Inca Trail Porters
James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.
Last Updated on July 24, 2020 by James Bustamante
We know that most travelers had to postpone their trips due to the current situation facing most of the world.
Many of you were looking forward to visiting Cusco, taking a tour of Sacsayhuaman, you may have even purchased your Peru Tour Packages or reserved your Machu Picchu Hike.
Needless to day, you will be able to enjoy your trips before long, and one point that is often overlooked is that of the Inca Trail porters.
Your assigned Inca Trail porters are amazing individuals that will act as your support along the 28 mile trek leading all the way to Machu Picchu.
As the Inca Trail is considered to be the “official” trail by the Peruvian Government, special rules and regulations were put in place to ensure its continuous use.
Reason as to why Inca Trail Porters are so important, mainly because one of these regulations was to prohibit the use of horses/mules. As of 2019 MINCETUR (Ministry of Tourism) carried out a study on food traffic.
It showed that the hooves of pack animals are hard on the stone steps and path of the Inca Trail, so they are no longer allowed. This is where the Inca Trail porters come into the story, let’s breakdown how they help.
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How do Inca Trail Porter’s Help?
Inca Trail porters are very determined individuals as they have to walk long distances while wearing a full pack, take care of travelers and help set up campsites.
Through rain or shine, these pros are up to the task to help make sure everything goes according to plan. Journey Machu Picchu porters are proven professionals that come from the Pisaq district in Calca, where many locals learn how to become certified Inca Trail porters.
This small community has a long history of providing hiking tour guides as well as some of the best Machu Picchu Tour guides.
Inca Trail Porter Protection
As with many jobs, work standards had to be guaranteed for Inca Trail Porters. This is why the Porter Protection Law was put in place to ensure that all porters receive adequate clothing and equipment, a mandated minimum wage per day, and a maximum load limit of 20 kg (44 lbs).
The National Superintendency of Labor Inspection, or SUNAFIL, does random audits of agencies throughout the year to check if they comply with this law.
Sunafil Website: https://www.sunafil.gob.pe
In order to make sure these standards are followed, inspections are carried out throughout the Inca Trail.
These checkpoints check trail permits and weigh everything carried by the porters to ensure their packs don’t exceed the legal limit.
If anything is not up to par then the tour operator will receive a fine, with enough penalties even leading to the loss of the company’s inca Trail license.
Other provisions include accident insurance as well as education services, where Inca Trail porters and tour guides receive training workshops and personal growth training.
These classes are provided by highly skilled coaches to help them improve their work performance.
Certified Peru Tour Operators
Always make sure that you book your tour through a certified tour operator (authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism in Peru) as only Peruvian-owned tour operators, like the Journey Machu Picchu travel Agency, receive an exclusive license from the government each year.
Ensure that you check for what is established in Peru’s Protection law as many tour operators do not cover and provide ethical practices.
Needless to say, make sure that they work with local Andean communities as they are the most experienced in the matter and also guarantee a certain level of expertise.
Pricing for Inca Trail Porters?
You should always make sure that porters are paid appropriately as a nondescript tour operator may pay below minimum wage.
This is a definite red flag to look out for as this could potentially affect your trip. Any tour operator that offers lower pricing for porters most likely cut some corners with payment or supplies, they also most likely do not provide appropriate support and protection for their porters.
Sometimes you’ll see prices that almost seem too good to be true, which is mostly like the case if you find any 4 or 5 day trek for less than $600.
Another point to look out for is the number of porters that will be traveling with your group.
If you have a group of 10 or more you should have at least 2 or 3 porters for every couple of trekkers (for camping equipment), with extra porters provided if you wish for your personal things to be carried as well.
The number of porters on a trek depends on the size of the group. So how do reserve extra Inca Trail Porters?
Reserving a Porter for The Inca Trail
If you wish to have some extra help while on the trail then you can reserve one to carry your personal things. This type of porter can carry about 8 kg (18 lbs) or 15 kg (33 lbs) of your personal belongings.
This, of course, is not mandatory but we highly recommend it as it really helps you enjoy the trail a lot more when you don’t have to worry about your things.
If you do decide to add a personal porter make sure that you let your Travel Advisor know before you book your Inca Trail permit(s).
As you may or may not know the Peruvian government limits the amount of trail permits to only 500 per day and this includes all porters and staff that normally take the trail on a daily basis, leaving only around 300 for the general public.
Extra porters make up around another 100 spots per day so it is imperative that you reserve them well in advance. Certified porters receive special pricing for entrances to the Inca Trail as well as to Machu Picchu.
Your payment will also cover their food, equipment use and their salary. Of course, you can also give them an extra tip while on the trail.
Tipping Your Inca Trail Porter
Porters are an absolute must have while on the Inca Trail, they provide the support every traveler needs and tipping is a great way to show your appreciation.
Tipping is also a nice way to thank your porters and trekking team for a job well done. Tips are voluntary and the amount is up to your discretion.
It is customary to tip on the last night as well as to give thanks for all the help given by the porters as well as by the cook. We recommend providing a $20- $25 tip for each porter and $30 for the cook.
Now that you have a wealth of knowledge on how to reserve and treat your porters, make sure to follow these standards as best you can.
If you want to know anything more about Peru, Cusco and Machu Picchu Travel, check out the rest of our blog posts at Peru Travel Blog and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for our special packages.
Frequently Asked Questions About Inca Trail Porters
What do Inca Trail porters do?
Certified Inca Trail porters will take all camping and cooking equipment while on the trail. Private porters can be hired to carry personal belongings.
Where can I hire a porter?
You can hire a porter directly through your tour operator
How can I hire a porter?
You must tell your travel advisor that you want to reserve an additional private porter for the duration of the Inca Trail.
Should I tip a porter?
Tipping a porter is not an obligation. However, if you wish to show some appreciation for their services then feel free to provide a generous tip.
How much should I tip a porter?
You should tip your porter around $20 to $25.
How can I book the Inca Trail?
You can book the Inca Trail through Journey Machu Picchu.
When should I book the Inca Trail?
The best time of the year to book the Inca Trail is usually during the months of May to July (dry season).
