As a female, packing for Peru can be challenging depending what you plan to do in the country. After all, there are beaches, mountains, treks, vineyards, and more! Peru has all types of climates throughout the year and if you want to do it all you need to pack well. In this Peru packing list you’ll find essentials for traveling to Peru, plus clothing items and shoes depending on whether you’re trekking, accessories to bring to Peru, and so much more. This is the ultimate Peru packing list to ensure that you bring the appropriate things to Peru; without overpacking.
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The Best Luggage to Bring to Peru
First things first when it comes to packing – you need luggage to put your things in. My biggest tip for traveling – especially through Peru – is to not overpack. Overpacking just leads to hassle and headaches and it’s not worth it. Especially if you’re going to be carrying your own things around. With that being said – here are my favorite pieces of luggage to bring with you to Peru!
- Travel Backpack
- Carry-on bag
- Checked bag (only if necessary)
- Packing cubes (helps with organization)
- Toiletry bag
- AirTags (this isn’t luggage, but I bought a pack after my bags got lost for 10 days in Saudi Arabia and now I’ll never travel without them!)
Peru Essentials
Next up: Your Peru essentials! These are things that you cannot travel to Peru without… in my opinion. As of 2024, there are no special documents that Americans need to bring when traveling to Peru nor do you need a visa. If you’re traveling to Peru as a citizen from another country, you can check visa requirements here.
- Passport (needs >6 months before expiration)
- Prescription medication(s)
- Travel insurance – I would not travel to Scotland without travel insurance; I personally use and recommend SafetyWing
- Mosquito repellent – In some areas of Peru you can catch dengue fever from an infected mosquito
- Sunscreen – Because of the high altitude in some parts of Peru, I highly recommend sunscreen even in the winter
Read more about why I recommend travel insurance…
TRAVELING TO PERU? GET YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE HERE!
Clothing/Shoes to Pack for Peru
When packing clothing and figuring out what to wear in Peru, the first step is knowing how long you’re going to be gone for so that you don’t over or under pack. This section includes clothing that I’d recommend for any female traveling to Peru. I’ve included an extra packing lists for those who plan to hike/trek in Peru too! (By the way, if you’re going on an extended trip – I recommend packing at least 12-pairs of underwear so that you’re not constantly doing laundry).
- Poncho
- Rain jacket
- Jeans
- Shorts
- Light coat
- Light shirt (short-sleeve)
- Light shirt (long-sleeve)
- Sunglasses
- Tennis shoes
- Sandals
- Poncho Sweater
- Denim jacket
What to Include if you’re Hiking/Trekking
Here’s what I recommend packing if you plan to trek or hike while you’re in Peru…
- Liquid IV to keep hydrated
- Reusable water bottle to keep water cold
- Hiking boots
- Biker shorts
- Sweat resistant top
- Light jacket
Accessories for Peru
When packing, I always try my hardest to pack light. What’s worked for me is to pack accessories to change up my outfits, versus packing too many clothes. With that being said, here are some accessories I recommend bringing to Peru!
Toiletries to Pack for Peru
When packing your toiletries, keep in mind whether you’re planning to check a bag or carry-on. Depending on which you’re doing, you might need to keep your liquids less than 3.4 fl oz. (By the way, I like these containers if you’re carry-on only!).
- Tampons/menstrual cup
- Toothbrush/toothpaste
- Protective toothbrush case
- Floss
- Skincare products
- Shampoo/conditioner
- Razor
Electronics to Pack for Peru
Electronics are certainly not a necessity to travel to Peru, but in this section I’ll share with you the electronics I took with me when I visited Peru. Of course, if you love capturing pictures and videos, you’ll more than likely be wanting to take a camera and maybe your computer to edit your photos; but if that isn’t your thing – you can skip over this section!
- Drone (you will need to pay a fee to bring your drone into Peru)
- Camera (I use this Canon camera)
- GoPro (for smooth videos and underwater captures)
- AirPods (for the airplane)
- Laptop
- iPad/Kindle (for books)
- Selfie light (to take photos/videos in dark places)
- Portable charger
Pro tip: If you’re traveling with a lot of electronics/chargers, I use this to keep everything organized.
Health Items to Pack for Peru
As a nurse, of course I can’t not include health items that I would recommend packing if you visit Peru. Below you’ll find a few health related items that I took with me and they all came in handy!
- Pill box (this is better for a shorter trip so you can count out your prescription/non-prescription pills and you don’t have to take a bulky bottle with you)
- First aid kit (there are scissors in this first aid kit so if you’re doing carry-on only, make sure to remove them before packing!)
- Bandaids (included in first aid kit linked above)
- Unisom (I always travel with Unisom to help me catch some Zzz’s on the airplane and to help with jet lag – I also use this mask to get some sleep on the plane)
- Advil (included in first aid kit linked above)
- LiquidIV (to help stay hydrated when trekking)
Packing Tips & Tricks
1. If you’re going to be gone a long time and staying in rental properties, make sure to pack miniature Tide PODS to wash your clothes (I purchase the whole box and then pack a few with me – in a bag – on each trip)
2. Travel with reusable plastic bags – it never fails that I always need a bag for something
3. For more space, roll your clothes instead of folding them
4. Weigh your bag before getting to the airport; and know your baggage limits for each airline you fly. In Asia, airlines can be strict about weight for carry-on bags and I’ve had to check several carry-on bags for not meeting the weight requirement. (You can purchase this luggage scale to easily weigh your bags!).
Peru Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Peru
TRAVELING THROUGH PERU
- The easiest way to book bus tickets in Peru is through Bookaway
- The easiest way to book train tickets in Peru is through 12Go
- To book a flight to Peru, I recommend using a big search engine to compare options
- If you’re from the US, sign up for Going to get cheap flight notifications to Peru
- For car rentals in Peru, I recommend Discover Cars
- If you want an English speaking driver waiting to pick you up at the airport, use Welcome Pickups
- I highly recommend travel insurance when traveling through Peru – I use and recommend SafetyWing (you can read more about travel insurance here)
- If you need a SIM card, aloSIM for an easy and affordable e-SIM – use code “KYLEE5” for 5% off
ACCOMODATION IN PERU
- To easiest way to book hotels in Peru is through a large booking platform
- The easiest way to book rentals in Peru is through VRBO
TOURS IN PERU
- For tours and activities in Peru, I recommend using Get Your Guide or Viator
WHAT TO BRING TO PERU
- Don’t forget a Peru guide book to help plan your travels
- I recommend bringing a reusable water bottle to cut down on plastic waste
- My favorite luggage is Calpak
- My favorite travel backpack is Nordace
- I recommend a sleep mask for long flights
I hope that you found this Peru packing list helpful! If you have any questions about packing or visiting Peru in general, let me know in the comments below!
For more information on things to see and do in Peru, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppinperu” or under my highlights for “Peru”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Peru” highlight
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Founded by Kylee, a NICU nurse with nine years of experience, including seven years as a travel nurse; Passports and Preemies was created in 2017 and is now the go-to travel and lifestyle channel for nurses who crave adventure beyond the bedside. Whether you’re a staff nurse looking for your next getaway or a travel nurse navigating life on the road, this space is designed to help you maximize your time off, explore the world, and prevent nurse burnout.
On Passports and Preemies, you’ll find everything from travel nursing insights – how to get started, land the best assignments, and thrive on the road – to expert travel tips, destination guides, and real-talk about balancing nursing with a life well-traveled. Passports and Preemies also includes Beyond the Bedside – group trips for nurses around the world; as well as the podcast, Passports and Preemies Talks.
