Virtual Vacation from Home to Peru: Sacred Valley + Cusco

Let’s make travel accessible to everyone around the world through virtual vacations from home! This is a place where we will celebrate culture, language, history, and acceptance of people around the world. Here, families can take this virtual vacation from home to Peru comfortably! Find virtual fun, tours of famous destinations and museums, cooking lessons, and more in our Travel From Home section. Kids will get hands-on experiences and learn about a variety of cities, countries, and regions through these at-home travel guides. Additionally, these resources can be used as an educational tool.

Each one also includes a list of books and movies for all ages to bring the whole experience to life in your living room. This is a wonderful opportunity to inspire young travelers, introduce kids to a place you will travel to in the future, and/or simply teach your family about other places around the world. Enjoy, explore, and create memories together, as you take this virtual vacation from home to Peru!

Sacred Valley

Families can take virtual vacations from home to Peru anytime thanks to our various online resources! Tucked between Cusco and Machu Picchu lies Peru’s Sacred Valley in the Andes. Here, tiny villages enclose ancient ruins along sloping mountain ranges and broad fields, giving the area an exquisite beauty all its own. In fact, this fertile valley stretches from Pisac all the way to Ollantaytambo, by the flowing Urubamba River. Drawing in many tourists due to its rich history and fascinating culture, it’s also a popular place for families to experience Peru’s cultural magic. Even if you can’t physically visit right now, you can still take a virtual vacation from home to Peru! Start planning your virtual trip using maps of the area. Here are a few activities to whet your appetite as you further plan your trip to Peru’s Sacred Valley! 

Explore these Cities on Your Virtual Vacation from Home to Peru

Cusco

Begin your trip to the Sacred Valley in Cusco, a bustling city to acclimate you to its climate and elevation. Plus, it’s an easy drive from Cusco to Machu Picchu, with breathtaking stops along the way! Get oriented as you learn more about Peru and Cusco’s location, situated in the south-eastern area of Peru in the Sacred Valley, close to the Andes mountains. Machu Picchu is also northwest of Cusco, making it a great city to explore in conjunction with Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley! Remember when you’re actually traveling, though, It requires a few days to get acclimated to this high altitude city. Plaza de Armas, its main square, is a unique and authentic place to take in Peru’s heart during Incan times. 

Visit the Cathedral of Santo Domingo, for example, and experience the hustle and bustle of Peruvian life. Cusco also houses many churches, markets, and museums to explore as well! Be sure to also check out the best things to do in Cusco with little ones so you know how to better divide your time in the city. Older kids may fancy a visit to the Museo Machu Picchu, which includes a collection of artifacts from the lost city. For younger children, the Museo Inka walks you through ancient Peruvian civilizations and their mark on history. The exhibits and artifacts in the Museo Machu Picchu are definitely a must-see prior to your visit to Machu Picchu. Be sure to look out for llamas as you roam the city streets!

Maras and Moray

When you take a virtual vacation from home to Peru, you’ll also witness stunning geological formations! Surely don’t miss Maras for its Ancient Salt Pans as you make your way from Cusco toward Machu Picchu. A rich history surrounds these Salt Mines, where approximately 4,500 salt wells were placed on stepped terraces even predating the Incans. For details on how they still use the salt mines and the best way to visit the site, read this detailed report on the salt ponds! Moray, another Peru destination, may have also been an Incan agricultural complex, or maybe even an amphitheater. Several terraced, circular depressions resulted in this unusual Incan ruin. It is a wonderful place to visit on our virtual travel tour – and in person!

Ollantaytambo

The next stop on our virtual vacation to Peru is Ollantaytambo! A peaceful and friendly village with beautiful views, it’s a hidden gem among Peru’s other famous tourist destinations. To better understand what makes Ollantaytambo so special, here’s a list of 6 reasons to visit Ollantaytambo! Plus, with a rich history and many ruins to explore, kids will love all the rugged areas they can traverse here. Wander the ancient cobblestone streets, walk past the irrigation channels in town, and admire the beautiful and colorful traditional Adean clothing as the locals stroll past. Local culture shines brightly here for you to immerse yourself in as well. Tour Ollantaytambo to learn about its history, ancient sites, terraced fortification, Incan Temple, and daily village life! 

Visit Local Markets

Peru’s local markets symbolize it’s everlasting cultural importance. In Pisac and Chinchero, you can visit these colorful structures to experience it for yourself! Pisac’s locals are famous for being super friendly, which makes this a particularly great place for little ones. Plus, the market also provides souvenirs and unique handicrafts from the area. While you’re there, here are some other suggestions of things to do while in Pisac. Chinchero, on the other hand, is Peru’s weaving center. Locals here offer families weaving demonstrations on how to clean, spin, and dye wool, which is an overall mesmerizing process to witness. (You can also observe how they create alpaca jumpers!) Read the Only Peru Guide for more information on other sites to see in Chinchero.

Hiking and Culture in the Area

Peru is great for family hiking! For a virtual experience of areas to hike in the Sacred Valley, see our sister article, Hiking in Peru. For an even deeper exploration, Peru’s rich culture can also be explored through music, dance, arts and crafts, and delicious cooking! More active families can glean further information on famous Peru landmarks like the Inca Trail,Machu Picchu, and Choquequirao Trek. The Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain is another must-visit, containing seven exciting colors to line its mountain peaks. Made of red clay, mud, and sand, as well as quartzose, make it an educational visit by telling children more about Peru’s geography. Learn more about Vinicunca’s mineral composition and location before you decide to travel there physically! Also be aware of altitude sickness, as it could ruin a beautiful vacation.

Get Active

Cusco and the Sacred Valley present endless choices for activities! Choose from kid-friendly mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, and kayaking. To get an idea of all of the adventure activities you can do when you travel to Peru, first visit Peru Travel website to see pictures of kayaking on Cusco’s lakes and mountain biking in Maras. Whether you go on a local hike or spend time kayaking at your local lake, if your family loves the outdoors, you will easily find something on this list to experience in your area too! 

Envision the grandness of your surrounding mountains and the valleys as you enjoy your leisure activity outdoors. If you have to travel too far to access outdoor adventures, you can also consider building a kayak from colorful craft sticks and then float them in the bathtub as your kids pretend to be viewing the Andes Mountains! Or, go on a virtual mountain bike tour through Maras and Moray to gain a picturesque view of the valley. Find sheep, donkeys, and cows on your way down through the countryside. Then learn how to pack your backpack for an overnight hike from the experts at REI!

Practice Spanish on Your Virtual Vacation from Home to Peru

Practice your Spanish on this virtual vacation from home to Peru! Learn about the many languages spoken in Peru, as well as the main religions of the country. Spanish is the country’s official language, though it’s also multilingual. Spanish is spoken in about 85% of the population and is the main language of the government, media, and education. Learn some basic Spanish or download the Duolingo app to get daily practice for your future travels! Test out your Spanish skills as you read any of these Spanish children’s books. For books specific to Peru, see this list of Peruvian books, neatly sorted according to age. Finally, you can check out Spanish Mama and her collection of favorite Peru books for kids in fiction and nonfiction categories!

Happy Virtual Vacation from Home to Peru

Whether you are preparing to travel to Peru in the future or looking for ways to travel to Peru from home, this virtual vacation can help your family get a taste of Cusco and the Sacred Valley. From Incan history to iconic ruins to local markets, Peru is sure to be a hit with your kids – be it on the ground or from your couch! We hope you have enjoyed your virtual vacation to Peru!

Want to see more from Michelle?  Find her on Instagram @adventuretolearn.

Popular Reads

5 Exciting Hikes Near Anchorage For Families

Looking for the best hikes near Anchorage for families? You’re in the right place! A visit to the Anchorage area Read more

Amazing 13-Day Family Itinerary For The Canadian Rockies

Planning a family itinerary for the Canadian Rockies is a wonderful idea because there are so many things to do Read more

Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Review: An Unforgettable Family Adventure

The Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser is a one-of-a-kind adventure that will take you and your kids to a galaxy far, Read more

Best Beaches® Turks and Caicos Review By A UK Family

Beaches Turks and Caicos may not seem like a typical vacation destination for a UK family to review, but trust Read more