Hiring a porter for the Inca Trail is not mandatory, but many trekkers prefer it to alleviate the weight of their equipment. Currently, regulations allow a porter to carry a maximum of 20kg, of which 5kg is usually for their personal equipment, leaving 15kg for the trekker’s equipment. It is vital to respect these weight limits and agencies usually check this. Hiring a porter supports the local economy and it is advisable to tip them for their efforts.