Luxury to Budget: Where to Stay When Visiting Machu Picchu and Nazca Lines

Most journeys to Machu Picchu begin in Cusco, and spending 3-4 days here is essential—not just for the rich history and culture, but to acclimatize your family to the altitude (3,400m). Trust me on this; I've seen too many travelers rush to higher elevations and spend days feeling miserable.

For families seeking mid-range comfort with authentic character, I recommend El Mercado near the main square. Converted from a former market, it balances historic charm with modern amenities. The family rooms are spacious enough that parents won't trip over kids' backpacks, and the courtyard provides a peaceful retreat after busy days exploring. Their coca tea service—the traditional remedy for altitude adjustment—is available 24/7, which proved invaluable when my nephew woke up breathless at 2 AM.

On the luxury end, the JW Marriott Cusco occupies a beautifully restored 16th-century convent. While definitely a splurge, their oxygen-enriched rooms are a godsend for families worried about altitude sickness. My sister's kids were fascinated by the archaeological ruins preserved under glass floors in parts of the hotel—history literally beneath your feet!

For budget-conscious travelers, Kokopelli Hostel offers private family rooms that won't break the bank. The communal kitchen lets you prepare simple meals (saving money with picky eaters), and their free walking tours provide an excellent orientation to the city. When traveling with my friend's teenagers last year, they particularly appreciated the game room for downtime between sightseeing.

Before tackling Machu Picchu, I always recommend families spend 2-3 nights in the Sacred Valley. At a lower elevation than Cusco (2,800m), it's easier on the lungs while offering stunning landscapes and fascinating Inca sites like Ollantaytambo and Pisac.

My favorite mid-range option is Hotel Sol y Luna in Urubamba. Their individual casitas provide ample space for families, and the gardens are a riot of flowers where hummingbirds dart between blooms. What makes this place special for kids is their focus on Peruvian culture—my niece spent an afternoon learning traditional weaving techniques while my nephew joined a pottery class. The property also houses a not-for-profit school, and proceeds from the hotel support education for local children.

For families looking to splurge, Tambo del Inka in Urubamba offers luxury with a conscience. Their heated pool became our daily ritual after exploring ruins, and the glass-walled spa overlooks the rushing Urubamba River—the perfect spot to soothe hiking-sore muscles. What impressed me most was their water conservation system (the plumber in me couldn't help but investigate). Their rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling would make any environmentalist proud.

Budget travelers should consider La Casa de mi Abuela in Ollantaytambo. This family-run guesthouse offers simple but comfortable rooms around a garden courtyard where kids can safely play. The location is unbeatable—just blocks from the impressive Ollantaytambo ruins and the train station to Machu Picchu. Plus, their included breakfast featuring homemade bread and local jams fueled our days of exploration without additional cost. Before heading out each morning, I'd fill our water bottles with purified water from their kitchen—saving both plastic waste and money.

The small town of Aguas Calientes (also called Machu Picchu Pueblo) sits at the base of the mountain leading to the ancient citadel. While not the most charming town, staying here allows early access to Machu Picchu—crucial for families wanting to beat the crowds and midday heat.

For mid-range comfort, El MaPi by Inkaterra has been my go-to across multiple visits. Their family rooms are spacious by Aguas Calientes standards, and the included breakfast buffet opens early enough to fuel up before dawn Machu Picchu visits. Their packed lunch service is a lifesaver, as food options at the archaeological site are limited and overpriced. What my sister particularly appreciated was their laundry service—essential when traveling with kids who seem magnetically attracted to mud.

Luxury seekers should book the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, where individual casitas are scattered through cloud forest gardens. After a day exploring Machu Picchu with my friend's teenagers, we spotted over 15 species of birds from our private terrace while enjoying afternoon tea. The property's natural hot springs offer the perfect muscle remedy after climbing Huayna Picchu. As a plumber with a background in environmental science, I was impressed by their water purification system that uses natural filtration methods similar to those the Incas would have employed.

Budget-conscious families will find Gringo Bill's offers good value with a central location. Their triple and quadruple rooms accommodate families without requiring multiple bookings, and the rooftop terrace provides a place for kids to stretch their legs. When I stayed here with my nephew, he made fast friends with other children in the common areas while I planned our Machu Picchu strategy.

Don't forget to pack a reliable headlamp for early morning starts to Machu Picchu—the paths from town are dimly lit, and having hands free to help kids navigate is essential.

While this is primarily an accommodation guide, I'd be remiss not to mention a few essentials for your actual visit to Machu Picchu with family in tow. After three visits—once solo, once with friends, and most recently with my sister's family—I've refined my approach.

First, book the earliest possible entry time. With kids, the 6:00 AM slot is ideal—yes, it means a pre-dawn wake-up call, but the site is less crowded, temperatures are cooler, and lighting for photos is magical. We managed to explore the main sections before my niece and nephew's energy began to flag.

Second, hire a guide in advance. While I normally prefer self-guided exploration, the stories and context a knowledgeable guide provides bring the ruins to life for children. My nephew still talks about the 'stone puzzle pieces' after our guide explained Inca stonework techniques.

For the visit itself, pack light but smart. Our day bags contained: water bottles, snacks, rain ponchos (weather changes rapidly), sunscreen, hats, and a first aid kit with blister treatment—which saved my sister when her new hiking boots proved less comfortable than advertised.

If traveling with teens, consider adding the hike up Huayna Picchu (the iconic peak in most Machu Picchu photos). It requires separate tickets purchased well in advance, but the views are spectacular. My friend's 15-year-old declared it 'actually worth getting up early for'—high praise from a teenager.

After Machu Picchu, many families head to Nazca to witness the mysterious geoglyphs etched into the desert floor. While Nazca is primarily a jumping-off point for flights over the lines, it's worth spending at least one full day and two nights here.

In the mid-range category, Hotel Nazca Lines offers comfortable family rooms and—crucially for families with children—a swimming pool. After hours in the hot, dry desert, my niece and nephew made a beeline for the water. The hotel can arrange scenic flights directly, saving you the hassle of coordinating with separate tour operators. Their restaurant serves reliable meals, which is important in a town with limited dining options.

For a touch of luxury that won't completely break the bank, DM Hoteles Nasca provides larger rooms, a more elaborate pool area with shade (essential in the desert heat), and a spa offering treatments using local ingredients. After our flight over the lines, my sister indulged in a massage while I took the kids for ice cream in the central plaza.

Budget travelers should consider Hospedaje Brabant, a family-run guesthouse where the owners are passionate about the local archaeology. What it lacks in amenities, it makes up for in location (central) and local knowledge. The owner, Carlos, gave us insider tips on the best time for our flight (early morning for calmest air) and recommended a fascinating ceramics workshop where the kids painted their own souvenirs.

For the actual flight over the Nazca Lines, I recommend bringing motion sickness bands for everyone in your family, even those who don't normally get queasy. The small planes make sharp banking turns to give passengers views of each geoglyph, which can challenge even strong stomachs. These drug-free bands were lifesavers for my sister, who still got amazing photos while avoiding nausea.

Most international flights arrive and depart through Lima, making it the natural bookend to your Peruvian adventure. While many travelers treat it merely as a transit point, I recommend spending at least 2-3 days exploring this vibrant capital—especially at the end of your trip when you've acclimatized to the altitude and Peruvian pace of life.

For families, I suggest staying in the Miraflores district, which offers safety, walkability, and proximity to parks and the ocean. In the mid-range category, Casa Andina Standard Miraflores Centro provides comfortable family rooms and a central location. What made this perfect for my sister's family was the proximity to Kennedy Park (where kids can run freely) and the Larcomar shopping center built into the cliffs overlooking the Pacific.

Luxury seekers should consider Belmond Miraflores Park, where the rooftop pool offers panoramic ocean views. While definitely a splurge, their family packages include experiences like private cooking classes where my niece and nephew learned to make ceviche (under close supervision with pre-sliced ingredients). The concierge arranged a fantastic private tour of Lima's water museum—combining my plumbing interests with kid-friendly interactive exhibits about water conservation.

Budget-conscious travelers will find Selina Miraflores Lima offers private family rooms alongside hostel amenities like communal kitchens and social spaces. Their movie nights in the courtyard were a hit with my friend's teenagers, who connected with other young travelers while sharing travel stories.

Don't miss exploring Lima's historic center (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and the pre-Incan ruins at Huaca Pucllana right in the middle of Miraflores. For families, I recommend carrying a packable daypack that can fold into its own pocket when not needed but expands to hold water bottles, snacks, light jackets, and treasures collected throughout the day.