How to Prepare for Hiking the Inca Trail

Preparing for Your Trek

The Inca Trail is mostly stone-paved (Inca stones!) and it undulates up and down across green mountains while crossing two high-altitude passes. For the most part, you can hike at your own speed because we always have a staff member hiking in the lead as well as one behind with the slowest hiker in our group. Any fit, experienced hiker will enjoy this hike, but we recommend you make an extra effort to prepare by engaging in regular exercise well beyond your normal routine. To accelerate your conditioning, try walking faster than 1.5 miles per hour, walking on steeper inclines, using your gym’s stair-climbing machines, or going on long hikes (also a good way to break in your boots). Please be aware that there are a few sections of long, steep stone “staircases,” so we do suggest hiking poles to protect your knees. The trek takes place at altitudes between 9,840 feet and 13,776 feet.