Experiences · Family Friendly
Latin Americawith kids.
Destinations that work beautifully for families — castles and cenotes, sloths and sea lions, tacos and ice cream — with the practical bits parents need.
Family guides
Start here: our planning guides for traveling with kids.
Little Jetter cityCartagena with KidsLittle Jetter cityMexico City with KidsFirst family tripYour First Family Trip to Latin AmericaPacking with kidsWhat to Pack for Kids on a Latin America Trip (and How to Let Them Help)Mexico · Family travelMexico City Museums Kids Will Actually EnjoyMexico · Family travelMexico City Neighborhoods for Families: Choosing a Base With KidsMexico · Family travelMexico City With Toddlers: Parks, Short Outings and an Easier PaceColombia · Family travelCartagena Beaches for Families: City Sand, Barú and the Rosario IslandsColombia · Family travelCartagena With Toddlers: A Cooler, Slower City BreakColombia · Family travelCartagena Cultural Stops With Kids: Short Museums and Creative WalksBrazil · Family travelRio de Janeiro With Kids: A First-Timer's Family GuideBrazil · Family travelRio de Janeiro Beaches for Families: Choosing a Stretch and a Daily PlanBrazil · Family travelA 3-Day Rio de Janeiro Family Itinerary: Big Views and Easy PausesCosta Rica · Family travelCosta Rica Wildlife Experiences for Kids: Choosing the Right Nature OutingCosta Rica · Family travelCosta Rica With Kids: Rainforest, Volcano or Beach?Costa Rica · Family travelA 7-Day Costa Rica Family Itinerary: La Fortuna and One Beach BasePuerto Rico · Family travelOld San Juan With Kids: A Short Walk Through Forts, Squares and City WallsPuerto Rico · Family travelFamily Day Trips From San Juan, Puerto Rico: Forest, Coast and CavesPuerto Rico · Family travelA 3-Day San Juan, Puerto Rico Family ItineraryMexico · Family travelCenotes Near Tulum for Families: Choosing Water, Access and the Right VisitMexico · Family travelFamily Day Trips From Tulum: Ruins, Akumal and a Shorter Nature DayMexico · Family travelA 4-Day Tulum and Riviera Maya Family ItineraryMexico · Family travelPlaya del Carmen With Kids: A Practical Family Travel GuideMexico · Family travelFamily Beaches Near Playa del Carmen: Access, Shade and a Flexible PlanMexico · Family travelThings to Do in Playa del Carmen With Kids Beyond the BeachArgentina · Family travelBuenos Aires With Kids: A First-Timer's Family GuideArgentina · Family travelBuenos Aires Neighborhoods for Families: Palermo, Recoleta and BeyondArgentina · Family travelA 3-Day Buenos Aires Family Itinerary: Parks, Art and Neighborhood LifeGuatemala · Family travelAntigua Guatemala With Kids: A Practical Family City BreakGuatemala · Family travelThings to Do in Antigua Guatemala With Kids: Ruins, Cacao and Creative StopsGuatemala · Family travelEasy Family Day Trips From Antigua Guatemala: Farms, Villages and a Realistic RoutePanama · Family travelPanama City With Kids: A Practical Family Travel GuidePanama · Family travelPanama City Activities With Kids: Science, Nature and Short City WalksPanama · Family travelThe Panama Canal With Kids: Planning a Visit From Panama CityBrazil · Family travelFlorianópolis With Kids: A Practical Island Family GuideBrazil · Family travelFlorianópolis Beaches for Families: Choosing a Base and Checking ConditionsBrazil · Family travelFlorianópolis With Kids Beyond the Beach: Villages, Forts and City CultureColombia · Family travelMedellín With Kids: A Practical Family Travel GuideColombia · Family travelThings to Do in Medellín With Kids: Science, Gardens and ArtColombia · Family travelA 3-Day Medellín Family Itinerary: Science, City Culture and a Slower DayColombia · Family travelBogotá With Kids: A Practical Family Travel GuideColombia · Family travelThings to Do in Bogotá With Kids Beyond the Museum GalleriesColombia · Family travelBogotá Museums for Families: Gold, Art and Hands-On ScienceChile · Family travelSantiago With Kids: A Practical Family Travel GuideChile · Family travelThings to Do in Santiago With Kids: Science, Parks and City ViewsChile · Family travelFamily Day Trips From Santiago: Coast, Countryside and the AndesDominican Republic · Family travelPunta Cana With Kids: Choosing a Resort and Planning a Family StayDominican Republic · Family travelThings to Do in Punta Cana With Kids: Choosing Activities by Age and InterestDominican Republic · Family travelPunta Cana Beyond the Resort With Kids: Nature, Coast and a Realistic Excursion PlanUruguay · Family travelMontevideo With Kids: A Practical Family Travel GuideUruguay · Family travelThings to Do in Montevideo With Kids: Parks, Stories and Short Cultural StopsUruguay · Family travelMontevideo Beaches for Families: Pocitos, Ramírez and MalvínMexico · Family travelGuadalajara With Kids: A Practical Family Travel GuideMexico · Family travelThings to Do in Guadalajara With Kids: Murals, Plazas and Aquarium DiscoveryMexico · Family travelFamily Day Trips From Guadalajara: Tlaquepaque, Chapala and AjijicMexico · Family travelOaxaca With Kids: A Practical Family Travel GuideMexico · Family travelThings to Do in Oaxaca With Kids: Archaeology, Art and Craft DiscoveryMexico · Family travelOaxaca Food Experiences for Families: Markets, Mole and Making Tortillas
Best family destinations
Our favorite all-rounders for kids of every age.
Beach trips with kids
Calm water, soft sand and easy logistics.
Culture + museums
Pyramids, castles and museums kids remember.
Nature + wildlife
Sloths, tortoises, glaciers and cloud forests.
The Jet Set family
CartagenaLittle Jetter
Little Jetter · for the kids
Let the kids get ready too.
Dress your traveler for the destination, pack the bag and collect a stamp before you fly. Cartagena and Mexico City are already inside the app.
Pack my bag
- Wide-brim sun hat
- Linen shorts
- Comfy sandals
- Water bottle
Free on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.
Easy first international trips
Short flights, simple transfers, big payoff.
Food kids will actually enjoy
Tacos, empanadas, arepas and plenty of ice cream.
Short family getaways
Day trips and long weekends that travel well.
Teen-friendly adventures
Bigger hikes, cable cars and bucket-list wildlife.
Destination family cards
Plan it with kids
Best ages, where to stay, kid favorites and a rainy-day plan — tap any card to open it.
In Little Jetter
Colombia
Cartagena
Best ages: 5+4–5 days
Why kids will love it: Castle walls to run along, boats to the islands and streets painted like a picture book.
Plan it with kids
- Where to stay
- Bocagrande for beach-and-pool ease; the walled city for walkable sightseeing
- Kid favorites
- Walk the city walls at golden hour · Castillo San Felipe de Barajas · Boat day to the Rosario Islands · Sunset paletas in Getsemaní
- Easy day trip
- Rosario Islands or Barú by boat
- Getting around
- Old town is walkable but hot; taxis for everything else. Strollers struggle on cobbles — bring a carrier.
- Food they’ll eat
- Arepas de huevo, patacones, fresh mango and limonada de coco
- Rainy-day plan
- Museo del Oro Zenú and the Palacio de la Inquisición museum
- Parent tip
- Plan outdoor time for mornings and late afternoons; midday heat is serious.
In Little Jetter
Mexico
Mexico City
Best ages: 4+4–5 days
Why kids will love it: Pyramids, a real castle on a hill, colorful boats and some of the best kid museums anywhere.
Plan it with kids
- Where to stay
- Roma and Condesa for parks and walkable cafés; Polanco next to Chapultepec
- Kid favorites
- Papalote Museo del Niño · Chapultepec Castle · Trajinera boats in Xochimilco · Museo Nacional de Antropología
- Easy day trip
- Teotihuacan — go early and bring hats
- Getting around
- Ride-hailing is easy; sidewalks can be uneven for strollers. The city sits at altitude, so pace the first day.
- Food they’ll eat
- Tacos al pastor, quesadillas, churros and fresh fruit cups
- Rainy-day plan
- Museo Nacional de Antropología and Papalote
- Parent tip
- Sunday mornings Paseo de la Reforma closes to cars for bikes and scooters.
Mexico
Riviera Maya
Best ages: All ages5–7 days
Why kids will love it: Calm turquoise water, swimming in cenotes and Maya ruins by the sea.
Plan it with kids
- Where to stay
- Playa del Carmen for walkability; a family resort for full-time pool days
- Kid favorites
- Swim in a cenote (life jackets help) · Tulum ruins on the cliff · Snorkel a calm reef beach · Cobá by bike
- Easy day trip
- Chichén Itzá or Cobá
- Getting around
- Book a private transfer or rent a car; car seats are not a given in taxis.
- Food they’ll eat
- Fish tacos, quesadillas, marquesitas and agua de horchata
- Rainy-day plan
- Cenotes are lovely in any weather
- Parent tip
- Use reef-safe sunscreen; many cenotes require it.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Best ages: 6+7–10 days
Why kids will love it: Sloths, volcanoes, hanging bridges and hot springs — nature turned all the way up.
Plan it with kids
- Where to stay
- La Fortuna for volcano adventures; Manuel Antonio or Guanacaste for beaches
- Kid favorites
- Hanging bridges in the rainforest · Night wildlife walk · Hot springs near Arenal · Beach day plus national park wildlife
- Easy day trip
- Monteverde cloud forest
- Getting around
- Driving times are long — split the trip into two or three bases.
- Food they’ll eat
- Gallo pinto, casados, plantains and fresh fruit batidos
- Rainy-day plan
- Chocolate and coffee farm tours, hot springs
- Parent tip
- Zip lines and rafting have minimum ages — check before you book.
Panama
Panama
Best ages: 5+5–7 days
Why kids will love it: Giant ships squeezing through the Canal, rainforest next to the city and islands beyond.
Plan it with kids
- Where to stay
- Casco Viejo for charm; the Amador Causeway side for space and bikes
- Kid favorites
- Watch ships at Miraflores Locks · Biomuseo · Bike the Amador Causeway · Rainforest day in Gamboa
- Easy day trip
- Bocas del Toro or the San Blas islands (overnight)
- Getting around
- Ride-hailing in the city; short flights to the islands.
- Food they’ll eat
- Patacones, empanadas, fresh fish and raspados
- Rainy-day plan
- The Biomuseo and the Canal visitor center
- Parent tip
- Check ship transit times so kids see the locks in action.
Dominican Republic
Punta Cana
Best ages: All ages4–7 days
Why kids will love it: Soft sand, gentle water and the easiest beach week in the Caribbean.
Plan it with kids
- Where to stay
- Bávaro for calm beaches and family resorts
- Kid favorites
- Calm-water beach days · Catamaran and snorkel trip · Saona Island day · Resort kids’ clubs
- Easy day trip
- Saona Island
- Getting around
- Pre-book airport transfers with car seats.
- Food they’ll eat
- Tostones, grilled fish, rice and beans, fresh pineapple
- Rainy-day plan
- Kids’ clubs and resort pools
- Parent tip
- Direct flights make it an easy first international trip.
Peru
Lima
Best ages: 6+3–4 days
Why kids will love it: Clifftop parks over the Pacific, a dancing fountain show and a pyramid in the middle of the city.
Plan it with kids
- Where to stay
- Miraflores for parks and the malecón; Barranco for color
- Kid favorites
- Bike the Miraflores malecón · Circuito Mágico del Agua fountains · Huaca Pucllana · Museo Larco
- Easy day trip
- Paracas and the Ballestas Islands
- Getting around
- Ride-hailing is easiest; traffic is heavy, so stay central.
- Food they’ll eat
- Lomo saltado, picarones, chicha morada and mild ceviche
- Rainy-day plan
- Lima rarely rains — museums are perfect on gray winter days
- Parent tip
- Pair Lima with Cusco, but give kids time to adjust to the altitude.
Argentina
Buenos Aires
Best ages: 5+4–5 days
Why kids will love it: Rowboats in the park, ice cream on every corner and a theater tour fit for a ballet lover.
Plan it with kids
- Where to stay
- Palermo for parks and lakes; Recoleta for calm streets
- Kid favorites
- Rowboats in the Bosques de Palermo · Caminito in La Boca · Teatro Colón tour · Ferry or train to Tigre
- Easy day trip
- The Tigre Delta
- Getting around
- Taxis and the subway are simple; parks are stroller-friendly.
- Food they’ll eat
- Empanadas, milanesas, dulce de leche and helado
- Rainy-day plan
- Teatro Colón tours and the city’s museums
- Parent tip
- Dinner runs late — plan an early meal or a big merienda.
Ecuador
Galápagos
Best ages: 8+6–8 days
Why kids will love it: Sea lions on the beach, giant tortoises and snorkeling with turtles.
Plan it with kids
- Where to stay
- Santa Cruz island for an easy land-based trip
- Kid favorites
- Giant tortoises in the highlands · Snorkel with sea turtles · Sea lion beaches · Boat day to a nearby island
- Easy day trip
- Island-hopping by boat
- Getting around
- Plan around boat schedules; seasickness bands help.
- Food they’ll eat
- Fresh fish, empanadas and plenty of fruit
- Rainy-day plan
- Charles Darwin Research Station
- Parent tip
- Follow park distance rules with wildlife — kids love being rangers.
Chile & Argentina
Patagonia
Best ages: Teens7–10 days
Why kids will love it: Glaciers that crack and thunder, big hikes and wild, wide-open skies.
Plan it with kids
- Where to stay
- El Calafate or Puerto Natales as bases
- Kid favorites
- Perito Moreno walkways · Torres del Paine day hikes · Boat trips to glaciers · Wildlife spotting
- Easy day trip
- Torres del Paine
- Getting around
- Long drives — plan rest days.
- Food they’ll eat
- Lamb asado, empanadas and hot chocolate
- Rainy-day plan
- Glacier walkways work in any weather with good layers
- Parent tip
- Pack layers for four seasons in a day.
Colombia
Medellín
Best ages: Teens3–4 days
Why kids will love it: Cable cars over the mountains, street art and an epic rock to climb in Guatapé.
Plan it with kids
- Where to stay
- El Poblado or Laureles
- Kid favorites
- Ride the Metrocable · Comuna 13 street art with a guide · Botero Plaza · Climb El Peñol
- Easy day trip
- Guatapé
- Getting around
- The metro and cable cars are clean and easy.
- Food they’ll eat
- Bandeja paisa, arepas and fresh juices
- Rainy-day plan
- Parque Explora science museum
- Parent tip
- Spring-like weather year-round makes it easy to plan.
Uruguay
Uruguay
Best ages: All ages3–5 days
Why kids will love it: Calm beaches, cobbled streets and a relaxed pace that feels made for families.
Plan it with kids
- Where to stay
- Punta del Este for beaches; Colonia for history
- Kid favorites
- Beach days on the Mansa side · Colonia’s lighthouse and old town · Casapueblo at sunset · Bike rides along the rambla
- Easy day trip
- Colonia del Sacramento
- Getting around
- Buses are easy; renting a car makes beach-hopping simple.
- Food they’ll eat
- Chivito sandwiches, milanesa and dulce de leche
- Rainy-day plan
- Museums in Montevideo
- Parent tip
- Easy ferry hop from Buenos Aires.
One trip, the whole family
Plan, pack and taste it
Good to know
Family travel, answered
Where should we go for a first family trip to Latin America?
Punta Cana, the Riviera Maya, Panama and Cartagena are the easiest starts — short flights from many US cities, simple transfers and plenty to do close to your base.
What is the best age to take kids to Latin America?
Any age works with the right destination. Beach trips suit little ones; Costa Rica, Lima and Mexico City shine from about four to six; Patagonia, the Galápagos and Medellín are perfect with teens.
How do we keep kids excited before the trip?
Let them dress their traveler, pack a bag and collect a stamp for the destination in Little Jetter — Cartagena and Mexico City are already in the app.
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