Peru Packing List: 10 Essential Items You Don't Want to Forget
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Peru is a country of rich culture, ancient history, and breathtaking natural beauty. From the awe-inspiring ruins of Machu Picchu to the busy streets of Lima, there is so much to explore. When planning your trip, it is important to make sure you have all the necessary items to have a comfortable and enjoyable experience.
Christiana, our Taste of Peru tour host, has been living in Peru for the last 10 years and she’s compiled a list of the 10 items you should bring with you on your trip to Peru.
Good Quality Shoes
You’re going to be walking in Peru - a lot. From cobblestone streets, to dirt trails, to smooth sidewalks, good shoes make all the difference. In the mountains, a good pair of hiking shoes come in handy. For walking around the cities, pack a pair of comfortable walking shoes or tennis shoes.
Layers & Warm Clothing
If you’re traveling to Cusco, the Sacred Valley, or Machu Picchu, layers will be your best friend. The day can start out a bit chilly, then turn hot, and then drop back to chilly once the sun sets. Make sure to pack lightweight long sleeve shirts and pants you can use as a base layer, and warm clothing you can easily slip on and off, such as a fleece jacket and a beanie.
Sun Protection
Peru is located near the equator, and the sun can be very strong, especially in places like Cusco and the Sacred Valley, which are at high altitude. Make sure you pack a wide-brim hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Lightweight long sleeve shirts and pants also provide great protection.
Bug Spray
An absolute must if traveling to the Amazon or any other tropical areas, but also nice to have at Machu Picchu depending on the season. Check out this all-natural, DEET-free, travel-size bug spray.
Altitude Sickness Medication
Many of Peru's most famous attractions, including Machu Picchu, are located at high altitudes. Altitude sickness can affect anyone, regardless of their age, fitness level, or previous experience with high altitudes. Symptoms can include headache, nausea, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Diamox is a common prescription medication to combat altitude sickness. Talk to your doctor or a travel pharmacist to see if it’s right for you. Medication or no, we recommend rest, water, light meals, and little alcohol while you acclimate.
Filtering Water Bottle or SteriPen
Tap water in Peru is not safe to drink. Instead of constantly buying bottles of water, we love to take our Grayl filtering water bottle with us since we can fill it up from any water source and know we’re drinking safe water. An additional option is to pack your favorite non-filtering water bottle and a SteriPen.
Portable Charger
Whether you are using your phone to take pictures of breathtaking mountains or navigate through Lima’s busy streets, a portable charger can be a lifesaver. Make sure to pack one with enough power to last throughout the day.
Travel Adaptor
Some outlets in Peru are designed for round pins (like European outlets) and some are designed for flat pins (like US outlets). You never know what you’re going to find, so this travel adaptor is great to have on hand. The travel adaptor is also helpful since it’s rare to find 3-prong outlets in Peru, and it will convert your device to a 2-prong.
On-the-go Hygiene Products
Peru is an outdoor paradise, which means you’re going to get dirty and won’t always have immediate access to basic hygiene products like water, soap, and toilet paper. We recommend packing travel-size hand sanitizer, a pack of wet wipes, and a pack of tissues.
Daypack
Our 10th and final item - a daypack. This 13-liter Osprey daypack is extremely handy to have while you’re out exploring and will hold the essentials you will need to get you through the day.
Be 100% prepared for your upcoming adventure to Machu Picchu!
This guide was written by Christiana Jones, our Taste of Peru Tour Host who lived in Peru for over 10 years! She walks you step by step through every stage of the process on how to make your dream trip to Machu Picchu a reality down to which button you should click when purchasing your entry tickets.
With every detail accounted for, you’ll be able to visualize your entire experience. Plan your trip with no headache since this guide also includes links to every site you’ll need to visit while arranging your trip. A great resource if this is your first time visiting Peru and want someone to tell you exactly what to do.
We hope you now feel prepared for your trip to Peru! Join our Taste of Peru & Machu Picchu food tour, and explore Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu with us.
If you’re traveling to Peru on your own and don’t know where to start or want to tap into our travel expertise to make the most of your trip, check out our customized travel coaching and optional booking service.
No matter where you travel, we always recommend purchasing travel protection to safeguard against sudden changes or cancellations. If you don’t already have a preferred vendor, you can check out ours - Travel Insured - which offers a “Cancel for Any Reason” policy.
This page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, TTLT earns from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting our small business!
Written by Christiana Jones, Administrative Assistant & Taste of Peru Tour Host
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