ages; the Amazon from about 5 |
| Peru: the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco | Inca ruins, llamas and alpacas, a train through the mountains | High: 2,000–3,400 m | From about 6, with a gentle altitude plan |
| Ecuador: Quito and the Middle of the World | Standing on the equator, volcanoes and markets | High: about 2,800 m | From about 6 |
| Chile: the Atacama Desert | Stargazing, salt flats and flamingos | High: about 2,400 m and above | Older children and teenagers |
| Bolivia: the Uyuni Salt Flats | Giant perspective photos, flamingos and coloured lagoons | Very high: 3,650 m and above | Teenagers |
Ages are our own advice, based on years of planning family trips; every child is different. Tell us about yours and we will suggest the right mix.
Altitude and children: plan the route carefully
Cusco, La Paz, Quito and the Uyuni Salt Flats are high in the Andes, and altitude can affect children as well as adults. The CDC advises not to travel from a low elevation to more than 2,750 m in a single day, and to spend a few days at a moderate altitude first. That is how we plan family trips:
- Sleep low first: in Peru, go straight from Cusco airport to the Sacred Valley, at about 2,870 m, and visit Cusco at the end.
- Easy first days: short visits, plenty of water and an early night.
- Choose low destinations for babies and toddlers: the Galápagos, Iguazú, Patagonia, Rio and the Peruvian coast have no altitude at all.
- Talk to your paediatrician before the trip, especially for very young children.
Read our detailed Peru family vacation guide for an age-by-age plan.
Family itineraries for South America
Peru with kids (10 days)
Lima, the Sacred Valley with a llama farm and the salt pans of Maras, the train to Machu Picchu, Cusco and three nights in the Amazon rainforest. Every step of this route, with ages and an altitude plan, is in our Peru family vacation guide.
Peru and the Galápagos (14 days)
The Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco, then a flight to Ecuador for four or five days in the Galápagos: snorkelling with sea lions, giant tortoises in the highlands and white beaches. It is the route of our Ecuador and Peru Highlights (15 days), which we adapt for families.
Rio de Janeiro, Iguazú Falls and Buenos Aires (12 days)
The cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer in Rio, a few days on the beach in Búzios, both sides of Iguazú Falls with a boat ride beneath the cascades and the bird park, and Buenos Aires to finish. No altitude, short flights and lots of variety. See our Brazil and Argentina Experience (14 days).
Overland, train or boatFlight
Patagonia with kids (10 days)
Buenos Aires, then El Calafate for the boardwalks and a boat trip in front of the Perito Moreno Glacier, and Ushuaia for the End of the World Train and a boat on the Beagle Channel. Patagonia has no altitude and the activities are short and spectacular. Older children can walk on the glacier on the Minitrekking, from the age of 8.
Overland, train or boatFlight
Read more in our guides to Argentine Patagonia and the best time to visit Patagonia.
When to go: South America in the school holidays
| School holidays | Where to go | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Summer: June to August | Peru, Ecuador, the Galápagos, the Amazon, Bolivia, Iguazú | The dry season in the Andes. Patagonia is in winter, and many of its lodges close |
| Christmas and New Year | Patagonia, Buenos Aires, Brazil’s beaches, the Galápagos, Easter Island | The southern summer: long days, warm beaches and Patagonia’s best season |
| Spring break and Easter | The Galápagos, Patagonia, Iguazú, Peru | The end of summer in the south; in Peru the rains are ending and the valleys are green |
| Autumn half-term (October) | Peru, Patagonia, Iguazú, the Galápagos | Good weather in most regions, and fewer visitors |
Travelling as a family: practical tips
- Short travel days: no more than one long transfer or flight in two days, and a free afternoon every few days.
- Private guides and transfers: you set the pace, stop when the children need it and change plans with the weather.
- Family rooms and child fares: family rooms, connecting rooms and child fares on trains and excursions are available according to the policies of each hotel and transport company. We look for them when we plan your trip.
- Multi-generation trips: grandparents and children travel well together on routes without altitude or long hikes; see our guide to Patagonia for senior travellers.
- Documents: carry your children’s passports and, if only one parent is travelling, a notarised letter of consent from the other parent, which some countries can ask for.
- Health: visit a travel clinic a few weeks before you go. Some vaccines, such as yellow fever, are recommended for parts of the Amazon. Bring travel insurance with medical cover for the whole family.
Plan your family trip
Every family trip we plan is tailor-made around your children’s ages and interests. See our South America itineraries and all our South America tours, or start planning your family trip.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best South American country for a family vacation?
Peru is the most popular, for Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and the Amazon, with an altitude plan for children. For young children, the Galápagos, Iguazú Falls, Patagonia and Rio de Janeiro are easier, because they have no altitude.
Is South America safe for families?
Yes, with good planning. Private transfers, trusted local guides and well-located hotels make the trip easy, and our team is on call 24 hours a day while you travel.
What is the best age to take kids to Machu Picchu?
From about 6, when children can enjoy the walk and the story of the Incas. Younger children can go too, with a baby carrier and a gentle altitude plan that starts in the Sacred Valley.
Where can we go in South America with a baby or toddler?
Destinations at low altitude with short transfers: the Galápagos on land-based programmes, Iguazú Falls, Rio de Janeiro and Búzios, Buenos Aires, Lima and Paracas.
When is the best time for a family trip to South America?
In the June to August school holidays, choose Peru, Ecuador, the Galápagos or Iguazú. Over Christmas and Easter, Patagonia, Brazil’s beaches and the Galápagos are at their best.
How many days do we need for a family trip?
Ten days for one country, or 12 to 14 days for two, with no more than one long travel day at a time.
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Wilfredo Zúñiga Huamanguillas
Anthropologist & Hospitality Professional | South America Travel ExpertAnthropologist, hospitality professional and South America travel expert with 11 years of experience in tourism, trained at the Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco. Wilfredo writes about the people, traditions and landscapes of the continent, from the Andes and Machu Picchu to Patagonia, Brazil and the Amazon.
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