What to bring on the Inca Trail: your luggage day by day.
On the Inca Trail you will go from the heat of the valley to the cold of a pass at over 4,200 m a.s.l. in a few hours. Here we explain what goes in your daypack, what the porter carries, and what objects you cannot bring into Machu Picchu, so you can pack your luggage without carrying extra weight.
We organized your luggage by topics: clothing, footwear, documents, first aid kit, and what is not allowed. Each topic has a complete article: tap the link to see the detailed list and tips for each part.
Your luggage, part by part
Start with what worries you the most; it all points to the same goal: walking for four days without missing anything or carrying extra weight.
You carry your daypack
That is where the water, a warm layer, the raincoat, snacks, and your documents go.
The porter has a weight limit
Your overnight bag cannot exceed the kilos set by the operator, including the sleeping bag.
The weather changes on the same day
You go from the heat of the valley to the cold of the highest pass, so it is best to dress in layers.
There are items that are not allowed
Machu Picchu has backpack size restrictions and restrictions on certain objects, review them before leaving.
!
IMPORTANT
Test your gear before the trip, not on the first day of hiking
Unused boots or a poorly adjusted backpack are felt from the first climbs. Walk in your footwear for several days before arriving in Cusco, load the backpack with the actual weight you are going to carry, and confirm with your operator how many kilos the porter can carry so you don't have to reorganize everything the night before.