Packing lists

What to pack for Peru and Machu Picchu in June

June is the heart of the dry season in the Peruvian Andes, and the most popular time to visit Machu Picchu. Days are clear and sunny, and it is warm enough for a T-shirt at midday. But Cusco sits at 11,000 feet, and as soon as the sun goes down, the temperature falls to near freezing.

So the list is built for a 35-degree swing every day. Layer a base layer, a warm midlayer and a light shell, and peel them off as the sun climbs. Machu Picchu itself is lower, warmer and more humid, with biting insects. Leave room for an alpaca sweater, since you will almost certainly buy one.

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The weather

Daytime high
68°F
20°C in Cusco. Machu Picchu is warmer.
Overnight low
33°F
1°C in Cusco. Frost is common at night.
Wet days
~2
Dry season. Clear skies, with an occasional shower near Machu Picchu.
Altitude
11,150 ft
3,400 m in Cusco. Take the first day slowly.

The capsule

Ten days, one traveler, Woodland palette. Chocolate, olive and ivory layers for cold mornings, hot trails and freezing nights. A capsule is a few clothes in one palette (a base color, a neutral and an accent) that all go together. The full list below adds what sits outside it.

Woodland palette · 11 pieces · 27 outfits

Layers

  • Packable down jacketPackable down jacket
  • Fleece jacketFleece jacket
  • Light rain shellLight rain shell

Tops

  • Merino base layerMerino base layer
  • Long-sleeve teeLong-sleeve tee
  • Wool sweaterWool sweater

Bottoms

  • Hiking pantsHiking pants
  • Thermal leggingsThermal leggings
  • Dark jeansDark jeans

Shoes

  • Broken-in hiking bootsBroken-in hiking boots
  • Trail runnersTrail runners

Three days from this capsule

Sunrise at Machu Picchu
Sacred Valley ruins
Cusco plaza after dark

Shown for one traveler. Packlier packs a capsule like this for each person on the trip.

The full list

Clothes

  • Packable down jacket
  • Fleece or warm midlayer
  • Light rain shell
  • Two base layer tops
  • Thermal leggings for cold nights
  • Three or four T-shirts or long-sleeve tops
  • Hiking pants
  • Jeans or pants for Cusco evenings
  • Warm sleepwear; many guesthouses are unheated
  • Wool hiking socks

Shoes

  • Broken-in hiking boots or trail shoes
  • Comfortable shoes for the city
  • Sandals for the hot springs, if you are going

Sun, altitude and bugs

  • High-SPF sunscreen and SPF lip balm
  • Sun hat and warm beanie
  • Sunglasses
  • Insect repellent for Machu Picchu
  • Refillable water bottle and purification tablets
  • Altitude remedies from your doctor, if advised

Documents and tech

  • Passport; you need the original to enter Machu Picchu
  • Machu Picchu, train and trail tickets, booked well ahead
  • Travel insurance that covers high altitude
  • Cash in soles, in small notes
  • Universal plug adapter (220V)
  • Power bank

Health and toiletries

  • Stomach remedies
  • Tissues and hand sanitizer
  • Rich moisturizer for the dry air
  • Any prescriptions, in your carry-on

Accessories

  • Packable daypack

Gear worth the space

  • A packable down jacket

    Warm enough for a frosty Cusco evening and small enough to stuff in your daypack once the sun is up.

  • Broken-in hiking boots

    The trails around Machu Picchu are steep stone steps. Ankle support and a grippy sole make them much easier, but only if they are already worn in.

  • A water purifier bottle

    Tap water is not safe to drink. A filter bottle saves buying plastic bottles all trip.

  • A wide-brimmed sun hat

    The sun at altitude burns quickly, even on a cool day. A brim that covers your neck and ears is worth more than a cap.

A 35-degree swing every day, from Cusco noon to Cusco night. Packlier packs your layers for both ends of it.

Tell it where, when, why, which bag and which palette, and it packs the capsule, checks it against the bag and adds everything that is not clothing. Launching this year on Android, with iOS to follow.

One email at launch, nothing else.