4 Day Inca Trail Packing List
For the 4-day Inca Trail hike, pack layers for changing weather, including a rain jacket, a fleece or warm jacket, and breathable hiking clothes for the day. Essential gear includes sturdy, broken-in hiking boots, a supportive daypack, sunscreen, bug spray, and a head torch. You'll also need toiletries, a small first-aid kit, cash for tips and bathrooms, and your passport. The weather can be unpredictable. I hiked the Inca Trail in October, which is generally supposed to be dry and we had rain, sleet, and snow. Plan accordingly because being wet and cold makes for a pretty miserable experience. Layering is key!
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Clothing
☐ 2-3 pairs of hiking pants. Here are the ones I opted to use - Eddie Bauer Guide Pro Pants, Athleta Fleece Lined Altitude Pants, and Athleta Rainier Legging. They were the perfect balance of lightweight and cold weather pants for all weather conditions. Other great options include Kuhl's Flex-Free Roll-Up pants, Outdoor Research's Ferrosi Convertible pants, and Arc'teryx's Gamma Hybrid pant.
☐ 2 pairs of base layers. Use one set to double as pajamas. For a budget friendly option, these are a solid choice. However, if you hike a lot, consider investing in this Smartwool top & bottom set.
☐ 2-3 moisture wicking short sleeve t-shirts. Budget option here or splurge here.
☐ 2 tank tops (yes, it gets hot enough). Budget option here or splurge here.
☐ 1 packable down jacket. It gets cold at night, even in the summer months. Don't skip on a jacket. Outdoor Ventures has an affordable packable hooded jacket or you can opt for a higher quality packable with LL Bean's PrimaLoft Packaway Hooded Jacket. The LL Bean jacket stows in a pocket and weighs less than 1 lb. My personal favorite though is Athleta's Inlet Apex Jacket. It is a bit more fitted and has a cozy brushed lining.
☐ 4-6 pairs of underwear - moisture wicking helps. Bikinis or thongs - pick your preference.
☐ 4-6 pairs of socks. Be wise here. Invest in good socks. Your feet will thank you. I used Darn Tough Vermont Midweight Hiking Socks and Smartwool’s Hiking Crew Socks.
☐ 2 bras. I used two sports bras for the entire 4 days. My go to sports bras are Lululemon and Athleta. But this is an area where you should go with what works.
☐ 1 fleece. Budget option here or splurge with Marmot’s Rocklin Fleece.
☐ 1 sweater. You’ll want something for when the sun goes down and you are at your campsite. Merino or cashmere is best. My go-to is J.Crew’s Cashmere Crewneck but you can find a budget friendly option here.
☐ 1 rain jacket. I used this Mammut jacket but here is a great budget alternative and it comes with a packing tube.
☐ 1 rain pants. I used these Marmot rain pants, but you can also find cheaper, decent rain pants here and they come with a packable sleeve.
☐ 1 rain poncho. I used this Frogg Toggs Ultra Lite Waterproof Poncho. It’s super light and comes with its own packing sleeve for easy storage.
☐ 1 waterproof gloves. Don't skip these. If it rains and the temperature drops, your hands will get cold and putting them in your pockets is not an option on the Inca Trail. This pair is fleece lined and waterproof and won't break the bank.
☐ 1 sun hat. You have options here based on your preferences. I opted for this Cotopaxi sun hat and gifted it to my guide at the end of our hike because he was interested in the brand. Lots of hikers also wore this type of sun hat, which is solid choice as well.
☐ 1 wool hat. Don't overthink this one. Just opt for a merino wool hat like this one or this one.
☐ 1 microfiber quick dry towel. I used this one, which came with it’s own packing sack. Since it rained during our hike, this was definitely great to have on hand.
Shoes
☐ 1 hiking shoes or boots. There are lots of options here, but the key is to have a pair that you've broken in BEFORE the trip. If you have weak ankles, I suggest going with boots. La Sportiva and Hoka make an excellent waterproof boot perfect for the Inca Trail. The Hoka boot is made to support the Achilles. For those that prefer low or midi, I loved wearing On's Cloudhorizon Waterproof shoe. It was super grippy on the Inca Trail, even in the rain. Another fantastic low hiking shoe is Hoka's Speedgoat 6 GTX, offering a Gore-Tex waterproof membrane and a Vibram megagrip sole.
☐ 1 slide or camp shoe for campsite. This is a must. You can opt for a budget friendly slide like this one, or you can splurge on Hoka' ORA Recovery slide or North Face’s Themoball Mule – they weigh in at less than 8 oz! I'd opt for slides versus flip flops because, depending on the weather, you may want to wear socks with them.
Gear and Equipment
☐ 1 backpack - you'll have lots of options here. Go with what works best for you and you’ll need one based on what you booked with your tour company. If you paid extra for a porter to carry some of your belongings, then a small daypack, like this Eddie Bauer Highpoint 30L pack. However, there are some additional options that can be considered that may provide a little more versatility on the trail. The MountainTop 35L Hiking Backpack is a great, budget-friendly option. It includes a rain cover, water bottle holder, and plenty of storage. Another good option is Helly Hansen's Transistor Backpack, 30L, which includes trekking pole attachments and has room for lots of clothing. My favorite is the Cotopaxi's Allpa Backpack. It checks all my boxes - water bottle holder, exterior loops for gear, interior pockets, and a front zip exterior pocket.
☐ 1 pair hiking poles - You can rent them from your outfitter, but they vary greatly in quality. For a budget friendly and suitcase compatible pair, try Cascade Mountain's Lightweight poles. If you want high-quality and lightweight, then splurge on Black Diamond's Carbon poles.
☐ 1 sleeping bag. A lightweight, mummy-style, zero degree sleeping bag is a must. For a budget-friendly option with its own packing sleeve, try Teton Sports 0 Degree Bag. A mid-range option is Therm-a-Rest’s Questar 32F/0C Lightweight Down Mummy Sleeping Bag, and it includes a storage and compression sack. If you want to splurge, try Marmot’s Mad River Down 15° Sleeping Bag. It weighs less than 3 lbs and also comes with its own compression sack.
☐ 1 pillow. I was so happy I brought a camping pillow. I love Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Pillow – it has memory foam and packs small in its own little sleeve. Bonus: you can use it for airplane travel too!
☐ 1 pair of rain gaiters. Rain gaiters - don't skip these. If it rains, you will be thankful.
☐ 1 neck gaiter. Trust me on this. It gets cold on the trail and at the campsite and you will be thankful you have one. I used this one and it was perfect.
☐ 1 headlamp. An absolute must for getting around the campsite at night and on day 4 of the hike. Lumen’s Ultra-Light Bright LED Rechargeable Headlight is a perfect option. It is waterproof, lasts 4-10 hours, and you can recharge it on the hike, if you need it.
Toiletries
☐ sunscreen. For my face, I like La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast Balm B5 UV SPF 50 because it acts both as a moisturizer and sunscreen and it keeps my face from drying out. For my arms and body, I love Supergoop’s PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50. It’s not greasy and super sweat resistant.
☐ bug spray. There are spots on the Inca Trail that get buggy. Be prepared. I use Badger Bug Spray – it’s deet-free, vegan, and effective for at least 3 hours. Added bonus, no chemical smells.
☐ travel soap. Your outfitters should provide warm water each day to cleanse yourself. Throw a hotel soap in your bag for this.
☐ toothpaste/toothbrush/deodorant. Use what works best for you.
☐ feminine hygiene products. Be prepared for that time of the month.
☐ hairbrush/comb/hairbands. Don’t forget to bring hair accessories. In addition to a brush, I brought hairbands and headbands for sweat. I used lululemon’s Luxtreme Training Headbands and their Skinny Adjustable Headbands. I also brought Kitsch No Damage Hair Ties to tie my hair back.
☐ hand sanitizer. You may not have access to a warm shower and you will not have running water for 4 days so get some travel Purell hand sanitizer and throw a couple in your day pack.
☐ wet wipes and toilet paper. I’ll just leave it at this, the toilet situation on the Inca Trail is rustic. It is best to be prepared with your own wipes and toilet paper.
☐ first aid kit. Think blisters, scrapes, and other minor incidents. This Welly First Aid Kit includes everything you need and weighs a mere 7 ounces.
☐ lip balm. My go-to on the trail is Carmex Weatherguard, but lip balm is a personal choice so you do you.
☐ personal prescriptions and OTC meds. Don’t forget your prescriptions and bring along some ibuprofen if you are prone to muscle soreness.
☐ ear plugs. It can be noisy at night at the campsites – dogs, other people, and school groups (yes, Peruvian teens do the Inca Trail with their schools) can make it difficult to sleep. Pack some of these earplugs for a restful night.
Miscellaneous
☐ passport. You must have your passport on the Inca Trail. There are several checkpoints where you may be asked to present it.
☐ water bottle. Choose what works for you. My go-to is CamelBak’s 24 oz. Squeezable Water Bottle. Want something a little more substantial, opt for Hydro Flask’s 32 oz Wide Mouth Travel Bottle with Flex Straw Cap. Just remember, you have to carry your water so choose wisely but make sure you have a bottle big enough for your water needs. If you opt for a backpack that has a water bladder, you can use it in lieu of a water bottle.
☐ battery charger. There are no charging outlets on the Inca Trail. I went with the BioLite Multiple Device Portable Power Bank, USB-C in/Out and USB-A Out. It charged by iPhone and Apple Watch the entire trip and still had life left in it. It is worth every penny.
☐ phone and other cords. Don’t forget to bring your phone if you will be using it for photos and the appropriate cords to charge your phone, watch, and any other devices you might be using with the battery charger.
☐ snacks. I brought snacks with me and shared with our group because we burned a lot of calories out on the trail. My favorite snack for a quick burst of energy are Honey Stinger’s Organic Stroopwafels. They are lightweight and taste delicious. I use them for marathon training as well. I also brought Chocolate SeaSalt RX Bars.
☐ electrolyte packets. I brought DripDrop’s Hydration Packets, which includes 16 individually wrapped packets. I’m also partial to Liquid IV’s Hydration Multiplier packets. Both are perfect to add to your water bottle.
☐ cash. There is no ATM at Machu Picchu – come prepared with soles for any tips to give to your porters, chefs, and guide. You should also bring extra cash for purchasing water and other items on the first day of your hike. There are various small markets along the hike on day one.
☐ plastic or mesh bags. Bring some bags if you want to keep your clean items separate from dirty items. I like pack all’s Water-resistant Material Zipper Pouches. I use them for clothing, toiletries such as toothbrush and toothpaste, and cords and battery packs. They come in various colors so you can buy different colors to keep things organized.
☐ glasses and sunglasses. Don’t forget your prescription glasses. If you are looking for a decent pair of sunglasses for the trail, look no further than goodr’s Polarized Sunglasses. They are non-slip and offer UV protection.
☐ binoculars. Totally optional but there were moments I wished I had mine with me, particularly to view some of the birds along the trail. Occer’s 12x25 Compact Binoculars are a great, small pair for hiking.
☐ journal. If you like to memorialize your trips, a travel journal is great way to do so.
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