THE ULTIMATE
PERU SALKANTAY TREK
PACKING LIST
Use our ultimate Peru Packing List as a guide for what to bring along while you’re hiking to Machu Picchu! We’ve packed this Peru Packing List with our trail tested favorites and recommendations, plus lots of useful info on the best gear for adventuring in all of Peru’s conditions.
Our biggest piece of advice is to pack light and smart, and bring durable, multi use items that you can layer as temperatures and weather changes (because they will)! Test and break in all your gear beforehand and use common sense and your own best judgement and discretion when choosing exactly what you pack. After all, no one knows you better than you! If you tend to run cold, pack an extra layer or two. If you have a dietary restrictions stomach, bring extras of your go-to snacks.
We’re firm believers that there’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate gear! Stocking up on quality gear from brands who are doing it right will make all the difference for enjoying all your adventures in the great outdoors!
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PLEDGE TO PACK SINGLE USE PLASTIC FREE
PLEDGE TO PACK SINGLE USE PLASTIC FREE
Click here to learn more about our sustainability initiatives
THE ULTIMATE
PERU SALKANTAY TREK
PACKING LIST
UP TOP
2 HATS
Bring something light with a brim for sunny days, and a warm beanie that will cover your ears for colder nights.
2 PAIRS OF GLOVES or Mittens
Bring a pair of lightweight liner gloves, and one more serious thermal, waterproof and insulated outer pair for the colder nights. If your hands tend to get cold, you might want to opt for mittens which will keep your hands warmer.
3-4 MOISTURE WICKING TOPS
Bring a few lightweight tops, so you can layer and re-wear them. Pack a mixture of tanks, short, and long sleeve options. Make sure one of these shirts is a sun shirt with UPF protection to help prevent sunburn. Pro tip: look for wool and/or synthetic garments that, unlike cotton, wick away moisture.
DOWN Jacket
This will keep you warm as you reach higher elevations when the temperature drops, and will be especially important on the first 2 days of the trek. When layering, this jacket will go over your medium layers but under your rain jacket. We recommend a jacket with at least a 650 fill, but if you tend to run cold consider a warmer insulated jacket with an 850 fill. You know your body best, but we can't emphasize enough how cold it can get. (This is especially true for the Rainbow Mountain add-on!)
RAIN JACKET
You need a water and wind proof jacket with a hood that you can wear comfortably over all your layers. We love this one from Outdoor Research!
DOWN LOW
1 PAIR OF HIKING BOOTS
The most important thing you’ll bring! Make sure they are waterproof, have ankle support, and that you’ve broken them in well. Brands we love are LOWA, Salomon and Asolo. Check out this blog of our team’s favorite boots.
Note: Due to the potential for snowy conditions, sturdy hiking boots are required. Trail runners won’t provide enough support or protection for these conditions.
1 PAIR OF CAMP SHOES
Comfy, closed-toed, easy-to-slip-on shoes are great to have for camp, and going to the bathroom at night. Trust us, the last thing you want to do is put your boots back on after a long day of hiking! We love our Crocs or these Merrell slip-ons for this - they’re lightweight and durable.
2-3 PAIRS OF HIKING bottoms
You’ll want a few pairs of pants or leggings to last you the entire trek. Check out these fleece tights from Smartwool for colder temperatures. For the hotter days in the rainforest, you will want a lighter pair, but we recommend always wearing long pants to protect from the bugs.
WIND + WATERPROOF PANT
A non-insulated, outer layer pant is a must-have when it’s rainy or windy. REI makes an affordable and high quality pair.
ALL ABOUT THAT BASE
1 PAIR THERMAL BASE LAYERs
Have a thin, snug-fitting top and bottom set that you can wear underneath everything at higher altitudes (and can double as your pajamas). We recommend a merino wool or a synthetic fabric like polyester that wicks sweat away from your skin and regulates temperature. We love these Smartwool tops and bottoms.
3-4 PAIRS HIKING SOCKS
Bring durable wool socks in a few different weights - lighter for the hotter days, and serious heavy ones the colder days and nights. Consider liner socks, which can help prevent blisters. We love Darn Tough’s Hiker Boot Sock in Full Cushion.
2-3 SPORTS BRAS
Bring comfortable bras that provide support and dry quickly, and don't bind, smoosh, or chafe.
UNDERWEAR
Bring as many pairs as you know you’ll want! Check out REI’s Merino Hipster Underwear which are comfy and great for adventuring.
SWIMSUIT
Make sure to pack a swimsuit in your duffel for the trek. You never know when there might be an opportunity for a dip!
GET YOUR ARSE IN GEAR
DAYPACK
You’ll need a lightweight hiking backpack to wear on the trek and to carry your essentials like water, extra layers, snacks, etc. Something around 30 L should work perfectly. We recommend getting one with a padded hip belt and that’s compatible with a water bladder/hose. Make sure you have a rain cover (many packs have them built in). Brands we love: Deuter, Osprey, Gregory.
Pro Tip: Bring a hip pack to keep snacks, your phone, and sunscreen in for easy access.
Small Packable Backpack
Bring a small lightweight backpack, hip pack, or drawstring backpack that’s 20L or less to take into Machu Picchu because large daypacks are not allowed inside the citadel.
WATER BLADDER
Staying hydrated is so important while hiking at high altitudes! We highly recommend getting a 3 L water bladder. It’s the easiest way to carry and drink water while trekking.
WATER BOTTLE
Bring a 1 L wide mouth water bottle like a Nalgene.
TREKKING POLES*
These are necessary for tricky terrain, and a life saver on the steep ups and downs. Plus your knees will thank you! Make sure they are collapsible for easy stashing, and simple to adjust. *Hikers on WHOA Peru trips have the option to rent trekking poles in country.
BONUS: You get 20% off Leki poles for being a part of the WHOA family! Just use this special link and your discount will be automatically applied. (For free shipping use code FREE99 at checkout.)
RAIN PONCHO
In addition to a rain jacket, you also need a poncho (make sure it’s reusable as a single use plastic one will not suffice). It’s perfect to protect you and your daypack from getting wet when it really starts coming down, using only a rain jacket and pack cover will leave too much exposed and your straps will get soaked.
SLEEPING BAG*
We recommend at least a three season sleeping bag (if you run cold consider a 0 degree F bag like the Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass). Make sure you also have a large waterproof stuff sack to store it in like this one from Sea to Summit. *On WHOA Peru treks, three season bags, inflatable sleeping pads and camp pillows are provided free of charge!
SLEEPING BAG LINER*
A sleeping bag liner adds warmth and keeps your sleeping bag clean from sunscreen and sweat. We recommend this one from Sea to Summit. *Fleece liners are provided on WHOA Peru treks.
BUFF OR BANDANA
An all around great item to always have with you! You can use it as a neck gaiter, head band or sweat rag. Plus, there are so many fun designs to choose from!
HEADLAMP
We love Black Diamond for headlamps, and recommend opting for a lighter weight rechargeable one. If yours uses batteries, make sure you have an extra set.
POLARIZED SUNGLASSES
You have to protect your eyes from the fierce sun so make sure they are UV-blocking and polarized. Goodr makes cute sunglasses that are great for hiking!
portable battery charger
Whatever electronics you choose to bring, make sure you have a way to recharge them.
ALL THE SMALL THINGS
MEDS
Consult with your physician on any prescription medication you might need for this adventure, especially Diamox, a common medication taken for preventing altitude sickness. Other common medications you might want to bring along include, pain relievers, anti-histamines, cold medicine, and antidiarrheals.
PASSPORT
Make sure yours is valid for 6 months after your adventure dates. Bring a waterproof bag to keep it dry, and it’s always a good idea to travel with a copy of it.
DRY BAGS
When preparing your gear, pack everything that’s going into your duffel or daypack in dry bags (or silicone bags for smaller items). This includes your sleeping bag, clothes, and even a dry pouch for your phone/passport/money. We recommend bringing along several different sizes to help organize and separate all your clean and dirty clothing and gear. We’ll be in the elements so we want to make sure our gear is always dry and protected!
DISPOSABLE BAGS
Having a stash of biodegradable bags is good to have on hand for collecting and carrying out trash on the trails and when we’re on the go.
FIRST AID
We’ll have all this stuff on hand, but make sure you have a compact kit with Neosporin, bug spray, band-aids, moleskin, duct tape, anti-septic, etc. We like this one because it’s lightweight, waterproof, and has everything you might need.
Toilet Kit
Sometimes nature calls when we’re not near a bathroom, so having a toilet kit is necessary! This includes a Kula cloth, a small amount of toilet paper, and compostable bags to pack out your toilet paper. You should keep this all in your daypack inside a small dry bag.
SUNSCREEN + LIPSCREEN
This is a must have for being in the strong mountain sun all day! Bring a new, full tube with an SPF rating of at least 30+. We love Badger Sport sunscreen because it works great and is environmentally friendly!
Insect REPELLENT
Choose a serious one with DEET or a DEET alternative like Picaridin. We really like this Picaridin from Sawyer Products!
TOILETRIES
Don’t forget the travel essentials like travel sized deodorant, sun screen, lotion, hair ties, hair brush, face wipes, tampons, contact solution, toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, masks, and ear plugs, etc. Remember our pledge to keep single use plastics out of the places we love, so pack reusable bottles, bar soaps and biodegradable products! Pack it all in this amazing upcycled toiletry bag!
QUICK DRY TOWEL + WET WIPES
Who needs running water and a shower?! Don't forget about the environment and make sure your wet wipes are biodegradable. This camp towel from Cocoon is great.
2 LUGGAGE LOCKs
Always lock your things! Have one for your duffel on the mountain, and have one to lock your suitcase that will stay at the hotel while you’re trekking.
ADAPTER
Make sure you bring an adapter. Peru has type A, B and C electrical outlets, so it’s important to have an adapter that can be used on all three kinds.
SNACKS
There’s plenty of hearty food provided at meal time, but be sure to bring plenty of extra snacks! The days can be long, you need to keep your energy up, and nothing beats comfort food when you're on the trails! Some of our favorite morale boosters are Cheez-Its, gummy worms, and Pringles.
Packing extra snacks is especially important for those with dietary restrictions. While we can accommodate all dietary restrictions, due to the remote nature of our adventures, there might not be as much variety as you’d find at home, so packing the snacks you know you love is definitely advised. If you have questions about what to expect on your adventure when it comes to food, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.
Travel Insurance
Travel doesn't always go as planned! That's part of the adventure, and it's also the reason we require all of our adventurers to have a travel insurance plan that includes medical coverage and emergency medical evacuation. We HIGHLY recommend purchasing a travel insurance plan ASAP to cover you financially with any costs that can come up like trip interruption or cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances. The IMG LX plan is one option that offers excellent medical and evacuation coverage, has no altitude restrictions, and offers cancel for any reason but do your research before purchasing a plan to make sure it works for you and your situation!
IMPORTANT THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHILE YOU'RE PACKING
A small duffel will be provided to hold all your gear and will be carried from camp to camp by mules (remember to pack it all in waterproof bags). This duffel has a strict 16 lb (7.25 kg) weight limit including your sleeping bag - if you choose to bring your own. (If you use the provided sleeping bag, it will be carried outside of your duffel bag and not count toward the 16 lb limit.)
Every day you will carry your personal necessities (rain layers, sunscreen, etc.) in your daypack. You’ll be able to leave the rest of your luggage at the hotel in Cusco where it will be stored securely at the hotel while we are hiking. You should carry all your valuables (like your passport and wallet) with you at all times on the trail.
The Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu can be undertaken year round, but we highly recommend the drier months of March-November (the rainy season is typically December-February). Temps throughout the year follow a fairly consistent pattern: days are warm (highs in the 70s F/20s C) and chilly at night through the early morning (lows in the 20s to 40s F/-6 to 4 C). As you'd expect, the temperatures get cooler as you ascend to high elevation, and warmer and more humid at the lower altitudes in the Andean rainforest.
PACKING TIPS FOR OFF THE MOUNTAIN
Cusco is a bustling city with nice restaurants and a fun nightlife, so, while it’s casual, when you’re out you’ll probably want to dress differently than you do on the trek. Cusco is very walkable, and strolling around the narrow streets is a great way to spend the day, so bring comfortable shoes. The temperature is usually around 50 F/10 C and but it can cool down dramatically at night, so bring a jacket or wool sweater. The handicrafts and shopping are amazing, so save room in your suitcase! There are also lots of outdoor gear stores in Cusco, so if you forget something, you can most likely find it in a store before we start our trek. Be sure to bring a small reusable shopping tote to eliminate the need to use a single-use plastic bag for snacks or souvenir stops. They’re also handy to have in case you need another bag to take on the plane. Just another way to make Mother Earth proud!
When it comes to sustainability at WHOA, we're working hard to eliminate plastic waste and one of the best ways to do that is by using a water filter. We recommend getting a water filter from Epic Water Filters for off-mountain hydration (water filters freeze when it gets cold)! If you already have a Nalgene bottle, you can purchase the Nalgene filter attachment and use the bottle you already have. All Outdoor Epic Water Filters have been performance-tested, and can be used on both tap and outdoor water sources to remove common waterborne pathogens, like giardia. Plus, all their filters can be recycled and replaced, so your bottle gets used over and over!
Cusco is generally a safe place for travelers, but petty theft and pick pocketing can still happen. Leave expensive jewelry at home and don’t leave your belongings unattended in public. When you’re walking around town, keep your money/phone in a hip pack on your front body. Consider getting an anti-theft bag as an extra safety measure.