There could be many items you want to take with you in your trip to Peru, but you need to pack this list of 8 items if you want to have a wonderful time in Peru.
Looking up what to take away on a backpacking trip is one of the most searched topics for people traveling to Peru and Latin America in general. And outside of documentation from the trip information all the way to your passport, it can be difficult to discern what is needed and what is unnecessary. Believe me, you can find anything in Peru.
Stereotypes of Latin American countries as backward third-world places where you can’t find any of the conveniences of the United States and Western Europe has led many people to bring far too much while on their trip.
Let’s take a detailed look of the 8 most important items you need to bring with you to have a worry-free trip to Peru.
1.First Aid Kits
This one is really debatable (yeah! let’s start with the most controversial item) and really depends on how much time you’re going to spend outside of cities or towns.
Those who are based at hostels or registered campsites, and just spend afternoons doing leisurely hikes in the nearby nature, might find a large first aid kit is excessive. Most medicines are available over the counter at any pharmacy or even at your hotel or hostel’s reception. However, prescription medications, or medications that you take every day, are a good thing to bring; even though the prescription might be covered by your single trip travel insurance policy, it might be time-consuming to fill. You might find this article interesting too: 10 things to know about pharmacies in Lima Peru
If you are hiking the Inca Trail for example, by all means, err on the safe side and bring with you some Tylenol, Motrin or Aleve. Definitely some Dramamine, Imodium or Pepto-Bismol. If you are planning to drink, get some hangover medicine (believe me, you don’t want to hike at high-altitude with a massive hangover). Here are some wonderful and effective hangover killers! (vegan-gluten free and also help with liver detox, traveling and altitude sickness)
Also, bring some band-aids with antibiotic in them, and some bandage or gauze.
2.Documents
Having proof of your single trip travel insurance, and extra copies of your passport might come in handy while traveling. You can keep your passport locked in your hostel or hotel, and just display your copied version if anyone asks to see documentation. Also, having a copy of an itinerary with hostel or hotel bookings might be useful while border crossing.
Having a copy of your passport also helps in case you lose the real one. You just need to present your copy to the Consulate and that should help the processing of your request.
3.Packing Cubes
Though they might seem unnecessary, those who have begun to use them swear by them. When you’re backpacking, much of what you’re carrying behind you is not easily accessible, and you’ll spend a lot of your trip searching for things in your bag. But packing cubes make finding things much easier.The best trick with the packing cubes is that once you arrived at your destination, in our case Peru, you don’t need to waste time unpackaging, just take your packing cubes from your luggage and move them to your hotel’s drawers. Many of the small cubes fit perfectly.
Click here to take a look at the best seller packing cubes.4.Flashlight
Some people will bring a small flashlight on a key chain, and this can be useful, but to make the most of your trip, find the correct flashlight for the type of experience you are having in Peru.
For example, if you are exploring some of Peru’s wonderful caves (like Pikimachay in Ayacucho) or even visiting some of Lima’s catacombs (like the one in the Monastery of San Francisco in Lima) you are better suited to bring a head torch or headlamp. This LED headlamp is one of the best for a rough ride, is lightweight, swivels 90 degrees for the perfect adjustment, it has 4 lightning modes and is waterproof, all for less than $8 USD, click here to check it out!
If you are instead backpacking in the Inca Trail for example, and need a handy flashlight, I recommend you bring a professional tactical LED flashlight, water resistant and with adjustable focus if possible. You don’t need the most expensive one in the market, you should be able to find a good tactical flashlight for less than $20 USD. Click here to check the best tactical LED flashlight at the lowest price.While we are in the subject of flashlight, don’t forget to pack extra batteries.
5. Clothing
Pack the clothing appropriate for the type of experience you are having in Peru. For example, if you are going to be in Lima during the summer time, bring summer clothing. If your trip includes Cusco, then make sure to check the weather in Cusco during your stay. If your trip includes hiking the Inca Trail, then check the weather of a near city like Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu.
If you are taking one of those rafting tours in Cusco make sure to bring some performance clothing, like underwear, socks, pants and shirts. These clothing is super soft, very flexible and dries very quickly.
6. Survival Gear Kit
This are kind of new, at least to me. The survival bracelets come with a compass, a fire starter, very small emergency knife, and a whistle. Some of the most complete ones even come with some rope (that can be used to set traps or as fishing lines), fishing hooks, sinkers and floaters. Click here to check the survival bracelet.Again, the need for one of these is limited, but if you are hiking in Peru, better safe than sorry.
7. Sun and Insect Safeguards
Do not forget sunglasses and hats. Sawyer makes a combo sun wedge and insect repellent with eight hours of important protection.
The mosquito’s repellent doesn’t have to have DEET to be effective, Repel makes some great natural lemon and eucalyptus insect repellent that is very effective.
8. Water Bottle with Integrated Filter.
This item could be handy even while you are vacationing in the cities of Peru. If you don’t trust the water quality (and why should you) then this is the perfect solution. A water filter will remove the waterborne bacteria and protozoa parasites. Of course, the best water bottles are BPA-free and you can keep replacing the carbon filters and keep enjoying clean water for long after your trip is over. Click here to check this versatile water bottle with filter.And Don’t Forget
This is a quick list of extras that you might need when traveling to Peru.
- Matches (only outside the cities).
- Water bottles or hydration system.
- Snacks (take your favorite snack bar).
- Extra batteries.
- Condoms (as much as I will love to see you trying to explain what you need to the pharmacist, save yourself the trouble).
This is not a complete list by any means, and every person might have some unique requirements, but hopefully helps the most people when planning a trip to Peru. The best way to have a wonderful trip is to adapt your traveling needs to match the region in which you will be staying, is a bit difficult in Peru, where the experience could be completely different when staying in the coast or in the Andes.
Have fun, and please enjoy your time in Peru and don’t forget to share this post with your friends using Facebook, Twitter or another social network. Thanks.
