Inca Trail Porters treatment
Who are the porters?
Our transporters are essential team members who ensure your adventure runs smoothly. They carry vital equipment and supplies, including tents, cooking gear, food, and more, allowing you to focus on enjoying your journey. Their role is crucial in providing a seamless and comfortable travel experience.
Roles of Porters:
- Equipment Transport: They carry tents, cooking gear, food, tables, and benches, ensuring that the group has everything needed for a comfortable and well-equipped experience.
- Resource Management: They transport gas canisters and other essential supplies, making sure everything functions smoothly during the adventure.
- On-the-Trail Support: Their presence allows travelers to focus on enjoying their journey, while they handle the heavy loads and logistical tasks.
How to Contribute to Ensuring Dignified Work for Porters
1. Ensure Fair Compensation
Provide Competitive Pay: First, ensure porters receive fair compensation. This means offering salaries that reflect their hard work and effort.
2. Provide Safe Working Conditions
Equip Properly: Next, provide appropriate protective gear. This includes ergonomic backpacks and clothing suitable for various weather conditions.
Create Safe Environments: Furthermore, make sure porters work in safe, healthy conditions. Regular breaks and risk-free environments are crucial for their well-being.
3. Implement Sustainable Practices
Adopt Environmental Practices: To begin with, adopt eco-friendly practices. These practices minimize the impact on natural resources and ensure sustainability.
Respect the Environment: Additionally, promote respect for nature and local communities. Integrate responsible practices into your tourism activities.
4. Offer Training and Development
Provide Ongoing Training: Offer training opportunities. This helps porters enhance their skills and knowledge, leading to better job prospects.
Support Professional Development: Moreover, support their career growth. This can open doors to specialized or higher-responsibility roles.
5. Promote Respect and Dignity
Acknowledge Their Work: Recognize and publicly appreciate the crucial role of porters. This highlights their importance in successful expeditions.
Treat Fairly: Ensure all workers are treated with respect and dignity. Uphold their labor rights at all times.
6. Support Local Initiatives
Collaborate with Local Organizations: Partner with organizations focusing on improving working conditions. This supports the well-being of porters.
Invest in the Community: Finally, contribute to local economic and social development. This creates a broader positive impact on the communities where porters operate.
By adopting these practices, you enhance working conditions for porters and boost the success and sustainability of your tourism activities.
Porters Working Conditions:
In April 2002 a new law was introduced to set a minimum wage for all porters on the Inca Trail Trek.
This has followed years of exploitation. This wage is 55 Peruvian Soles per day which is about US$ 19. It may not seem a lot but wages are all relative to livings costs and compared to other professions 55 Soles is quite well paid.
Even though the law exists it is not being enforced and many companies are still paying their porters as low as US$ 5 per day. In 2002 the maximum weight that a porter can carry was limited to 20kg (15kg load + 5kg personal items).
All porters have their weight checked by government officials at the start of the trail.
However, even this system faces abuse. Many tour operators have their guides and assistants carry large loads across the checkpoint. Once there, the loads are dropped and left for porters to pick up.
Many trekkers who hire extra porters are also asked to carry their bags across the checkpoint. After weighing the bags, they hand them over to the porters. Additionally, some travel agencies share porters once they are on the Inca Trail. As a result, porters often become overloaded. Some agencies include porter services in their pricing without regard for the porters’ well-being, focusing only on selling the Inca Trail experience.
So even with the new regulations and a weigh-station at the beginning of the trail it is still possible to see porters carry loads of up to 35kg or more.
Quechuas Expeditions Porter(chaskis) are very well equipped with proper Hiking equipment…
Our Commitment:
We value and respect the work of porters. We collaborate with them under fair and sustainable practices, ensuring they receive appropriate compensation and work in safe conditions. Their well-being and professionalism are crucial for making our travel experiences both memorable and responsible.
Why It Matters
Understanding the vital role of our porters highlights the significance of their contribution to your adventure. Their dedication and hard work make your journey more enjoyable and seamless, thereby reinforcing our commitment to responsible tourism and supporting the local community.
Join Us in Making a Difference
By choosing our travel services, you support fair practices and contribute to the well-being of those who help make your adventure possible. Explore our trips and discover how we can make a positive impact together.
