Book with a responsible trekking company

This might seem like a daunting task – how do you know if a company is practising responsible tourism or not? There are a few simple things that you can do to immediately rule out some companies. If they are offering really cheap trips (less than USD 500), then it is unlikely they are paying their porters fair wages.

Do they mention sustainability or fair employment practices on their website? If in doubt, you can always ask. Contact the company directly to ask any questions that you might have. Do your research online and read any reviews or blogs written about the company paying close attention to their treatment of porters.

Porter Law

The porters on this trail largely come from poorer communities in the mountains. Due to the continued mistreatment of porters on this hike, the Peruvian Government introduced legislation to regulate the weight porters are allowed to carry (5kg personal luggage, 20kg client’s luggage), pay rates and insurance requirements. Sadly, some companies continue to ignore this legislation in their pursuit to offer the cheapest tours for tourists.

Salary

The current minimum wage for porters on the Inca Tail is 46.2 soles per day (approx. USD 15), although some companies continue to underpay their porters. Many responsible tourism operators clearly disclose their pay rates on their website. If you are unable to find this information, you may wish to inquire about their salary requirements.