Hiking to Machu Picchu in Peru on the Inca Trail is a lifetime experience adventure. Hiking the trek allows you to visit minor ruin monuments and retrace the Incans’ centuries-old road to Machu Picchu, reaching before daybreak.
However, because of the high elevation and tough path circumstances, the proper equipment is required! Here are our recommendations to pack tight and smart for an outstanding experience.
Passport – the most obvious and the most important one:
Before we go into the clothing, hygiene, and gadgets packing necessities, there is one item you must not forget.When you begin the walk, make sure your passport is safely secured in your daypack. The Inca Trail is Peru’s greatest heavily policed trail, and having your document with you is a must.
If you don’t, you won’t be able to get through the gate terminal at the start of the trek. Because our passports are the most crucial item in our luggage when we travel, make sure you have a rough and tough cover.
Trekking poles:
Trekking poles are needed on the Peruvian Trail, irrespective of how youthful or old you are or whether you’ve ever used them previously because the landscape with thousands of stone steps is rather difficult.
You can also rent trekking poles in Cusco, however, the quality differs.
Day pack:
Although the staff on the trip will carry practically stuffs for you, you will still have to put in some effort. A suitable backpack, preferably with a waistline belt, is required for carrying water, a poncho, a coat, an additional t-shirt, a snack, pants, sunblocking cream, and your camera equipment.
A packing cube is; helpful. These packing cubes are ideal for keeping your backpack orderly and separating your fresh and dirty things.
Shoes:
Before going on a trip, it’s critical to get the correct hiking footwear and break those in. Each day, expect to trek from 10 – 20 km, often on a difficult path with several stairs.
Hiking boots with good waterproofing and broken-in hiking shoes with comfortable bottoms are required to enjoy the hike.
Clothes to wear:
When trekking the Inca Trail, one of the most important things to remember is to layer correctly. Because it is generally cold in the early and hot in the afternoon, you should wear many garments and take clothes on and off as needed.
T-shirt – Because the Classic Inca Trail requires four days to complete, carry two short-sleeved t-shirts apiece. It’s up to you whether you want to bring a clean t-shirt with you every day. With no bathrooms on the path, you’ll be stinky anyhow.
Hiking socks – To avoid blisters, carry at least 1 pair of clean hiking socks with you every morning.
Gloves/Hat – It is preferable to wear gloves first early in the morning, particularly if you intend to use trekking poles. You shouldn’t need a hat if your coat has a hood.
Gears:
Lamp- The last day, when you trek to Sun Gate & Machu Picchu, begins around 3 a.m., so you’ll need a decent torch. When walking about the campsite after nightfall or needing to use the toilet, a headtorch is also required.
Poncho –A rain poncho comes in handy whenever it rains a lot. Nothing is more unpleasant than damp clothes, so invest in a larger rain poncho which also protects your bag.
Sunglasses – Because the sun is so bright at such a high elevation, you should wear shades to shield your eyes.
Some other things include travel insurance, a good power bank, some snacks, cash, a water bottle, etc to make your trail less stressed.
We hope you find our Inca Trail Packing List for Machu Picchu post useful to plan your trip.
