A note on links: some products below have affiliate links. Everything listed is something I personally used or would buy differently if I did the trip again. Nothing is here just to fill a list.
Most of my trips I pack light and figure the rest out when I get there. Peru was different. We were doing the Amazon, Machu Picchu, high altitude cities, and a surf trip to Ecuador after, all back to back, all with different weather, different terrain, and different physical demands. A little more thought up front saved a lot of scrambling on the road.
This is what I’d bring, what I’d skip, and what I’d do differently.
The Bag: Osprey Daylite 13L
I’ve used Osprey bags for years and won’t stop recommending them. For Peru specifically the Daylite 13L was perfect. Small enough to be a personal item on flights, big enough for a full day of hiking plus an overnight at Machu Picchu. It has a back panel sleeve for a laptop or tablet, dual side pockets for water bottles, a front organization pocket, and a chest strap. It’s built as a hiking daypack, which means it actually sits well on your back when you’re moving for eight hours. Osprey Daylite 13L
I also always travel with a cheap drawstring backpack, the kind you get free at races or sporting events. It takes up almost no space in your bag and is endlessly useful for carrying random things, doing laundry, grabbing snacks for a day trip. Don’t spend money on this one. Just grab one.
Rain Jacket: Non-Negotiable
The weather in Peru changes fast and dramatically. You can go from jungle heat to cold mountain rain in the same day depending on where you are and what time it is. A good rain jacket is one of those pieces of gear I never cheap out on because I use it constantly and a bad one ruins a day.
I have the Mountain Hardwear Women’s Threshold Rain Parka and have had it for four years. Still going strong. Mountain Hardwear is slightly more under the radar than Columbia but the quality is higher and the gear lasts. I also have a down jacket from them that packs into a backpack and is my go-to travel layer for anything cold. Mountain Hardwear Women’s Threshold jacket
Shoes and Socks: Actually Worth Spending Money On
I know this sounds like extreme gear person energy but hear me out. When you’re on your feet for six to eight hours hiking at altitude, socks matter. Bad socks mean blisters. Blisters on day two of a five day trip are miserable.
I use Smartwool. They’re breathable, they hold up, and they’ve never given me blisters on a long hike. You don’t need many pairs. Two or three good ones is enough. [AFFILIATE LINK: Smartwool hiking socks]
On hiking shoes: I hike in trail runners or even cross trainers. Machu Picchu does not require dedicated hiking boots if you already have a solid pair of shoes you’re comfortable in. Don’t buy new shoes for this trip unless yours are genuinely worn out.
One thing people forget to pack is a good pair of walking shoes for the cities. Lima especially involves a lot of ground covered on foot. Half the fun of traveling is exploring on foot and you want something comfortable that is not your hiking shoe. A clean sneaker or casual walking shoe that you would not mind putting miles on is worth the bag space. Same goes for Arequipa and anywhere else you plan to spend real time wandering. [AFFILIATE LINK: walking shoes]
Sunscreen: Go Strong and Go Eco
High altitude means you’re closer to the sun than you realize, and Peru will burn you faster than you expect. We proved this on a hike in Cusco and came back looking like lobsters.
My sunscreen of choice is All Good, zinc-based, eco-friendly, SPF 50, and strong enough that I use it for surfing too. The zinc base means it actually stays on rather than washing or sweating off, and it’s reef-safe which matters when you’re heading to coastal water after. I’ve used it for years and its my go to for hiking, surfing, anytime use for my face especially. All Good Sunscreen
Bug Spray for the Amazon: Get the Wipes
You need DEET in the Amazon. That’s not negotiable. But if I could do it again I’d skip the spray bottle and get DEET wipes instead.
Here’s why: in the Amazon you’re covered from head to toe on hikes. Long sleeves, long pants, boots. The only exposed skin is usually your hands and ankles. Wipes are more than enough for that. The spray bottle was overkill, and because it was over the airline’s liquid limit we had to check a bag on the flight into Peru. Wipes would have let us carry on. Both Repel or OFF brand work best and as i said the wipes you can take in a carry on. 30% Deet Wipes
Altitude: What Actually Helps
Cusco sits at around 11,000 feet. If you’re not used to altitude you’ll feel it. Headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath. The solution is mostly time and water, but a few things help.
Diamox is a prescription altitude medication that some people swear by. I didn’t take it. I spent years living and working in Vail so altitude doesn’t hit me the way it hits someone coming from sea level. But friends who’ve used it for Peru and Kilimanjaro say it made a real difference. You can get a prescription before you go or buy it in Cusco when you arrive. It’s available there.
Ibuprofen also helps more than people know. It works as a mild blood thinner which helps your body carry oxygen more efficiently at altitude. Combined with aggressive hydration it’s one of the better things you can do for yourself on day one in Cusco.
Coca tea is everywhere in Cusco and it’s not just a tourist thing. It’s a diuretic that supports kidney function, and altitude puts a lot of stress on your kidneys. Drink it. It works. I learned the same thing climbing Kilimanjaro. They kept giving us tea constantly because they knew what the altitude was doing to our bodies.
Oxygen canisters are also sold in Cusco if you need them. Don’t be too proud to use one if you’re struggling.
Stomach Meds: Bring Something
You don’t need to go overboard but do bring something for your stomach. A new country means new food, new water, and a digestive system that sometimes needs a minute. Pepto is the baseline. If you want to be more prepared ask your doctor about a prescription antibiotic for traveler’s stomach before you go. Having something aggressive available if things get bad is worth it. [AFFILIATE LINK: Pepto]
Layers Over Everything
Cusco is sunny and warm during the day and cold at night. Machu Picchu is about rain management more than temperature. The Amazon is hot and humid but you’re covered for bug protection on hikes. The through line is layers. A good hoodie, a packable down jacket for cold nights, and the rain jacket covers almost everything.
You do not need to buy hiking pants specifically for this trip unless you want to. I hiked everything in workout capris. The one case where real hiking pants would have been useful is the Amazon. Full-length lightweight breathable pants that protect your legs from bugs while not making you sweat through them. Worth considering if you’re doing a longer Amazon stay. Otherwise your regular athletic gear is fine.
What You Can Buy in Cusco
Cusco is a real city with real stores. You can buy altitude medication, sunscreen, snacks, layers, and most basics when you arrive. Don’t stress about having everything perfectly packed before you leave. The backup plan exists and it works.
What You Should Bring From Home
That said, traveling prepared saves you the anxiety of hunting down what you actually like in an unfamiliar city. The gear that really matters to get right before you leave is the stuff that is personal to you. The hiking pants you know fit well. The shoes you have already broken in. The daypack or overnight bag that sits right on your back after six hours.
If you are heading into the Amazon specifically, plan ahead. The jungle towns are significantly more remote than Cusco and gear options are limited. You can find bug spray but finding the right breathable lightweight layers for Amazon heat is a lot easier from home than from a small outpost town the day before a jungle hike.
If your trip starts in Lima you have more options. Lima has large commercial malls and real outdoor gear stores where you can fill gaps before heading into the mountains. But the list above is built around going in prepared so that wherever you land, you are ready to go rather than spending your first day shopping.
