In the Inca Trail, porters are the ones working harder than anybody else but they are usually the ones who are getting the lower payment and the ones who are usually abused by most tour operators. In order to avoid these abuses, the Peruvian government introduced a bill stipulating that a porter should get about USD 14.00 per day and carry a maximum of 44 pounds. Unfortunately, this bill is not always respected by the majority of tour operators so it is important to hire a tour operator or travel agency providing good treatment to its porters.

Since USD 14.00 per day is not enough for the hard work of the porters, there is a tradition in Inca Trail (this tradition applies to all treks being offered in Peru.) This tradition consists of a ceremony performed at the end of the third day. At the end of this ceremony trekkers have the opportunity to tip them and thank them for making possible such a beautiful journey. If you decide to tip porters, please make sure that each porter gets a specific amount of money. If you give the tip to the cook or the guide, it is possible that porters get less money.

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