22 Items You NEED in your Peru Packing List (2024)

Best Suitcase For Peru: Nomatic Carry-On Pro

Backpacks not your thing? That’s ok. Our friends at Nomatic are back again with a great alternative to their badass Travel Bag; the Nomatic Carry-On Pro. 

This suitcase is ultra-durable, sleek, and comes with a handy tech compartment for transporting your laptop and other electronic bits. Nomatic has been an industry leader when it comes to travel gear and that reputation is reflected in the quality build design and functionality of the Carry-On Pro suitcase.  Perfect for your dream Peru trip and for many an adventure to come!

Check out our Nomatic Carry-On Pro review to learn more about this epic suitcase. 

For most of us, our smartphones now feature cameras with stunning photo capabilities.

But… if you are an aspiring photographer who wants to take next-level photos and video beyond iPhone selfies, I recommend going with an action camera like the GoPro Hero9 Black.

It does deliver pro-quality video and gives you a bunch of a different angle options and shooting speeds to work with for photos (including a selfie-mode).

Think of a camera purchase like this as a long term investment that will have you capturing epic shots well beyond your time exploring here.

If you are looking for something cheaper for video specifically, check out these epic GoPro Alternatives.

Rain Jacket For Peru – Arcteryx Beta AR

Did you know that the surface of the earth is over 70% covered in water? And you know how that water got there? Yep because it tends to here rain here on planet earth quite a lot! Peru does get a fair bit of rain. It has a wet season and the jungles are never too far from a heavy downpour.

There is no such thing as bad weather, only the wing gear for it. Don’t let a bit (of a lot) of rain ruin your trip and make sure you are ready with some top notch rain gear.

This is our pick of the many rain jackets we have tried. It’s reliable & stylish and looks good worn out in the mountains or in city bars.

Best Sunglasses For Peru – Abaco Sunglasses

A reliable pair of sunglasses is undoubtedly one of your Peru packing essentials. Our favorites are Abaco Polarized Sunglasses because they deliver on quality and style. 

They’re built tough with triple-layer scratch-resistant lenses and trademarked Adventure-proof Frame Material. You can also customize them with your choice of lens and frame colors to reflect your own style. 

Swimwear

There are plenty of chances to get wet in Peru. Whether you hit the beach, dive in a river or simply find a hostel with a pool, swimwear will come in useful at some point. You will be the disappointed guy or girl in the corner if you forget to pack swimwear while everyone else is in the water. Or you might get drunk, lose your inhibitions, and jump in naked with the risk of getting arrested. 

Don’t get arrested for being drunk and naked. Instead, just pack whatever it is that makes you feel comfortable in the pool. 

Travel First Aid Kit

You don’t need to tote around half a pharmacy, but a well-stocked first aid kit should be in all our backpacks. Stuff happens on the road and it’s inconvenient and embarrassing when you can’t manage small situations like a cut finger or hangover migraine.

You can tuck this lifesaver away in a forgotten pocket – and it’ll be there when you need it.

Tip: Add a few bits and pieces to the first aid kit after you purchase it, like extra headache medicine, any personal meds you need (like allergy pills), whatever you take to calm your stomach and a few more plasters.

Travel Insurance From World Nomads

Suncream: Thinksport Safe SPF 50+

As above, Peru’s elevation means the sun’s rays can be fierce EVEN when it doesn’t seem that sunny. Is is therefore all too easy to forget to use suncream – don’t!

Thinksport Safe SPF 50+ sunscreen gives folks strong sun protection in a non-oily formula that’s free of gluten, paraben, phthalates and biologically harmful chemicals.

Best Toiletry Bag For Peru – Hanging Toiletry Bag

Another backpacker/traveler favorite for staying organized is a hanging toiletry bag. It’s extremely helpful to have all of your accessories neatly gathered in one bag that you can hang for easy accessibility, especially when counter space isn’t plentiful or even available.

A well-organized bag is worth having whether you’re tree whilst camping or a hook in the wall – it helps to have quick access to all your stuff.

Historically, I have been the guy who has my stuff all over the bathroom, so getting one of these things really changed the toiletry game for me. Plus they are not too expensive either. A no-brainer essential. 

Money Belt – By Pacsafe

There is no point denying that Peru can be dangerous country and tourists are sometimes targeted by thieves.

Therefore it is always a good idea to use a money belt to hide your cash just in case something does go wrong.

There are a lot of money belts on the market and some can be picked up for a just a few bucks. However, it is worth spending a few quid to get a decent, high quality one that will withstand the realities of travel.

Great Hat For Peru – Patagonia Fitz Roy Trucker

As you know by now, high elevation means closer to the sun and stronger the effects of its rays. The best way to protect your head is therefore with a sun visor. No Peru packing list is truly complete with a hat like this one. They are also great for hiding “messy jungle” hair which you will learn all about on your way up to Machu Picchu!

Patagonia makes great hats. I have probably bought three or four of these over the last five years. Simple. Practical. Comfortable. That is what you are after. 

A Good Daypack for Hiking – Osprey Daylite Plus

If you intend on doing any hiking, jungle trip and Maccu Piccu then you will need a daypack. They are great for carrying water, hat’s and gloves and for packing sandwiches for lunch. We love Osprey products and this daypack is our personal pick.

The Osprey Daylite Plus has a mesh-covered panel to keep your back cool and fresh by minimizing contact with the back of the pack itself and allowing air to get between you and the pack.

Check out our full review of the Osprey Daylite plus for more details.

Sleeping Bag – REI Magma 15

There are loads of opportunities for camping in Peru and a raft of multi day treks on offer. Whilst some tour companies do provide all the gear you need, the quality can be mixed bag not to mention hygiene standards.

We therefore suggest bringing your very own sleeping bag with you from home. This one is our pick as it mixes lightweight which solid performance.

Note that sleeping bags are a bulky item to carry around on a long backpacking trip so it is well worth spending the money to try and bag an ultralight one.

Headlamp – Petzl Actik Core Headlamp

Headlamps are great for traveling for many reasons. Firstly, they are useful as hell if you go camping or on an early sunrise mountain hike. Then, they come in useful for finding your way to your hostel bed at 3am without having to turn the lights on.

They are also a Godsend if there is a power cut (pretty common in India, Nepal or Venezuela) and great for navigating darkened alleyways in Turkey & Spain.

In Peru, this will come in very useful for those multrip day treks, for hiking to Machu Picchu fore sunrise and for the odd power cut. Add it to your Peru packing list.

Not all headlamps were created equal and this is one of the best. The Petzl Actik Core comes with a USB rechargeable battery (full recharge in 3 hours or less); however, it is compatible with AAA batteries. Water-resistance is another critical feature. This product can withstand splashing; but keep in mind, water-resistant does NOT mean waterproof.