Back in those days, I had to personally choose my own porters. There were moments, days, and entire seasons when there was an abundance of porters, and there were other times when finding one was almost impossible. During the peak months of June, July, August, and September, demand was so high that sometimes you had to satisfy certain requests or little whims from the porters just to convince them to work with you.
One of the first questions they would ask before even stepping onto the bus was:
“Where are your tourists from, jefe?”
At that time, I worked freelance for different agencies, and they would hand me an information sheet with the passengers’ names, ages, and nationalities. I would look at the list and answer:
“Well, I have 13 passengers. Six are Americans, and the rest are Europeans.”
The porters would immediately react:
“Only six Americans? Check again, jefe…”
The reality was simple: porters preferred working with North American travelers because Americans were known for tipping generously.
During the busiest part of the season, when porters became very difficult to find, I sometimes had to persuade them a little more enthusiastically to join my groups.
“Come on, I’ve got a great group this time — lots of Americans!”
“Really, jefe?”
“Yes, bring your people.”
Of course, I knew that sooner or later I would return to the same communities looking for porters again the following week or month. Because of that, I always felt responsible for making sure the experience was worth it for everyone involved. The only way to do that was by working harder as a guide — giving the best explanations possible, connecting with the group, and creating an unforgettable journey.
Then, usually on the third night of the Inca Trail, I would speak to the group and say:
“Did you enjoy the trek? Did you enjoy the experience?”
They would answer yes.
And then I would remind them:
“Now it’s time to thank the people who made this journey possible. You’ve seen everything they do — carrying tents, cooking meals, setting up camp, and working incredibly hard every single day.”
At the time, many European travelers were not as familiar with tipping culture as Americans were. Americans often tipped generously, while Europeans tended to be more reserved with gratuities. So sometimes I had to encourage travelers to think about the effort behind the experience.
“These young men have taken care of us for four days. This is the moment to show gratitude.”
That was life on the Inca Trail during the 1990s. Those times no longer exist. Today, tipping has become almost expected.
But no matter how much tourism changes, one thing remains true: the work of the porters is absolutely essential. I always tell my guides now, as a business owner:
“Try doing the Inca Trail without porters — it would be impossible.”
That is why I have always believed porters deserve more respect, more appreciation, and greater recognition for the incredible work they do behind the scenes of every successful trek.
