Responsible tourism on the Inca Trail
When you start walking the Inca Trail it takes a while for it all to sink in. You are trying to concentrate on your hiking, pacing yourself, wondering if you should have brought that walking pole, or if it is too early to have that sneaky bit of snack bar. And then there is all the people watching as you join the other 499 people allocated permits that day. Not forgetting the forest covered Andes and clouds that envelop you. But really, the first thing you should do is bend down and touch the surface you are walking on. Whether you have opted for the Classic Inca, Lares or Salkantay Trek, these trailways are like ancient survivors that need to be treated with dignity and respect. Created by the Incas to link their cities, they were often used by messengers who ran great distances along these stones and paths to pass on strategic gems to their leaders. Today they are paths of peace, but there are several vital messages to take on your journey along the stones.
Remember: the Inca Trail is one of the very few international attractions to have introduced strict visitor quotas. It is a brave move by the government to curtail tourism and - potentially - income, and the result is that anyone who finds themselves hiking these roads is very privileged indeed. Here are a few to take on board and share with your fellow trail messengers, so that you can treat each step like the living museum piece that it is.
Remember: the Inca Trail is one of the very few international attractions to have introduced strict visitor quotas. It is a brave move by the government to curtail tourism and - potentially - income, and the result is that anyone who finds themselves hiking these roads is very privileged indeed. Here are a few to take on board and share with your fellow trail messengers, so that you can treat each step like the living museum piece that it is.
Our Inca Trail trek Vacations
Hiking the Inca trail vacation
An unrivalled combination of history and spectacular scenery
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US $1735 to US $1885
9 days
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Peru highlights tour, Inca trail, Titicaca and Nazca
Taste Peru's diverse landscapes and fascinating culture
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US $2865 to US $3265
15 days
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High Inca trail trek in Peru
Machu Picchu, Inca fortresses and cloud forest
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US $2325 to US $2555
14 days
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Inca Trail trek in Peru
Classic trek on Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
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US $2212 to US $2845
10 days
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Inca Trail extension vacation
Conquer ancient pathways on the historic Inca trail hike.
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US $1240
6 days
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Choquequirao to Machu Picchu hiking vacation, Peru
Choquequirao - trek to a lost Inca City, Peru
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US $1055
7 days
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Peru adventure vacation
Go on a breath-taking adventure along the Inca Trail
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US $2100 to US $2940
10 days
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Inca trail vacation, Peru
Retrace the steps of a fascinating civilisation
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US $1479 to US $2070
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Machu Picchu & Amazon small group vacation, Peru
Explore Peru from Machu Picchu the Amazon rainforest
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US $2749 to US $2899
12 days
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Peru and Inca trail small group vacation
Travel from the Andes to the Amazon
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US $2880 to US $3420
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Peru & Inca Trail small group vacation
Get an in depth insight into the lost land of the Incas
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£2299
19 days
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Southern Peru tailor made vacation
Enjoy the unforgettable highlights of southern Peru in comfort
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£4090
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Tailormade vacation in Peru
Highlights of southern Peru in comfort
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£3285 to £3910
13 days
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Alternative Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu
Remote trekking to Machu Picchu
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US $2599 to US $2675
15 days
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Inca trail & Amazon Rainforest vacation
Inca Trail, Machu Picchu & rainforest
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Lima to Cuzco overland truck tour in Peru
Explore Peru and the majestic Machu Picchu
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US $890 to US $945
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18-29's Inca Trail hiking trip, Peru
Get straight down to business and up the Inca Trail.
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US $889 to US $1230
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Lake Titicaca & Peru highlights vacation
Explore the attractions of south Peru with Inca Trail trek.
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US $2350 to US $3540
15 days
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Inca Trail hiking vacation, Peru
The Sacred Valley, one of the world’s best known hikes
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US $1020 to US $1249
7 days
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Classic Inca Trail vacation, 10 days
10-days: Lima, Cusco, 4-day Inca Trail & Machu Picchu
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£1695
10 days
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Alternative Inca trail trek in Peru, Salkantay Trek
Salkantay trek - an alternative Inca Trail adventure
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US $840
5 days
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Hiking the Inca Trail, Peru
An authentic trek through the land of the Incas
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US $1449 to US $1543
7 days
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Peru adventure vacation, small group
Experience coastal deserts, mountains and the Amazon Jungle
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US $2000 to US $2985
19 days
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Inca Highlights, adventure tour
Allow yourself to absorb the magic of Peru
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US $2123 to US $3799
14 days
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Hiking the Inca Trail
Fully supported Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu
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US $880
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Peru small group vacation, Inca Trail & Amazon
Exciting journey into enchanting Peru from Amazon to Andes
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US $3942 to US $4740
21 days
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Luxury Inca Trail trek, Peru
Spectacular trek on the Inca Trail through the high Andes
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US $1555
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Inca Trail trekking vacation
Trek the legendary Inca trail
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US $2245 to US $2445
9 days
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People & culture
Mountains to climb for porters' rights
It is most likely you will be using the services of a porter to carry supplies such as food, sleeping bags, tents, and so on, on the Inca Trail. Luckily, porters' rights are now protected by law in Peru; however, there are many companies that find ways of getting around the law, and are still exploiting the local porters, many of whom are farmers who do this work seasonally. The minimum wage is 45 Soles a day a little more than £10), but reports suggest that still only a small proportion pay this and even this amount is barely a living wage. A good, responsible tourism company will pay twice or three times this much. Same goes for the laws about the maximum weight they should carry. The law is 20kg max which includes 5kg for a porter's personal possessions (15kg max for female porters). There are weighing stations, but some companies spread the load to get through the stations and then drop the bags after the station for the porters to pick up. And then there are basics to adhere to, like making these porters are fed and clothed properly, are insured and given dry, warm sleeping areas.What you can do:
Be wary, read up on porters' rights, and ask your trekking company endless questions about their ethical trekking policies. Looks out for red flags, like the price, too. If the trail fee is cheap, then you can be sure that it is the porters that are bearing not only your luggage, but also the brunt of your budget tour and being paid less than they should. Porters are people. Pay them well, chat with them, and get to know about their lives and their work.
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."
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."
Peru's female porters
One hugely positive step that has been taken for the Inca Trail porters is the employment, for the first time, of women. Astonishingly, until 2016, there were no women working on the trail, largely thanks to the more conservative - and often sexist - values of the traditional mountain communities. A local trekking company, that was already working to improve porters' rights along the trail, trained and hired local women, despite many men saying that they would not be able to do such a strenuous job.Any traveler who has been to the Andes will not be surprised to learn that this was not the case. Quechua women can routinely be seen hauling huge loads on their back, while hiking up and down the mountains, and working the steep terraces; carrying hikers' backpacks to Machu Picchu is just another day's work for them. What's more, the female porters are hugely popular with travelers, so even though regulations state they may only carry 15kg (the men carry up to 20kg), hiring them has proved a wise business decision.
The benefits are many; as well as gaining stable employment, women who work as porters are better able to support their families, and command more respect in their households and communities. In time, it is hoped that the women can combine their work with studies, allowing them to become assistant guides or guides - with the higher pay and better conditions that this offers. Guides also speak with the trekkers, so for the first time, the foreigners hiking the Inca Trail may get to explore this region and its culture from a unique female perspective.
Source: National Geographic
Homestays - the way to stay
We gave the famous Peruvian Paddington a home and now Peru is returning the welcome, with homestays a plenty. As this country is so vast, and the terrain not always negotiable, this is not only the best way to put money straight into a very local economy, but it also gets you right out onto those hiking trails and remote communities. When you hike into the heart of the mountains, it makes you admire these people who live here all year round even more. You will be greeted warmly in Peru, as local people thrive on sharing their homes with guests. And that is how you are made to feel, especially in the highland villages.What you can do:
Seek out a Peru vacation that includes a night or two in a homestay if possible. If you are planning on visiting remote villages, gifts from home are always welcome, but ensure they are useful. Don't go too over the top, as reciprocating is part of rural Peruvian culture, or ayni, meaning "today for me, tomorrow for you". Excess gift giving waters down this ethos with time if people feel they can't reciprocate.
Responsible tourism tips
More about Inca Trail trek
The best time to trek the Inca Trail is in the cooler, drier months of May to September - but you'll need to book early to secure a permit. Find out more in our guide.
Our travel guide answers any questions you may have about hiking this iconic trail, along with a day by day sample itinerary and a brief history of the Inca Trail.
Our Inca Trail map showcases the highlights along the trail, along with a detailed day by day itinerary, to help you get your head around the hike.
In between trekking, you can learn about archaeology, visit local communities and stay with your porters. The Inca Trail is about so much more than Machu Picchu.
Our guide to Machu Picchu reveals the history of this sacred site, with tips on what to see, how to travel there and the best time to visit...
There are alternative Inca Trails that lead to Machu Picchu, taking in cloud and rainforest, high passes and indigenous villages, including the Salkantay and Lares treks...
Trekking the Inca Trail with kids is not going to suit every family, but there are wonderful opportunities for bonding, education and exploration. We offer tips for parents and kids.
Get tips on everything from planning and packing, to how to travel safely on the Inca Trail. Our tour operators and travelers share their top Inca Trail advice.
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