Two words: mindful packing. Instead of traveling in excess, try to be selective when deciding what to take with you on this special journey to Cusco & Machu Picchu.
I have really honed my packing skills, and my very best piece of advice is not to over-buy prior to your trip. Carefully go through what you already own, and borrow or purchase the few essential pieces you don’t have. Also keep in mind that you will undoubtedly want to return home with a souvenier from your travels – and what better than a traditional poncho, knitted hat or cozy scarf? Something that will be useful for you on your trip, and also can double as a keepsake. Win-Win. 😉
This list was devised for the 7 day yoga retreat I led to Peru in fall of 2018
Documents:
- Passport (with photocopies)
- Flight Documents
- Proof of Traveler’s Insurance (with photocopies)
- Any required visas or vaccination certificates
Essentials:
- Lip balm
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Hat
- First aid (bandaids, antibacterial gel, imodium, aspirin, prescriptions, antihistamine, motion sickness and altitude sickness remedies, insect repellent, etc.)
- Favorite toiletries
- Comfortable footwear for city walking
- Hiking boots or slip-resistant athletic sneakers for hiking
- Clothing appropriate for practicing yoga in
- A combination of clothing pieces that can be layered for daytime and evening activities
- Light-weight rain jacket
- Compact umbrella
- Day pack/backpack or crossbody purse suitable for hiking and sightseeing
- Swimsuit
- Sleepwear
- Undergarments
- Phone and charger
- Cash, credit and debit cards
- Camera, memory card, battery and charger
- Locks for bags
- Outlet adapter
- Light weight yoga mat
October in Cusco: the average temperature will be 18 degrees Celsius (65 Fahrenheit) during the day, and 6 degrees Celsius (43 Fahrenheit) at night. Daytime averages in Machu Picchu are a high of 22 degree Celsius (72 Fahrenheit) and low of 7 Celsius (45 Fahrenheit).
Wet season for Machu Picchu does not officially begin until November, but rainfall is still common throughout October. Please pack appropriate rain gear.
As a reference, here are some examples of what I brought:
A waterproof backpack suitable for hiking trips to carry my lunch, camera and essentials:
A smaller crossbody bag for city walking, like this rose gold number from Deux Lux, a fabulous oversized alpaca inspired jacket (The Kooples), a muted yoga set (Outdoor voices), and a boho fun dress (Free People).
For shoes, I brought: a pair of booties from Quipid, my Kodiak hiking Boots and a pair of flips from Malvados
I also brought a pair of trail running sneaks:
Altitude sickness medicine is a definite must. I took both of these daily!
Rain gear:
A few different hats:
Universal outlet adaptor:
For hiking, zip lining and yoga activties, I wore comfortable yoga pants or jeans, a sports bra, tshirt, sweatshirt, and jean or rain jacket. Depending on the weather, I also brought a hat and/or scarf. For shoes, I lived in my hiking boots!
For exploring town, the markets, dining out and any nightlife activities, I wore casual dresses, long skirts, pants, rompers or lightweight jumpsuits and layered tops (tshirt, sweater + jean jacket). For shoes, I switched between my booties and flip flops.
