Machu Picchu has a baggage rule that affects everything else: the backpack or bag you bring into the site cannot exceed 40 by 35 by 20 centimeters. Anything that does not fit within those dimensions has to be left at the storage area near the entrance or at your hotel in Aguas Calientes. That makes packing for the visit a real exercise in selection: only the essentials for your four hours inside the site should go with you.
Contents
Documents
Original physical passport Printed entry ticket or ticket on your phone with the screen clearly visible Aguas Calientes–Machu Picchu bus ticket if applicable
Important information: your personal details must match the information shown on your Machu Picchu entry ticket. If your document expired or was renewed after you purchased the ticket, bring both the old document and the current one so your identity can be verified at the entrance.
Clothing and footwear
- Broken-in trekking shoes or boots with non-slip soles
- Comfortable socks
- Comfortable clothing in light layers
- A proper rain jacket or quality poncho
- Hat or wide-brim hat
- Light gloves if traveling during the cold season
Hydration and food
- Water bottle filled in Aguas Calientes
- Small snacks without bulky packaging: nuts, energy bars
- No large solid foods, because they are not allowed inside the site
Sun protection and hygiene
- Sunscreen SPF 50 or higher
- Insect repellent, especially during the rainy season
- Lip balm with sun protection
- Wet wipes to freshen up during the visit
Health
- Pain reliever for altitude-related headaches.
- Altitude sickness medication, if recommended by your doctor.
- Oral rehydration salts.
- Coca candies or coca tablets.
- Band-Aids and medical tape.
Photography
- Camera or phone with a full battery
- Small power bank that fits inside the allowed backpack
- Sunglasses with UV protection
- No tripod, selfie stick, or stabilizer: they are prohibited inside the site
Money and extras
- Cash in Peruvian soles for luggage storage if you bring a large backpack
- Waterproof bag inside your backpack to protect your phone and documents
- Small bag to carry your trash back out, because there are no easily accessible trash cans inside
What is not allowed inside the site
- Backpacks larger than 40 × 35 × 20 cm.
- Tripods, selfie sticks, or stabilizers.
- Umbrellas. Large solid foods.
- Alcoholic beverages.
- Baby strollers.
- Shoes with heels or metal tips on the sole.
- Drones or any flying device.
One tip before leaving the hotel
Use the restroom at the hotel or at the bus stop before going up. There are no restrooms inside the site. The only available one is at the entrance before passing the checkpoint, and you cannot return to it once you are inside the circuit. It is the detail people forget most often, and the one that causes the most problems when they do.
Peru Sites gets you ready for your visit with everything coordinated
At Peru Sites, we guide our clients on what to pack before leaving Cusco so they arrive at the entrance without any problems. We coordinate the train, bus, entry ticket, and guide in one complete package.
