Evolution Treks Peru
Evolution Treks Peru
5
Multi-day ToursCultural ToursHiking & Camping ToursNature & Wildlife Tours
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
Closed
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About
Evolution is Peru's most responsible, sustainable, and ethical tour operator. We are Peru's travel industry only employee-owned company, meaning our employees have a say in how the company is run. We are a social enterprise committed to empowering women through equity and sustainability. We reinvest our profits into our community as we believe in regenerative tourism.
Evolution Treks Peru
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
1,313 reviews
Excellent
1,285
Very good
22
Average
1
Poor
2
Terrible
3
Waira M
2 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
We booked Evolution Treks last minute to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. We did not realize that we needed to reserve our park passes months in advance. From the first contact Miguel was extremely responsive and helpful. He was able to secure the last 4 tickets in April for us to do the trek and coordinate a team last minute to take us.
Our guide Rudi was amazing. His passion and deep knowledge for the Incan & pre Incan history, as well as all of the flora and fauna was immense. He is not just a tiur guide repeating the same historical facts that we heard from mant of the other guides on the trail, he is deeply committed to continuous learning so that he can provide an immersive, cultural experience for his clients. He took us off the beaten path and facilitated transformational experiences for us. We even got to explore some ruins after darl when no other tourists were there.
This company really takes care of their people. Most of the other companies on the Inca trail do not pay their porters well in comparison (we asked the porters), and give them cheap equipment while also overloading them with weight. (The limit is 22kg and many porters from some of the big tour companies had 30kg or more).
All of the Evolution porters had proper backpacks which cost $500+ dollars while all of the other companies used $20 sacks which damage the porters backs over time. All of our porters had proper hiking boots and we saw many other porters in sneakers and some even in sandals.
The Evolution porters also slept in waterproof tents with proper air mattresses while other companies porters slept in the cook tents which are not waterproof and some didn't even have mattresses.
The meals were amazing, the team took great care of us and we felt good paying more to book with a company that is truly ethical and socially conscious.
If you are looking to hike the Inca trail or do any treks in the Cusco region I highly recommend you to book with Evolution Treks.
You will have an amazing experience and sleep well on the trail knowing that you are supporting fair trade, sustainable tourism.
Thank you so much to the entire Evolution team for making our trek an experience of a lifetime.
Our guide Rudi was amazing. His passion and deep knowledge for the Incan & pre Incan history, as well as all of the flora and fauna was immense. He is not just a tiur guide repeating the same historical facts that we heard from mant of the other guides on the trail, he is deeply committed to continuous learning so that he can provide an immersive, cultural experience for his clients. He took us off the beaten path and facilitated transformational experiences for us. We even got to explore some ruins after darl when no other tourists were there.
This company really takes care of their people. Most of the other companies on the Inca trail do not pay their porters well in comparison (we asked the porters), and give them cheap equipment while also overloading them with weight. (The limit is 22kg and many porters from some of the big tour companies had 30kg or more).
All of the Evolution porters had proper backpacks which cost $500+ dollars while all of the other companies used $20 sacks which damage the porters backs over time. All of our porters had proper hiking boots and we saw many other porters in sneakers and some even in sandals.
The Evolution porters also slept in waterproof tents with proper air mattresses while other companies porters slept in the cook tents which are not waterproof and some didn't even have mattresses.
The meals were amazing, the team took great care of us and we felt good paying more to book with a company that is truly ethical and socially conscious.
If you are looking to hike the Inca trail or do any treks in the Cusco region I highly recommend you to book with Evolution Treks.
You will have an amazing experience and sleep well on the trail knowing that you are supporting fair trade, sustainable tourism.
Thank you so much to the entire Evolution team for making our trek an experience of a lifetime.
Written April 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Danielle D
6 contributions
Jan 2025 • Friends
Our group of 6 did the Short Inca Trail hike and when I tell you it was the adventure of a lifetime I’m not exaggerating. We completed most of our planning with Miguel who was incredibly kind and easy to work with. Even when we had last minute changes he was accommodating and made sure to do everything in his power to make our trip amazing.
Once we started the hike we were left in the incredibly capable hands of Caesar. The hike was tough, I’m not going to lie, but Caesar did a great job of pushing us, while not letting anyone fall behind. We took numerous little breaks where we were told about Inca ruins, native plants and fun facts about Peru. It is clear that he is knowledgeable and passionate about the Trail and the Inca culture itself.
Half of our group decided to camp while the other half chose to return to town and sleep in a hotel. They definitely missed out on the camping part of the trip! We were treated to a lovely dinner and breakfast prepared by 2 chefs and one of them was a woman! This was really important to our group. Evolution Treks is making significant strides in promoting women and their role on the Inca Trail. We also had a female driver back to Cusco and she was amazing! In addition to providing an opportunity to women, many I’m told who are single mothers, they are also known for taking extremely good care of their porters. I’m sure we would have seen this more on a longer trek, but I can verify that everyone was well looked after while camping and had proper equipment for the weather.
I would absolutely recommend Evolution Treks for anyone looking to experience such an incredible place. Additional thanks to Caesar for taking such great group photos! Far too often have I had a guide take really crappy photos of a spectacular place, but this time they were great. Extra effort for things like that really make my heart happy!
Once we started the hike we were left in the incredibly capable hands of Caesar. The hike was tough, I’m not going to lie, but Caesar did a great job of pushing us, while not letting anyone fall behind. We took numerous little breaks where we were told about Inca ruins, native plants and fun facts about Peru. It is clear that he is knowledgeable and passionate about the Trail and the Inca culture itself.
Half of our group decided to camp while the other half chose to return to town and sleep in a hotel. They definitely missed out on the camping part of the trip! We were treated to a lovely dinner and breakfast prepared by 2 chefs and one of them was a woman! This was really important to our group. Evolution Treks is making significant strides in promoting women and their role on the Inca Trail. We also had a female driver back to Cusco and she was amazing! In addition to providing an opportunity to women, many I’m told who are single mothers, they are also known for taking extremely good care of their porters. I’m sure we would have seen this more on a longer trek, but I can verify that everyone was well looked after while camping and had proper equipment for the weather.
I would absolutely recommend Evolution Treks for anyone looking to experience such an incredible place. Additional thanks to Caesar for taking such great group photos! Far too often have I had a guide take really crappy photos of a spectacular place, but this time they were great. Extra effort for things like that really make my heart happy!
Written January 30, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Moonieloonie
New York City, NY4 contributions
Apr 2024 • Friends
We chose Evolution after reading a National Geographic article about the first women porters on the Inca Trail. The booking process was easy and quick. They recommended that we spend three days in Cusco before the trail and gave us ideas of what to do during those days.
Unfortunately, we made a mistake by choosing a cheaper company we found on this platform for our trip to Humantay Lake, and the experience was horrible. There were too many people in our group and only one guide to look after us. Additionally, there were issues with people climbing the mountain, which made the whole experience unpleasant.
However, our experience with Evolution on the Inca Trail was a pleasant surprise. There were only six people in our group, and we camped away from the crowds. In fact, there were only two other groups in the same campsites throughout the trek. The meals, tents, and camping gear we rented from them were top-notch, almost new, and very clean.
Our guide Rudi was amazing; he knew everything about the trail, from archaeology to astronomy and birdwatching. He called himself a total Inca Trail OG.
What sets Evolution Treks Peru apart from other companies is their approach to tourism. First, we were the only company among those we saw that had a quota of women porters. Second, our porters' ergonomic backpacks were far better than what other porters were using. We quickly realized that Evolution takes care of their porters by providing them with high-quality bags, which gave us a sense of relief as we understood that our money was being well invested in their team. The same applied to their tents and meals; our porters slept in tents just like ours, while other porters were sleeping on the bathroom floor.
We were outraged by this, so we informed other tourists from different companies who were not aware of it. It meant a lot to us to see that Evolution lives up to their word, treating people with dignity and respect, which made our trip even more beautiful and soul-enriching. I recommend Evolution hands down.
Unfortunately, we made a mistake by choosing a cheaper company we found on this platform for our trip to Humantay Lake, and the experience was horrible. There were too many people in our group and only one guide to look after us. Additionally, there were issues with people climbing the mountain, which made the whole experience unpleasant.
However, our experience with Evolution on the Inca Trail was a pleasant surprise. There were only six people in our group, and we camped away from the crowds. In fact, there were only two other groups in the same campsites throughout the trek. The meals, tents, and camping gear we rented from them were top-notch, almost new, and very clean.
Our guide Rudi was amazing; he knew everything about the trail, from archaeology to astronomy and birdwatching. He called himself a total Inca Trail OG.
What sets Evolution Treks Peru apart from other companies is their approach to tourism. First, we were the only company among those we saw that had a quota of women porters. Second, our porters' ergonomic backpacks were far better than what other porters were using. We quickly realized that Evolution takes care of their porters by providing them with high-quality bags, which gave us a sense of relief as we understood that our money was being well invested in their team. The same applied to their tents and meals; our porters slept in tents just like ours, while other porters were sleeping on the bathroom floor.
We were outraged by this, so we informed other tourists from different companies who were not aware of it. It meant a lot to us to see that Evolution lives up to their word, treating people with dignity and respect, which made our trip even more beautiful and soul-enriching. I recommend Evolution hands down.
Written May 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dan
1 contribution
Apr 2024 • Friends
I'm very glad my friend and I chose Evolution Treks. I'm also glad we chose their private experience. Rudi was an excellent guide; Stephani was an excellent driver; our cook Rambo really delivered, and our porters Victor, Pancho, Dora, and Juan Carlito were outstanding.
One of the main reasons i'd recommend Rudi is because he took us to visit ruin sites that other groups didn't visit. We had them all to ourselves. We also left earlier or later in the day to avoid groups. For just one example, we watched the sun rise at wiñay wayna with no one else around instead of queueing up with 300 other hikers at the check point at 3am, and it was beautiful. We sat on a royal balcony and watched a waterfall flow into the sacred river for as long as we wanted. Then, when we hiked to Machu Picchu from there the trail was totally clear. We also experienced the sun gate in solitude, and the sacred huacas on the descent from the sun gate to Machu Picchu all to ourselves as well.
MP is very crowded and there are lots of people taking Instagram photos with llamas grazing behind a rope fence. Which is fine. MP has amazing temples, fountains, sacred baths, and a residence of the Inca which truly were the cherry on the cake. But the Inca Trail itself and the ruins along the way are amazing and Evolution Treks can help you experience them without being squished in a slow moving flow of 200 other trekkers and 500 other porters if you want. I'd highly recommend them.
Rudi is warm, kind, funny, and knows his stuff. The historical, natural, and cultural insights he provides truly arranged, deepened, and enchanted our trek. Thank you Rudi, and thank you Tupac. ❤️
One of the main reasons i'd recommend Rudi is because he took us to visit ruin sites that other groups didn't visit. We had them all to ourselves. We also left earlier or later in the day to avoid groups. For just one example, we watched the sun rise at wiñay wayna with no one else around instead of queueing up with 300 other hikers at the check point at 3am, and it was beautiful. We sat on a royal balcony and watched a waterfall flow into the sacred river for as long as we wanted. Then, when we hiked to Machu Picchu from there the trail was totally clear. We also experienced the sun gate in solitude, and the sacred huacas on the descent from the sun gate to Machu Picchu all to ourselves as well.
MP is very crowded and there are lots of people taking Instagram photos with llamas grazing behind a rope fence. Which is fine. MP has amazing temples, fountains, sacred baths, and a residence of the Inca which truly were the cherry on the cake. But the Inca Trail itself and the ruins along the way are amazing and Evolution Treks can help you experience them without being squished in a slow moving flow of 200 other trekkers and 500 other porters if you want. I'd highly recommend them.
Rudi is warm, kind, funny, and knows his stuff. The historical, natural, and cultural insights he provides truly arranged, deepened, and enchanted our trek. Thank you Rudi, and thank you Tupac. ❤️
Written April 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daydream799528
2 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
I can’t recommend Evolution Treks enough. Our experience on the Inca Trail with guide Shandira, female chef and female porters was amazing. I was proud to support a company that supports equal opportunities for women on the Inca Trail, and saw first hand how Evolution Trek’s porters and chefs were given quality gear and carried reasonable loads. The expert information Shandira provided about the plants, animals and Inca sites was outstanding along the way. The chef team prepared amazing gourmet meals and even baked a cake for my daughter’s 18th birthday on the trail! No small feat. We were well taken care of with quality gear and guidance the whole way, and really impressed with our friendly crew, who shared a bit of Quechua language with us, and the English spoken by our guides.
Edson, our guide for Rainbow Mountain and Sacred Valley tours was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about all the sites we visited. He made sure we beat the crowds to Rainbow Mountain and we had so much time to enjoy the summit before any other hikers arrived. We appreciated how he took us to a local restaurant for lunch and shared information about the culture and people on both days.He was flexible with plans and a great driver. I recommend Evolution Treks to anyone who cares about ethical treatment of tourism operators in Cusco. We saw the difference between what other companies said and what they actually did on the Trail, and no company but Evolution Treks lived up to ethical treatment of porters as described on their websites. If you are considering other companies because they say they treat their porters right, don’t believe them and go with Evolution Treks. You will be glad you did!
Edson, our guide for Rainbow Mountain and Sacred Valley tours was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about all the sites we visited. He made sure we beat the crowds to Rainbow Mountain and we had so much time to enjoy the summit before any other hikers arrived. We appreciated how he took us to a local restaurant for lunch and shared information about the culture and people on both days.He was flexible with plans and a great driver. I recommend Evolution Treks to anyone who cares about ethical treatment of tourism operators in Cusco. We saw the difference between what other companies said and what they actually did on the Trail, and no company but Evolution Treks lived up to ethical treatment of porters as described on their websites. If you are considering other companies because they say they treat their porters right, don’t believe them and go with Evolution Treks. You will be glad you did!
Written August 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sean A
1 contribution
Oct 2024 • Couples
I just finished a 4-day/3-night Inca Trail trip with Evolution Treks. The experience was phenomenal and I highly recommend it.
Marco “Quechua man” was highly experienced with over 30 years on the Inca Trail and having previously worked as a porter. He knew exactly when to leave early, when to leave late, when to speed up, and when to take a break to avoid the crowds. He had a deep knowledge of Inca history, the Inca Trail, and Machu Picchu. His enthusiasm was evident throughout. Marco would encourage us with phrases like “Mucho wow-wow!” and “Just for champions!” whenever we needed it. We never felt rushed but everything happened right on time.
Guillermo, the chef, and his assistant chef, cooked the most incredible and elaborate gourmet meals. The meals were what I would expect in a high class restaurant, but were somehow concocted in pots in a tent.
It was clear Evolution Treks treats their porters better than other companies. Before the trip, I read many companies’ websites claiming they treat their porters ethically. Having seen it with my own eyes, it was clear there is a large gap between Evolution and the other companies. A large company, which claims otherwise on their website, was one of the worst offenders. Some companies still manage to subvert the rules and overload their porters beyond the legal limits. We spoke with one porter working for another company that was carrying 34 kg on the first day! Evolution was the only company that gave their porters proper 105 litre hiking packs. All other companies we saw gave porters sacks with no structure and usually only basic shoulder straps. Some other popular companies had porters wearing sandals with broken straps and had their porters hauling toilets. Evolution was also the only company employing female porters that we saw—we had two on our trek. The Evolution Treks porters still had incredibly hard jobs, which they did with a smile and enthusiasm at all times.
Overall, the quality of the guiding, the quality of the food, and most of all, seeing how much better the porters with Evolution Treks were treated, made it well worth the premium cost over other options.
Marco “Quechua man” was highly experienced with over 30 years on the Inca Trail and having previously worked as a porter. He knew exactly when to leave early, when to leave late, when to speed up, and when to take a break to avoid the crowds. He had a deep knowledge of Inca history, the Inca Trail, and Machu Picchu. His enthusiasm was evident throughout. Marco would encourage us with phrases like “Mucho wow-wow!” and “Just for champions!” whenever we needed it. We never felt rushed but everything happened right on time.
Guillermo, the chef, and his assistant chef, cooked the most incredible and elaborate gourmet meals. The meals were what I would expect in a high class restaurant, but were somehow concocted in pots in a tent.
It was clear Evolution Treks treats their porters better than other companies. Before the trip, I read many companies’ websites claiming they treat their porters ethically. Having seen it with my own eyes, it was clear there is a large gap between Evolution and the other companies. A large company, which claims otherwise on their website, was one of the worst offenders. Some companies still manage to subvert the rules and overload their porters beyond the legal limits. We spoke with one porter working for another company that was carrying 34 kg on the first day! Evolution was the only company that gave their porters proper 105 litre hiking packs. All other companies we saw gave porters sacks with no structure and usually only basic shoulder straps. Some other popular companies had porters wearing sandals with broken straps and had their porters hauling toilets. Evolution was also the only company employing female porters that we saw—we had two on our trek. The Evolution Treks porters still had incredibly hard jobs, which they did with a smile and enthusiasm at all times.
Overall, the quality of the guiding, the quality of the food, and most of all, seeing how much better the porters with Evolution Treks were treated, made it well worth the premium cost over other options.
Written October 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zofia S
Vancouver, Canada2 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
My partner and I did a lot of research before booking the 2-Day Short Inca Trail with Evolution. We ended up choosing them for their great offerings, sound ethics, and commitment to upholding the rights and wellbeing of porters and other staff on their treks.
Miguel was friendly and responsive right away to our inquiries and throughout process of organizing. Iris was very helpful when we visited their office in Cusco, and everything was well-coordinated along the way with opportunities for us to customize the experience.
Cesar was a wonderfully energetic guide who made sure we were comfortable and well taken care of. He had a great deal of knowledge to share about Inca history and legends, as well as local flora and fauna along our route. He made sure we were able to complete the additional Wayna Pikchu hike on Day 2, and followed up with us later on to ensure we made it safely to our AirBnB in Maras. Great guy!
We would highly recommend Evolution and their 2-Day Short Inca Trail experience to anyone considering a trek in the Peru.
Miguel was friendly and responsive right away to our inquiries and throughout process of organizing. Iris was very helpful when we visited their office in Cusco, and everything was well-coordinated along the way with opportunities for us to customize the experience.
Cesar was a wonderfully energetic guide who made sure we were comfortable and well taken care of. He had a great deal of knowledge to share about Inca history and legends, as well as local flora and fauna along our route. He made sure we were able to complete the additional Wayna Pikchu hike on Day 2, and followed up with us later on to ensure we made it safely to our AirBnB in Maras. Great guy!
We would highly recommend Evolution and their 2-Day Short Inca Trail experience to anyone considering a trek in the Peru.
Written June 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emmalee M
1 contribution
May 2024 • Solo
My trip to Peru, specifically along the Inca Trail with Evolution Treks, was an unparalleled experience. It was a rigorous and rewarding five days that culminated at the notorious Machu Picchu.
The staff and porters provided top-notch service. We had our tents set up prior to arriving at the campsite each night, wonderful meals to nourish our tired bodies three times a day, and the knowledge and experience offered by our two guides, Nati and Gladys, could not be beaten.
In addition, it's obvious that our porters were more protected with the proper gear than other companies, which gave me comfort knowing that they weren't overextending themselves with heavy packs.
I would 100% recommend this experience to anyone who wants to learn about this historical place. Do not sleep on Evolution Treks, as I'm confident they will provide the best experience as they did for me.
The staff and porters provided top-notch service. We had our tents set up prior to arriving at the campsite each night, wonderful meals to nourish our tired bodies three times a day, and the knowledge and experience offered by our two guides, Nati and Gladys, could not be beaten.
In addition, it's obvious that our porters were more protected with the proper gear than other companies, which gave me comfort knowing that they weren't overextending themselves with heavy packs.
I would 100% recommend this experience to anyone who wants to learn about this historical place. Do not sleep on Evolution Treks, as I'm confident they will provide the best experience as they did for me.
Written June 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Navigate15439289123
1 contribution
Apr 2024 • Family
Rudy was an amazing tour guide who showed us and informed us on the history of each siting going above and beyond to give us an unforgettable experience. I highly reccomend asking for Rudy as a tour guide if possible.
They made getting to and from the trail extremely easy picking us up and organizing transportation back to our Airbnb.
The food was amazing our chef chucho was an amazing cook giving us 3-4 course meals even baking a cake for us on our last day! We woke up every morning with tea being brought to our tent from poncho the legend.
All of the porters are very friendly and extremely kind they worked extremely hard setting up our tent and carrying it to our destination having it all setup and food made before we had even arrived at camp they should all be in marathons.
I recommend them highly this experience was a once in a lifetime trip and will not be forgotten they also make sure their own are taken care of with good equipment and tents. you will see other porters from different teams with subpar equipment some not even sleeping in tents but not with evolutio they make sure everyone is taken care of.
Highly reccomend them great company and great experience.
They made getting to and from the trail extremely easy picking us up and organizing transportation back to our Airbnb.
The food was amazing our chef chucho was an amazing cook giving us 3-4 course meals even baking a cake for us on our last day! We woke up every morning with tea being brought to our tent from poncho the legend.
All of the porters are very friendly and extremely kind they worked extremely hard setting up our tent and carrying it to our destination having it all setup and food made before we had even arrived at camp they should all be in marathons.
I recommend them highly this experience was a once in a lifetime trip and will not be forgotten they also make sure their own are taken care of with good equipment and tents. you will see other porters from different teams with subpar equipment some not even sleeping in tents but not with evolutio they make sure everyone is taken care of.
Highly reccomend them great company and great experience.
Written April 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vajra64
____2 contributions
Aug 2024 • Solo
My private 5 day Inca Trail hike to Macchu Picchu was life changing and transformative with Evolution Treks. My mountain and spirit guide, Quero "Cesar" Valencia was an exceptional human being who was extremely knowldgeable on the Peruvian and Andean plant world and indigenous / Quechuan culture and history. He has become family to me and I'm so grateful for having him lead me on this very personal and healing journey.
Miguel, one of the owners , is very passionate about equitable rights for those who work for Evolution Treks. He practices what he preaches in that he actively employs women and ensures that their work conditions, and especially with porters. I saw first hand how other expedition companies have their porters carry insane packs of over 20 kgs, whereas Evolution Trek complies with the porter laws and ensures that their working conditions are fair and ethical. It is evident how happy the support team was for my Inca trail journey. Also, I had 3 generations of employees supporting me on my hike, with the grandfather being 67 years old! It truly felt like I was with family. I have already referred clients to Evolution Treks and they were very happy.
I have traveled extensively all over the world, and have used many expedition outfitters, and I will say that Evolution Treks is the best company I've ever had the pleasure of working with!
Miguel, one of the owners , is very passionate about equitable rights for those who work for Evolution Treks. He practices what he preaches in that he actively employs women and ensures that their work conditions, and especially with porters. I saw first hand how other expedition companies have their porters carry insane packs of over 20 kgs, whereas Evolution Trek complies with the porter laws and ensures that their working conditions are fair and ethical. It is evident how happy the support team was for my Inca trail journey. Also, I had 3 generations of employees supporting me on my hike, with the grandfather being 67 years old! It truly felt like I was with family. I have already referred clients to Evolution Treks and they were very happy.
I have traveled extensively all over the world, and have used many expedition outfitters, and I will say that Evolution Treks is the best company I've ever had the pleasure of working with!
Written September 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello!
We love your commitment to fair treatment and sustainable practices. Because of these policies, we are considering booking your Huchuy Qosqo - Short Inca Trail combination.
We have a few questions first.
Where do we need to be to start? Would we be picked up at our hotel in Cusco or do we need to meet somewhere else? Additionally, after it is over, how do we get back to Cusco?
If choosing to pay in cash, where do we make that payment?
Lastly, if one or two of our group members want to only do one of the two parts (Huchuy Qosqo or the Short Inca trail, not both) would they be able to join the rest of us for only that part?
Thank you
Written January 11, 2022
I can't speak to the combined trek. We planned on doing the 4-day Inca Trail, but reduced to the 2-day, due to my husband's altitude sickness. Even the 2-day trek was amazing. Our guide Rudi was terrific! If you pay cash, they will come to your hotel to collect it.
Again, I don't know about someone meeting you halfway into the combined trek.
I would recommend taking ETP's Sacred Valley car tour and ending in Ollantaytambo. That saves you getting up so early on the day you begin your trek. They met us there and also arranged to return us to Cusco after the trek.
Written January 13, 2022
Can someone speak about the toilet situation ? Do I need to bring my own shovel to bury etc ? Are there outhouses along the way ? Do I need to bring my own T P ? Septic or biodegradable etc ?
Written February 8, 2020
evoly do not supply toilet or TP. I brang 2 rolls of tp, and a little hand shovel, although most campsites you stay at have basic squat toilets of you can hold your number 2s each day until you get to camp. no Toilet paper in these toilets either though
Written February 12, 2020
How difficult was the Short Inca Trail Trek? My family is doing the 5 day. I'm 60, with 2 hip replacements. I did a 13.5 mile hike this summer from 10,000' to 13,000' and down to 9,000. It took me from daylight to almost dark and my hips were worn out for a couple of weeks. I'm backing out of the 5 day and considering doing the first day, camping then return. Have a day of rest and doing the Short trip and meeting up with the family. The stairs are my biggest concern. That is the main reason I'm not going up Dead Woman's Pass.
Written October 7, 2019
One Wanderer
Hi eagleRay - are you specifically thinking about the Short Inca Trail as offered by Evolution Treks? We just did the 5-day Salkantay (which includes the Short Inca on the last day) and I can speak to that, but want to make sure we're talking about the same thing. The Short Inca with Evolution Treks starts at km 104 of the train line (you get dropped off) and ends at Machu Picchu. Let me know and I can provide more detail
Written October 11, 2019
Hi, I am thinking about doing this trek. But I dont have a lot of camping experience. First, I was wondering what is the bathroom situation? Do the camp grounds have any kind of bathrooms? Second, how much water will we be carrying? Third, do you provide sleeping bags and hiking poles? Lastly, what is the cost of hiring an additional porter?
Written September 17, 2018
You don’t have to have any camping experience, just an open mind to sleeping on a mat instead of a bed and not fully showering for like 2 days.
The bathroom situation: At every lunch stop and dinner/camp site there is a bathroom with plumbing. -but no toilet to sit on so you do have to squat usually and no sinks. And a few outhouses in between too. It is roughing it, but not like digging your own hole in the woods and burying it rough. Actually the first day, there are a few nicer stops that you can pay to use the restroom. It’s very inexpensive and the money goes to the people that maintain the toilets I believe.
They tell you how much water to carry, I forget the amount. Like a liter or two. Just follow the instruction they give you on that, no need for extra cause they’ll fill your water at stops.
They provide sleeping bags and trekking poles. Unless you really want to bring your own, but I don’t know why you’d want to pack all that extra stuff on your flight if you don’t have to. Well, If you’re doing other camping before or after this trek, then maybe it’d make sense.
I don’t remember the cost of the extra porter but it was absolutely worth it. I am a very experienced hiker and thought it would be silly to have an extra porter... but decided to treat myself last minute so that I could enjoy the views more. I’m so glad I did. I never would have predicted that I’d get altitude sickness as bad as I did. (Athleticism is not an accurate indicator) So just having a little day pack for water,snacks, camera, extra layers was sooo nice!
-They set up everything for you. Everything. The tents, the meals, the water for you to brush your teeth/wash your face.
Honestly, you are in such good hands from the moment they pick you up from your hotel. Just listen to all their recommendations (especially if you get altitude sickness-and if you do, let them know right away even if you have embarrassing diarrhea-they can help you, and it’s nothing they haven’t heard before)
I think there is a packing list on the website too
Just keep in mind that you are in the mountains and that any plumbing, drinking, water, fancy meals at all are a pretty impressive feat that the employees of the park or of the expedition companies make happen. So don’t forget to tip at the end of your trek. :) This was truly some of the most beautiful days of my life -totally worth every second of holding on to the sides of the privy cause my legs couldn’t hold that squat 🤣
Written September 18, 2018
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.