Hola amigos! I did a lot of research before coming to Peru, specifically about how the weather is in Lima and on the Inca Trail in August. I found that most of the information out there was super generic and so I wanted to write this blog post for travelers like me – those who like to be overly prepared before embarking on a trip.
So read on! The first half of this post shows what I wore and packed, and what I’d change based on my experience trekking the Inca Trail. The second part of this post will show what the travel company recommends.
What I packed & what I wish I had
I’m going to separate this into what I wore during the day, what I put in my daypack, and what I put in the duffel provided by G Adventures. I think this is the most helpful, so you have an idea about what you will need on a daily basis vs. what you need at camp.
Note: Everything I’ve linked below is either something I purchased with my hard-earned money, or a similar product. I am not associated with any affiliate programs currently, so I am giving you my honest, unbiased opinion.
What I wore
I found it easiest to dress in light layers up top so that you can shed layers easily while trekking. Having light layers also means that you’re not adding too much weight on you or to your daypack – they recommend only carrying 10% of your body weight on your back. This does make a difference as I carried double the recommended weight one day 1 and it made trekking more difficult (so much so that I got a thigh cramp in one leg and a calf cramp in the other!)
• Sports bra, to wear under a top or on its own; I wore my sports bras as tops twice (2 days).
• Cropped tee or tank, similar to the linked Lululemon options; I only wore these each one time (2 days).
• Long-sleeve shirt; I prefer Lululemon running shirts, like the one linked.
• Leggings, moisture-wicking; like Lululemon Luxtreme fabric, mine are very old so I linked a cropped pair (I wore this pair twice: on day 1 and day 4).
• Warm packable jacket; I purchased a MUJI men’s down jacket like this one a few months ago. The men’s size small was the perfect fit for me as it was loose enough to wear layers underneath.
• Ankle and knee compression brace; I wish I wore one on each leg, so if you plan on wearing at least one, then bring a pair of each. This will help you from overcompensating on either side!
• Silk sock liner; I didn’t get one blister and I was able to get 2 wears from each hiking sock pair.
• Waterproof hiking boots; highly recommend boots that support your ankles, have good tread on them, and aren’t too tight as your feet will swell on your trek, especially at high elevation. I got these in my normal shoe size, but in Wide; for reference, I am a true-to-size 8 women’s. Make sure to wear them for a couple of miles before heading out on your journey so that you aren’t breaking in new hiking boots on the trail.
• Bandana (instead of a scarf like GA recommends); I liked the bandana because I could wear it in multiple ways around my neck, covering my face, on my wrist, or as a headband.
• Brim hat; I absolutely love mine (I wear it for all of my hikes and outdoor walks) which is packable from The North Face. When it’s packed, you can hang it on the outside of your daypack using a carabiner.
• Watch; I wore my Apple Watch which lasted most days, except for day 3 (the longest of all travel days).
Daypack
Waist bag / fanny pack
My waist bag is from Supreme and was somewhat water-resistant. I highly recommend bringing and wearing one because it makes things very accessible without having to take your daypack off your back.
• Cash, credit and debit cards; I recommend keeping small change (soles) to use the toilets along the way. We tipped G Adventures staff in USD, but used soles for everything else. I also used my credit card when we got back to Aguas Calientes for lunch and the afternoon.
• Apple AirTag kept in my wallet inside this case.
• Cell phone; I kept my cell phone easily accessible in the front pocket of my waist bag. This made it really easy to take it out for photos, and for storing it afterwards. Ease of accessibility is important, especially on Day 4 when everyone is trying to make it to Machu Picchu at the same time early in the morning.
• Sunglasses; I recommend polarized ones as they help with the sun while hiking the trail.
• Face mask; this is required on public transportation and I highly recommend wearing to the toilets along the trail! PRO TIP: spray the inside with your favorite perfume/cologne before heading to the toilet!
• Pen
• AirPods; mine weren’t working on the trail, but my girls found theirs useful along the trek, especially when they needed a little energy boost! If you use Spotify, make sure to download a few playlists to help you along your trek.
• Passport and vaccination card; I put mine in little plastic zip bags to ensure they wouldn’t get damaged.
• Peru health declaration / affidavit form
Backpack
I used an Osprey Sirrus 24 L daypack, specifically made for women. I found that it made carrying my things comfortable during the hike, especially because it can be adjusted to fit your body. Also, as of August 2022, the daypack limit to enter Machu Picchu is 25 L.
• Waterproof backpack cover; mine came with my backpack.
• Apple AirTag kept in the backpack cover pocket.
• Walking poles, rubber tipped (rented with GA; they provided Black Diamond poles).
• 1 extra face mask, in case you lose the one in your waist pack.
• Tissues, travel size; these are perfect to clear your sinuses and also for wiping after using the toilet.
• Body wipes, travel size; perfect to wipe down your face/body after trekking and wiping after using the toilet.
• Wrist brace as I have wrist tendonitis; I recommend packing whatever injury gear you might need to be with you at all times.
• Reusable water bottle; a packable one like this is perfect for your electrolyte water.
• 2L hydration bladder; I also recommend bringing an extra straw as I punctured mine and it was spilling the entire trek. You can have a bigger bladder (my friends brought 3L), but our guide recommended only filling to 2L each day and refilling at designated stops.
• Lightweight, windproof rain jacket; mine is from The North Face (linked similar here).
• Gloves; mine were old running mittens from Lululemon.
• Ear warming headband; mine was an old running accessory from Lululemon.
• Beanie; thick and warm like this one.
• Camera, with extra memory cards (if you think you’ll run out of space).
• GoPro and accessories, with extra battery and 1 extra memory card.
• Sunblock / sunscreen; this one from SuperGoop is my favorite!
• Bug spray
• Tylenol 500mcg; I took one every night to help ease body aches. I also took one during the day (in addition to my altitude meds) if I felt any altitude sickness symptoms.
• Imodium
• Nuun tablets for electrolytes
• Prescription medications and vitamins you are currently taking
• Prescription altitude meds; begin taking these the night prior to arriving in Cusco and stay consistent!
• Coca candies; I purchased mine at the San Pedro Market in Cusco.
• Snacks of your choice; before you start your trek, GA will provide you with one small snack bag including juice, banana, orange, chocolate stick, granola bar, and two packs of cookies — this is for you for your whole trek. I recommend bringing more snacks because I found it helpful to nosh on snacks little by little along the way. I brought snacks I purchased in Lima (chocolate granola bars and balls). I purchased pringles and chocolate on the trek. I would have also liked to have packed trail mix, protein bars, and dried fruit.
• Energy gels, like Gu; I didn’t pack any, but my friends did and they really helped! I only used about half of one packet across days 2 and 3, but I’m really sensitive to caffeine since I don’t drink coffee.
• Basic First-aid kit (bandaids, moleskin plasters for blisters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, sewing kit)
• Headlamp with extra batteries (most take 3 AAA batteries, I believe)
• Small travel towel for face and a hand towel to use for drying.
• Flip flops, like Havaianas; it’s great to have these in your daypack so that you can rest your feet at camp during lunch breaks.
• Solar-powered battery pack; our guide carried it outside of his daypack for us using carabiners so that it’d charge while we were hiking.
• Carabiners; I brought 3 that were perfect to hang things on my daypack.
• For my ladies: pee funnel and pee wipe pad; trust me — you will regret not having these! Hang these on the outside of your backpack with one of the carabiners.
Duffel carried by porter
Your duffels will be provided at the briefing that occurs 1-2 days before you embark on your journey.
• Apple AirTag kept in my duffel (I also recommend keeping one in the luggage you’ll be leaving in Cusco).
• Camping mattress/sleep mat (rented with GA; 1kg) and sleeping bag (rented with GA; 2.5kg); these will be provided to you at the start of the trek to pack into your duffels.
• Inflatable travel pillow; this one fits perfectly in the head of the sleeping bags.
• 2 extra sports bras, to wear under top or on its own. I wore one sports bra twice.
• 1 extra cropped tee or tank, like the Lululemon options linked in What I Wore.
• 1 extra long-sleeve shirt, like Lululemon’s running shirt linked in What I Wore. I alternated my long sleeves throughout the four days.
• 2 extra leggings, moisture-wicking (like Lululemon Luxtreme fabric linked in What I Wore); the 2 that I brought had more cotton in them than the Luxtreme pair, so they trapped in moisture and smelled — do not recommend.
• 1 pair of moisture-wicking and lightweight joggers, like this pair that are similar to mine from Nike; I wore mine over my leggings on Day 3 since it was really cold in the morning leaving our Night 2 campsite.
• 1 pair of waterproof joggers or hiking pants; we lucked out as it only rained on nights 1 and 2, and we were already inside our tents. I did not pack these, nor do I own a pair; however I do recommend them for “just in case” moments. I’ll likely buy a pair of these upon returning stateside. If you pack a pair of these, then I don’t think you need the lightweight joggers above.
• 1 fleece top/sweater; I mainly wore my PrAna zip hoodie to sleep. It is bulky though, so I recommend looking for lighter, more packable options in order to stay under the 6kg limit like this one.
• 1 pair of heat tech sleepwear; I purchased leggings and a turtle neck from UNIQLO. I sized up to a Medium in both.
• 3 extra pairs of silk sock liners (same as in What I Wore); change these daily
• 1 extra pair of wool hiking socks (alternate with the pair from day 1)
• At least 2 small packing cubes to store your hiking clothes and sleeping layers; I purchased mine a few years ago from MUJI, but there are a ton of options on Amazon.
• 1 pair of camping shoes; these ReEmber shoes from TEVA were perfect! They are fleece-lined so they kept my toes warm at night and you can wear them as slip-ons or shoes. These fit me true-to-size.
• 1 shower cap to store your camping shoes in.
• 1 swimsuit and 1 microfiber body towel (meant for the hot springs in Aguas Calientes); we didn’t go to the hot springs because we were told there wouldn’t be enough time. However, a pair of friends who did the Lares Trek said someone in their group went and it was very crowded. If I were to have known this, I probably would not have packed these items as they add more weight to your bag (especially the towel).
• Travel journal; I purchased mine from San Pedro Market in Cusco.
• Travel-sized toiletries: I recommend shower gel, micellar water, exfoliant, moisturizer, face oil, guasha (helps with destressing each night post-trek), face sunblock, flat comb, toothpaste and toothbrush. I stored most of my toiletries in Cadence travel containers; they were compact and easily packable, but the magnets made them heavy — stick with normal travel toiletry containers as they tend to be plastic and much lighter (option 1 and 2).
• Travel-sized makeup: Tatcha eye pearl (a truly sad day as I just found out this is discontinued & it is my holy grail), NARS concealer, Charlotte Tilbury contour duo, Anastasia Beverly Hills brow pencil and gel, beautyblender pro sponge, contour brush (duo sided) and highlighter fan brush.
• Extra contact lenses (I wear dailies) and glasses
• Toiletry case, like this one from REI; perfect for storing your toiletries, makeup and eyewear.
• 1 pack extra of each travel-sized tissues and body wipes
• Battery pack and chargers; I recommend storing each cord in velcro, and then all of them in a larger velcro and into a small case.
• Quick Covid Test/Antigen Test; I didn’t need this as I had just recovered from COVID, but I would suggest bringing one, just in case.
What you’re told to pack
Below is what G Adventures recommends for you to bring on your Inca Trail trek, and is taken directly from their website:
What to Take
Most people automatically assume that the weather is hot in South America, but because of the higher altitude in the Andes, the temperature can feel quite cold, especially at night.
We recommend using a backpack for your convenience, or a medium-sized suitcase if you prefer. You will be given a duffel bag at the trek briefing to fill with 6 kg of your items. A daypack is essential for carrying your personal items on the trek such as water, snacks, extra hiking layers. Any additional luggage you may have should be stored at your hotel, if that is not possible you may store it at the G Adventures office in Cusco where you will attend the trek briefing.
Packing List
Available for Rent During Your Trek Briefing (Payment only by Credit Card):
• Camping mattress/sleep mat (45 soles)
• Sleeping bag (45 soles)
• Walking poles (15 soles each (30 per pair))
Cold Weather:
• Long-sleeved shirts or sweater
• Scarf
• Warm gloves
• Warm hat
• Warm layers
Documents:
• Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)
• Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)
• Passport (required) (With photocopies)
• Required visas or vaccination certificates (required) (With photocopies)
• Vouchers and pre-departure information (required)
Essentials:
• Binoculars (optional)
• Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)
• Cash, credit and debit cards
• Daypack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)
• Ear plugs
• First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)
• Flashlight/torch (Headlamps are ideal)
• Fleece top/sweater
• Footwear
• Hat
• Locks for bags
• Long pants/jeans
• Moneybelt
• Outlet adapter
• Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)
• Reusable water bottle
• Shirts/t-shirts
• Sleepwear
• Small travel towel
• Sunglasses
• Toiletries (Preferably biodegradable)
• Watch and alarm clock
• Waterproof backpack cover
• Windproof rain jacket
Health & Safety:
• Face masks (required)
• Hand sanitizer (required)
• Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)
• Quick Covid Test/Antigen Test
• Rubber gloves
Inca Trail:
• Hiking pants (Convertible/Zip-off and quick dry recommended)
• Pack liners to waterproof bags
• Rain gear
• Sleeping bag (Also available for rent)
• Thermal base layer
• Travel pillow
• Walking poles, rubber-tipped (Also available for rent)
• Waterproof hiking boots
Note: The best clothing for trekking is either wool or synthetic materials in layers, as this is quick-drying and can keep heat in better. We suggest a base-layer, then a mid-layer such as a light fleece jacket or similar, then a windproof and waterproof layer.
Please note for trekking rentals credit cards are the preferred method of payment.