What to Pack for Your Adventure to Peru
Peru is very large and varied country with rainforest, mountains, desert and pretty much everything in between, packing can be a challenge. One thing that remains constant is that spaces can be tight, stairs often have to be climbed and hotels do not always have porters so we recommend that you bring a backpack or duffle bag and not a suitcase. It is now easy to find duffle bags with wheels which are a great mix of the ease of a suitcase and the flexibility of a soft bag. You should also bring a small backpack or a satchel/courier bag with you for excursions during the day.
PACKING LIST
Documents:
- Original valid Passport (with photocopies)
- Travel insurance (with photocopies)
- Airline tickets (with photocopies)
- USD cash and travelers’ checks, credit or debit card
- Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
- Tour itinerary
Clothing:
- Waterproof jacket or rain poncho
- 2x Fleece or wool sweater
- Swimming Towel
- 1 or 2 Jeans
- 2 x Long Pants -zip off kind convertible to shorts are very convenient
- 3-4 x T-shirts (non-cotton & quick drying recommended)
- 2-3 x long-sleeve shirts (non-cotton & quick drying recommended)
- 1-2 pairs of shorts/skirts (non-cotton & quick drying recommended)
- Nightwear
- Swimsuit for beaches or hot springs
- Socks / stockings (lots)
- Underwear (lots)
- 2 or 3 Casual shirts
- Slacks
- 1 or 2 Collared shirts
- A dress
- Thermal underwear if travelling between May and October as it can get cold at night.
- Warm woolen hat, scarf and gloves for the nights if travelling between May and October although all can be purchased cheaply in Peru.
Gear
- Daypack
- Money belt
- Camera and memory card
- Travel Watch or alarm clock
- Reading/writing materials
- Insect repellent
- Sun-block
- Flashlight / headlamp
- Toilet paper (not provided in public facilities in Peru use trash can provided)
- First aid kit
- Water bottle
- Sun hat and Sunglasses
- Binoculars
- Purification tablets or filter (optional)
- Ear plugs
- Plastic bags
- Sewing kit
- Pens and writing materials.
- Refillable water bottles.
- Power adapters
- Aspirins/medications
- First-aid kit (should contain lip salve, Aspirin, Band Aids, charcoal tablets (carbon), anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re-hydration powder (Gatorade), and any extra prescription drugs you may be taking).
- Pocket-knife
Shoes
- Thongs/flip flops/sandals
- Going out shoes
- Comfortable walking shoes “already broke in if possible”
Toiletries
- Toiletry bag
- Toothpaste, Toothbrush, Deodorant
- Make up, moisturizers and hair products
- Contact lens solution if required
- Sunblock, SPF30
- Handkerchiefs/tissues
- Wet wipes and pocket tissues
- Lip balm
Recommended for hiking and camping
- Comfortable back pack to carry your gear for the day
- Cover for backpack
- Sleeping bag (see trip itinerary for specific details; can be rented in our office locally for $ 5 USD per day)
- Fleece top
- Inner sheet (for sleeping bag)
- Wool hat, mitts or gloves (preferably waterproof)
- Windproof/waterproof jacket
- Rain poncho
- Swim wear (hot thermal springs)
- Strong plastic bags to help keep gear dry
- Hiking shoes or boots (can replace comfortable walking shoes) “already broke in if possible”
- Hiking / track pants pants that zip into shorts (can replace one pair of jeans)
- Mattress (see trip itinerary for specific details; self inflating type mattresses are available for hire for approximately $12 USD)
- Anti-inflammatory tablets (e.g. Ibuprofen)
- Thermal underwear
- Headlamp or flashlight
- wool Socks
- Walking poles (available to buy or hire in Cusco)
- Small travel towel – If you’d like to shower on the Trail bring a small towel and toiletries.
- Strong plastic bags to help keep gear dry
- Basic first aid kit
TIPS:
- Label your suitcase inside and out with your name and your home address and perhaps attach a sticker, ribbon, patch or other unique identifier to your luggage to make it easier to spot.
- Carry a copy of your passport, visas, travel and other important documents with you in your luggage. You should scan these documents and email them to yourself and also leave a copy of all this information at home with someone trusted and contactable while you are away.
- Don't pack your travel documents and passport in your luggage rather take it with you in your carry luggage.
- Remember to bring more than enough of any medication you might need along with you and carry prescriptions for any medications that you carry with you. Prescription medication should be packed in your carry-on luggage however please note that you are not allowed to bring syringes onto the plane so if required they must be packed in your checked luggage.
Laundry Facilities
Having your laundry done for you in Peru is not only inexpensive but makes your life way easier. For approximately $1US you can get a pound of laundry washed, dried and folded. It is not recommended that you send items with special washing or drying instructions to the laundry as they may not come back the same way. These you can either hand-wash or dry-clean.
