Cusco packing list: what to bring for Cusco and Machu Picchu
Packing for Cusco is a puzzle: at 3,400 m the midday sun is strong, the nights are cold, and in a single trip you may visit the warm cloud forest of Machu Picchu and a 5,000 m mountain. The secret is layers. This list covers everything you need for the city, the day tours and Machu Picchu, with notes on what to add for treks.
Clothing
- T-shirts (breathable) and one or two long-sleeved tops for sun protection.
- A warm fleece and a light down jacket for evenings and early tours.
- A waterproof jacket — essential from November to March, useful all year.
- Comfortable trousers for walking and one warmer pair for the mountains.
- Thermal base layer if you are doing Rainbow Mountain, Humantay or a trek.
- Warm hat, gloves and a buff for 4:00 AM pickups.
- Sun hat and sunglasses.
Footwear
Bring broken-in hiking shoes or boots with good grip for the mountain day tours and the stone steps of the Inca sites, plus comfortable trainers or shoes for the city — Cusco’s cobbled streets are steep and uneven. Sandals are nice for the hotel and for Aguas Calientes.
Ready for the Andes?
Day tours with hotel pickup, guide, oxygen and meals — from US $15.
Documents and money
- Passport valid for at least six months — you need the original for Machu Picchu, the train and the Inca Trail.
- Copies of your passport and travel insurance, on paper and on your phone.
- Credit or debit card and some US dollars in good condition to exchange.
- Peruvian soles in small notes and coins for markets, taxis, toilets and tips.
Your daypack for tours
- Water bottle (1–1.5 L).
- Sunscreen SPF 50+ and lip balm with SPF.
- Snacks such as nuts, chocolate or energy bars.
- Rain jacket or poncho.
- Toilet paper and hand sanitiser.
- Personal medication.
- Phone, power bank and camera.
Health and comfort
- Any altitude medication your doctor recommends — read our altitude guide.
- Painkillers, stomach remedies and blister plasters.
- Insect repellent for Machu Picchu and the jungle side of the treks.
- A reusable bottle with filter, or buy bottled water (do not drink tap water).
What to add for specific plans
- Machu Picchu: a small backpack (large bags are not allowed inside), rain jacket and repellent. See what to wear to Machu Picchu.
- Treks: sleeping bag, poles, headlamp and down jacket. See our Inca Trail packing list.
- Rainbow Mountain: the warmest layers you have — it is often below zero at dawn.
- Rainy season: waterproof shoes or spare socks and a cover for your backpack.
What you do not need
Leave behind heavy jeans (cold when wet and slow to dry), too many cotton clothes and valuables you will not use. Drones are not allowed at Machu Picchu. Hotels in Cusco will store your big suitcase while you go to Machu Picchu or on a trek, and trains to Aguas Calientes have luggage limits, so travel light. Check the season in Cusco weather by month.
Frequently asked questions
Layers: a T-shirt for the sunny midday, a fleece or light down jacket for the evening, and a waterproof jacket, especially from November to March.
For mountain day tours such as Rainbow Mountain or Humantay, hiking shoes or boots with good grip are strongly recommended. In the city, comfortable trainers are enough.
From May to September nights can drop to around 0 °C. In the rainy season they are milder, around 6–7 °C.
In the city, yes, but they are not ideal for hiking or rainy days because they get cold and dry slowly.
Yes. Cards are accepted in many places, but you need soles in small notes for markets, taxis, toilets and tips.
