Complete Guide for Families Who Want to Live This Adventure Together

“Can I take my children to the Inca Trail?” — Yes, but there’s a lot to consider. This guide gives you all the information to decide and prepare.

The Question Every Family Asks

You’re planning the trip of your life to Peru. You want to arrive walking at Machu Picchu. But you have children. And you wonder:

“Is it possible to do the Inca Trail with children? Is it safe? Will they enjoy it? Or will it be torture for everyone?”

The honest answer: It depends on the child’s age, their personality, the whole family’s preparation, and the expectations you have.

We’ve seen families have transformative experiences together. We’ve also seen families have a very hard time because it wasn’t the right moment.

This guide will help you decide if it’s the right time for your family, and if it is, how to prepare for success.

What This Article Covers

At what age can they do the Inca Trail? Differences between 4-day and 2-day trek for families Physical and mental preparation for children What to expect each day with children Specific luggage for children How to manage altitude sickness in children Practical tips from families who have done it When it’s NOT a good idea to go with children More suitable alternatives for families with young children

At What Age Can They Do the Inca Trail?

This is the most important question. Let’s get straight to the point.

4-Day Inca Trail: Recommended Ages

2-Day Inca Trail: Recommended Ages

Why These Ages?

Under 6 years old (4-day trek):

8 years and older:

• Can walk long distances if motivated
• Can communicate how they feel
• Better thermoregulation
• Capacity to understand and follow safety instructions
• Can consciously enjoy the experience

Age is NOT the Only Factor

More important than age is:

1. Child’s previous experience with physical activity

• Do they play sports regularly?
• Have they done long hikes before?
• How do they react to tiredness?

2. Child’s personality

• Are they resilient to discomfort?
• Can they go without screens for several days?
• Do they adapt to new situations?
• Do they have good attitude toward challenges?

3. Child’s motivation

• Do they WANT to do this or is it just the parents’ idea?
• A motivated 8-year-old can outperform an unmotivated 12-year-old

4. Family’s experience

• Have parents done trekking before?
• Have you camped together as a family?
• Do you know how to handle stressful situations with kids?

Key Question: Does Your Child WANT to Do This?

This is crucial. If the Inca Trail is your dream but your child has no interest, reconsider.

A child who goes obligated:

• Will complain constantly
• Will ruin everyone’s experience
• May not cooperate in critical moments
• Will keep a negative memory

A child who is excited:

• Will find energy when tired
• Will enjoy the challenges
• Will make the experience better for everyone
• Will keep a lifelong memory

Tip: Involve your child in the decision. Show them photos and videos. If their eyes light up, go ahead. If they shrug, wait or choose another option.

4-Day vs 2-Day Inca Trail for Families

For families with children, this decision is fundamental.

4-Day Inca Trail with Children

Trek data:

Advantages for families:

Challenges for families:

2-Day Inca Trail with Children

Trek data:

Advantages for families:

Challenges for families:

Our Recommendation for Families

Philosophy: It’s better to do the 2-day and everyone enjoys it, than to do the 4-day and it be a traumatic experience.

What to Expect Each Day with Children (4-Day Trek)

Here’s the reality of each day traveling with children.

Day 1: The Initial Excitement

What happens:

• Exciting start, photos at Km 82
• Relatively easy trail following the river
• Children with energy, probably getting ahead
• Last 2 hours: tiredness begins
• Arrival at camp: curiosity about tents

Typical challenges with children:

Day 2: The Real Challenge

What happens:

• Constant climb from early
• Children start getting seriously tired
• Possible emotional/physical crisis before pass
• Arrival at Warmiwañusca pass: moment of pride
• Afternoon: extreme tiredness, possible bad mood

Typical challenges with children:

The honest reality:

Day 2 is where most families have their hardest moment. Children (and adults) can reach their limit. There will be complaints, possibly tears, moments where everything seems like a bad idea.

But also: The moment of arriving together at the pass, as a family, hugging at 4,215 meters after struggling together — that moment creates a bond that’s not forgotten.

Day 3: The Recovery

What happens:

• Sore bodies but adapted
• Spectacular landscapes (visual reward)
• Mostly descent (parents’ knees suffer more than children’s)
• Children usually better than day 2
• Growing excitement for Machu Picchu

Typical challenges with children:

Day 4: The Reward

What happens:

• Wake up at 3:30 AM (difficult for children)
• Short walk to Intipunku
• MACHU PICCHU at sunrise — magical moment
• Tour of citadel
• Feeling of family achievement

Typical challenges with children:

Preparation for Families

Success of Inca Trail with children depends enormously on preparation.

Child’s Physical Preparation (3 Months Before)

Weeks 1-4: Establish habit

Weeks 5-8: Increase

Weeks 9-12: Specific

Key: Make this a fun family activity, not training. Include games, rewards, picnics.

Child’s Mental Preparation

Weeks before:

Important conversations:

1. “What if I want to stop?”
   • “We’ll talk about it, rest, but continue together”
2. “What if I can’t?”
   • “You can. We’ll go at your pace. It’s not a race.”
3. “Can I bring my tablet/cellphone?”
   • “There’s no wifi or charging, but you’ll bring camera for your photos”
4. “What are bathrooms like?”
   • Explain honestly, without scaring
5. “Will I get bored?”
   • Plan activities: travel journal, permitted leaf/stone collection, observation games

Parents’ Preparation

Necessary mindset:

What parents should train:

Special Luggage Considerations for Children

In child’s day backpack (they carry):

Maximum child backpack weight: 2-3 kg maximum

In travel bag (porter):

Extra luggage parents should carry:

Altitude Sickness in Children

This deserves special attention because children react differently to altitude.

Do Children Suffer More Altitude Sickness?

Medical evidence is mixed:

• Some studies suggest children acclimatize equal or better than adults
• Others suggest greater sensitivity in children under 3 years
• What IS certain: young children cannot clearly communicate symptoms

Altitude Sickness Symptoms in Children

Verbalized symptoms (if they can express):

Symptoms to observe (if they don’t verbalize well):

Altitude Sickness Prevention in Children

Diamox for Children?

The use of Acetazolamide (Diamox) in children is controversial and should be consulted with pediatrician.

Our recommendation: For the Inca Trail, natural acclimatization (spending enough time in Cusco before trek) is usually sufficient for healthy children 8+ years. Consult with your child’s pediatrician for specific cases.

What to Do If Child Has Symptoms

Our guides are trained to recognize symptoms in children and have oxygen available.

Practical Tips from Families Who Have Done It

We’ve compiled tips from families who have completed the Inca Trail with children.

“Make them part of the team, not passengers. Give them small responsibilities — carrying the map, counting rest stops, being ‘photographers’. It changes their mindset from ‘I’m being dragged’ to ‘I have a role’.” — The Martinez family, children 9 and 11

“We told them it’s okay to complain, but after complaining you keep walking. It became our family joke — ‘complaint registered, now next step’.” — The Johnson family, children 8 and 13

“Pack their favorite snacks. When our daughter was melting down on day 2, her favorite chocolate bar was magic. Don’t underestimate comfort food.” — The Chen family, daughter 10

“Create small goals. We never said ‘one more hour’. We said ‘to that tree’, ‘to where that bird is’. Children think in visible goals, not time.” — The Rodriguez family, children 7 and 9

“The best investment was the 2-day trek first when they were 7 and 9. Two years later, they ASKED to do the 4-day. They knew what to expect and felt ready.” — The Thompson family, children 9 and 11

“Don’t compare siblings. One of ours was flying, the other struggling. Celebrate each child’s achievement individually.” — The Garcia family, children 8 and 12

“We made a ‘compliments jar’ — every time someone in the family said something positive or encouraging, we put imaginary points. Winner got to choose the celebration dinner in Cusco. It kept spirits up.” — The Lee family, children 10 and 13

“Practice camping beforehand. We spent a night in our backyard in a tent. Sounds silly but it made the actual trek less scary for them.” — The Patel family, children 8 and 10

“Accept that your trek will be different than without kids. We took twice as many breaks. We were the slowest group. And it was PERFECT. No rush, just family time.” — The Williams family, children 9 and 11

When NOT to Go with Children

Sometimes, the best decision is to wait or choose another option. Be honest with yourself.

Don’t Go with Children If…

❌ Child is under 8 years and has never done walks longer than 2 hours

❌ Child doesn’t want to go — It’s purely parents’ imposition

❌ Child has medical conditions contraindicting altitude or effort — Always consult pediatrician

❌ Parents have no camping/trekking experience — Will be double learning and very stressful

❌ Family is going through difficult time (divorce, grief, problems) — Trek stress amplifies everything

❌ Child has severe phobia of insects, darkness, closed spaces — Camping will be traumatic

❌ Traveling alone (one parent + young child) — Too much responsibility without support

❌ Very tight budget preventing segments with more comfort — If child sleeps poorly 3 nights, trek will be miserable

Better Alternatives for Families with Young Children (under 8 years)

The philosophy: Machu Picchu isn’t going anywhere. If your child is 5 years old, you can go by train now and return to walk when they’re 10. The experience will be better for everyone.

Recommended Alternative: 2-Day Inca Trail

If you have doubts about 4-day trek with children, the 2-day Inca Trail offers:

Frequently Asked Questions from Families

Is there official minimum age limit?

There’s no minimum age legally established by Ministry of Culture. Technically, a baby could enter. However, responsible agencies (including us) recommend minimum 8-10 years for 4-day trek.

Is there discount for children?

Yes. Minors under 18 have discount on Inca Trail permit (approximately $20-30 USD less). Discount is included in our prices for minors.

Can children share tent with parents?

Yes. In our standard segments, tents are for 2-3 people and families organize together. In Summit segment, there are individual tents but can be requested adjacent.

What happens if my child can’t continue mid-trek?

We have evacuation protocol. If a child cannot continue, a team member will accompany them (along with at least one parent) to nearest exit point. It’s important to understand evacuation can take several hours and is not simple.

Is food suitable for children?

Food is varied and abundant. If your child is a picky eater, let us know to make possible adjustments. We also recommend bringing familiar backup snacks.

Are there other children in groups?

Depends on date. In high season and school vacations there are more families. We can try to place you in group with other families if you notify us in advance.

Can I hire private trek just for my family?

Yes. Private treks allow guide to dedicate 100% to your family, adjusting pace and stops according to your children’s needs. It’s more expensive but ideal for families. Contact us for quote.

Can my child use trekking poles?

Yes, and it’s recommended. Child-sized poles exist. If you don’t have them, we can provide adjustable poles that work for children.

What about bathrooms? My child isn’t used to bathrooms without running water.

Campsites have basic bathrooms (latrines). They’re not hotel bathrooms, but they’re private and functional. For “in between”, it’s outdoors. Explain to your child beforehand so it’s not a surprise.

Is there cell signal for emergencies?

There’s no cell signal on most of the route. Our guides carry satellite phone for real emergencies. For non-urgent communication, you’ll be disconnected.

Is Your Family Ready for the Adventure?

The Inca Trail with children isn’t for all families, but for those who are prepared, it’s a transformative experience.

The key question: Are you willing — as a family — to strive together for something extraordinary?

If the answer is yes, and if your children have the right age and disposition, this can be your family’s adventure of a lifetime.

Your Next Steps

If your children are 8+ years and family is motivated: