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This Peru packing list covers everything you need to pack for all of Peru’s destinations and possible adventures. Heading to the Amazon? Hiking the Inca Trail? Hanging out by the coast? It’s all here. And be sure to snag the free downloadable packing checklist as well.
Detailed Peru Packing List
This post covers many essential items and considerations that should go into your own personal Peru packing list. Many of the obvious things are missing (because do I really need to remind you to bring tampons and hair ties?) but you can find them all here in the printable checklist version. It’s simple, instantly downloadable, and totally FREE.
You want to blend in, right?
Weather & Climate in Peru
The major thing to know about Peru is that it’s made up of three distinct climate regions: the dry desert climate of the coast, the wet tropical climate of the rainforest, and the mild climate of the Andes Mountains (the Highlands). Chances are your itinerary will take you to all of these, so yeah, you’ll need to pack for all scenarios.
Dry Season vs. Wet Season
That being said, within those distinctions Peru has two main seasons: dry and wet. The dry season sees more sun; the wet season sees more rain. Simple as that. Obviously, the dry season is the best time to visit Peru (weather-wise).
Dry season in Peru: April to October (winter)
Rainy season in Peru: November to March (summer)
Very dry | Very wet
I personally visited during the last two weeks in March and experienced mostly dry, sunny days. The only time it really rained were my days on the Inca Trail and at Machu Picchu, and one day in the Sacred Valley. Even in the Amazon rainforest I stayed completely dry. (Well, in terms of rain, that is. In terms of sweat, you’ll be soaked to the bone all day every day.)
If you have dreams of visiting Machu Picchu and/or hiking the Inca Trail, I’d definitely prioritize visiting during dry season. The trail can become seriously dangerous in rain and the weather could ruin your chances at seeing those iconic Machu Picchu views. But even in the “dry” season you should prepare for precipitation here.
That said, Peru’s capital city of Lima sees almost no rain at all, ever. The city of Arequipa also sees very little rain throughout the year. You can check the upcoming forecast for several Peru cities here and for Machu Picchu here.
Dry, desert-y Lima
Basic Peru Packing List
The following are the things you’ll need to add to your Peru packing list regardless of your destination or plans. I’ll cover the more important things but leave the personal details to you since everyone’s packing list will look different. (The printable checklist has all the details.) More specific packing lists will follow.
Peru Travel Essentials
Passport – Make sure it’s valid for 6 months after your arrival date. You’ll also need this for your visit to Machu Picchu and/or to hike the Inca Trail.
Travel Insurance – Travel insurance is a must if you plan on any extreme adventures here. Plus, it’s great for so many things beyond emergencies and canceled trips.
Outlet adapters – Peru uses a combination of Type A (US) and Type C (EU) outlets. I was able to use my American electronics at some places, and at other places I needed my European travel adapters. If you’re heading to Peru from the US, I’d pick up a few Type C adapters just to be sure.
Voltage converter – Peru also uses 220 volts which is higher than the 110V used in the US. If you absolutely need to bring something like a hair dryer or a clothes steamer, be sure to also bring a voltage converter lest you set your hotel ablaze.
Never leave home without one
Cell phone lanyard – I don’t know how I ever lived without a cell phone lanyard. It’s perfect for thwarting theft in crowded cities as well as not dropping your phone in the Amazon while flying down the river on a boat.
Guidebooks – If you love a good travel guidebook like I do, don’t forget to grab a general Peru guidebook but also this must-have Peru customs and culture guide. (I always get one of these when I visit a new country.)
Small first aid kit – There are tons of ways to hurt yourself in Peru; best to have a small first aid kit with you.
Refillable water bottle – You need to hydrate in Peru, probably more than you’ve needed to hydrate anywhere else due to the high altitude. Bring a solid refillable water bottle (insulated is best!) and fill that sucker up as often as you can.
As with all my packing guides, I’m not going to tell you what to wear in Peru, but I will give you some guidelines and tell you what I packed for Peru. Everyone’s preferences are different so feel free to tailor this list to your needs. (Like I would never tell you to pack ballet flats or cute dresses because that’s not my personal style, but it may be yours! Adjust accordingly.)
Tops
The temperature changes often so you’ll want to stick to light layers. I stuck to mostly:
Most of my time in Peru was spent either exploring cities, on outdoor adventures, or sitting on a bus. Other than a few specific items, I tried to keep it simple:
1 pair of jeans (American Eagle is my forever fave; they are the softest)
1 pair of lightweight joggers for the jungle (I have these in 3 different colors and I LOVE them!)
And 1 pair of casual but nicer-looking pants because we did go to some nice restaurants a few times and I wanted something that wasn’t jeans or athleisure
My standard look (until I bought a cute Peruvian poncho)
Outerwear
Traveling to Peru in March, I knew I wasn’t going to see any extremely cold temperatures so I didn’t pack a lot of warm clothes. If it did get super cold, I’d be able to layer up anyway. I brought:
If you’re planning to visit in the winter, I’d also consider a slightly warmer coat or a packable down jacket. Either way, the winter accessories—beanie or headband, gloves, scarf—are going to be key!
Exploring ancient ruins and searching for condors
The Essential Extras
Additionally, I also brought the following necessary extra things… (and I recommend you do too)
Underwear – Knowing I’d be able to do laundry halfway through my trip, I brought enough underwear for half as many days as I needed (and then a few extras just in case)
Bras – I mostly wore bra-top tank tops, but also brought 2 casual/sports bras too.
Sleepwear – I also brought a thin pair of leggings, a pair of shorts, and 2 t-shirts to sleep in
Bathing suit – If you plan on visiting any of the amazing hot springs around Peru or spending time on the beach, you’ll need a swimsuit. (I’m a big fan of the ones from Cupshe.)
Enjoying some hot springs in the Colca Canyon
Laundry in Peru
In my case, I was able to send my dirty laundry out to be done from my hotel in Cusco. Our tour guide had a local contact who picked up, washed, dried, folded, and wrapped all our clothes for dirt cheap. (Chances are you can find a similar situation or at least a laundromat.)
Otherwise, I’d recommend adding a few extra things to your packing list for Peru so you can wash your own clothes during your trip:
Scrubba bag – Wash bag for clothes that fully seals and has little scrubbies on the inside. This is what I take on most of my trips. So much easier than washing your stuff in a hotel sink.
Clothes line – It has suction cups and clips on both ends so you can hang it up almost anywhere, and a braided cord so you don’t need to bring clothespins either.
Dr. Bronner’s – You can use this stuff for washing just about anything (really!).
Washing clothes in the hotel room
Shoes to Pack for Peru
Regardless of what your exact plans are, these are the shoes you’ll need to consider packing for Peru:
Hiking shoes or boots – Even if you’re not hiking, something generally made for outdoor, all-terrain use (that’s preferably waterproof) is great. On this trip, I brought my Merrell hiking shoes though sometimes I travel with my Oboz Bridger hiking boots.
Comfortable walking shoes – For things like exploring the cities, I wore my pair of Old Skool Vans that I always wear.
Sandals – I also brought a pair of Chacos for the warmer weather destinations. Brands like Chacos and Teva make sandals that also double as great walking shoes too. I dig.
Simple flip-flops – For the hot springs, the beach, to wear around the hotels and jungle cabins, etc.
Socks – Also bring whatever socks you’ll need for whatever shoes you’ll wear
This dog in Chivay wanted belly rubs REAL bad… but here are our shoes
Accessories to pack for Peru
Here are a few additional items to consider adding to your Peru packing list:
Purse or Crossbody – On this trip (and most of my trips actually), I brought my Travelon Slim Backpack Purse. It’s anti-theft and the perfect size for everyday use.
Jewelry – Keep it simple (or you do you, whatev!)
Hat – Some kind of hat will do you a lot of good in Peru where you’re so much closer to the sun, especially while hiking or out in the Amazon.
Check out the exact Peru tour I took here. This is the ultimate Peru trip with stops in all the major areas and tons of unforgettable experiences.
Peru Packing List for Hiking
The following section of the Peru packing list specifically focuses on the gear you’ll need if you plan to do any of Peru’s amazing hikes like the 1-day Inca Trail or the trek to Rainbow Mountain. (If you’ll be hiking the full 4-day Inca Trail trek you’ll also need supplies for overnight camping, which I can’t help you with here, sorry.)
Hiking day pack – Since you’re just doing the 1-day hike, you’ll only need a small bag for some essentials. I use REI’s Flash 18 Pack and it’s the perfect size for a short warm weather hike.
Good hiking shoes or boots – Skip the sneakers; you’ll need actual shoes made for hiking with good traction and ankle support (and waterproof if possible). I wore my Merrell hiking shoes for this one.
Hiking socks – Comfortable, moisture-wicking hiking socks are always a good idea. Darn Tough makes the absolute best!
Plenty of water – In my backpack I keep a 2-liter hydration bladder and you’ll need every drop for the Inca Trail. In fact, I’d even go for 3 liters if you can carry it.
Hydration salts – Peru’s hikes are intense and high altitude so you’ll need to hydrate as much as possible. I’d also recommend bringing a regular water bottle and adding some hydration salts to it. I personally use Liquid IV (and the Firecracker Popsicle flavor is my favorite).
Finishing the Inca Trail
Rain gear – Rain is always possible up here in the cloud forest so you’ll want to bring a thin rain shell/jacket, rain pants, and a rain cover for your backpack.
Hiking poles – They don’t have to be fancy; even simple cheap ones do the trick.
Snacks – Be sure to pack a lunch and some high-protein snacks to eat throughout the day. I always carry Think! Bars when I travel. (Lemon is my favorite; oatmeal chocolate chunk is terrible.)
Toilet paper & hand sanitizer – The bathroom situation on the trail is horrifying so if you need to go, you should do so somewhere off-trail. Regardless, you’ll need a small bit of TP (or a small tissue pack) and some hand sanitizer.
Trash bag of some sort – Even just a regular plastic shopping bag works to carry your trash.
Cold weather gear – If it’ll be cold during your hike, don’t forget to pack a beanie or something to keep your ears warm, light gloves, etc.
Sun protection – In summer, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are critical.
Your passport & permit – You need an official permit to hike the Inca trail and you’ll have to show it, along with your passport, at checkpoints along the trail.
Hiking the Inca Trail
Machu Picchu Packing List
Chances are Machu Picchu is a big reason you’re visiting Peru in the first place. Here are a few ways to make your visit as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.
Rain poncho – Umbrellas aren’t allowed at Machu Picchu. If it’s raining, you’ll absolutely need a large rain poncho to stay dry. I didn’t have one and just wore my rain jacket and rain pants, but I still wished I’d had a poncho over that. Besides, it’s always a good idea to throw a couple of these in your suitcase for emergency purposes.
Good outdoor shoes – Again, the terrain here is rocky, steep, and possibly wet and muddy. Sneakers are probably fine here but I’d still recommend some solid outdoor shoes.
Small daypack – Machu Picchu also regulates how big a bag you can bring into the park—it has to be smaller than 30-liters and/or no bigger than 16x14x8 inches. The REI Flash 18 Pack I mentioned earlier is perfect.
Your passport & permit – Don’t forget to bring your passport with you to Machu Picchu. You’ll need to show it along with your permit in order to access the archaeological site. Keep them in a Ziplock bag if it’s raining.
Important: Hiking poles are fine on the trails but expressly prohibited inside the Machu Picchu archaeological site. Talk to your tour guide if you need them for medical reasons.
If you’ll be visiting the Amazon jungle while in Peru, there are even more things you need to be aware of and prepare for. This includes destinations like Iquitos in the north and Puerto Maldonado in the south (where I stayed). You may think your main goal in the Amazon is to see rare and beautiful wildlife, but it’s actually this: Don’t contract any jungle diseases and don’t die of heat stroke.
Light colored clothing – Because disease-carrying mosquitos are attracted to dark colors, it’s highly recommended to stick to light colors here in the rainforest. This helps keep you cooler anyway.
Loose-fitting clothing – Because disease-carrying mosquitos can bite you through your clothes, it’s best not to wear tight-fitting clothing. Lightweight fabrics also help keep you cool. (I told you—your two main goals.)
Long sleeves & long pants – Also because of the disease-carrying mosquitos
Buff or bandana – To cover your neck and/or face (from disease-carrying mosquitos)
Hat of some sort – For sun, bugs, shade, etc.
Mosquito net hat – I’m not even kidding about the mosquitos. You’ll want to keep them off your head and away from your face too. I also brought one of these lightweight mosquito nets to wear over my hat for when the bugs got real bad. Look, the jungle is not a sexy place, ok?
Bug repellent – I think it goes without saying you should also bring a can of bug spray with you. I bring Off! Deep Woods with Deet because I don’t mess around. You can also pretreat your jungle clothes with Permethrin while you’re still at home and they’ll be good for up to 6 weeks.
Itch cream – Just in case anything does get you
Small pair of binoculars – Because you will actually get to see rare and beautiful wildlife! It may just be a little bit far away from you. These are also handy if you plan to visit Colca Canyon to see the condors or the Altiplano to see flamingos and vicuña.
Shoe bags – Your shoes are going to get hella dirty in the jungle and you won’t want to pack them in with the rest of your stuff. Be sure to bring some dedicated shoe bags to keep them in, even if it’s just a plastic trash bag or one of your packing cubes.
Small personal fan – If you’re afraid you’ll overheat in the jungle (you will), consider also bringing a small personal fan you can carry around with you. My friend uses both this one and this one and I’m fairly certain she’d lay down her life for these things. I’ve also seen people with these that hang around your neck.
Headlamp – Wherever you’ll be staying in the Amazon, they’ll probably recommend you bring a headlamp with you to navigate the jungle paths at night (without draining the battery on your cell phone since electricity here is at a premium).
Obviously, pack whatever medicines you need for your trip be them prescription or over-the-counter. But keep in mind that visiting Peru means you might have to pack something you normally wouldn’t.
Malaria Pills
Most of Peru is fine, but if you’ll be visiting the Amazon regions, you’ll need to protect yourself against malaria (hence all the anti-mosquito gear). Definitely talk to your own personal doctor or someone at a Passport Health clinic before your trip about this. They’ll probably prescribe you one of the common anti-malaria drugs like Atovaquone, Mefloquine, or Doxycycline, but a lot of personal factors will go into that choice.
Yellow Fever
Yellow Fever is another major concern when visiting Peru (that’s also transmitted by mosquitos). (As of April 2025, there’s been a noticeable increase in cases as well.) Even though vaccination against it isn’t required, it’s highly recommended. Talk to your doctor about this too, but you may have to see a travel vaccination specialist. I got mine done at a Passport Health clinic. I also got vaccinated for Typhoid because why not?
Getting altitude sickness is pretty much a given when visiting Peru, despite how fit you are, where you live, etc. There are tons of simple things you can and should do to prevent it (and then deal with it when it happens). There’s also a drug that some people recommend to prevent it called Diamox.
I have no personal experience with Diamox and I haven’t read great things, but a relative of mine used it for her Peru trip and said it worked for her. You and your doctor can make that decision together.
Diamox or not, there’s still a good chance the altitude will affect you. (Especially at Lake Titicaca where it’s almost 13,000 feet above sea level!) The most basic thing you can bring with you is some over-the-counter pain killers like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or whatever else you personally prefer.
Motion Sickness Meds
Another thing to know about Peru is the roads are atrocious. Even the paved ones, even the highways. All terrible. If motion sickness is something that affects you, definitely have a healthy supply of whatever remedy you prefer on hand. (Or try curing your motion sickness permanently like I did!)
On a reed boat on Lake Titicaca
What NOT to Pack for Peru
Here are a few things to keep off your Peru packing list…
Umbrella – You can still bring one if this is what you prefer to use, but know that umbrellas are not allowed at Machu Picchu and you’ll still need a rain jacket or poncho instead.
Selfie sticks or tripods – The same goes for anything resembling a selfie stick, tripod, or 360° camera here.
Hair dryer – Even with a voltage converter, this is still something you don’t need to bring. Every hotel I stayed at in Peru (and I stayed at many) had a hair dryer, as most every hotel does now. The only place that didn’t have one was my jungle lodge and I can assure you that your hair will never be dry, no matter what. You just gotta learn to live with the wetness.
Clothes steamer – I travel with a small clothes steamer sometimes because I despise wrinkles, but even I know it’s not necessary and takes up too much space. Don’t be like me.
Peru Packing Checklist
If you haven’t already, be sure to snag the Complete Peru Packing Checklist here. This comprehensive list is instantly downloadable, printable, and FREE.
More info to plan your trip to Peru
Hotels: Head to Booking.com for your best options. (But Expedia and Hotels.com usually have good deals too.) Or head to VRBO for the best rental properties.
Like this post? Have questions about what to pack for Peru? Let me know in the comments below. Have a great trip!
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Ashley Smith
Ashley is a historian and Oktoberfest expert & tour guide. She has traveled to 40 countries and specializes in quick trips throughout Europe and the Americas that prioritize hiking adventures, museums of all kinds, cultural experiences, and jam-packed itineraries. She hails from Memphis, TN and currently lives in Boston with her husband and two feline sidekicks.
