How to Plan a Family Trip to Latin America

We love to share about travel, and today’s blog post on How to Plan a Family Trip to Latin America
is a guest post in partnership with Totally Latin America.

Planning on traveling to Latin America with your kids? A trip to South America with the whole family in tow is sure to make for unforgettable memories, but it’s essential to plan ahead with a Latin America travel agency to ensure the smooth running of this once in a lifetime adventure.

South America is an excellent place to travel to with children – they are sure to be blown away by the otherworldly landscapes, waterfalls, national parks and wildlife, not to mention the beautiful beaches!

Family Friendly Must-See Destinations in Latin America

Now to talk you through some out of South America’s must-see tourist attractions.

When planning your vacation, be sure to include these incredible destinations as part of your travel itinerary…

1: Machu Picchu

A trip to South America cannot be completed without visiting Machu Picchu, the top archaeological attraction in all of the continent. Machu Picchu is very easy to do with kids if you bypass the tougher trekking routes.

Older kids with an interest in history will probably get more from a guided tour of the ancient citadel, whereas young kids are free to roam around the ruins for as long as they like – whilst also bumping into some native alpacas!

It’s also worth exploring the wide array of adventure travel Peru has to offer. Instead of taking the train to Machu Picchu, why not raft and zip line your way there?!

2: The Galapagos Islands

A visit to The Galapagos Islands is yet another unmissable experience in South America. If your kids are wildlife enthusiasts, then this is the place for you. The islands support a huge variety of animals from giant tortoises to lizards and penguins. With such a wide array of unusual wildlife, this trip is sure to impress not only the children but their parents too!

Other than the animals, there’s also a long list of family-friendly activities available on the islands. No matter what your child’s age, interests or fitness levels there is something to keep them interested. Trekking is the most popular activity on the islands allowing you to stop along the way when you come across all sorts of exciting animals.

If you are a lover of the water on the other hand, maybe kayaking, a manta ray snorkel tour, or a scuba diving tour is your best bet. I think it is safe to say the Galapagos will have something for each and every family member to enjoy. Find out the best places on where to go surfing in Costa Rica here. You can get in touch with the team at Inertia if you’re planning a trip to South Padre Island for spring break 2023, click for more info.

3: Iguazu Falls

The Iguazu Falls which are shared between Brazil and Argentina will take your breath away. Most tour groups will bring you right to what is known as ‘The Devil’s Throat’, the largest fall at 269 feet, and as you can imagine, the view is like no other.

To ensure the whole family enjoy all that this site has to offer, be sure to take the eco train up the waterfall instead of trekking through the jungle (the little ones will enjoy the novelty of going on a train ride whilst also taking some time off their feet). Use the bathroom and stock up on snacks before heading up the falls though, as there are none along the rest of the trail.

There are also a number of boat tours available at the falls. Although children under the age of 12 aren’t allowed to take the more adventurous boat rides, there are some other options available to younger families.

The first is a boat ride to Isla San Martin, an island located in the middle of all the waterfalls in the National Park, and an added bonus is that this boat ride is free! The second option is the Ecological Ride also by Iguazu Jungle. This 30 minute long raft ride is perfect for wildlife spotting enthusiasts.

4: The Mayan Ruins at Chichen Itza

The last spot not to be missed is The Mayan Ruins. Just two hours from Cancun, the magnificent Mayan Ruins at Chichen Itza are one of the new 7 wonders of the world. Rich in history and the centre of pilgrimage for the ancient Maya civilization for over 1,000 years, Chichen Itza is one of the busiest ruins in Mexico with 8,000 visitors each day!

With that in mind, be sure to get there early to avoid long queues and overcrowding. Although it is very busy, there are a lot of wide, open lawn space surrounding El Castillo, which is perfect for letting the kids run around and blow off some steam. (This is also a great spot to get a family photo in front of the main pyramid without too many crowds in the background!).

As the site is mostly flat, kids should be able to walk around without complaint. One last top tip for visiting Chichen Itza is to stop at a cenote on the way home. Kids will love the opportunity to cool down in these amazing underground sinkholes after a long day of taking in the ancient ruins.

So if you haven’t already realized it, Latin America is a fantastic place to explore with kids of all ages. There are various luxury South America tours the whole family can enjoy too. Why not do it in style? It’s likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip, after all, and one that will make for lifelong memories.