My Packing List For Hiking Machu Picchu In July

Part 1: Before the Hike

For Cusco

• 1 pair of clothes for before and after the trek
• Get tip money for the guides
• Patagonia backpack (I think I would have preferred to take a backpack and a small rolling suitcase) – Buy from REI
• 1 lock for the bag you leave behind – Buy from Amazon

Part 2: Hiking

For the Trek

Have with you at all times:

• Toilet paper (grab this from camp before and after each day)
• Chapstick – Buy from Amazon
• Sunscreen – Buy from Amazon
• Plastic bags (gallon sized)
• Cell phone to take pictures
• Bandaids
• Supplements
• Passport
• Lock for duffel – Buy from REI
• Credit Cards
• Sun Hat (I used a hat from Sunday Afternoons but would have loved one of these Buy from REI
• Currency and wallet
• Pen
• Small Travel Umbrella
• Sunglasses – Buy from Amazon
• A dry bag that I had from an old Oakley Bag (a trash bag would have also worked)

Hiking the Trail

• [Bought in Cusco] Sunscreen (wish I would have had the kind that rolled on)
• [Bought in Cusco] Water
• Have some Peruvian Sols (their currency) ready to pay for bathrooms or things that you forgot since there are no ATMs
• Trash bag (better than a rain cover for a pack)
• Cell phone holder that strapped to backpack (would have been great to have an external pocket that strapped to my belt)
• 2 carabiners (I had two and probably could have used one more. These came in handy for all sorts of reasons).
• Cell Phone for taking pictures (there will be no WiFi)
• Backpack (I used a 20 L Travel backpack from Amazon – worked great until a tear formed) – Buy from Amazon
• REI travel duffel – Buy from Amazon
• Duct tape (solved the tear problem) – Buy from Amazon
• Buff to keep the sun off my neck – Buy from Amazon
• 2 pairs of underwear from REI (wash 1 each night) – Buy from REI
• 2 water bottles (I only used 1) – Buy from Amazon
• Travel belt – Buy from Amazon
• Mosquito Repellent
• Baby wipes
• Poncho (got one on clearance from REI)
• Deodorant (ran out of my travel size on the last day)
• Camping towel (I had a small size and it worked ok. At times I wish I brought my large sized one) – Buy from Amazon
• Soap bar (we were given hot water each day and I brought this from a hotel)
• New Balance Running shoes (I chose this instead of hiking shoes at the last minute)
• 2 Moreno wool medium weight socks – Buy from Cabela’s
• 3 sock liners – Buy from Cabela’s
• 1 Patagonia long sleeved SPF 45 hiking shirt (I picked the grey one but this started to get really dirty – would suggest a black or dark red) – Buy from Patagonia
• 2 Black Champion dry fit shirts to go under the Patagonia shirt – Buy from Target
• 1 Smart Wool Shirt – Buy from Smart Wool
• Gloves (these were the liners and were a bit of a pain because I had to take them off to take a picture) – Buy from Amazon These would have worked better.
• Bungee cords for strapping wet items to my pack or tent

For My Android Phone

• Chargeall battery for laptop (make sure to at least bring a 20,000 version to last the week)
• My Tracks App so you can record your trip
• A phrasebook
• Google Translate: iPhone and Android
• Trip Advisor App: iPhone and  Android
• VPN software for phone and laptop
• A few audiobooks that I downloaded ahead of time
• I have an Android phone so I had an SD Card and SD/USB Adapter
• Universal USB cable – Buy from Amazon
• Cord Turtle for headphones – Buy from The Container Store
• Corded headphones

Food

• Trail Mix
• Supplements
• Protein bars

At night on the trail (1 pair of clothes for the night (underwear, socks, pants, shirt)

• Teva sandals – Buy from Amazon
• Thermal Shirt – Buy from Amazon
• Thermal Pants – Buy from Amazon
• 1 Patagonia Nano Puff jacket – Buy from REI
• Headlamp (preferably with a red light so you don’t blind people)
• 1 Icebreaker beanie – Buy from Moosejaw

Misc Items

• Gloves that work with a touchscreen
• Business Cards
• RFID wallet for passport
• Pen
• Bestek Universal adapter and converter – Buy from Amazon
• Laundry detergent – Buy from Amazon
• Travel Toothbrush – Get from Target
• 2 travel-sized toothpaste (my travel size ran out and ended up sharing this from other people)
• Compression socks –
• Altitude Rx 120 Capsules – Buy from Amazon

Part 3: After The Hike

For Aguas Calientes

• 1 pair of nice clothes to change into

For The Return to Cusco

• 1 pair of clean underwear to sleep in

Things I could have left at home

• 1 Patagonia Better Sweater – Buy from REI
• Zero Lemon battery. 20,000 units seemed to last charging my camera each day
• For the Sauna: 1 quicksilver hybrid shorts/swimsuit (could have used my hiking pants instead)

Tips

• Buy anything large or expensive from REI. They have an amazing 365 return policy even if an item is used.
• You will sweat a lot. If you plan for this then you can have baselayers that you can wash and keep your outer layers clean.