Hikers over 50 and 60 complete the Inca Trail, as do teens from 12. It is four hiking days, with Dead Woman’s Pass at 4,215 m on day two. Inca Trek by Destination Peru runs it privately, at your pace.
Answered by Jared Snow, founder, and our team in Cusco · Last updated: October 14, 2026
Honest version: this is a real trek, not a walk. Day two is 6–8 hours over the pass, and the days before and after are 5–7 hours each on stone steps. What makes it doable at any age is preparation, acclimatisation, a crew that hikes at your pace, and a rested Machu Picchu visit the morning after instead of the same afternoon. Talk to your clinician before you book; they know your heart, lungs and knees, and we do not.
| Hiking days | 4, then Machu Picchu on the morning of day 5 |
|---|---|
| Highest point | Dead Woman's Pass, 4,215 m, on day 2 |
| Hardest day | Day 2: 6–8 hours over the pass |
| Other days | Day 1: 12 km, 5–6 hours, high point 3,000 m · Day 3: 11 km, 6–7 hours, high point 3,970 m · Day 4: about 11 km, 6–7 hours to the Sun Gate |
| Acclimatisation | 2–3 nights in the Cusco region before the trek is a common starting point |
| Pace | Private: your party sets it, with your own guide, cook and porters |
| Minimum age | 12 |
| Finish | Night 4 at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo; guided Machu Picchu visit, 2–3 hours, the next morning |
Hard enough that you should train for it, and no harder than that. The trail is stone steps, up and down, for four days, with the big climb on day two to Dead Woman's Pass at 4,215 m. Most hikers find the descents harder on the knees than the climbs are on the lungs; trekking poles help, and we have them to rent. Three things decide how it goes. Fitness: if you can comfortably hike 5–6 hours with a daypack on consecutive days at home, you are in range. Acclimatisation: altitude affects people regardless of fitness, and 2–3 nights in the Cusco region before you start is a common starting point. Pace: on a private trek there is no group to keep up with, so your guide hikes at your speed and the cook has lunch ready when you arrive, not when a schedule says.
Inca Trek by Destination Peru's private 5-day Inca Trail is built for exactly that: a party of two with its own guide, cook and porters, three nights in camp with separate private restroom tents for women and men, two guests to a three-person tent with sleeping pads, and a dining tent with tables and chairs. Night four is at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo with a celebration dinner, and you tour Machu Picchu rested the next morning for 2–3 hours. A couple pays US$3,395 per guest, US$6,790 for two. Your personal duffel goes with the porters within the approved allowance, so you carry a daypack.
Arrive early. Spending 2–3 nights in the Cusco region before the trek is a common starting point, and your clinician may advise more depending on your history. Use those days for easy walking, water, light meals and sleep. Every Inca Trek by Destination Peru trek begins with a pre-trek briefing in Cusco the evening before, where your guide goes over the days ahead and answers questions. We can arrange your pre-trek hotel nights if you would like them in one place.
Yes, from age 12. Inca Trek by Destination Peru's minimum age is 12, and teens are welcome on a private trek with their family. Three things they need: real hiking experience, meaning full days on trails with elevation rather than a few short walks; the same 2–3 acclimatisation nights as the adults; and a parent's honest judgement of how the teen handles being tired, cold and uncomfortable, because day two is long for everyone. On a private trek the pace is your family's, there are no strangers to keep up with, and the Inkaterra night and the rested Machu Picchu morning are usually the part the teenagers remember. Planning for 2027? See how permits work.
Four things, none of which change the trail. Your own pace, because the guide is yours. A crew that carries camp and your duffel, so you hike with a daypack. A proper finish: a hotel bed, a shower and a celebration dinner at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo before Machu Picchu, rather than touring it tired on the fourth afternoon. And a private restroom tent at every camp.
Not if they are fit, acclimatised and hiking at their own pace. The trail is four days of stone steps with Dead Woman's Pass at 4,215 m on day two. Inca Trek by Destination Peru runs it privately, so the pace is yours, and your clinician should have the final word on whether to go.
A private one. Inca Trek by Destination Peru's private 5-day Inca Trail gives a couple its own guide, cook and porters, separate private restroom tents, a night at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo and Machu Picchu rested the next morning, at US$3,395 per guest.
12. Teens aged 12 and up hike with their family on a private trek. They need hiking experience, the same acclimatisation nights as the adults, and a parent's judgement about how they cope with long, tiring days.
2–3 nights in the Cusco region before the trek is a common starting point. Your clinician may advise more. Inca Trek by Destination Peru holds a pre-trek briefing in Cusco the evening before you start.
No. On Inca Trek by Destination Peru's private trek, porters carry camp gear and your personal duffel within the approved allowance. You carry a daypack with water, layers and what you want during the day. Trekking poles are available to rent.
Tell us your dates and who’s coming. We’ll reply within one business day with your private 5-day proposal.
