Should tourists go through the Inca path?

The popularity of the walk to Machu Picchu causes frequent protests and pretensions of porters responsible for transporting visitors’ luggage for better working conditions

At 2,840 meters above sea level, the path moves away from the Hurry Urubamba River, which cuts the sacred Cusco Valley in Peru. He follows his way to climb the mountains.

The path cuts the tropical Andean forests until it reaches Wardiwañusca, the famous “passage of the dead woman”. This is the highest point of the path at 4,215 meters. From there, he descends to the old Inca fortress of Machu Picchu, one of the seven wonders of the modern world.

We are talking about the legendary Inca Trail, the most popular path in South America and one of the most beautiful and surprising in the world.

Incas engineers designed and built the route over 600 years ago. And to try to protect it, the Peruvian government limits the number of steps available for visitors during the opening of the path between March and January of each year. In 2025, the path opens on March 31st.

Consequently, the licenses to travel 43 km of walks are sold quickly every year, with tourists trying to guarantee one of the 200 passages assigned every day for visitors.

Ironically, the popularity of the Inca track causes frequent protests. Often hundreds of tourists are blocked due to these events.

Among other requirements, the porters responsible for transporting the luggage of visitors by the mountains claim better working conditions.

These protests rarely arrive in the international press, but the collective of the Voice of the Facchini – an organization dedicated to the promotion of the rights of the Inca Trail operators – launched a documentary in 2024, in detail their statements.

But how can such an idyllic walk generate so many conflicts?

The indigenous guides on the track affirm that the problem is the violation of the existing legislation, which protects the working conditions of the porters.

It is forbidden to walk alone on the Inca path. Tourists must obtain a license and take porters through an authorized tour operator, such as Evolution Treks Peru or Intrepid Travel.

The mules are prohibited on the Inca path: their hooves would destroy the old stone flooring and the stairs. That’s why visitors must take porters to transport their camping equipment.

Porter’s day usually starts at 5 in the morning and ends after 22:00.

A law of 2022 determines that the porters should receive 650 new Peruvians only ($ 176, about $ 998) for the four -day track. But very few tourist agencies respect legislation. They even pay up to 350 new only ($ 95, about $ 539) for path.

The lawyers of the tourist agencies questioned the law from its approval. And in the meantime, they refuse to pay the official amount.

In addition to the tourist agencies they do not pay the amount due to porters, many of them require them to transport weights higher than a maximum of 20 kg, also established in the legislation.

“Most porters [homens] He brings about 30 kg and I saw 40 kg luggage “, says Natalia Amao Huillca, tourist guide to the trail in charge since 2007.

“About 80% of the injuries of the chargers I observe are the knee. Others are mainly injuries to support. They often ask me for pain relievers at night.”

Cenovia Quispe Flores has been working as a charge for the Peru Treks Evolution since 2018.

“The law for women is 15 kg,” he says. But I wanted Flores he saw women transported 25 to 30 kg to other companies.

To get around weight limits, many companies send the equipment without passing the first control place, where the Porters backpacks are heavy. Or you simply corrupt those responsible for supervising limits.

“Theoretically, the control point is rigorous, but in practice, not for everyone,” says Shandira Arc Lucana. He has worked as a tour guide on the Trail Inca since 2016.

Arc Lucana explains that large companies enter into agreements with employees of the control points, but small agencies do not have enough influence to prevent inspection.

Even companies that wish to respect the rules can face obstacles with the rigorous limit of 500 people allowed daily on the path (including 300 porters and guides, as well as 200 tourists). Sometimes the weight is greater, but there is no way to add an extra charger.

“I have seen many porters who work with hernias and knee and ankle problems,” says Pedro guide (he asked not to be identified with his real name).

“I know a charger who started to suffer from alcoholism because he could not receive care for his wounded knee. He still works on the Inca track and relieves his pain with Cañazo [aguardente de cana].

The porters also suffer from dehydration. They drink water not drinkable from sources and taps to wash their hands near the bathrooms, while paying customers receive filtered and boiled water.

With all this in mind, what can tourists do to walk towards the most famous ruins of South America ethically and responsible?

Well, according to local guides, it is necessary to remember before there are other paths that lead to Machu Picchu.

“The Inca track is not the only option,” says Liz Montesinos Pumayalle. It was a guide on the Inca track for eight years and underlines that, on all other paths, mules are used instead of human porters.

“People who want to establish connections with indigenous communities should use the trail homes”, a guide. “And Salkantay Trail is better for people who want to sleep in ecology or hostels instead of curtains.”

Salkantay Trail has two options that directly lead Machu Picchu and other indirect paths.

Amao Huillca stresses that companies taking several vector women often treat their employees better than those who have only one or two.

“I like to work with charger teams in which half are women and have the charger of a woman,” he explains. “Most companies send one or two women in symbolic charge.”

He says that since women transport more willing to consult a doctor when they suffer injuries than their male colleagues, tourists who require women they will probably walk with healthier professionals.

“A way to ensure that porters are well paid and well treated is that there are women vectors,” says Edson’s guide Lucana Mejía, who also works on the Inca track.

He explains that, historically, it is common for men to sleep on the curtain of dinner, who have no floor and is often muddy.

But women insist on having individual curtains. Therefore, in a team with more women, you can be sure that more porters have a decent place to sleep.

Marco Antonio Carrión worked as a tour guide on the Inca track for 20 years. It offers other tips.

“Search for photos of ergonomic backpacks and analyzes that mention something on how the chargers are treated”, guide. “If a company is sustainable and the porters are well, it will appear in online criticisms”.

Carrión also stresses that tourists should ask if porters are required to use the uniforms provided by their employer. This can be a small detail in some cultures, but for many Peruvian indigenous, traditional cheching clothes are an important part of your identity.

Many operators still require porters to transport heavy canvas curtains, tables and chairs. When you choose a company, ask for the weight of your camping equipment and if they have lighter options.

Despite all the criticisms of the naughty dedicated by some Inca trace operators, many guides and porters are happy. They are happy to work in this lush natural environment.

“I love this job,” he says he wants flowers. “I like the mountains and work with my friends, the other women in office. Working in agriculture is more difficult and does not pay well.”

It is not always easy to determine which companies respect the law and which one. But Lucana Mejía has a message for the thousands of tourists who hope to be able to travel the legendary path – and does not want anyone to forget his words:

“Without porters, there is no Inca path.”

Read a Original version of this relationship (in English) on the site BBC Travel.

Source: Terra

Rose

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.