Machu Picchu Packing List: What to Pack and What to Wear for Your Visit

What Should You Pack for Machu Picchu?

Pack only what fits in a small day pack: your passport and ticket, water, a rain jacket or poncho, a light warm layer, sunscreen, a hat, insect repellent lotion, cash in soles and a phone or camera. Everything else can stay at your hotel. Guards check bag size at the entrance.

On a guided Machu Picchu day trip from Cusco, the same small pack is all you need, since the train, bus and entry are arranged for you.

For the full picture, start with our Machu Picchu cost guide.

Machu Picchu Day Pack Checklist

A Machu Picchu day pack checklist covers documents, weather gear, health items and a few comforts. Keep it light, because the site involves many stone stairs and no lockers inside. Restrooms and luggage storage are outside the gate, and you cannot easily return once you enter the circuit.

Visitors often add an unofficial souvenir Machu Picchu stamp to their passport at a stand outside the entrance, so keep it handy.

What Is the Bag Size Limit at Machu Picchu?

The official bag size limit at Machu Picchu is 40 x 35 x 20 cm, about 16 x 14 x 8 inches, for backpacks, bags and purses. Larger bags must be left at the storage service outside the entrance for a small fee. A 20 to 25 liter day pack usually fits.

Park guards can refuse entry with an oversized bag, so measure yours before the trip. Hip packs and small sling bags are an easy option.

How Should You Dress for Machu Picchu?

Wear comfortable layers to Machu Picchu: a breathable T-shirt, a long-sleeve top or light fleece, hiking pants or leggings, and a rain jacket. Mornings start cool and misty, middays can feel hot in the sun, and showers arrive quickly. Long sleeves and pants also protect against sandflies and sunburn.

Month-by-month temperatures and rainfall are in our Machu Picchu weather guide. Seasonal crowds and rain are compared in our best time to visit Machu Picchu guide.

What Shoes Should You Wear to Machu Picchu?

Wear broken-in walking shoes or light hiking boots with good grip and soft rubber soles to Machu Picchu. The site has uneven Inca stairs that can be slippery after rain. Official rules ban heels and hard-sole shoes to protect the stonework, so leave dress shoes and stiff boots behind.

Trail runners work for the main site. For steep extras such as the Huayna Picchu hike or the Machu Picchu Mountain climb, ankle support and strong grip help on the narrow steps.

What Items Are Not Allowed at Machu Picchu?

Items not allowed at Machu Picchu include food and kitchenware such as thermoses, alcohol, umbrellas, walking sticks, tripods, selfie sticks, aerosol sprays, drones, musical instruments, strollers, knives and large bags. Guards can remove visitors who break these rules without a refund. People who need walking support should check current medical exceptions.

This is a packing summary only. The full code of conduct, including behavior rules and penalties, is in our guide to Machu Picchu rules and regulations.

Which Luggage Is Allowed on the Train?

Trains to Machu Picchu allow only small luggage, about 5 kg (11 lb) per person in one bag or backpack on most classes, with a size limit set by each company. Most travelers leave large suitcases at their Cusco or Sacred Valley hotel and bring an overnight bag to Aguas Calientes.

PeruRail and Inca Rail publish exact limits, and luxury classes allow more. Class and company differences are covered in our guide to train to Machu Picchu classes and schedules.

Do Treks Need Extra Gear?

Multi-day treks to Machu Picchu need more than a day visit: a sleeping bag rated near freezing, warm layers for nights, a headlamp, trekking poles with rubber tips, water purification, blister care and a duffel for porters. Operators usually list exact limits for porter bags, often about 6 to 7 kg.

Related reading: our Peru visa requirements for US citizens guide.

• Warm hat, gloves and an insulated jacket for cold camps.
• Headlamp with spare batteries for early starts.
• Trekking poles with rubber tips, used on the trail only.
• Water purification tablets or a filter.
• Blister plasters and broken-in boots.
• Small dry bags to keep clothes dry in rain.

Trek requirements are covered in the Inca Trail permits guide; walking sticks still cannot enter the citadel itself.