What to Bring

On this program, we recommend that you limit your luggage to one suitcase and one carry-on piece (in addition to a personal item such as a purse or handbag). We suggest you pack anything important, such as your passport or other documentation listed below, or of value in your carry-on.

There are luggage restrictions in place on this trip, both on board the train from the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes and on the domestic flights within Peru. These restrictions are all different, but no matter what, your luggage should not exceed the domestic airline’s strictly-enforced weight limit of 22 pounds for your carry-on and 50 pounds for your checked bag.

On the train between the Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo) and Aguas Calientes, there is an 17.64-pound-per-person weight limit for luggage. It should measure a maximum of 62 inches (height + length + width). Because of these restrictions, you will need to bring a collapsible or packable overnight bag inside your suitcase to pack only those items you will need for the one night in Aguas Calientes. Alternatively, if your carry-on bag is a rolling suitcase, you can use that for your overnight bag and bring it aborad the train instead of a packable bag. Your larger suitcase will be stored securely by our local agent and returned to you at our hotel in Cusco.

Participants are responsible for their own overweight luggage charges, so please be aware of your luggage limits during the program as well as the restrictions for your international flight carrier.

We recommend a casual, comfortable wardrobe that you can layer. Because of the expeditionary nature of our travels, formal dress is not required anywhere on our journey. However, you may want to bring one outfit that can be dressed up a bit for the welcome and farewell dinners (this is completely optional and at your discretion). Be sure to pack shoes that will be comfortable for you during long days on your feet. You may consider lightweight hiking shoes for extra support since we will visit many archaeological sites.

In Chavín, Cusco and the Sacred Valley, you will be glad to have layers so you can adjust to the inevitable changes in temperature and conditions over the course of the day. 

Laundry service is available in all of our hotels for a fee. Note that this service may not be available on weekends. Hair dryers are provided at all the hotels on our itinerary.

Clothing and Outerwear

• comfortable, broken-in walking shoes or lightweight hiking shoes

• waterproof rain coat

• warm, insulated layer for days and nights at altitude

• lightweight fleece-type jacket for cool mornings and evenings and for layering

• long-sleeve, lightweight shirts (for sun protection), and sweaters for layering

• dressier outfit(s) for welcome and farewell dinners; jacket and tie NOT required

• scarf, hat and gloves (for evenings at higher elevation)

• bathing suit

Documentation

• passport

• printed copy of your e-ticket for your flights

• extra passport photos (in case you lose your passport and need to apply for a new one)

• photocopies of any prescriptions for prescription medications you are bringing with you 

• a printed list of all medications you take (prescription and OTC)

Toiletries, Medications & First Aid

Consider decanting your products from home into reusable travel containers, in order to avoid additional single-use plastic.

• sunscreen and lip protection

• unscented insect repellent

• sunburn relief products

• anti-bacterial gel or towelettes

• face masks or respirators (CDC guidance here)

• tissues (small travel packs)

• Aspirin®/Tylenol®, etc.

• cold remedies

• anti-diarrheals (Imodium AD® and/or Pepto Bismol®)

• motion sickness preventives

• prescription medications (in their original containers)

• an up-to-date record of medications you take, known allergies and chronic medical conditions

Miscellaneous

• day pack or backpack large enough to hold a snack, water, sunscreen, walking stick(s), camera, rain gear and jacket, and whatever else you might need during the day. It can also serve as your carry-on.

• wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses

• refillable water bottle

• collapsible umbrella

• voltage converters and plug adapters

• reusable bags for storing toiletries, supplies and keeping camera equipment dry

• money belt

• travel sewing kit

• TSA-approved luggage locks

• extra pair of eyeglasses or contacts

Special Equipment

• a collapsible or packable overnight bag for the night at Machu Picchu (see luggage section above for more information)

• walking sticks can be helpful on uneven terrain; please note that walking sticks must have rubber tips (not metal) to be used at Machu Picchu

• collapsible umbrella and/or lightweight rain gear

• binoculars

Adapter

Peru has American style outlets, but we may encounter Type C European style outlets. Therefore you should bring an EU or universal adapter that looks like this to charge any of your electrical devices. Here is a webpage about outlets in Peru.

Converter

Most laptop computers, cell phones, and digital camera battery chargers can operate on a range of currents from 110-240 volts, in which case a converter is not necessary, since the current in Peru is 220 volts, 60 cycles.