The 14-Day Peru Packing List That Will Make You Break Up With Checked Bags Forever
Have you ever stared at your suitcase wondering how you’re supposed to pack for weather that ranges from 40 to 80 degrees without bringing your entire closet? Because that’s exactly what it feels like when you pack for Peru. It’s like a chaotic little puzzle because somehow you need to be ready for mountains, rain, sun and at least one “Why is it cold right now?” moment. And I’m proud to say I successfully did that using this 14-day Peru packing list. The best part? It all fit in one carry-on bag and one personal item.
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14-Day Peru Packing List
How I Packed It (The Best Luggage for Peru)
Peru Weather in October
Free Peru Packing List
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The Only Peru Packing List You’ll Ever Need
This 14-day Peru packing list is for anyone who wants to move fast through the airport, skip baggage claim and still feel prepared for any situation Pachamama throws at you.
I visited Peru in October, which is at the very end of dry season. This Peru packing list can easily be tailored for any month or season.
Clothing
Alpaca Sweaters — Before my trip I discovered PAKA, a B-Corp company based in Peru that does incredible things for women weavers and local communities. All of their alpaca products are made with traceable alpaca fiber, so you can actually see where your garment came from.
I had their super soft Lightweight Crew and Original Crew on heavy rotation. (I got XXS in both sweaters.) And because alpaca fiber is odor-resistant, they lasted the entire 2-week trip without getting stinky.
Base Layers — If you’re looking for a super soft, long sleeve shirt that’s moister-wicking and quick-drying, you need to add GapFit Breathe T-Shirts to your packing list. I used them as a baselayer for cooler day trips and on their own on warmer days. (These will also come in handy during Southern California winters.)
T-Shirts — Because my trip lasted 2 weeks, I needed to be able to rewear some of my clothes. I was influenced to buy ONNO bamboo t-shirts, which are lightweight and odor resistant. (I bought one of the long sleeve bamboo shirts, but it was too long for my short wingspan.) And because I love pretty much anything PAKA makes, I brought one of their Essential Tees.
Pants — Old Navy leggings, like the StudioSmooth Leggings and Powersoft 7/8 Leggings with Pockets, and LL Bean Vista Camp Pants, were my go-to bottoms for my Peru trip. The leggings were great for Machu Picchu and the Camp Pants kept me surprisingly warm (and dry) when it snowed on Palccoyo. For non-hiking or activity days I wore one of the two pairs of jeans I packed.
Outerwear
If there’s one thing I hate while traveling, it’s being cold. Getting wet is a close second. I knew Cusco was going to be chilly, and rain was always going to be a possibility, so I wanted to be prepared.
Packable Puffer Jacket — This LL Bean Ultralight 850 Down Hooded Jacket was by far the best purchase I made for this trip. It kept me warm on my day trips to the 7 Lakes of Ausangate, Palccoyo and Rainbow Mountain. And because it was packable, it saved space and I didn’t have to lug around a jacket the entire time.
Packable Rain Jacket — In case it rained in Machu Picchu, I brought my Eddie Bauer Packable Waterproof Rainfoil® Rain Jacket. I didn’t end up needing it, so I’m glad it packed down and didn’t take up a lot of space.
Shoes
In a real display of self-control, I only packed two pairs of shoes for my Peru trip: one pair of hiking shoes and one pair of casual sneakers.
Merrell Moab Speed 2 — Since I was going to be doing a lot of hiking, I knew I needed a shoe that had a lot of traction. I chose the Merrell Moab Speed 2s because they’re comfortable, lightweight and have traction lugs. And unlike other hiking shoes, they’re not ugly. The best part is that they required zero break-in time. I usually wear a size 7, but ordered a half size up.
All Birds Courier Sneakers — These are my go-to casual walking sneakers. I wore them in Lima and in Cusco. Basically any days where I wasn’t doing any hiking or walks that required a good grip.
Accessories
Hats — Wearing a hat at high altitudes is a non-negotiable. Even though I brought one with me, I made the mistake of not wearing it on my first day in Cusco and burnt my part. So, don’t be like me. The good news is, hats can be found in any of the markets or stores in Cusco. I bought a wide-brim alpaca hat for 60 soles. Besides my fluffy alpaca toy, it’s probably the best purchase of the trip.
Cold Weather Accessories — If you’re going to Rainbow Mountain or the 7 Lakes of Ausangate in Peru, you’ll definitely want to add a beanie, scarf and gloves to your Peru packing list. They really came in handy on those early and cloudy mornings.
Packable Backpack — I’m admittedly not a backpack girly, but I knew I needed one for my Peru trip. The Eddie Bauer Stowaway Packable Backpack is the perfect backpack for people like myself. With 20L of space it was big enough for me to carry everything, including my drone, on day trips. And on days when I didn’t need it, I could pack it down and save space. As an added bonus, it was relatively cheap — lless than $25 when it’s on sale, which is often.
Toiletries
My travel toiletries list is pretty unremarkable, and includes the usual items, like hair products, makeup, etc. But I do want to highlight a couple of items that need to be on your Peru packing list.
Sunscreen — Unless you want to turn into a Peruvian lobster, you need to wear sunscreen on your body and lips every day in Peru, especially Cusco. Supergoop’s Unseen Sunscreen Stick kept my skin from getting roasted while Aquaphor Lip Protectant and Sun Bum Mineral Sunscreen Lip Balm protected my lips.
Bug Repellent — If you are going to Machu Picchu, you will need to arm yourself with bug repellent. Not only are there mosquitos, but the flies are also pretty vicious. I used Off Deep Woods wipes and came back bug bite-free. (It also helped that I wore a long sleeve shirt, leggings and tall socks to keep most of my skin covered.)
Note: I know there are differing opinions about Deet, so choose what’s best for you. I’ve used natural/organic bug repellent before, and the only thing it did was season my skin for the mosquitos.
Tech Gear
Airalo eSim — If you’re looking for an easy way to stay connected while in Peru, you need an eSim. I bought 10 GB of data Airalo and it lasted me the entire two weeks.
Step Down Converter — Peru outlets are 220 V, which means you’ll need a voltage converter to use any 110 V electronics, like a curling iron or straightener. (Most, but not all, of the hotels I stayed at did have 110 V plugs clearly labeled in the room.) I’ve been using this step-down converter for two years and it hasn’t failed me yet. And it comes with different plug adapters, including the Type C (two round pins) plug.
Powerbank — Nobody wants a dead phone on a trip. I really like my thin, magsafe powerbank, which works great with my iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Drone — Drones are allowed in Peru, but not everywhere. For example, you can’t fly a drone at Machu Picchu or above archeological sites. But you can fly one at Rainbow Mountain and Palccoyo, if you pay a fee. I brought my DJI Flip Drone, and even paid the 50 soles fee at Palccoyo, but I didn’t use it because of the snowy conditions.
Medication
One of my biggest fears is getting sick on vacation and then having to find medication. Whenever I travel, I usually bring any assortment of medications that I know work. This usually includes: cold and flu meds, anti-diarrhea meds, cough drops and lozenges.
I also visited a travel doctor before my trip and was prescribed an antibiotic for traveler’s diarrhea (I didn’t need it, but glad I had it just in case) and Diamox for altitude sickness.
Other Peru Packing List Essentials
Travel Insurance — While not technically something you can pack, travel insurance and/or travel medical insurance should be on your Peru packing list. You may think it’s an unnecessary expense, but it’s relatively inexpensive. BlueCross BlueShield Global Solutions Single Trip medical insurance plan had a $1,000,000 medical limit and it only cost $43.04.
Flushable Wipes — If there’s one thing you need to add to your Peru packing list, it’s Stall Mates Individually Wrapped Flushable Wipes. Toilet paper in public bathrooms in Peru is never guaranteed. And if they do have it, most bathrooms will charge you for it. I brought along 2-3 of these wipes in my backpack and they definitely came in handy. (While they are flushable, you can’t flush toilet paper in Peru.)
Antibacterial Hand Wipes — To reduce the amount of liquids I packed, I brought individually wrapped hand sanitizing wipes. They came in handy on the airplane as well as in remote areas where the bathroom conditions weren’t the best.
Liquid IV — Even if you aren’t doing a lot of high intensity activities, staying hydrated at high elevations, like Cusco, is super important. (I’m not a scientist, but the gist is, you lose more water because your body is working harder due to there being lower oxygen.) I started every day of my trip with a Liquid IV packet (my favorite flavors are Sugar-Free Raspberry Lemonade and Lemon Lime), and I really think it helped me avoid altitude sickness.
Protein Bars — I’m at the age where I always have to have snacks on me at all times. This was especially true going on long day trips where I wasn’t sure what the food situation would be like. For hanger emergencies, I would bring two NuGO bars in my backpack. My favorites are the NuGO Dark and the NuGO Slim. They’re vegan and have between 12-18 grams of protein, depending on type and flavor. Oh, and they’re delicious.
How I Packed Everything on My Peru Packing List (The Best Luggage for Peru)
When I started planning my trip for Peru, I knew I didn’t want to bring a traditional roller suitcase. And since I was traveling solo, I needed something that was easy to carry. Enter the CALPAK Terra 50L Duffel Backpack.
This duffle backpack is the GOAT of travel backpacks. Measuring 21” x 11” x 13”, the CALPAK Terra Duffel Backpack is the same size as a traditional carry-on suitcase. But because it’s not a hard case, you end up with a lot more space. Even with everything I packed, my luggage never weighed more than 10 kg.
What really sold me on it though, was how you can use it as a backpack or a duffel bag. With all the different modes of transportation I took in Peru — literally planes, trains and automobiles — the backpack option was elite. I also received a lot of compliments from other travelers on my tour.
The CALPAK Terra Duffel Backpack also includes all these features:
- Expandable zipper that gives you an extra 2” of space
- Water-resistant material
- Water bottle holder
- Lots of storage pockets
While the CALPAK Terra Duffel Backpack had plenty of space, I still used my favorite compression packing cubes to free up even more space.
I also used the CALPAK Luka Duffel as my personal item and overnight bag for the Machu Picchu leg of my trip. It managed to hold my drone, tech accessories, snacks and carry-on essentials.
Peru Weather in October
They say the best time to visit Peru is in October, and I would have to agree! Not only are there fewer tourists, but October is at the very end of the dry season in Peru. (The dry season in Peru usually starts in April.) That means the weather is ideal for outdoor activities, like hiking Rainbow Mountain and visiting Machu Picchu.
Here’s the type of weather you can expect in Peru in October:
Lima Weather in October
October in Lima reminded me a lot of May Gray and June Gloom in Southern California. It was usually cool and overcast in the mornings, but by the afternoon it was sunny and in the 70s.
Cusco Weather in October
Temperatures can range from high 30s at night and early morning (when most tours pick you up from your hotel) to high 60s to low 70s during the day.
Machu Picchu Weather in October
October in the Machu Picchu region is a transitional month. Because it’s at a lower altitude than Cusco, the weather is warmer, usually in the 70s. While I watched the weather for my trip, it showed rain nearly every day. However, it usually rains in Machu Picchu in the afternoon.
That being said, weather in Cusco and the Sacred Valley changes by the day, and even by the hour. For example, when I visited Cusco in October 2025, it snowed during my hike to Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain. To be fair, I was at a much higher altitude (16,000 feet or 5,900 meters), but I definitely did not have “snow” on my Peru bingo card.
Packing It All Together
As you can see, packing for Peru doesn’t have to be hard. You just have to plan. And if you need help, download my free 14-day Peru packing list.
Get Ready for Your Peru Trip!
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