Trekking in Peru – What to Bring
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Published on: August 22nd, 2018
Last modified: August 3rd, 2022
Trekking in Peru is a wonderful experience but it does require a bit of preparation.
Ensuring you pack the right clothing and equipment will make all the difference in you properly enjoying this incredible adventure.
One of our biggest pieces of advice is to wear your shoes in before you travel. Your feet will work hard during the trek and worn in boots or shoes helps to minimise the risk of blisters.
For more trekking packing advice, here's our experts' recommendations of what to bring to the when trekking in Peru.
Clothing and footwear
- Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco)
- Warm clothes including jacket and fleeces. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping
- T-shirts
- Hiking pants – convertible ones are useful as they can be switched into shorts if necessary
- Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
- Strong footwear – waterproof trekking boots recommended. Make sure these are well worn in
- Sandals or jogging shoes to wear once you have reached camp. Your feet will be thankful after a day of trekking
Equipment and accessories
- A backpack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek
- Flashlight/headlamp and batteries
- Camera and batteries (batteries run out quicker under cold conditions)
- Sun block – high factor
- After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
- Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET
- Toilet paper and tissues
- Small towel
- Swimsuit
- Cash in soles and/or US$
- Passport (original, not a copy)
- Optional: walking sticks or poles (rubber covers required in order not to damage the trails)
- Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, dried fruits, muesli, etc. Please note that a daily morning snack is included and the meal service is very comprehensive. This recommendation applies for all clients being used to a specific snack, as it may happen that it is not included in the selection
- Water container and water for the first morning. Important notice: plastic water bottles are no longer allowed into the Inca Trail. Plastic water containers (ie. Nalgene) or metal ones are recommended are recommended for all treks to help minimize plastic usage
- Optionally: water sterilising tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route. Otherwise, filtered boiled water is provided, which is safe to drink
