Even in the Rain, You Can Create Unforgettable Memories in the Capital of the Andes
Cusco is a magical city that deserves to be explored all year round — rain or shine.
However, at over 3,300 meters above sea level, cloudy skies and rain are common, especially between November and March, during the rainy season. When traveling with family, a rainy day can quickly become a challenge… unless you have the right ideas.
Fortunately, Cusco offers plenty of interesting, fun, and indoor activities — perfect for creating special memories with your children while discovering Peruvian culture from a different angle.
Here is our selection of the Top 10 Family Activities to Enjoy in Cusco on a Rainy Day:
1. Visit the ChocoMuseo
The ChocoMuseo, located right in the heart of Cusco’s historic center, offers interactive workshops where you and your family can create your own chocolate bars or truffles, starting from Peruvian cacao beans.
Children love mixing, molding, decorating, and most of all tasting!
Meanwhile, parents can discover the fascinating history of cacao, learn about artisanal techniques, and uncover the secrets of organic Andean chocolate.
You’ll have the chance to observe the full process of chocolate-making — from the cacao seed to the final creation.
This activity typically lasts between 1.5 and 2 hours.
We recommend booking in advance by calling (+51) 973 190 608 or through the website: Cusco – ChocoMuseo
And the best part? You get to take home your own customized chocolate creations!
2. Discover the Cusco Planetarium
Located in Llaullipata (within the Sacsayhuamán archaeological park), just 10 minutes by car from downtown Cusco, the Cusco Planetarium offers a fascinating and immersive experience for the entire family.
Through dome projections and accessible explanations, you will discover the Inca constellations, the Quechua astronomical worldview, and the deep spiritual connection between the sky and the Andean cosmos.
It’s a magical, educational, and captivating moment — especially for curious young minds.
You will have the opportunity to explore the universe from a completely new and unique perspective. Whether you are long-time astronomy enthusiasts or simply curious about the wonders of space, the planetarium has something for everyone.
The planetarium opens in the afternoon, and guided explanations are available in both French and English.
For more information and to book your visit, you may consult the official website: Home – Planetarium Cusco
3. Take Part in a Local Handicraft Workshop
Rainy days are a perfect opportunity to stay indoors and create something with your own hands.
Several local workshops in Cusco offer sessions where you can learn traditional artisanal techniques such as jewelry-making, weaving, and ceramic painting.
Just a short distance from Cusco, in the Sacred Valley, we recommend a special jewelry-making workshop hosted by children from modest backgrounds. It is they who will joyfully and proudly guide you through the creation of your own handmade bracelets, before helping you craft a unique silver ring. Personalized souvenirs for the whole family.
It is a beautiful way to support a solidarity-based initiative while taking home a meaningful piece of jewelry.
Enjoy a moment of transmission, exchange, and creativity in Cusco.
[Click here to get a preview of the activity]
4. Visit the Cusco Cathedral
This grand and ancient building is not only a place of worship, it is a true journey through time, rich with stories.
As you step into the cathedral, you are walking in the footsteps of both the Incas and the Spanish. Built over 450 years ago, between 1559 and 1654, the church was erected on the foundations of the Inca palace of Wiracocha. The cathedral reflects the complex history of the Spanish conquest: the colonizers deliberately constructed this Christian building on top of a sacred Inca site to symbolize the dominance of the new religion. Architecturally, it blends Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance styles.
The artists who decorated the cathedral were Quechua. While they learned to paint in the European style, they preserved their own ideas and traditions in their work.
One striking example is the painting of The Last Supper by Marcos Zapata. At first glance, it depicts the familiar Christian scene of Christ’s final meal with his apostles — but look closer, and you will find surprising local elements. At the center of the table sits cuy (guinea pig), a traditional dish from Cusco.
This painting is far more than a religious reproduction, it is a powerful expression of cultural syncretism.
Tip: opt for a short, engaging visit of 30 to 45 minutes, and turn it into a game with your children: who can spot the most curious or unusual details hidden within the monument?
5. Take a Peruvian Cooking Class
Cooking together is a universal pleasure. In Cusco, several cooking schools offer family-friendly classes where both adults and children can learn to prepare traditional Peruvian dishes such as empanadas, lomo saltado, or desserts made with purple corn or quinoa.
Children are invited to take part in every step of the process under supervision, discovering local flavors in a fun and educational way.
Peruvian cuisine is now recognized as one of the richest and most diverse in the world — the result of a fusion between native culinary traditions and Spanish, African, Chinese, and Japanese influences.
Each region of Peru offers an extraordinary variety of unique ingredients, such as multi-colored corn and over 3,000 types of potatoes.
Tip: choose a short and interactive format, ideally lasting 2 to 3 hours, for an experience that is both enriching and enjoyable for the whole family.
6. Have Fun in a Board Game Café
On rainy days, there’s nothing better than a warm drink in a cozy café. Some establishments in Cusco go even further by offering board games, children’s books, coloring activities, or even building toys to keep little ones entertained.
We recommend Eureka Café Lúdico, located at Calle Manco Inca 222, in Wanchaq. It’s the perfect spot for a midday break.
If you are looking for something a bit more original, Catfetin Cat Café offers board games too, but it is above all a warm, relaxing space where visitors can enjoy a drink or a slice of cake while spending time with freely roaming cats. It’s a unique experience that children absolutely love — they can pet the cats, play with them, and even adopt one if they fall in love!
If you are looking for an early evening activity, Hotel Andenes del Sol, just a few steps from Cusco’s main square (Plaza de Armas), hosts pizza nights every Thursday. You’ll be able to create your own pizza just the way you like it and enjoy board games with your family.
Every Friday evening, there’s a live music event featuring musicians and a dinner of choripán served with Belgian fries. You’ll also have the chance to play board games and share a fun time with your loved ones.
7. Visit a Traditional Weaving Workshop
Just a few minutes from the city center, the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco offers fascinating demonstrations of traditional Andean weaving.
From spinning the wool to creating intricate designs on traditional looms, passionate artisans — dressed in their colorful traditional clothing — perform live demonstrations and explain, with clarity and enthusiasm, the gestures passed down from generation to generation.
Families are invited to observe each step, ask questions, and even try a few basic techniques themselves.
It’s an ideal activity for curious children who love seeing how things are made.
More than just a creative experience, it is a true lesson in patience and culture — one that helps younger visitors appreciate the value of ancestral knowledge and craftsmanship.
On site, you will also find a small artisan market, where you can purchase traditional souvenirs — all handmade by the Quechua communities supported by the center. Scarves, hats, bags, or small dolls: each piece is unique.
By purchasing directly at the center, you contribute to preserving these traditions and supporting local families.
8. Discover Cusco’s Covered Markets
Markets are sensory universes, perfect for sparking children’s curiosity.
The San Pedro Market, located near the Plaza de Armas, is a must-visit. Inaugurated in 1925, its emblematic structure was partially designed by Gustave Eiffel.
Inside, you’ll find exotic fruits, colorful juices, spice stalls, handmade crafts, and even traditional toys.
You and your children can discover unfamiliar fruits, taste new drinks, and pick up unique souvenirs for the whole family.
At the back of the market, you’ll come across the comedores populares — small, family-run eateries where you can enjoy a local lunch at very affordable prices.
You’ll also find stalls selling traditional herbal remedies, where curanderas (healers) offer natural medicines, coca leaves, and even Andean purification rituals.
An unforgettable experience where flavors, traditions, and beliefs come together under one roof.
9. Attend a Traditional Dance Performance
A rainy evening is the perfect opportunity to discover the living soul of Andean culture through music, dance, and color.
Several cultural centers in Cusco offer indoor folk dance performances that are accessible and enjoyable for the whole family.
With vibrant colors, dazzling costumes, and dynamic rhythms, even young children — without understanding every detail — are often completely captivated.
The most renowned venue is the Centro Qosqo de Arte Nativo, which presents performances every evening, from Monday to Sunday, including public holidays, starting at 6:30 p.m.
Located at Av. El Sol 872, the center showcases a variety of traditional dances — festive, ritual, agricultural, and warrior-style choreographies — each accompanied by live music.
You will discover dances such as the Carnaval de Tinta, Sonconacuy, Carnaval Cusqueño, Checamarka, Carnaval de Catcca, RuniQuechunacuy, Qoyacha, and many others.
It’s a unique chance to appreciate the colors, costumes, rhythm, and emotional expression of the Cusqueñan people through the universal language of dance and music.
We recommend arriving a bit early to secure good seats.
You can book your tickets directly through the official website: Centro Qosqo de Arte Nativo – “Primera Institución Folklórica del Perú”
10. Take a Pottery Workshop
Participating in a pottery workshop as a family in Cusco is a wonderful way to connect with local culture while creating a unique, personalized souvenir.
Pottery in Cusco is an ancestral art inherited from pre-Columbian civilizations, especially the Quechua and Inca cultures, who used ceramics both in everyday life and in spiritual rituals.
Made from local clay, Cusqueñan pottery is known for its simple yet meaningful forms, often inspired by nature, sacred animals such as the condor, puma, or snake, and the Andean worldview (cosmovisión andina).
Artisans use traditional techniques passed down orally through generations and hand-decorate their pieces with natural pigments in warm earth tones — ochre, red, brown, and black.
Their creations include both utilitarian objects like jugs, bowls, and plates, and symbolic decorative pieces such as the famous Toritos de Pucará — small ceramic bulls placed on the rooftops of Andean homes as protective charms.
Most pottery workshops begin with a short presentation about the rich and fascinating history of Peruvian ceramics. Then, an experienced artisan will guide you step by step through the process — from preparing the clay to shaping, decorating, and firing your final piece.
A creative, tactile, and culturally immersive activity that the whole family will remember for years to come.
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You can also contact us directly by email at: escapateslow@gmail.com
