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!

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 or similar.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 need to make sure our gear is always dry and protected!

DISPOSABLE BAGS

Having a stash of biodegradable bags on hand is good for collecting and carrying out trash on the trails, and for when you’re on the go.

FIRST AID

Our guides and GALs always carry comprehensive kits, 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 and waterproof.

Toilet Kit

Sometimes nature calls when we’re not near a toilet, so having a kit with the essentials 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

Sunscreen is non-negotiable in the mountain sun. Bring a full bottle with at least SPF 30 rating. We love Badger Sport sunscreen for its clean ingredients and eco-friendly credentials.

Insect REPELLENT

Choose 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 deodorant, sun screen, lotion, hair ties, hair brush, face wipes, tampons, contact solution, toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, masks, vaseline, 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 (and then pack it all in this amazing upcycled toiletry bag)!

QUICK DRY TOWEL + WET WIPES

We love this compact camp towel from Cocoon, and be sure to look for wet wipes that are biodegradable.

2 LUGGAGE LOCKs

Have one lock for the duffel you use while hiking, and one to lock the suitcase that will stay at the hotel while you’re trekking.

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 at high altitude. Some of our favorite morale boosters are Cheez-Its, gummy worms, and M&Ms. 

While we can accommodate dietary restrictions, due to the remote nature of our adventures, there might not be as much variety as you’d find at home. If you have dietary restrictions or allergies, bring extras of your go-to snacks and carry a card written in the local language describing them for mealtimes (Google Translate works great for this).​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 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 travel insurance plan that includes medical coverage and emergency medical evacuation. We HIGHLY recommend purchasing a 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!