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Whether you’re only doing the Salkantay trail for two days or a longer version that lasts over a week, surviving the trek and having a great time largely hinges on how prepared you are. During the trek, you’ll experience all types of climates, including cold, windy mountain passes and humid, tropical forests. You’ll also go without electricity, wifi, and showers. If you’ve never camped or done multi-day hikes, this packing list for the Salkantay trek will be extremely helpful in making sure you’re fully prepared. And if you’ve done something similar to Salkantay, this packing list will help you narrow down what to pack so that you’re not carrying more than you need.
I did the five-day Salkantay trek in late December, which is the start of Peru’s rainy season and summer. This list reflects what I packed as well as what tour companies recommend bringing. If you’re hiking Salkantay during the dry season and winter, follow my clothing modifications for winter to make sure that you’re packing enough layers to keep you warm.
Where to store your luggage
Multi-day hikes are the norm in Cusco, which is where most people stay before starting their trek. Accommodations like hotels and hostels are used to storing luggage for travelers while they’re away for an extended period of time. Ask your accommodation if they can store your luggage while you’re doing Salkantay. Alternatively, tour companies also offer luggage storage.
Bags
- Daypack – When hiking Salkantay with a tour company, porters will transport your belongings from campsite to campsite each day. You’ll just need to hike with a daypack that contains your valuables (passport or ID card and wallet) and anything you need during the day (sunscreen, bug spray, sunglasses, rain jacket or poncho, water, toilet paper, a rain cover for your backpack, snacks, and extra clothing to layer up). All your other belongings will only be available to you once reach the campsite. I hiked with the Osprey Daylite Plus, which holds 20 liters. I thought this was the perfect size and wouldn’t go larger than 25 liters.
- Duffle bag (provided by the tour company) – If you’re going with a tour company, they’ll provide you with a duffle bag to transport the items that you don’t need access to while hiking. This mostly consists of clothing and toiletries. There is a weight limit to the duffle bags, which the tour company will tell you when they provide you with the bag. It’s also important to know that the duffles are not waterproof. In case it rains, it’s recommended that you put all your clothes in a plastic bag and then put the plastic bag into the duffle.
- Rain cover for your daypack– Just as you want to protect yourself from getting wet during the rainy season, you should also protect your daypack and its contents. If you’re hiking during the dry season, you’re less likely to need one. When I did Salkantay with Alpaca Expeditions, they provided bag covers, but they weren’t waterproof so I chose to use my own.
Baggage modifications for doing Salkantay self-guided
It’s possible to do Salkantay on your own without a tour. Since you won’t have porters to carry your extra stuff, you’ll need to adapt the list above. Instead of having both a daypack and a duffle bag, bring one larger backpack that’s 30 to 40 liters. That should be enough capacity to carry everything you need during your trek. Don’t forget to also get a rain cover for your backpack.
Clothing
- 2 to 3 t-shirts
- 1 long-sleeve shirt
- 1 pair of shorts
- 1 to 2 pairs of leggings or long pants
- Puffer jacket – Even if you’re hiking in Peru’s summer, it’s going to be chilly at times. In particular, a puffer jacket will keep you warm in the mountains and at night.
- Rain jacket or poncho – If you’re doing Salkantay during the rainy season, bringing a high-quality rain jacket or poncho is a must. You’ll definitely encounter some rain, whether it’s light showers or a downpour. In the rainy season, it tends to rain in the afternoon. As you reach higher elevations, there’s also a greater chance of rain. Although Alpaca Expeditions provided everyone with a poncho, I brought my own rain jacket too.
- 2 to 6 pairs of socks – When deciding how many pairs of socks to pack, figure out whether you want to change your socks every day or less often. For a five-day trek, I brought three pairs of socks since I only changed my socks every other day. Make sure to also bring the right type of socks for your hiking boots. If you’ll be wearing high-cut hiking boots, you’ll want longer hiking socks. I also recommend bringing a variety of thick and thinner socks so that you’re prepared for all temperatures. If you’re prone to blisters between your toes, bring some toe socks.
- 2 to 6 underwear – Pack enough underwear for the number of nights that you’ll be away. If it doesn’t gross you out to wear the same underwear for more than one day, you can cut down on how much you bring. I was okay changing my underwear every two days, so I only brought three pairs for my five-day trek. If you opt for quick-dry underwear like ExOfficio, you can even hand wash your underwear as you go.
- 2 sports bras (for females)
- Hat – If you have the room, I recommend bringing two hats: a beanie to keep your head warm at night and at higher elevations, and a baseball hat to protect your face from the sun. I recommend the Minus33 Merino Wool Ridge Cuff Beanie for a thin yet warm beanie that’s made out of 100% merino wool. Instead of an actual baseball hat that’s usually made out of cotton or polyester, I recommend going with a running cap since it’s breathable, lighter, and washable.
- Sunglasses
- Flip flops or sandals
- Waterproof hiking boots – Even if you’re hiking Salkantay during the dry season, I recommend wearing waterproof hiking boots since you’ll likely cross some streams. Either low- or high-cut hiking boots will work since there are rocks that you can step on to get across the water.
- Nice clothes for Machu Picchu (optional) – You might want to get some nice photos of yourself (not in hiking clothes) at Machu Picchu. If that’s the case, bring an outfit that’s reserved solely for when you go to the ruins. Many people who visit Machu Picchu are in activewear, so you’re also perfectly fine showing up in the same clothes that you’ve worn throughout the trek.
- Rain pants (optional) – I packed rain pants and never wore them, which is why you may also find them unnecessary. I found that a large poncho kept my legs dry enough when it rained, and ankle-length leggings were enough to keep me warm in December.
- Gloves (optional) – Based on my experience, I would bring gloves regardless of whether you’re hiking during Peru’s summer or winter. I did Salkantay in late December, which is the start of the country’s summer. I didn’t need gloves the vast majority of the time, but I was super glad that I did have them when we climbed up to Salkantay Pass because the temperature dropped and rain turned into snow. If you run warm though, you’ll likely be fine without gloves during the summer. When hiking Salkantay during the winter though, you should definitely bring gloves. I used the Smartwool Liner Gloves, which are made of merino wool and work with touchscreens.
- Buff (optional) – A buff can protect the back of your neck from the sun, and it can double as a handkerchief for wiping away sweat.
- Pajamas (optional) – I liked having a change of clean clothes to sleep in at the end of each day, especially on days when I was actually able to shower. If you’re okay sleeping in the same clothes you wore during the day though, you don’t need to bring pajamas.
- Bathing suit (optional) – There are hot springs at Aguas Calientes. If you’d like to go for a dip, bring a bathing suit. My tour guide rated the hot springs a four out of 10 (and Google reviews are mixed), so no one in my group went.
Clothing modifications for the winter
- Scarf
- Fleece zip-up
- 1 to 2 thermal tops
- 1 to 2 thermal bottoms
Toiletries
- Travel size bottles
- Toiletry bag
- Body wash or soap – I recommend bringing an all-in-one cleanser like Campsuds that doesn’t just work as a body wash, but also can be used as shampoo.
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Floss
- Hairbrush
- Hair ties and/or hair clips
- Lotion
- Sunscreen
- Deodorant
- Baby or body wipes – Just because you won’t be able to shower every night doesn’t mean that you have to feel dirty and grimy. Bringing a package of baby or body wipes means you’ll be able to wipe yourself down, which is the next best thing to actually showering and washing your face. Although the YUNI Large Body Wipes are more expensive than regular drugstore baby wipes, they worked perfectly when I was camping for a week at Burning Man – a place where I was much dustier and dirtier than the Salkantay trek.
- Quick dry towel
- Hand sanitizer
- A roll (or two) of toilet paper – At the minimum, you need to bring one roll of toilet paper since bathrooms on the trail do not have toilet paper. There will usually be toilet paper at your campsite though. Be sure to carry your toilet paper in your day pack – do not put it in the bag that goes with the porters.
- Travel size pack of tissues – Aside from using tissues to blow your nose, they can also be used as toilet paper if you run out.
- Vaseline or chapstick
- Bug spray
- Feminine pads, tampons, or a menstrual cup (for females) – If you know that you’ll be on your period during the trek, bring all the feminine hygiene supplies that you’ll need until you reach Aguas Calientes. I actually started my period on the third day of the trek. It’s possible that some of the stands along the trail may sell pads or tampons, but I didn’t ask since I had brought my own. Once I got to Aguas Calientes, I then looked for a pharmacy to buy some more.
- Shampoo (optional) – On a shorter trek, you don’t need to bring shampoo since you can just wash your hair once you get back. For longer treks though, you’ll probably want to wash your hair at least once.
- Conditioner (optional)
- Face wash (optional)
Electronics
- Headlamp and batteries – It’s preferable to use a headlamp at night, instead of your cell phone’s flashlight. You don’t have to hold a headlamp, making it easier to go to the bathroom and brush your teeth. I use the Black Diamond Astro 3000 headlamp, which is cheap without sacrificing quality. It’s rainproof and you can dim the light.
- Phone and charging cable
- Portable power bank – During my Salkantay trek, the longest period where we couldn’t charge electronics was two days. If I didn’t have my portable power bank, my phone and Garmin watch would’ve died. If you need a portable power bank, I recommend the Anker PowerCore 1000. It’s as small as a deck of cards and charges my phone two to 2.5 times.
- Headphones
- Travel adapter – Peru uses plug types A, B, and C. If you’re coming from a country that uses different types of plugs, don’t forget to bring a travel adapter. I recommend this universal travel adapter that also has USB charging ports.
- Smartwatch or fitness tracker (optional)
- Camera (optional)
- Tablet or e-reader (optional) – Load up a book or two on your tablet or e-reader so you can do some reading in your downtime. Alternatively, you can bring a physical book – just keep in mind that you’ll need a light source at night.
Miscellaneous
- Passport or ID card – To enter Machu Picchu and take the bus from Aguas Calients to Machu Picchu, you’ll need to show some sort of identification. For international visitors, this will be your passport. For Peruvians, you can use your national ID card instead. It’s important that your passport matches the identification information that’s on your Machu Picchu ticket.
- Wallet – Before you set off on your trek, make sure you bring enough cash to cover tips and any additional purchases like water and snacks. There aren’t any ATMs along the way until you reach Aguas Calientes. When I went on my five-day Salkantay trek, my guide recommended bringing 400 soles in cash, which ended up being more than enough for me since I didn’t buy anything along the way.
- Reusable water bottle or water bladder– You’re responsible for carrying your own water, and it’s recommended that you bring two liters with you each day. However, you can carry less if you know you don’t drink much water while hiking. If you’re hiking with a tour company, they’ll also usually provide water to fill up your water bottle during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Along the way, there are also a few rest stops with snack stands where you can buy water (as well as other beverages and snacks) if needed. Some people use a reusable water bottle, while others use a water bladder for easier access. I also like collapsible water bottles since you can tightly roll them up and attach them to any bag with carabiners.
- Hiking poles – You can certainly do Salkantay without hiking poles (and someone in my tour group did), but I don’t recommend it. The trek has a lot of uphills and downhills, and having hiking poles really helps with hauling yourself up inclines and putting less pressure on your knees when going down. You don’t need to bring your own hiking poles, since they can be rented in Cusco or through your tour company.
- Plastic bags – Any trash that you produce during the hike needs to be carried with you. This includes snack wrappers, apple cores, banana peels, and toilet paper if you decide to go in nature. Carry some extra plastic bags to hold your trash until you can dispose of it in a trash can. These bags can be plastic grocery bags, Ziploc bags, or even dog poop bags.
- Diamox (optional) – Even if you’ve acclimated in Cusco for a few days before starting your trek, you don’t know how the higher altitudes will affect you. Some people in my tour group felt the effects on the first and second days of hiking, which is when we were at our highest elevations. If you’ve never spent extended periods of time over 4,000 or 5,000 meters above sea level, it can be a good idea to bring some diamox to relieve any altitude sickness you might experience. If you end up being fine, maybe someone else can use your Diamox.
- Compeed or bandaids (optional) – Tour companies carry a first aid kit, but if you’re doing Salkantay on your own, you should at least bring some bandaids and/or Compeed for blisters.
- Journal and pen (optional) – You’ll have some downtime during the trek, and since most campsites don’t have wifi or cell signal, it’s the perfect time to do some journaling.
- Sleeping bag (optional) – While you can bring your own sleeping bag, it’s also easy to rent one – either through the tour company or through a rental store in Cusco. Renting is cheap, so I recommend doing that instead of bringing a sleeping bag that takes up a lot of space in your luggage.
- Sleeping bag liner (optional) – The tour company I went with provided a sleeping bag liner when you rented a sleeping bag from them. However, if you plan on doing a lot of camping on your trip and will be renting sleeping bags from various stores, it’s better if you bring your own liner. Silk sleeping bag liners, like the Sea to Summit one that I use, are lightweight and pack down very small.
- Pocket mirror (optional) – A small mirror is the one thing that I forgot to bring but really wish I had. None of the bathrooms on the trail had mirrors. This meant that I was stuck using my phone’s front camera as a mirror, which was okay but not as detailed and clear as a mirror.
- Ear plugs (optional) – If you’re a light sleeper who gets woken up by the sounds of nature or roosters crowing, then you may want to bring ear plugs to ensure you’re well rested.
More resources for traveling Peru
- Rainbow Mountain in Peru: Complete Travel Guide
- Red Valley in Peru: Complete Travel Guide
- How to Spend One Day in Cusco: 3 Complete Itineraries
- 18 Best Restaurants in Cusco: Where and What to Eat
- Colca Canyon 2-Day Trek: Tour Review & Recap
