The Inca Trail Trekking to Machu Picchu: Your Perfect Packing List

Gear up for success on the Inca Trail with our essential packing guide. From lightweight gear to high-altitude preparations, we’ve got you covered every step of the way.

When preparing for the Inca Trail, packing lightly and efficiently is essential. Start with the basics: a good quality, lightweight backpack, quick-drying clothing, and sturdy hiking boots. Don’t forget essentials such as a water bottle, sunscreen, and high-protein, lightweight snacks. A hat and sunglasses will protect you from the Andean sun, while a good headlamp will be invaluable during early morning or late-night treks. Finally, pack a lightweight rain poncho and a warm jacket, as weather in the Andes can be unpredictable.

There are a few other important items to consider when preparing for the Inca Trail. First, make sure to bring a good quality sleeping bag rated for cold temperatures, as you will be camping along the trail. Additionally, don’t forget to pack a first-aid kit with essentials such as bandages, pain relievers, and insect repellent. It’s also a good idea to bring a map of the trail and a compass, in case you need to navigate your way along the route.

Another important factor to consider is the altitude on the Inca Trail. The highest point reaches over 4,200 meters (13,800 feet), so it’s crucial to acclimatize properly before embarking on the journey. Plan to spend at least two days in Cusco or other nearby cities to adjust to the high altitude. It’s also important to stay hydrated and avoid overexerting yourself, as altitude sickness can be a serious issue.

If you’re new to the world of trekking or multi-day hikes like the Inca Trail, it can be a bit overwhelming trying to decide on what to buy or bring, and that’s where the benefit of a trekking packing list comes in; you might also be asking yourself the following:

• “Am I packing too much?”
• “Will I be able to carry it all?”
• “How do I know if the gear I’m purchasing is reliable?”

This Inca Trail Packing List will help you to prepare for your outdoor adventure in one of the most stunning regions of South America.
“Sunrise Peru Trek” creates this Inca Trail Packing List based on customers experiences in the Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu..

What should I pack for the Inca Trail?

On the Inca Trail, you only get what you take. Something as simple as a forgotten matchbox can cripple your cooking plans throughout the trek. So, it’s essential to prepare early and prepare well.

To begin with, make a checklist. While shopping, remember this thumb rule – keep it light. “Every item needs to be light. This ensures that your backpack, on the whole, stays light,”

How much should my Inca Trail bag weigh?

Your backpack for Inca Trail to Machu Picchu should weigh between 8 and 10 kg, unless you want to hire an extra porter who will carry 7 kilos of your, then you’ll have only 3 kilos. To break it down, your sleeping bag plus the roll mattress is around 3 kg; clothes should constitute the other 4 kg and other things like water, snacks and sunblock, rain gear, etc. should weigh 2 kg

How to pack for the Inca Trail Trek?

The thumb rule for this one is to eliminate air spaces. Make sure that everything is packed tightly, especially clothes and jackets, as they tend to take up maximum air space. Put in all the large items first. Then squeeze in the smaller ones in the gaps. This ensures minimum air space.

A good way to pack clothes is by using the Ranger Roll method.

• Bottom

Sleeping bag: Make this your base layer. Sleeping bags tend to be voluminous, but do not weigh much. They’re perfect for the bottom of the bag.

• Middle

Heavy jacket: Roll up the jacket in a tight ball and place it in the middle of the backpack, close to your back. The middle region of the backpack should always have the heaviest items.

Other clothes: Roll other clothes and place them in the remaining space, to fill air

See the list of some articles that you’ll need for the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Clothes for the Inca Trail

Jacket.

Get a waterproof jackets/coats – preferable of lightweight, breathable and packable, and therefore suitable for hiking in a potentially hot and humid environment. The peaked hood kept your face dry and the long length at the back meant that the jacket didn’t buckle up under your backpack when you walked. It also packs down to pretty much nothing, dries quickly, and doesn’t make you sweat.

T-shirts.

This one is another super lightweight and breathable T-shirts that packs down to pretty much nothing. We recommend 3 – 4 t-shirts for the all trail.
North Face 100 Glacier full-zip fleece

This fleece will look after you so well over the years. It’s really lightweight and packs down quite small, but it still manages to keep you warm when the temperature in the Inca Trail drops. Look, so it does not really going to cut it in freezing temperatures, but for those times when you need a bit of extra warmth to keep the chill at bay, this fleece will do you proud.

Smart wool Hike Medium Crew Socks.

A quick-drying hiking socks is very good, the reason: although your hiking boots may keep your feet dry, the water can (and does) run down your legs and soaks into your socks. So, no matter how waterproof your hiking boots are, your socks will undoubtedly still get wet if it rains. And, as we all discovered, even if you hang your socks up in front of the open fire and leave them there all night long, by morning they will still feel distinctly damp due to the high moisture content in the air.

But hiking socks need to be comfortable as well, and be thick enough to offer sufficient protection for your feet whilst hiking.

Footwear

Hiking boots.

The good hiking boots offers better ankle support for rambling over rocky terrain, as well as far better protection from leeches. They should be super lightweight

Equipment

Sleeping back

For the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu you’ll need a mommy style sleeping bag that supports -10°C and roll mattress if you have air mattress is even better, this two item you can rent from “Sunrise Peru Trek’s office”

Head lamp.

This is an absolute essential if you’re hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu; you’ll be in a pretty remote location with a limited electricity supply. For obvious reasons the bathrooms at campsites are located away from the area in which the tents are pitched. Finding your way here in the dark will require your own light source.

Waterproof backpack cover.

It will helps to keep dry you bag in cases of rain. For the Inca Trail we highly recommended to put all your things in a plastic bag to avoid to get wed.

A bag pack.

A confortable bag pack is recommendable for the Inca trail; you can get a 20 liters bag if you hire an extra porter, who will carry most of your belongings in duffle bags that “Sunrise Peru trek” will provide. If you don’t hire extra porter then get a bag of 20 to 50 liters where you’ll carry at least 10 kilos of weigh. The bag has to be whit different pockets and compartments.

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The Inca Trail Trekking Video