What to pack for a trip to Perú?
What surprises most travellers about Peru is not the distances on the map — it is how radically different each region feels to navigate.
In short, what catches you out here
- Altitude sickness (soroche) catches many visitors off guard in Cusco (3400 m) and on the Inca Trail — headaches, nausea and dizziness can ruin the first two days of a trip if no acclimatisation is planned.
- Outside Lima and major tourist centres, card payments are widely refused — markets, rural restaurants, local transport and small guesthouses operate exclusively in cash (soles), leaving unprepared travellers stranded.
- Bus journeys between regions (Lima–Cusco overland, Cusco–Puno) can last 20–24 hours on winding mountain roads, with cold nights, limited stops and unreliable heating.
Why this list?
You will go from sea-level Lima, where nothing above SPF 30 seems necessary, to Cusco at 3400 metres where a cloudless afternoon still burns badly, to jungle lodges where mosquitoes are present around the clock. Each transition demands a different set of preparations, and most discomfort comes not from bad luck but from under-preparation for the specific environment. The biggest practical shocks reported by returning travellers: being turned away at Machu Picchu because tickets were not booked in advance, losing a day to altitude sickness in Cusco because acclimatisation was skipped, and getting stranded without cash in a town where no ATM works. This list is built around those real friction points — not the obvious ones you already know about.
When to go
Peru's dry season (May to September) is the ideal time to visit Machu Picchu and the Andes; the rainy season from January to March makes trails slippery and some sites inaccessible.
Less favourable : January to March
✔To do before you leave
Your countdown: every action at the right time, from furthest ahead to departure day.
- Machu Picchu tickets sell out weeks or months in advance, especially for the Huayna Picchu and Sun Gate circuits; arriving without a pre-booked slot means being turned away at the gate.
- Peru requires a passport valid for the duration of the stay; airlines and border agents at Peruvian entry points will deny boarding if the document is too close to expiry.
- Medical helicopter evacuation from high-altitude areas (Machu Picchu, Inca Trail, Colca Canyon) costs thousands; standard travel insurance often excludes altitude-related illness — check the policy specifically.
- ATMs in small Andean towns and jungle areas frequently run out of cash or charge prohibitive fees; withdrawing a reserve in a major city avoids being stranded without local currency.
- Flying directly to Cusco and starting physical activity the same day dramatically increases the risk of acute mountain sickness; two days of rest at altitude prevents a ruined itinerary.
✔The essentials
Without these, the trip is compromised. Don't forget them.
- Soroche affects a large proportion of first-time visitors to Cusco and the Altiplano regardless of fitness; preventive medication prescribed before departure significantly reduces symptoms.
- Tap water in Peru is unsafe to drink everywhere — purification tablets let you refill from sinks or streams on multi-day treks instead of buying plastic bottles constantly.
- In Amazonian jungle zones mosquitoes are active 24 hours a day and carry malaria and dengue; standard low-strength repellents sold in tourist shops offer insufficient protection.
- At 3400 m in Cusco and above, UV radiation is extreme even under cloud cover; standard SPF 30 is not enough and burns develop faster than at sea level.
- Domestic flight check-ins, Machu Picchu entrance gates and bus terminal security desks in Peru require the original passport — photocopies are refused at every checkpoint.
✔Nice-to-haves
Not vital, but noticeably more comfortable with them.
- Counterfeit soles and US dollars are common in tourist areas; a marker pen lets you check notes received from street changers or small vendors before accepting them.
- Budget jungle lodges in the Amazon basin often have torn or absent window screens; a personal freestanding net is the only reliable barrier against malaria-carrying mosquitoes at night.
- Mobile data disappears in the Sacred Valley, on the Inca Trail and in jungle lodges; without pre-downloaded maps navigating between sites becomes genuinely difficult.
- Overnight buses on Andean routes play loud music or films through the night; earplugs are the only way to sleep on a 10-hour Lima–Cusco road journey.
- Travellers' diarrhoea is very common in the first days; rehydration salts are hard to find in rural pharmacies and critical when stomach bugs hit far from a city.
- On long overnight buses and in budget guesthouses across Peru, blankets are thin and laundering frequency is questionable; a liner adds warmth and a hygiene layer.
- Jungle lodges and remote Andean guesthouses often lack working sockets; a full day of navigation, photography and translation apps drains a phone before evening.
- Peruvian overnight buses are long and seats recline partially on winding roads; a neck pillow makes the difference between arriving rested and arriving with a stiff neck.
✔Weather & season
Adjust to the time of year and forecast for your trip.
- Andean nights drop to near-freezing even in dry season; travellers who packed only warm-weather clothing for the coast are caught off-guard once the sun sets in Cusco or Puno.
- Afternoon rain is predictable in the highlands and wet season; a packable waterproof is essential for Machu Picchu visits and Inca Trail hikes where there is no shelter.
✔ My own items
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- Every checklist you generate, kept and available anytime
- On your phone as well as your computer
- Your ticks picked up right where you left them
✔ Good to know
- Check your passport well before you fly: most travellers find that having at least six months of validity remaining beyond your arrival date in Peru smooths entry considerably. source
- Carry a mix of payment methods: Peruvian soles (PEN) in small denominations are essential for markets, street food, and rural areas, while cards (Visa/Mastercard) work at hotels and larger restaurants — don't rely on cards alone. source
- Plan for altitude before you go: cities like Cusco and Lake Titicaca sit very high, and many travellers benefit from a gradual acclimatisation strategy (e.g. spending a first night at a lower altitude like the Sacred Valley). A chat with your doctor about preventive medication is worth considering. source
- Pack a universal travel adapter: Peru's sockets are primarily Type A and C and run on 220 V / 60 Hz — devices designed only for 110 V may need a voltage converter, not just an adapter. source
- Stick to sealed bottled or properly purified water throughout your trip; tap water — even in Lima or Cusco hotels — is generally considered unsuitable for drinking by travellers. source
- High-voltage single-voltage appliances (e.g. 110 V hair straighteners) — Peru runs on 220 V, so single-voltage appliances rated only for 110 V could be damaged or cause hazards — a compact dual-voltage model or a voltage converter is a safer choice.
- Large amounts of foreign cash other than USD — Euros and currencies other than US dollars are harder to exchange at good rates in Peru; carrying mostly USD (for exchange) and local soles tends to work out more smoothly.
- Bulky luggage for highland trekking areas — Porters and transport on high-altitude routes often have strict weight limits, so a lighter bag rather than a large suitcase tends to make logistical sense for destinations like Cusco or the Inca Trail.
✔ Frequently asked questions
Is tap water safe to drink in Peru?
Tap water across Peru — including Lima, Cusco and Arequipa — is not suitable for drinking, as ageing infrastructure can allow bacteria to enter the supply. Stick to bottled water or properly boiled water throughout your stay. On treks, purification tablets such as Micropur can be used to treat spring water. It's also worth skipping fresh fruit juices diluted with tap water and raw vegetables washed under the tap.
How do you get around Peru once you arrive?
Long-distance buses are the backbone of travel between cities, with several companies offering comfortable overnight services (reclining sleeper seats, air conditioning). For major routes like Lima–Cusco or Lima–Iquitos, domestic flights cut journey times dramatically. For shorter inter-city hops, shared colectivos (minivan taxis, up to 5 passengers) are faster and cheaper than private taxis. In the Amazon, boats take over as the main mode of transport, while moto-taxis (three-wheeled motorised rickshaws) are the go-to for short urban and rural trips. Uber operates in Lima and a few larger cities; look for officially registered taxis with a proper licence plate elsewhere.
What should I pack for Peru depending on the season?
In the Andes and around Machu Picchu, the dry season runs roughly May to October with clear skies but nights that can dip below freezing at Cusco's altitude; the rainy season (November to April) brings heavy afternoon downpours. Daily temperature swings in the highlands can exceed 20 °C at any time of year, so layering is key: a breathable base, a fleece and a windproof waterproof shell cover most situations. A lightweight rain jacket and waterproof footwear are particularly worth having in the wet season, and high-factor sun cream (SPF 50+) is a must at altitude even on overcast days. Lima's coast stays arid year-round but a cool sea mist (garúa) settles from April to November, so a light jacket still earns its place in the bag.
Can I bring pre-Columbian artefacts home from Peru as souvenirs?
Peru enforces strict customs checks on the export of pre-Columbian antiquities and archaeological objects — these items are protected national heritage, and thorough inspections take place at departure. If you're tempted by a market find, only purchase items that come with official documentation from a licensed dealer. As for currency, the Peruvian sol is the only legal tender, though some tourist-facing businesses quote prices in US dollars — usually at a rate that favours the seller, so paying in soles when possible is the smarter move.