So you’ve just booked your tickets for Peru. Congratulations! Peru is a bucket list country for so many. Machu Picchu, alpacas, Rainbow Mountain, the Amazon Rainforest, the food… there are literally countless reasons many want to visit Peru. If the date of your departure is coming up, you’re going to want to start thinking about what you want to pack.
Peru is an interesting country to pack for, as the weather can vary widely, and the activities you’ll partake in will vary just as widely. But if you’re starting to worry about how to pack for this amazing trip, don’t worry! We’ve got you. We spent about a month in Peru, and we’ve managed to get the ultimate Peru packing list down to a science. This is the only Peru packing list you’ll need for your trip!
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Peru Packing Checklist

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Clothing and Footwear


Let’s start with the basics: clothes. Here are the clothing items we would recommend packing for Peru:
- 2-3 workout tops for hikes + 2 sports bras if applicable
- 1-2 long sleeve shirts for hikes
- 2-3 normal tops of your choice
- 1-2 sweaters, fleeces, hoodies, or jackets
- 1 lightweight down jacket
- 2 hiking pants and/or leggings
- 1-2 normal bottoms of your choice (jeans, skirts, etc.)
- 1-2 shorts
- Rain jacket
- 7+ underwear
- 7+ socks, including 3-4 wool hiking socks
- Hat
- Beanie
- Buff or scarf
- Sunglasses
- Sneakers
- Hiking boots
If you are heading to Peru in the wet season or summer (December to April), we recommend bringing another rain jacket or poncho and some sandals as well. But other than that, you can honestly pack similarly for both seasons. Whether you go in winter or summer, it can get cold in Cusco, so keep that in mind.
Luggage and Bags

In terms of luggage, we are pretty biased towards our trusty Osprey 55L Farpoint/Fairview backpacks that have traveled with us all over the world, including to Peru. We found that the 55L was just big enough for us to pack all of our gear while also being small enough to be a carry-on on airplanes.
For Peru, we HIGHLY recommend bringing a backpack like an Osprey over a suitcase since you’ll likely be doing multi-day hikes. Specifically, if you’ll be doing the Inca Trail, you’ll need to bring your backpack. While tour companies may have some backpacks you can rent for the trail, they will not be as good and will not fit your body as well.
So, what are the luggage items you’ll need for Peru?
- 40L+ backpack
- A daypack (if you have the Osprey 55L, the detachable 15L backpack works well as a daypack)
- Crossbody bag
- Packing cubes
- Toiletry bags
- Shoe bag
Trekking Gear


Most tourists in Peru do some sort of trekking or outdoor activity. After all, the in this country is pretty unbelievable! Beyond a large backpack and a smaller daypack, what are some other trekking gear you’ll need for Peru? Keep in mind that you may not necessarily need to bring all of the below things depending on your chosen travel company for the Inca Trail or Salkantay Hike.
- Hydration bladder
- Headlamp
- Waterproof backpack cover
- Microfiber towel
- Gaiters (during the wet season)
- Trekking poles (but not necessary)
Electronics

Although you’re likely traveling to Peru to become one with nature in the Amazon and Andes, you’ve got to bring some electronics with you. How else are you going to take that classic photo with that view of Machu Picchu? Keep in mind that not everything in this list is an absolute must, and what you take in the end depends on you and your needs.
- Smartphone
- Portable charger
- Universal adapter
- E-reader
- Noise-canceling headphones or earbuds
- Laptop
- Electronics cords organizer
- Camera
Documentation

If there’s one thing you don’t forget, you can’t forget your documentation. After all, while it would suck, you can technically replace everything else on this list, but forgetting your passport? Yikes. That’s the only thing you really need to travel to Peru! So, make sure you double-check this list of documentation to carry with you and pop it all in your fanny pack.
- Passport
- Visa information (if applicable)
- Credit/debit cards
- Cash
Toiletries

Even if you don’t wear makeup, you’ll need more toiletries than you think! Here are the basics of everything you’ll want to pack. The last thing you want is to forget one small item that is more useful than you think!
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- Face wash
- Lip balm
- Sunscreen
- Moisturizer
- Deodorant
- Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash
- Razor
- Hairbrush or comb
- Nail clippers and tweezers
- Hand sanitizer
- Period products (if applicable)
- Hair ties (if applicable)
- Makeup (if applicable)
- Makeup remover (if applicable)
Medication
On top of your standard toiletries, you should have some medication for your trip to Peru. Beyond standard medication that’s helpful to travel with, if you’re planning on visiting Cusco and Machu Picchu, you’ll need some extra help to deal with altitude sickness, which is absolutely no joke!
- Prescription medicines
- Pain reliever
- Anti-diarrhea medicine
- Antacid
- Band-aids
- Insect repellent
- Itch cream
- Electrolyte packets
- Altitude sickness medicine
- Motion sickness medicine
Other Important Peru Packing List Items

Beyond everything else that we’ve listed above, there are a few other must-have items you can’t forget for your trip to Peru.
eSIM
eSIMs have been absolute game-changers for us as full-time travelers, and you’ll thank us for getting one as well. While we are big fans of getting local SIM cards when arriving in a new country, as it’s generally cheaper, the reality is that many new phones don’t have physical SIM card ports anymore. This, in addition to the fact that it’s simply way more convenient to be connected from the get-go, makes eSIMs a must wherever you travel. Plus, if you have an eSIM, you don’t need to waste the first day in a country like Peru running around trying to figure out how to get a local SIM card.
Our favorite eSIM that we’ve used for the past year is Airalo. It’s very easy to use and top up when needed, and it more than covers our data needs.
Check our post on the best eSIMs for international travel to compare other amazing eSIM options so that you can find the best one for you.
Travel Health Insurance
Travel health insurance is another thing you absolutely cannot go to Peru without. After all, you’ll likely be dealing with some pretty insane altitude and physical activities, such as multi-day hikes in high altitude, and you never know what may happen. We’ve been big fans of SafetyWing, a travel health insurance made for nomads by nomads, as we think it’s the best option for digital nomads like us. It’s both affordable and covers most travel needs, including paragliding and mountaineering up to 6,000 meters in altitude.
VPN
One final thing to consider getting before your Peru trip is a VPN. While not a necessity for all, a VPN is useful if either of the below apply to you:
- You access public wi-fi
- You want to access shows or movies that are only available on streaming platforms in your home country
If either of the above is the case, we recommend getting Surfshark, our chosen VPN over the past 2+ years. It is one of the more affordable options out there but works in almost all countries, including Peru.
Things to Consider When Packing for Peru
Before going over the above list to ensure you pack everything you need, there are a couple of things to keep in mind in order to finalize your Peru packing list.
Weather Varies Depending on the Region and Season
You’ll experience two different climates during your trip to Peru. For example, the coast, such as Lima, has a winter and summer. The winter is from May to October, and the summer is from December to April. The winter is gray and foggy, while the summer is hot and sunny. No matter which season you choose to come, it will be pretty dry.
On the flip side, the rainforest and Andes (including Cusco and Machu Picchu) have two seasons: the dry season and the wet season. The dry season runs from May to October and is also the more popular time of year to visit Peru for this reason. It’s much easier to trek to Machu Picchu during this time of year, even though it’s considered Peru’s “winter”.
The wet season runs from December to April. Expect high humidity and rain. But with that said, you can experience rain any time of the year in the rainforest’s sub-tropical climate.
As you can see, with two distinct seasons, what you pack will look slightly different depending on the time of year you choose to go.
Think About Your Activities
There’s a wide range of activities to partake in in Peru, from multi-day hikes to sandboarding and surfing. So, think about what you want to do in Peru and pack accordingly. For example, if you will only be spending time on the coast, surfing and enjoying the sun on the beach, you’ll want to skip out on filling your luggage with hiking clothes.
Plan to Do Laundry
As a general rule, we recommend bringing around a week’s worth of clothes and undergarments, no matter how long your trip is. That way, you can avoid overpacking and simply do laundry on the go. You can find laundry services all over the country or simply book accommodation that comes with a washing machine – that’s what we do.
Get Packing for Your Peru Trip!
And that’s it! That’s officially everything you need to pack for Peru. Now, of course, the task is fitting all of the above in the luggage of your choice. But if we managed to squeeze everything into a 55L backpack… you’ve got this!
If you like our Peru packing list, you should also check out our New Zealand packing list, Southeast Asia packing list, and digital nomad packing list.