The Ultimate Salkantay Trek Packing List

Before we dive into the specifics of what to bring on the Salkantay Trek, here are a handful of things to consider before you start packing your bag.

Pack light

The Salkantay Trek is a long hike, covering 43 miles over 4-5 days, with high altitude, a pretty big pass to climb, and lots of downhill. So we highly recommend only carrying the essentials. This may mean wearing clothes for multiple days or sacrificing a few “nice to have” items, but with lots of comforts at your accommodation, your shoulders, back, and feet will thank you for packing light!

Be prepared for all kinds of weather

You’ll be traversing through high mountain passes, thick jungle, and rugged terrain. So you need to be ready for quickly changing weather. It can be chilly and windy one minute, warm and sunny the next, and if you’re unlucky, rain or a snow storm could blow in.

We hiked in mid September 2024 and lucked out with good weather. The mornings and evenings were cool and temperatures warmed up during midday. One night there was a very heavy rainstorm, but other than that we had dry weather.

Rent gear if needed

If you’re traveling to Peru and don’t have all the gear (or don’t want to travel with everything), there are places in Cusco you can rent from. Check out Speedy Gonzalo Camping Equipment and El Gato Camping Equipment for rentals. And if you need to buy items that you forgot, check out Tatoo Adventure Gear. 

In this Salkantay Trek packing list we’re sharing all of the most important items to bring on your trek, ranging from what to wear, important documents to bring, hiking gear, and more. 

All of the items in this Salkantay Trek packing list are broken down by category. And we’re also sharing a downloadable version of this Salkantay Trek packing list at the end of this guide, which you can save to your phone, computer, or print!

Note: This Salkantay Trek packing list is geared towards those doing the Salkantay Trek without a guide, but many of these items still apply if you’re hiking with a guide. Although some of these they’ll provide for you!

Looking for a more comprehensive packing list for Peru? We share a detailed Peru packing list here!

Hiking Gear

The 10 essentials

We always carry the 10 essentials on any hike and we highly suggest you do the same!

One of the 10 essentials we want to especially highlight is a first aid kit, with bandaids and antibiotic cream. You’ll be miles away from medical help and there are no pharmacies or doctors along the way. Make sure you have ways to take care of minor bites, cuts, scrapes, etc. 

We learned this one the hard way when Kathryn’s bug bites got infected and we didn’t have antibiotic cream. Thankfully one of our hosts had some!

Backpack and pack cover

You’ll need a backpack to carry your extra clothing, toiletries, snacks, water, and 10 essentials. We both carried an REI Co-op Trail 40 L Pack. Even with carrying lots of camera equipment, we both had enough room for everything. This bag comes with a pack cover for rain, but if you don’t have one, make sure you find one that fits your bag. 

Hiking poles

Because there is so much downhill on this trek, hiking poles would be very helpful! You could bring your own or rent some from one of the places listed above in Cusco.

Water storage and filtration

We take a Camelbak on just about every hike and backpacking trip. It makes it super easy to drink while on the move.

Before leaving your hotel in Cusco, make sure to fill it up so you start with plenty of water!

Water filter

Another one of the 10 essentials we wanted to highlight is a water filter. We brought our Katadyn BeFree water filter bottle with us and it came in very handy. It allowed us to carry less water throughout the day because we could filter sink water and river water as we hiked. And it reduces our plastic usage by limiting how many bottles we need to buy!

You could bring a Sawyer water filter instead and filter it into any bottles or your Camelbak, but the Katadyn water filter bottle makes it even easier, since you can drink directly from it as well.  

Electrolytes

On our particularly strenuous adventures, especially in the heat or altitude, we like to carry electrolytes. LMNT is our absolute favorite! For Salkantay, we brought a water bottle just to put LMNT in, as it’s not something we want to put in our CamelBak or Katadyn filter bottle.

PS: If you use this link, you get a free sample pack (8 flavors!) with any order! 

Downloaded trail map

It’s always a good idea to have the AllTrails map downloaded for offline use. Most of the trail is very straightforward and you’ll almost always see other people and can follow them. This combined with downloaded Google Maps will come in handy at the end of the day when looking for your accommodation. 

Want to get 30% off an AllTrails Plus membership? Use our code aplusk30 (you must redeem this code on the website, not the app)!

We use AllTrails Plus on every single hike and it is the most helpful hiking tool out there! Some of the features we love are offline maps (so we can navigate even without cell service), wrong-turn alerts, and its 3D maps feature, so we can get a feel for trails before we hike.

Headlamps (with batteries)

If you plan on hiking early in the morning or later in the day you’ll need a headlamp. Don’t forget to pack some extra batteries!

You go through vastly different landscapes and altitudes along the Salkantay Trek, so having a variety of clothing options and layers is key!

But you don’t want to pack too much. We personally brought two outfits and two pairs of socks for the Salkantay Trek, plus an extra outfit and fresh socks for Machu Picchu. The one thing we try to not skimp on is underwear, so we made sure to bring a clean pair for each day.

Shirts

We love our Vuori Strato Tech T shirts and Vuori Lux Performance Tank Tops, as they are light, don’t smell too bad after one wear, and do well with sweat. 

Pullover and sun hoodie

With cooler mornings, wearing a pullover under your jacket will help you stay warmer. But once the temperatures heat up, a sun hoodie was a must for us to protect ourselves from the sun. The sun at higher altitudes is very intense!

Puffy jacket

It can get pretty cool at night and in the morning depending on the time of year you do this trek. Plus, you’ll be hiking at vastly different altitudes across the four days. We both wear an L.L. Bean Ultralight 850 Down jacket and it worked great for this hike!

Rain jacket

Although we did not get rained on, always be prepared for rain by carrying a rain jacket. The weather in the mountains can change quickly!

Long pants

To be best protected from the sun and bugs we highly recommend wearing long sleeves and long pants, especially for the days in the jungle (days 3 and 4). There are lots of sand flies out there and they bite. It was easy to spot hikers who didn’t wear long clothing after the hike because of how dotted their legs were! 

Kathryn wears these Nike leggings and Adam wears these light Patagonia pants. 

Comfy clothes

One item that was nice to have was a comfy outfit for at night. We brought a PJ shirt and our Vuori joggers (mens and womens).

Clothes for Machu Picchu

Since you may not have enough time to wash clothes before going to Machu Picchu, make sure to pack a clean set of clothes. Just keep in mind that you do have to carry these clothes for 4 days, so don’t pack anything too bulky or heavy!

Hiking socks

Make sure to bring some good hiking socks, preferably ones that go up to your shin, to ensure your skin is covered. Wool socks are the best for hiking as they breathe well, don’t smell as bad, and do well with moisture and sweat.

We suggest bringing at least two pairs for the hike (one for every two days), plus extra for Machu Picchu.

Hiking shoes

Solid hiking shoes or boots are a MUST! The terrain can be rugged and rocky and if it rains, we imagine it could be a sloppy mess. Kathryn sometimes hikes in Lowa Renegade boots, but since we had limited space in our suitcase, we both brought Altra Lone Peaks 8s. They are lightweight, dry quickly if they get wet, and are super comfortable!

Flip flops

Any time we stay in hostels, hotels, or camp we bring along our flip flops. It’s nice to get out of your shoes at the end of the day and let your feet breathe. Also, we aren’t a fan of having our bare feet in public showers. 

Buff, gloves, and beanie

A buff, gloves, and beanie are nice to have on the cool mornings. Plus a buff can be another layer of sun protection!

Daily toiletry items

Make sure to pack your toothbrush, toothpaste, contact solution, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, and any other daily toiletry items you need. 

Medicine

Besides any daily medication, make sure to have Advil, Benadryl, and Imodium, just in case some food doesn’t agree with you.

Prescription medicine for altitude 

A popular prescription medication for high altitude is Diamox. Check with your doctor before heading to Peru to see if it’s a good fit for you. We didn’t personally take it, but after talking to our doctor after our trip, he said he would recommend it.

Sun protection

The sun is extra powerful at this high elevation. Be sure to reapply sunscreen often to avoid getting burned. Plus bring sunglasses and a hat!

Bug Spray

There are lots of tiny biting sand flies in the jungle sections, as well as some on the first day on the way to Soraypampa. Bug spray will help deter the sand flies, but we still did get bit by some even when using it.

Hand Sanitizer

Most of the paid toilets have some sort of hand washing station, but we suggest bringing hand sanitizer just in case.

Chapstick

With so much sun and wind exposure, chapstick is a must!

Shampoo and conditioner 

One thing that surprised us on the trek is that the accommodations either had no shampoo and conditioner or only had shampoo. And if you have thick hair like Kathryn, conditioner is a must. So make sure to bring your own!

Toilet paper

While there are a handful of paid toilets along the trek, toilet paper may not always be included. Make sure to pack some of your own so you don’t have an issue! And remember, you cannot flush toilet paper in Peru, so please throw it in the trash can next to the toilet.

One new addition to Kathryn’s backpacking gear is a Kula cloth. This is an antimicrobial pee cloth. It can strap onto your pack and is very handy if nature calls while on the trail.

Ear plugs

Some of the hostels we stayed at were kind of loud at night. Whether it was from workers up early cooking or preparing for the day or roosters. Packing some ear plugs could make a big difference for a quiet night’s sleep! 

Body Glide (Optional)

Something that Kathryn has recently started using on backpacking trips is Body Glide. This is an anti-chafing stick that you can put on your thighs, armpits, feet, etc. to prevent chafing and blisters.

Blister tape (Optional)

Depending on how wet the conditions are, you might have wet feet from rain. This means you could have wet socks and shoes, plus dirt, which can be a recipe for a blister. Blister tape can be a good addition to your Salkantay Trek packing list. 

Meals & snacks

If you’re hiking the Salkantay Trek on a tour, your meals will be prepared by a chef. And they’ll provide snacks!

But if you are hiking the Salkantay Trek without a guide, you will have to either cook your own meals or eat at your lodging. Most lodging will serve breakfast and dinner (sometimes at an extra cost), but for lunch, you’ll be on your own.

Along the trail there are some opportunities to buy snacks or meals, but not everyday will have options to do so. And we did notice that a lot of stands were closed. Make sure to pack snacks or backpacking meals, so you have something to eat between meals! 

We personally brought Bowl & Kettle meals, which are our favorite backpacking meals! All three of their options are loaded with flavor, have an amazing texture, and taste like restaurant quality. Use code TAKE10 for 10% off your order!

Other meals we love are Wild Zora, Backpacker’s Pantry Chicken Pad Thai, Peak Refuel Chicken Coconut Curry, and Mountain House Beef Stroganoff.

If you need snack ideas, you can see a list of our favorite hiking snacks here!

Coca Leaves

You also may want to bring coca leaves to help with altitude sickness. Most accommodations will have them, especially on your first night, but you may want to chew on them when climbing up Salkantay Pass. You can find these easily in Cusco!

Coffee

Most lodging will have coffee (and tea) in the mornings, but sometimes we want an afternoon pick me up. So we brought some of our own! Both Kuju coffees and Steeped coffee tea bags are great easy options!

If you plan to make your own coffee, make sure to pack a cup! We love these collapsible mugs.

Cooking supplies

If you plan to make any hot meals or want to make your own coffee or tea, you will need to bring some supplies. We brought all of this from home, but you can get supplies at Speedy Gonzalo Camping Equipment, El Gato Camping Equipment, or Tatoo Adventure Gear in Cusco.

Kettle

We use the Sea to Summit X-Pot Kettle, which collapses and packs down really small! In the past, we used a kettle like this for backpacking, which worked well too. We would store items inside of it, to help maximize space.

Camping Stove

The Ultralight Portable Outdoor Backpacking Camping Stove is about the size of a deck of cards and makes it easy to boil water and cook food while backpacking. 

Another option is to get a Jetboil, which combines a kettle and camp stove in one. We haven’t personally tried it, but know people love them!

Propane

You cannot fly with propane, but you can pick it up in Cusco at Tatoo Adventure Gear. 

Lighter or matches

Our camping stove was really struggling on this trip and wouldn’t light, which meant we couldn’t make our food. Thankfully we found some matches at a stand, but in the future, we would bring our own or a lighter, just in case.

Technology

Camera 

The scenery on the Salkantay Trek is incredible and you’ll want to capture it! For some, a phone will be enough, but we brought our cameras on this trek (especially so we could film a YouTube video about our experience).

You can see all of our camera gear here, but for cameras, we have both a Sony FX3 (mostly for filming) and Sony a7 III (for photos). We also brought our zoom lens to be able to zoom in on the epic glaciers!

In our opinion, the best way to carry a camera when hiking is clipped to our chest using the Peak Design Capture Camera Clip. It gives us easy access to the camera and keeps our hands free when we aren’t filming/taking photos.

If you bring a camera, don’t forget extra camera batteries! 

Tripod

Since we hiked the Salkantay Trek without a guide, a tripod was key to getting photos together. We’ve used this tripod for a few years now and like how light and compact it is. 

Drone

We love getting epic shots with our drone on adventures! The DJI Mini 3 Pro is our go-to drone for our international trips because it’s lightweight and meets international flight rules. 

Keep in mind, drones are NOT allowed in some areas along the Salkantay Trek, like Humantay Lake and at Machu Picchu. 

Portable charger

If you plan to use your phone and camera during the day consider bringing a portable charger. Most lodging will have outlets, but we always bring portable chargers to charge our phone, camera batteries, and drone throughout the day, just in case.

Make sure to bring your charger cords as well!

Important items

Cash (Peruvian soles)

Snack stands, bathrooms, and some lodging are cash only, so make sure to bring plenty of cash.  We believe the only ATM along the hike is in Aguas Calientes. To see how much we spent on the trek, check out our guide to hiking the Salkantay Trek without a guide. 

Passport

You often need to show your passport when checking into your lodging. Plus you’ll need it for Machu Picchu!

Machu Picchu tickets

Since you’ll be visiting Machu Picchu at the end of the Salkantay Trek make sure you either have a printed or electronic copy of your Machu Picchu entry tickets and bus tickets. 

Travel health insurance

We highly recommend getting travel health insurance for this trek. And our top pick is SafetyWing! We purchase their Nomad Insurance plan before any international trip, which not only gives us travel medical insurance, but also provides coverage for lost baggage and travel delays. 

After years of never using it, we finally had to file a claim on this trek when Kathryn had some bug bites that got infected and she developed cellulitis. We went to a clinic in Aguas Calientes where she got antibiotics through an IV, plus other medicine. Once we got the bill, we filed a claim with SafetyWing and got reimbursed within a week!

Download this Salkantay Trek Packing List