Inca Trail Packing List: 4 Day Hike to Machu Picchu

Packing for the Inca Trail can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re preparing for four days of hiking at high altitude with unpredictable weather. Knowing what to bring (and what to leave behind) makes a huge difference in how enjoyable the experience is.

After hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu myself, I learned very quickly that smart packing is just as important as physical preparation. From deciding whether to hire porters to figuring out which gear is actually worth carrying, this packing list covers everything I brought — plus a few things I wish I had done differently.

If you’re planning a four-day hike to Machu Picchu, this guide will help you pack confidently and avoid carrying anything you don’t truly need.

Porter vs. Carrying Your Own Gear

One of the most important decisions to make before you start packing is whether you plan to hire porters to carry your extra gear. I highly recommend doing this. The Inca Trail is challenging enough without the added strain of a heavy backpack.

I hired a porter to carry my larger bag, which held my sleeping clothes and extra layers. This allowed me to hike with just a small daypack containing water, snacks, and an extra sweatshirt. By day two, most people in our group who initially skipped porters changed their minds after struggling through the first day with heavy packs.

If you’re traveling elsewhere in Peru after the hike, most hotels and hostels in Cusco will store your luggage while you’re on the trail. This made things much easier for us. We packed one hiking bag specifically for the trek and left a suitcase with our travel clothes at the hotel, bringing only a daypack and our hiking bag on the trail.

Clothing to Pack for the Inca Trail

• 2 pairs of workout leggings (worn twice each)

• 2 sports bras

• 4 workout t-shirts (one per day)

• 5 pairs of hiking socks (one per day plus an extra warm pair for sleeping)

• 6 pairs of athletic underwear

• A raincoat (absolutely essential)

• A warm fleece pullover

• Warm sweatpants (for sleeping)

• A long-sleeve shirt (I slept in this every night)

• Baseball hat

• Warm beanie

• Warm gloves

• Flip-flops for camp

My daily hiking outfit consisted of leggings, a sports bra, a workout t-shirt, hiking socks, a fleece, and a rain shell. Mornings were always cold, but once we started hiking, I usually shed my fleece and stuffed it into my daypack.

The nights on the Inca Trail get very cold, and I was so thankful I packed thick hiking socks specifically for sleeping. I strongly recommend bringing clean clothes just for nighttime — the last thing you’ll want is to sleep in sweaty hiking gear.

My raincoat ended up being one of the most useful items I packed. It was lightweight enough to wear even in warmer weather and provided excellent bug protection thanks to the long sleeves. If I could redo my packing list, I would add two more pairs of leggings and a couple of extra sports bras. I worried too much about weight limits, but you can pay extra if your porter bag exceeds the limit.

Essential Hiking Gear for Machu Picchu

• Small daypack (used daily on the trail)

• 1-liter water bottle

• First-aid kit with extra bandages

• Rain poncho large enough to cover your backpack

• Hiking boots

• Sunscreen

• Bug spray (100% DEET highly recommended)

• Protein bars or snacks

I carried all of the above — along with any layers I removed throughout the day — in my daypack for easy access.

Although I brought protein bars, I barely used them. You’re provided three full meals each day plus snacks, so the bars were more useful later while traveling around Peru than during the hike itself.

In addition, there are a couple things I do not recommend packing:

• A bulky water bottle - I brought a two-liter water bottle, carrying that much water was unnecessary and awkward. There are plenty of refill stops along the trail, and a one-liter bottle is more than sufficient, even better would be a camel bak.

• Walking sticks - this is probably personal preference, but I did not like having something in my hands the whole time and prefer to hike freely. They ended up becoming another thing I had to juggle all day long.

Toiletries for the Inca Trail

• Body wipes

• Facial cleansing wipes

• Toothbrush

• Deodorant

• Hairbrush

• Dry shampoo

• Hair ties

I’ll be honest — the idea of going four days without showering was not appealing. While some campsites do offer showers, they aren’t particularly sanitary and hot water is limited. After long hiking days, it simply wasn’t worth the effort.

Instead, I used body wipes and face wipes at night and dry shampoo in the mornings. My hair was under a hat most of the time anyway. You’ll feel a little dirty no matter what — but everyone does, and it’s part of the experience.

Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu was an unforgettable experience, and packing thoughtfully made a huge difference in how much I enjoyed it.

For a detailed day-by-day recap of the hike itself, check out my post Hiking Machu Picchu: 4 Days on the Inca Trail.