Evolution Treks Peru made history in 2016 when they hired female porters, which should not be surprising since this Peruvian company takes responsible travel and equity very seriously. In fact, this company is cooperatively owned by its workers and is transparent about how their policies help to improve conditions for their employees and communities. Evolution Treks Peru is one of the few companies that doesn’t force porters to carry a portable toilet for guests and they provide tents and quality food and gear for their porters.
Review of Evolution Treks Peru Website
Spend some time on Evolution Treks Peru website, it’s full of information and their Machu Picchu Hiking page is especially useful in helping to determine which route to take. They are transparent on their site about how they implement equitable practices, including what they pay their porters and cooks, the services they provide, and how they actively include women to promote empowerment within their communities. They even call out one of their competitors, which takes some cojones. We did note some outdated pages and links not working but nothing that affects our decision to choose this company.
Evolution Treks Peru offers an excellent selection of multi-day trekking tours on the Inca Trail, as well as women-only tours and alternative routes such as:
- Salkantay
- Lares
- Cachicata
- Ausangate Rainbow Mt
- Vilcabamba
- Ancascocha
- Huchuy Qosqo
- Choquequirao
Important to note on pricing: Evolution Treks Peru doesn’t include a personal porter in the price, this is something you add if you want someone to carry your personal items (which is recommended for anyone not accustomed to high altitude hiking).
Things to like about Evolution Treks Peru
- International praise from National Geographic, Lonely Planet, BBC, Fodor’s and New Peruvian
- Partnered with BrownGal Trekker, known for her advocacy worldwide for equity in the trekking industry
- Led efforts to employ women as porters along the Inca Trail and continues to fight for equal opportunity and respectful treatment of women in Peru
- Porters receive same sleeping equipment and food as guests and are not required to carry portable toilets
- Quality ergonomic backpacks are provided to porters
- Encourages guests to use iNaturalist app to record and share plants and wildlife during the journey
- Porters share meals with guests and are encouraged to interact and share stories, which can feel awkward at times but is absolutely necessary for cross-cultural understanding
- Consistent 5-star reviews online, many of which mention their care for staff and sustainability
- Offers options to add a private porter and equipment, making them a good option for backpackers who already have their own gear and wish to carry their own weight
For all these reasons and more, Evolution Treks Peru earns our LOCAL CHOICE for backpackers who want trekking tours in Peru. If roughing it isn’t your style (it’s certainly not our personal preference), consider a luxury lodge to lodge trek with Mountain Lodges of Peru or book with a large company like Intrepid Travel or G Adventures who provide toilets and all-inclusive packages. You won’t know what local operators these companies are using, but you can always ask questions to ensure they’re contracting with responsible operators.
Let's talk toilets
Yes, it’s a big deal when considering what company to choose for any trekking that involves porters. When you ask someone to carry a toilet over miles of challenging terrain that is meant to be a camping expedition, this should cause you to pause. Let’s add the knowledge that this added weight of a portable toilet (and accumulating waste) means something else must be sacrificed in order to keep the weight limit. That often means porters go without proper tents or bedding. This may not be the case for all companies, but be aware and choose wisely. Inform yourself about conditions by visiting The Porter Voice Collective.
Route types
- Trekking
Destinations include
- Peru
Great choice for
- Hikers seeking a responsible tour operator for any of the treks in Peru, specifically those comfortable with camping and backpacking.
- Anyone seeking to travel with a company that actively supports the empowerment of women
Established in 2015
last reviewed November 6 2023
