Essential Packing List and Preparation Tips for the Inca Trail

You’ve always wanted to hike the Inca Trail and now that you’re booked, it’s time to prepare! It’s exciting and even a bit daunting, and you’re nervous that you may not be prepared. Fear not! With some preparation, and energy, almost anyone can do it.

So, what will you need to pack? This packing list and the tips below come from a lot of research, and from those that have been there, done that. Have we done it yet? Not yet, but soon! We were booked to hike the Inca Trail in September of 2020, but like so many adventures, we were cancelled. But in September of 2021, we will be making our way to Peru for a small group adventure!

Tips for the Trek

If you are trekking with a tour guide and group, your overnight bag will be carried for you – but there is a weight limit. 

In your day pack – the only one you’ll be carrying on the trek – be sure to include a windbreaker/rain jacket, water bottle, hat, bandana, moleskin/blister pads, lip balm, sunblock, sunglasses, dry socks, camera, headlamp, and a journal. We’ll be wearing our binoculars too.

Trekking poles can make a huge difference for some hikers. They lighten the load on your feet and are nice to rest on while heading up the long, steep climbs. Bob likes them on the downhill, as they help take the weight off his knees. So, spend a little extra on poles with some form of shock-absorbing technology.

Altitude can be a challenge for many on the trek and it’s nearly impossible to know how it will impact you.  There are remedies, and each have different side effects. There are local remedies and Western drugs, so ask your doctor what might work best for you. Be sure you prepare for the high-altitude trek at least 3-6 months in advance.

You will want more than the standard insurance for your adventure – even if it’s not required. Your protection needs to cover high altitudes and you should consider medical evacuation. It should also cover loss or cancellations. The cost of a helicopter in the middle of the night can be costly without this insurance.

Pace yourself! The Inca Trail reaches almost 14,000 feet. You may be excited at the start, but by the end of day two, you’ll be glad you went slow.

Get to know the crew! Most of the porters are local farmers or residents. They can be a great source of info your guide won’t necessarily be sharing with you. Have conversations and share pictures from home, and get personal! They are gentle, social, and approachable people.

Packing List

This is our list — but you need to decide for yourself what you will take:

• 1 Pair light zip off pants, 1 pair of jeans and 1 pair of rain pants

• 3 Pairs of quick dry underwear (for women) and 2 quick dry bras

• 1 Travel shirt, three t-shirts, 3 moisture wicking shirts that dry quickly and breathe well (varying degrees of warmth)

• 1 Light thermal top and bottom

• 3 Pairs running socks

• 2 REI MultiTowel - 1 Personal PackTowel (ultra-light and quick drying) and 1 PackTowel personal hand towel. The PackTowel personal hand towel is a smaller version of the PackTowel, which should be perfect for cleaning up after a day on the trail. I understand we will be pretty dirty by the end of the 4-day trek. This should help! You can also bring a hand towel since they are so small but we’ll just bring two.

• 1 Rain jacket

• Baseball hat or another brimmed hat

• Light gloves

• 1 Swimsuit — Not needed for the trek but you may want it depending on the rest of your itinerary; it doesn’t take up a lot of room so I would rather have this and not need it than vice versa.

• Flip flops — For when you wear your bathing suit and perhaps at the campsite after trekking all day; alternatively, you could use hiking sandals like Teva’s but I prefer flip flops.

Toiletries:

• Your typical toiletries bag

• Soap — If you’re staying in hotels in Peru for a few days before starting the trek, you should be able to take small bars from there. We’re bringing a couple from previous hotels stays, so we can clean up each evening on the trail.

• Sunblock

• Chapstick

Electronics:

• Cell phone

• iPad (to view pics, optional)

• Camera, camera charger, camera batteries, memory cards

• Headlamp

• USB camera sync cable

• Travel power adapter (all electronics are dual voltage, no need for a converter! And Peru has US style plugs, but some European)

• Enough batteries for all the gadgets to last your trip

Other stuff:

• Passport – With expiration at least 6 months from your return date to the US (along with extra copies, and take a picture of your passport with your mobile phone).

• Day pack – For on the trail, and a pack cover or poncho for the rain.

• Wallet with credit card and bank/ATM card, cash

• Card with vital info (flights, passport #, credit card #, etc.)

• Business cards

• Immunization card

• Some type of Water Purifier 

• 1 Large and 1 small water bottle, hydration pack

• Sport Hydration Tablets – These will help if the water taste is off and help get needed electrolytes.

• Toilet paper

• Bandana

• Books, including Phrasebook – I don’t speak Spanish, so I purchased a Lonely Planet Phrasebook in Latin American Spanish. I’ve read this is relevant and useful! 

• Journal and pen, and reading glasses

• Playing cards

• Travel alarm

• Ear plugs

• Watch

• Sunglasses

• Clothesline or mini carabiners 

• Bag locks

• Vitamins

• Clif or other protein bars and/or shot bloks (good for a boost up the long hills)

• Ziploc bags and dry bag

• Duct tape

• First Aid Kit (in a waterproof bag) — Make your own or buy one online. Bob is an Eagle Scout so we usually have one with us. If you don’t need it for yourself, you may be able to help someone else in need.

• Butterfly closure strips

• Antibiotic ointments

• Antiseptic wipes

• Nitrile gloves

• Sterile dressing and gauge bandages

• Band-Aids and knuckle bandages

• Adhesive tape

• Elastic bandage

• Pre-cut and shaped moleskin pieces

• Aspirin, Tylenol, Ibuprofen

• Antibiotics

• Antihistamine

• Afterbite sting-relief wipes

• Motion sickness pills

• Airborne

• Throat lozenges

• Safety pins, Tweezers, Duct tape

• Binoculars — because we don’t go anywhere without them

This is a great list if you need guidance, and you can choose for yourself what you will need on the trail. This can be used as a checklist, to which you can say yes or no.