One thing people rarely realise before planning a trip to Peru is just how diverse the country is. You can visit a tropical jungle, desert, mountain, city, beach (sort of), the ocean, islands, lakes, nature reserves, and more all in one trip. There is so much to do and see it's really, really tough to pack everything in. Both in terms of timing and luggage! You would probably need your big suitcase for this*, but there are things you can do to optimise the space. Here are some of our recommendations on packing efficiently, so you can enjoy the most of this wonderful country without lugging half your wardrobe with you.
* We normally fit all of our luggage for 2-3 weeks' holiday in 1 carry-on sized suitcase each. For Peru we had to bring a mid-sized suitcase and a big tourist backpack.
Things you must pack
Mountain clothes: the best approach here are layers
If you are already geared up for hiking you probably don't need any tips, but in case you aren't (like us) here is a suggestion on what to bring: Pack a couple of polar tops and some of those travel trousers with the zip legs. They're as useful as they are ugly - lightweight but warm and you can take them off/unzip them as you go along. They also allow you to wear leggings or a thin top underneath so they fit well into the layered approach.
You would need a warm jacket if you're going on Salkantay or Rainbow Mountain (check the altitude of the hike you're planning to do) but it's only useful for one day, so a light ski jacket or even a wind breaker with a few layers underneath can do. You are on the move most of the time so that keeps you warm as well. Whatever you bring, make sure it's water and wind resistant. This is what we had on:
When you go into the jungle the climate gets pretty warm - think t-shirt and shorts weather.
You can see some of things we wore during our trip in the photos at the end.
Hiking shoes
Unfortunately, you do need these. We didn't have them and it was a struggle to walk properly, so as much as they are a waste of space, it's best to pack them.
Special note on hiking: you won't be allowed to carry your suitcase on the hike to Machu Picchu!
The trail organisers usually provide you with a bag to put the things you'll need for the hike, which then travels on a mule and you only have access to it in your camp. Plan what you'll bring beforehand so you don't have to do emergency re-packing the night before your hike. And bring a backpack in which you can carry some things during your hike, like your repellent, water and some of the layers of clothing you'll take off as you walk.
Spring/summer clothes
The majority of places are warm (not hot, except for the Amazon jungle), so you will need light clothes. Your windbreaker is more than enough to get you through your city trips and most nature trips.
Shoes: wear comfortable shoes at all times
Peru is a very chill place so you're fine with your flats or sneakers, depending on your style. The streets in Cusco are also cobbled in many places, so make sure you have a good base.
Insect repellent: you need the heavy duty stuff
There are mosquitos in the jungle areas as you might expect. But the real pest here are some fancy invisible bugs in the Machu Picchu site. They normally live on the ground and jump the unsuspecting tourists' calves. It's best to wear long trousers here even if it's warm and you really can't overdo the repellent.
We had bought a 50% DEET spray (the strongest one we could find in London at the time) which seemed to work for us - we only had 2-3 bites between the two of us. If there is something stronger where you live, get it. The regular ones they sell in Bulgaria for example (only 25% DEET) probably won't be enough.
Sun blocker
Bring some of your own sun cream for the trip but this is one thing that's probably best bought on the ground. There were 80 and 100 SPF creams in Cusco which is not something we thought even existed, and for the altitudes you're going to your skin will need all the protection it can get.
Sunglasses
You will need these for the strong mountain sun, the desert jeep trip (so you don't get sand in your eyes, it wasn't pleasant) and the speedboat to the Ballestas Islands. So pretty much everywhere except Lima where it's mostly cloudy and foggy (think SF weather).
Raincoat
This is critical for your hike - it's often quite drizzly so an umbrella is useless plus you want your hands free to hold on to your trekking poles.
Bathroom essentials
Bring a towel - we recommend one of those microfiber quick dry towels, flip flops, and some toiletries in a bag that's convenient to hang on a hook . The camps offer (sometimes) hot water showers but there isn't anything in the way of toiletries there and they are usually in an outdoor area - think going outside immediately as you leave the shower.
Leave these at home
Beachwear
Even though Peru is on the Pacific Ocean it really isn't a beach destination. The water is quite rough, cold and uninviting. The water activities you could do are surfing and swimming with sea lions, however both require a wetsuit because of the cold water. If you do decide to go for those obviously bring a swimsuit :)
Smart clothes (maybe)
If you want to go to a fancy restaurant in Lima you might want to dress up. Otherwise you can skip this - again, the place is super chill so you wouldn't need them.
Trekking gear
You can hire everything from your hiking company, so even if you are well equipped with your own trekking poles for example you can safely give this one a miss. Ropes and other securing equipment isn't needed, so leave that behind as well.
Stomach pills
The food in Peru has excellent quality so you're unlikely to have trouble processing it. Bring some medicine just in case, but you'll be happily taking these back home :)
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Here is what we were wearing:
