Peru Packing List: What to Bring, from Sea Level to 5,200 m
A normal trip crosses three climates in two weeks. The full list by region, the layer system, and what to leave at home.
The mistake almost everyone makes when packing for Peru is packing for one climate.
A normal two-week trip goes from Lima at sea level, to Cusco at 3,400 m where it is 20 °C at noon and near freezing at night, to a 5,200 m mountain pass, and possibly to the Amazon at 30 °C and 90% humidity. No single set of clothes covers that.
The answer is layers, not more clothes.
The same trip crosses three climates. This is what changes between them.
The three-layer system, and why it matters here
In Cusco the temperature swings around 20 degrees between midday and midnight, every day of the year. You cannot dress for the average. You dress in layers and take them off and on.
- Base layer. Merino or synthetic, next to the skin. Two of them. Not cotton, which stays wet.
- Mid layer. Fleece or a light down jacket. This is what you wear most of the time in Cusco.
- Outer layer. Windproof and waterproof shell. It does not need to be thick, it needs to block wind.
With those three you are comfortable at 25 °C and at minus 2 °C. Without them you will buy an alpaca jumper in the San Blas market on day one, which is what most visitors end up doing anyway.
The essential list
Documents and money
- Passport. Take it to Machu Picchu: the entrance ticket is checked against it, and the Inca Trail permit carries your passport number
- A photocopy or photo of the passport, kept separately
- Cash in soles for markets, taxis and small towns. Cards work in Cusco and Lima and often do not work outside them
- Your travel insurance number and a note of what it covers at altitude
Clothes, Cusco and the Andes
- 2 base layers
- 1 fleece or light down jacket
- 1 windproof and waterproof shell
- 2 trousers, one of them quick-drying, no jeans
- Hat with a brim and a warm hat. Different jobs
- Gloves and a buff or scarf
- Wool socks, three pairs
- Broken-in walking shoes. New boots on the Inca Trail is a four-day mistake
Sun
The sun at 3,400 m is far stronger than the temperature suggests. People burn on cold, overcast days in Cusco all the time.
- Sunscreen SPF 50, and more of it than you think
- Sunglasses with real UV protection
- Lip balm with SPF. The dry air cracks lips within two days
Health
- Whatever you normally take, in its original packaging
- Ibuprofen or paracetamol for altitude headache
- Rehydration salts. They help more than anything else for altitude
- Anti-diarrhoea tablets, plasters, blister plasters
- Coca tea or coca sweets are sold everywhere in Cusco. They are legal in Peru and mildly helpful. Do not take them home, they are illegal in most countries
If you are considering acetazolamide for altitude, that is a conversation with your doctor before you fly, not with a pharmacy in Cusco.
Useful and small
- A reusable water bottle. You will drink more at altitude than you expect
- A power bank. Cold drains phone batteries fast
- A plug adapter. Peru uses 220 V, plug types A and C
- A head torch for any trek and for Aguas Calientes, where the power is not always reliable
- A dry bag or plastic bags for the rainy season and for boat trips
- Earplugs. Cusco is loud at night and Andean towns start early
What changes by region
Machu Picchu, 2,430 m. Warmer than Cusco, and far more humid. Photo: Pierre André Leclercq, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lima, sea level. Mild all year, 15 to 28 °C, grey and damp from April to November. A light jacket is enough. You will not need any of the mountain gear here.
Cusco and the Sacred Valley, 2,800 to 3,400 m. The full layer system. Warm days, cold nights, strong sun, and rain from November to March.
Machu Picchu, 2,430 m. Warmer and more humid than Cusco. Mosquitoes, so repellent. Rain is possible any month. Large backpacks are not allowed inside, only day packs up to a set size, and there is a luggage store at the entrance.
Rainbow Mountain and high passes, 4,200 to 5,200 m. Everything you own, at once. It can be below freezing with wind at the top even in the dry season. Gloves and a warm hat are not optional here.
Lake Titicaca, 3,800 m. Colder than Cusco at night. On the boat the wind is constant.
The Amazon, near sea level. Long sleeves and long trousers in light fabric, closed shoes, strong repellent, a rain poncho and a dry bag. Yellow fever vaccination is recommended and some lodges ask for the certificate.
Huacachina and the coastal desert. Hot, dry and sandy. Wrap-around sunglasses, a scarf for the dune buggy, closed shoes and a bag for your phone.
If you are trekking
Humantay Lake at 4,200 m, on the first day of the Salkantay Trek. Cold, windy, and very strong sun. Photo: Snow Writes, CC BY 4.0
On the Inca Trail and on Salkantay, a porter carries a limited weight for you, normally between 5 and 7 kg, and you carry a day pack with water, layers, sun protection and camera.
Add to the list above:
- Sleeping bag rated to minus 5 °C, or hire one. It is usually not included
- Walking poles with rubber tips. Required: metal tips are not allowed on the Inca Trail
- Personal wet wipes and toilet paper
- A small towel that dries fast
- Two pairs of walking socks per day is excessive; one spare pair is not
The rest of your luggage stays in your Cusco hotel. Every hotel does this and it is free.
What to leave at home
- Drone. Flying one over Machu Picchu and most archaeological sites is prohibited
- New boots. Four days is not enough to break them in
- Jeans. Heavy, cold when wet, take a day to dry
- A big hard suitcase if you are moving between Lima, Cusco and Puno. A soft bag is easier on vans and trains
- Coca products, on the way home. Legal in Peru, illegal in most other countries
- Valuables you would mind losing. The usual city rules apply
Frequently asked questions
What should I pack for Peru? Layers, not bulk: two base layers, a fleece or light down jacket, and a windproof waterproof shell. Add strong sunscreen, sunglasses, a brimmed hat, a warm hat, broken-in walking shoes and cash in soles.
How cold does it get in Cusco? Around 20 °C at midday and close to freezing at night, in the dry season from May to September. The swing is about 20 degrees every day, so a warm layer is needed year round.
Do I need hiking boots for Machu Picchu? No, comfortable walking shoes with grip are enough for the site itself. Boots matter if you are doing the Inca Trail, Salkantay or Huayna Picchu, and they must already be broken in.
Can I take a big backpack into Machu Picchu? No. Only small day packs are allowed inside. There is a luggage store at the entrance for anything larger.
What should I pack for the Inca Trail? Everything on the Cusco list, plus a sleeping bag rated to minus 5 °C, walking poles with rubber tips, a head torch, wet wipes and a quick-drying towel. Porters carry 5 to 7 kg for you and you carry a day pack.
Do I need a rain jacket in the dry season? Yes. A waterproof shell is also your windproof layer, and the wind at 4,000 m matters more than the rain. Rain is possible in any month at Machu Picchu.
What about altitude sickness medication? Rehydration salts and painkillers cover most cases. If you want acetazolamide, ask your own doctor before travelling. More on this in our guide to altitude in Cusco.