Inca Trail responsible trekking

One lovely option is to stay in your porters' village the night before the hike begins.
Simon Forster, from The Beyond Tourism Co., explains how and discusses other alternatives for spreading your much-needed tourism cash across some of the poorest regions of Peru: "Abuses of porters' rights might not be as widespread as somewhere like Kilimanjaro, but it can still be pretty bad. A lot of companies don't really pay much attention because the porters on the Inca Trail are always portrayed as very well looked after. Normally, you spend a couple of nights in your hotel in Cuzco and then set off on the Inca Trail but we offer an extra day at the beginning in the porters' community. This generates more personal interaction between you and your porters, so you enjoy your trek more, but it also gives you a better understanding of the porters. The company we work with runs the tour in partnership with the porter community so we're strict with the weight carried and following the proper regulations.

We also work with a couple of family-owned coffee farms in the area so you can go and stay with a coffee farmer before or during the hike. We understand that the Inca Trail is a huge reason why people go to Peru, but there is much more to do both in Peru and even in the area around Machu Picchu."

Appreciate the privilege of being on the trail. Giving back along the way and spending money on crafts or supplies in local communities increases the benefits of tourism many times over. As well as helping local people, it is an important way to encourage the authorities to maintain the permit system - and to demonstrate to other countries that introducing permits does not reduce income, but rather creates a healthier tourism industry. If you leave it until the last minute to buy a trekking package in Cuzco, you are unlikely to get a responsible tourism adventure or trekking company. These sellers are about packing in the masses and often sold by intermediaries, not people who really know the potential impacts on the environment or local communities. In general, you are best to do your research well in advance. Note that you are only allowed poles with rubber tips on the Inca Trail to protect the landscape and stones.Where possible, avoid buying endless plastic water bottles. You can bring water purification tablets, or invest in a filtering bottle, such as LifeStraw, so that you can refill in rivers and other sources along the way. For the hike, bring planet safe, paraben free soaps and detergents with you, as well as eco-friendly sun creams, and biodegradeable bags and tissue for when you need to do what Paddington, the original Peruvian bear, does best in the woods. Although ideally all waste should be carried out. A good hiking company will provide all of this, so ask in advance so that you can get to see if they are practising what they preach. Leave no trace - it has survived for thousands of years without having butts and bottles dropped on it, so please don't start now. And anyway, it is said that he who drops a Mars Bar packet will forever be haunted by Incas. If you are good with languages, try dabbling in Quechua, the language of the Incas and still the mother tongue of most of the porters. Most speak Spanish, but a little Quechua goes a long way. Retail rewards for hiking the Inca Trail are a must. Alpaca is the big seller but beware of fakes. Alpaca is expensive, so if you are offered something cheap it is most likely to be acrylic or a mix. Real Alpaca feels a little greasy to touch and loses its shape a little if stretched. If it's smelly when wet - it's likely llama. And if you are offered mahogany or feathers, think rainforest, its flora and fauna, and say no thank you. The source is nearly always illegal. Those boots that are made for walking will also be in need of cleaning, and shoe shining is a popular way for children living in poverty to earn money in Cuzco. There are various views on this, as some children are sent out to work by their parents and actually they are not street children at all. This is a common sense thing. If a child looks like they are in need, then have your shoes shone and give them a few quid. But even better, help a respected Cuzco based charity working with street children, such as Yanapay, which also has a restaurant in Ruinas 415, the proceeds of which go towards social projects in Cuzco. Top shopping tip: Steering away from unsustainable woods, you'll find souvenirs made of balsa or Brazil nuts, which encourages people to keep the trees alive. While you are waiting and acclimatising for your hike in Cuzco, you might want to check out some alternative market options. The big San Pedro market has been tidied up a bit for tourists, and is still brilliant, but if you want a flavour of how they used to be, a bit rough but totally real round the edges, check out the old school market Rosaspata. You can read more about the alternative food scene in this lovely blog Cuzco Eats. You are probably only going to go once, so the chances are you're going into super gear mode. This is your opportunity to buy sustainable hiking gear. Usually made by small independent companies, support them, tell your mates, and show them off in your selfies. You can also hire all sorts of gear in Cuzco, which is a very sustainable way to go. Quick shout for a couple of favourites. I don't go anywhere without my cashmere snood and gloves from Turtle Doves. A UK company, they make everything out of recycled cashmere - you can even send in a moth eaten old jumper and they will make some fingerless gloves for your trip. Yew might also be for you, Howies is always cool.