We’re already in mid-August, and it’s safe to say this has been an intense year for all of us. But here’s the good news: we made it this far, together. If this has been a big year for you and your loved ones — projects to celebrate, milestones reached, or simply the joy of still being together — we’d like to suggest a new way to close it out as a family: a New Year’s trip to Cusco, Peru.

Why Cusco Is the Ideal Travel Destination for Families on Holidays

Cusco is the destination that works for every generation, which is exactly what makes it stand out among family friendly Cusco tours:

• For kids, Cusco family adventure looks like ruins they can actually climb and explore, such as the giant stone walls of Sacsayhuamán, plus a scenic train ride to Machu Picchu. 
• For grandparents or anyone less mobile, Cusco is a walkable city, Machu Picchu is a single guided day trip (not a multi-day trek), and hotels across all categories are used to hosting older travelers comfortably. And regarding altitude —often the first worry families have when planning a trip to Cusco— it’s manageable for most healthy travelers by spending the first day at a relaxed pace before heading into more active days.
• And for couples, there’s a city with a genuine romantic atmosphere: plazas, colonial balconies, and local restaurants with the best authentic peruvian cuisine. Worth an evening walk on its own.

Beyond that, Cusco carries a festive energy during December that’s hard to replicate anywhere else: a city that’s equal parts colonial and Inca, lit up for the holidays, with a countdown that feels different from the one back home. Spending New Year’s in Cusco, Peru means closing out the year somewhere with real history behind it, where the new year genuinely means something.

And for families who want their trip to go further than sightseeing, there are responsible travel options that make closing out the year even more meaningful: knowing your trip supports the communities you’re visiting.

What to Do in Cusco and Machu Picchu for New Year’s

If you’ve never been to Cusco, it’s easy to assume there’s only one thing to do there: Machu Picchu. In reality, 4 days in Cusco gives a family a surprising range of experiences: history, nature, local culture, and shopping, without having to rush from one to the next. If you’re wondering what to do in Cusco for 4 days, here’s how it breaks down.

• In Cusco, you can walk through the Plaza de Armas and the Santo Domingo Cathedral, built directly on top of the Inca temple of Qoricancha, one of the clearest examples of how colonial and Inca history sit layered on top of each other in this city. A short drive away, you can explore Sacsayhuamán, a massive Inca fortress with stone walls kids love climbing around, along with the nearby sites of Puca Pucara, Qenqo, and Tambomachay.
• In the Sacred Valley, a day tour from Cusco takes families to browse the artisan market in Pisac: a good stop for anyone wanting to bring home textiles, ceramics, or silver jewelry made by local artisans. And walk through Ollantaytambo, an Inca fortress town so well-preserved that people still live in it today, using the same layout the Incas designed centuries ago.
• At Machu Picchu, the day is built around one thing: touring the citadel itself, with a guide walking you through its temples, terraces, and viewpoints so the visit means more than just photos. A Machu Picchu day tour from Cusco is entirely manageable for families, including bringing Cusco to Machu Picchu with kids, since it’s a single guided day, not an overnight trek. For most families, this is the moment the whole trip has been leading up to.

None of this requires two weeks of vacation or a physically demanding trek. It’s four days, planned in order, with someone else handling the logistics.

Here’s exactly how those four days come together.

4-Day Itinerary: Cusco, Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu

Here’s what a 4 days in Cusco itinerary looks like in practice:

• Day 1: Cusco. Arrival and airport transfer, followed by a half-day city tour through Plaza de Armas, Santo Domingo Cathedral, and Qoricancha, plus the nearby archaeological sites of Sacsayhuamán, Puca Pucara, Qenqo, and Tambomachay.
• Day 2: Sacred Valley. A full day exploring the town and artisan market of Pisac, followed by the ancient fortress of Ollantaytambo.
• Day 3: Machu Picchu. A scenic train ride through the Sacred Valley, then a bus up to the citadel for a guided tour of its temples, terraces, and viewpoints, before returning to Cusco.
• Day 4: Departure, or optional add-on activities for those who want to extend their stay.

Accommodations are available at three levels: best value (3-star), superior (4-star), or luxury (5-star). So the trip can flex to fit different budgets within the same family. All of them are selected as family friendly hotels in Cusco, comfortable for grandparents and safe for kids alike.

Choose a Responsible Travel Company

If a trip like this is going to mean something more, the travel operator you book it with matters just as much as where you go. This is where we should be upfront about who we are.

Good Life Expeditions didn’t start as a typical tour operator. We were born out of families who traveled to Peru through MEDLIFE‘s service learning programs. And who, after experiencing the country’s people and culture firsthand, wanted to come back and share it with the people they love most. Today, Good Life Expeditions is owned by MEDLIFE, the same nonprofit that provides healthcare, education, and community development to people living in extreme poverty across Peru.

That origin still shapes how we build every trip. It’s why we’re based year-round in Lima, not just running tours from an office abroad. And it’s why we donate a percentage of the profit from every trip we sell directly to MEDLIFE’s work in the communities we visit.

For families who want their holiday trip to mean something beyond the photos, that difference matters. To learn how you can book a trip through Cusco that ensures profits go directly back into the communities and local economy of Peru, contact our expert travel team today!

Start Planning Ahead for Your Holiday

Here’s the honest truth: if a New Year’s trip to Machu Picchu is on your radar, entrance tickets and accommodations for December 31st fill up faster than most people expect. Unlike a typical vacation, you can’t decide in mid-December and expect availability. Families who want this specific Cusco family trip are already starting to plan now, and mid-August still gives you plenty of runway, as long as you don’t wait much longer.

We put together a 4-day Cusco, Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu itinerary specifically designed as a family trip to Cusco with more meaning, without needing two weeks off or a complicated logistics plan.

[Cusco & Machu Picchu Getaway: See the full itinerary and reserve your dates →]

Frequently Asked Questions about Cusco New year’s Trip

Is Machu Picchu open on New Year’s?

Yes. Machu Picchu operates year-round, including December 31st and January 1st, with daily entrance limits that apply just as they do the rest of the year.

Is Cusco safe to visit with kids during the holidays?

Yes. Late December is high season in Cusco, which means more infrastructure, more local events, and a well-established tourist experience, not less safety.

Do I need a lot of advance notice to book?

For New Year’s specifically, yes. Even more than for a typical trip. Machu Picchu entrance tickets are limited daily, and December 31st availability is one of the first to sell out each year.

What’s included in the price?

The Machu Picchu Getaway starts at $1,150 per person and includes 3 hotel nights with breakfast, all tours listed in the itinerary, English-speaking guides, transfers, entrance fees, and train tickets to and from Machu Picchu. International airfare, domestic flights, lunches, dinners, tips, and medical insurance are not included.