The Salkantay Trek is one of the BEST experiences we have had and is such an exciting way to get yourself up to Machu Picchu. If you’re still debating it, be sure to check out our Salkantay Trek experience to see if it’s for you… but if you’re already here you may just be wondering what to pack!? This is a guide to everything you need to pack for this trek, based on our own experience.

Salkantay Trek Background Info

Note that this particular packing list is for the FOUR DAY Trek to Salkantay, but is really the basics for what you will need for the five day trek too (just add more clothes if you have more days!). We did our trek with Salkantay Trekking, other companies may or may not give you the same additional items we got. Your extra stuff for the rest of your trip around Peru can either be left at your hotel (as you will likely want to stay there another night when you get back as we didn’t get back until late) or the company can take care of it for you (but will require some coordination!).

Salkantay Trek Packing List

What We Brought

Here is an all encompassing list of everything we brought specifically for the trek. Note that you can leave extra stuff for the rest of your trip either at the hotel or with the company for you to pick it back up once your adventure is done. It’s also important to note you are going through a variety of temperatures during your hike – the temperate on night one to day four is very different which is why there is so many varying items! Night one can get VERY cold, whereas day four feels warm whilst hiking.

Clothes

• Undergarments (sports bras (enough for 1x day), underwear (enough for 1-2 per day))
• 4 x pairs of hiking socks (I didn’t wear anything other than hiking socks. For a four-day trek I brought 5 pairs to have one for each day and a sleeping pair, however if you want to cut down on space, hiking socks are made to be worn more than once)
• 1 x pair of hiking pants
• 1 x pair of leggings (sub another pair of hiking pants if you’re not the legging wearing type)
• 1 x pair of waterproof rain pants (Optional – these are rain pants that just go overtop of your regular pants you are wearing – very easy and way to stay comfortable)
• 1 x pair of biker shorts
• 1 x pair of hiking shorts
• 1 x active tank top
• 1 x active shirt
• 1 x long sleeve
• Outfit for Machu Picchu (Optional – unless it’s the same stuff you want to wear whilst hiking – but we wanted to be fresh for the big day)
• 1 x fleece
• Thermal layers / PJs (I had a set of long sleeve top and bottom merino wool base layers (light) and they did the trick inside the sleeping bag – plus you can wear a fleece on top if needed. The first two nights can be COLD)
• 1 x puffy jacket (doesn’t need to be crazy warm, but definitely needs to keep you cozy when its cold)
• 1 x rain jacket
• Hiking Boots (some people ALSO brought running shoes, but we didn’t use them once so 1 x pair of hiking boots was sufficient for us!)
• Sandals (for nighttime hangouts and getting to/from meals and washrooms)

Toiletries

• Face wash
• Moisturizers
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Mouth wash (Optional)
• Hairbrush / Hairties
• Retainers / mouth guards
• Face products
• Dry Shampoo (Optional – there is shampoo and conditioner at your hotel on night three)
• Hand Sanitizer (Optional)
• Wet Wipes (Optional)
• Make-up (Optional – but if you want it for your last day when going to Machu Picchu)

Medication

• Advil / Tylenol (for the headaches – most people got crazy headaches from the altitude)
• Altitude Sickness Medication (talk to a health professional first about this! You can get it prescribed from your doctor at home OR they are available for purchase in Peru)
• Diarrhea Medication (we were lucky and didn’t have this effect us… but we definitely saw how terrible your hiking adventure can become if this does happen to you – be prepared!)
• Hydration tablets (Optional – not medication, but super worth bringing to make sure you keep on top of your hydration)
• Any other medication you use on a regular basis
• FEET KIT – bandaids, blister pads / second skin, athletic tape (to try and keep the blister pads in place), and foot powder (used every morning and at lunch before hiking inside the socks and on feet to try and prevent blisters (and it worked!))

Other / Misc

• Passport (this is mandatory to have your passport on you especially as you’re going to Machu Picchu)
• Cash (needed for paying for extra things such as the washroom stops (sometimes 1-2 soles), extra snacks/drinks along the way, and tips!!!)
• Fanny pack (Optional – I like to have my phone extremely accessible if I don’t have any pockets, the fanny pack is my best friend)
• Water bottle or Camelback (Camelback was SO helpful to staying hydrated on the trails. It is so much easier to take a quick sip periodically than keep stopping to grab your water bottle – I had a 2L and felt it was sufficient as you can fill up every meal)
• Dry bags (Optional – but I wanted to keep my extra clothes in the duffle a bit more protected and ended up using extra garbage bags I brought with me. Dry bag is helpful for expensive gear which I used for double protection in my day pack).
• Sunglasses (this was extremely helpful when sensitive to light due to the altitude)
• Sunscreen (lots of it – including SPF lip balm – the sun does not discriminate up here)
• Bug spray
• Hat / Sunhat
• Toque or warm headband
• Gloves (gloves that are waterproof are usually helpful, but to keep you warm if it’s cold mainly)
• Swimsuit (you may or may not need this, depending on if your group decides to go to the hot springs)
• Towel
• Camera gear (I also tried out a backpack attachment for the camera to attach to my backpack straps on my front when I wasn’t using it to give me easy access to my camera which I LOVED)
• Chargers (no need for a portable charger, they do have electricity at every spot you go too – plus just make sure your phone is on airplane mode and it won’t drain battery too much)
• Headlamp (Optional – but helpful on the first night to get to/from the washrooms, but you can just use your phone)
• Earplugs (Optional – if you’re sensitive to noise, this is helpful, however it is quite peaceful for the most part)
• Extra entertainment … book or cards (Optional – we found we did not once need any extra entertainment as any extra time was spent chatting, getting ready for the next day, or SLEEPING because we were so tired!)
• 1 x day pack (mine was 25L I believe) – something to carry your water / snacks / camera gear during the DAY (they will transport your overnight bags with everything else for you from each location).

What They Gave Us

Because we booked through Salkantay Trekking, they give you a few things to make sure your trip is easier and convenient. This is a list of what was given to us (so we didn’t bring it – if you’re not booking through Salkantay Trekking then check what your tour company gives you):

• Duffle Bag (they give you this the night before you leave to pack the stuff you don’t need access to during the days, so the mule can carry it up to you to have at night)
• Backpack Rain Cover (a rain cover to cover most small-medium sized day packs to keep it water-proof in case you don’t already have one).
• T-Shirt
• Rain Poncho
• Toilet Paper
• Snacks & Water & Food on a daily basis (so we didn’t bother with water purifying tablets, and could have brought less snacks as they give you enough – but if you are a picky eater, definitely bring some!)
• RENTED: Sleeping bag and Trekking Poles (you can bring your own – but honestly it was way easier when travelling to rent them and not bother with them again afterwards, plus the sleeping bag is fully equipped with the lining inside so it’s nice and cozy for the cold nights).

See You On The Salkantay Trek!

This was such an amazing experience, and the packing list was very hard to make sure we nailed it! Above is everything we brought and we genuinely didn’t feel like we were missing anything. Again be sure to check out our Salkantay Trek experience for more information, and head over to our thatch page for our full Peru itinerary!