Yes, kids can hike the Inca Trail, and families do it every year. With us the minimum age is 8 for the 2-day Short Inca Trail and 12 for the 4-day Classic. Every child needs a passport and must be listed on the permit, and travelers under 18 get a US$30 discount. For most families with children under 12, the 2-day route is the right choice: the real arrival at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate, one day of walking, a hotel bed and much less altitude. Here is how to choose the route by age, what changes for children, and how to plan it.
- 8 / 12minimum age with us for the 2-day and the 4-day Inca Trail.
- US$30discount for every traveler under 18, on all routes.
- 2,720 mhighest point of the 2-day route, against 4,215 m on the Classic.
Which route at which age
| Age | Our advice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under 8 | Machu Picchu by train, with short walks | Below our minimum age for the Inca Trail. See Machu Picchu tickets for the train-and-bus visit. |
| 8–11 | Short Inca Trail, 2 days | One day of about 6–7 hours, a hotel night and a lower maximum altitude. |
| 12–15 | 2 days, or the Classic 4 days for active kids who already hike | The Classic means three nights camping and a 1,215 m climb on day 2. |
| 16–17 | The Classic, like adults | Teenagers who train usually do very well, and they still get the under-18 discount. |
Minimum ages are our policy: 8 for the 2-day route and 12 for the 4-day route. For the 1-day Inca Trail, ask us. Compare both routes in detail in 2-day vs 4-day Inca Trail.
Altitude and children
According to the CDC, children are as likely to get altitude sickness as adults. The difference is that younger children may not tell you clearly how they feel, so watch for changes in mood, appetite, sleep and energy. The rules are the same as for adults: spend two or three days in Cusco or, better, in the lower Sacred Valley before the trek, keep the first days easy and don’t go higher until everyone feels well. Read our guide to altitude sickness on the Inca Trail, and talk to your pediatrician before the trip.
What changes for a family on the trail
- Gear: on the Classic, our porters carry up to 5 kg of each traveler’s things, children included, so kids only carry a small daypack with water and a jacket. On the 2-day route there are no porters, but you sleep in a hotel and need very little.
- Tents: two people share a 4-person tent, so a parent and a child have room for their bags.
- Food: vegetarian and special menus are available at no extra cost; tell us about allergies or picky eaters when you book.
- Pace: our guides set a steady pace for the group and regroup at the top of every climb. After the first day of the Classic there are no roads, so the way out is on foot: be honest with yourself about the route you choose.
- Sleeping bags can be rented for US$20 if you don’t want to carry one from home.
Documents and booking
- A passport for every child. The permit is issued with each traveler’s passport details, and the official regulation does not allow minors who are not listed on the permit.
- The US$30 discount applies to every traveler under 18, on the Classic, the 2-day and the 1-day routes.
- Traveling with only one parent? Check the rules for minors with your airline and with Peru’s consulate before you fly.
- Book early in school holidays: permits are personal and capped every day. See how to book the Inca Trail in 2027.
The best school holidays for the Inca Trail
- Summer break (June–August): the driest weather and the busiest dates; these months sell out first. See June, July and August.
- Spring break: the trail is closed every February and March is still wet; an April spring break is a better bet.
- Thanksgiving week: early rainy season, with fewer people. Our guide for travelers from the USA has a 9-day plan for it.
- Winter break: the 2-day route sells out first between Christmas and New Year; see the Inca Trail at Christmas and New Year.
How to prepare your kids
- Walk as a family on weekends for a couple of months before the trip, with stairs and hills, wearing the shoes they will use in Peru.
- Teenagers doing the Classic can follow our 12-week training plan; for the 2-day route, weeks 1–8 are enough.
- Make it their trip: let them carry their own water, a camera or a notebook, and tell them the stories of the Inca sites before you go.
- Pack with the list: our Inca Trail packing list works for kids too, in smaller sizes.
Traveling with grandparents too? Our guide to hiking the Inca Trail at 60, 70 or 80 helps you choose a route that works for every generation.
Frequently asked questions
Can kids hike the Inca Trail?
What is the best Inca Trail route for families?
Do children get a discount on the Inca Trail?
Is the altitude dangerous for children?
Do kids need a passport for the Inca Trail?
What if my child gets tired on the trail?
About the author
Raquel Sánchez co-founded Terra Quechua Peru in Cusco in 2012 together with Edwin Medina, both with extensive trekking experience. She writes our Inca Trail guides from the day-to-day work of securing permits and organizing every departure with our guides, cooks and porters.