Machu Picchu Packing List: What to Bring
Everything you need for your Machu Picchu day - the essentials, the nice-to-haves, and the items that will get you turned away at the gate.
Quick Answer
Essentials: passport (required for entry), printed/digital ticket, rain jacket (any season), sunscreen, water bottle, comfortable walking shoes with grip, layers for temperature changes. Do NOT bring: large bags (max 40x35x20cm), food, drones, tripods, selfie sticks, umbrellas. Eat before entering - no food inside. Bag storage available in Aguas Calientes.
Essential Items
These items are non-negotiable. Without the first two, you won't get in. Without the rest, you'll have a miserable time.
Passport
Physical passport required for entry. Must match ticket. No exceptions. Not a photocopy - the real thing.
Ticket (printed or digital)
Your Machu Picchu entry ticket. Have it accessible - screenshot or printout. Phone signal is unreliable here.
Rain Jacket
Waterproof, not just water-resistant. Rain possible any month. Umbrellas are prohibited inside.
Sunscreen (SPF 50+)
UV is intense at 2,430m altitude. Apply before entering - aerosol sprays are prohibited inside.
Water Bottle
Reusable bottle, filled. No water sources inside. You'll be walking 1.5-2.5 hours. Stay hydrated.
Walking Shoes
Comfortable shoes with good grip. Stone paths get slippery. No sandals, flip-flops, or smooth soles.
Don't Forget Your Passport
This is the number one item people forget or leave at their hotel. No passport = no entry. Put it in your bag the night before. If you're worried about losing it, use a zippered pocket or passport holder that attaches to your body.
Clothing & Layers
Machu Picchu's weather changes throughout the day. Early morning (6am) is cool, midday is warm in the sun, and rain can arrive anytime. The key is layers you can add or remove.
Avoid cotton - it absorbs sweat and rain, stays wet, and makes you cold. Quick-dry synthetic or merino wool fabrics are ideal.
Recommended Clothing
- Base layer: Moisture-wicking t-shirt or long-sleeve (synthetic or merino wool)
- Mid layer: Light fleece or sweater for early morning cold. Remove once sun is up.
- Outer layer: Waterproof rain jacket (your most important layer)
- Pants: Comfortable hiking pants or quick-dry trousers. Not jeans (heavy when wet).
- Hat: Sun hat or cap for midday sun. Warm beanie for early morning in dry season.
- Socks: Moisture-wicking hiking socks. Avoid cotton socks.
- Shoes: Trail shoes or hiking shoes with rubber soles and good tread. Broken in, not new.
Temperature Range in One Visit
At 6am entry: 8-12°C (46-54°F) - you'll want your fleece. By 10am in sun: 20-22°C (68-72°F) - t-shirt weather. If rain arrives: feels like 14-16°C (57-61°F) with wind chill. Layers let you adapt to all three conditions in one visit.
Optional but Useful
These items aren't essential but can improve your experience:
- Binoculars: Great for spotting details on distant structures and watching birds in the cloud forest
- Camera with strap: Phone cameras work fine, but a dedicated camera captures the scale better. Use a neck or wrist strap - no tripods allowed.
- Trekking poles: Useful if you have knee issues or are hiking the mountains. Must have rubber tips.
- Microfiber cloth: For cleaning foggy camera lenses and wiping sweat/rain from glasses
- Small first aid: Band-aids, blister pads, pain reliever. Basic items only.
- Lip balm with SPF: Altitude and sun dry out lips quickly
- Sunglasses: UV protection important at altitude. Strap recommended so they don't fall.
- Cash (small bills): For tips, bathroom at entrance (small fee), or last-minute purchases
- Insect repellent: Apply before entering (especially wet season). No aerosol cans inside.
- Portable phone charger: If using phone for photos/GPS all day, battery may not last
What NOT to Bring
These items are either prohibited (will be confiscated or denied entry) or impractical. Leave them at your hotel.
Prohibited (Will Be Denied Entry)
- Drones (confiscated + fine)
- Tripods, monopods, gimbals
- Selfie sticks
- Food of any kind
- Large backpacks (over 40x35x20cm)
- Umbrellas
- Aerosol cans (including spray sunscreen)
- Musical instruments
- Walking sticks without rubber tips
Impractical (Leave at Hotel)
- Laptop or tablet
- Valuables you'd worry about
- Heavy guidebooks
- Extra shoes or clothing changes
- Large water containers (1 liter is enough)
- Towels
- Anything you'd be devastated to lose
About Food
Eat a substantial breakfast before entering. You'll be inside for 1.5-2.5 hours (longer if hiking a mountain) with no food allowed. If you need snacks, eat them outside the gate before entering. There's a small cafe near the entrance for before/after your visit. Restaurants in Aguas Calientes open early for this reason.
Wet Season Additions (November-April)
If visiting during the wet season, add these items to your packing list:
- Rain poncho (backup): In addition to your rain jacket. Heavy downpours can overwhelm a jacket alone.
- Waterproof bag cover: Or a dry bag inside your pack to protect electronics and passport
- Extra pair of socks: Wet feet are miserable. Quick-dry socks as backup.
- Waterproof phone case: Protects your phone for photos in the rain
- Shoes with aggressive tread: Stone paths become very slippery when wet. Good grip is essential, not optional.
- Insect repellent: More bugs in wet season. Apply before entering (no aerosols inside).
- Quick-dry everything: Avoid cotton entirely. Synthetic fabrics dry fast if you get caught in rain.
If Hiking Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain
If you have a ticket for one of the mountain hikes, add these items:
- Extra water: Bring at least 1 liter (more for Machu Picchu Mountain's longer hike). No refill options.
- Shoes with ankle support: More important for the mountains than the main ruins. Proper hiking shoes recommended.
- Trekking poles (rubber tips): Helpful for the descent, especially on Machu Picchu Mountain's long downhill.
- Gloves (Huayna Picchu): Light gloves help grip the cables and rough rock on steep sections.
- Headlamp: If you have the earliest time slot and start before full daylight.
- Energy snack: Eat before entering the ruins, but have something for after the hike when you exit.
- Both hands free: Use a small backpack, not a shoulder bag. You need both hands for climbing sections.
Bag Storage Options
If you have bags that exceed the size limit or items you can't bring inside, here's where to store them:
- Your hotel in Aguas Calientes: The easiest option. All hotels will store bags for guests, even after checkout. Free.
- Entrance gate storage: Lockers and storage available near the Machu Picchu entrance. Small fee (5-10 soles). Limited space during peak hours.
- Aguas Calientes storage services: Several businesses in town offer bag storage for a small fee if you're not staying overnight.
- Tip: Pack a small, collapsible daypack inside your larger bag. Use the daypack for Machu Picchu and store the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need my passport for Machu Picchu?
Yes, absolutely. Your passport is required for entry and is checked at the gate. It must match the passport number on your ticket. No passport means no entry - there are no exceptions. Carry your physical passport, not a photocopy.
What size bag can I bring to Machu Picchu?
Maximum bag size is 40x35x20cm (approximately 16x14x8 inches). This is a small daypack. Large backpacks and hiking packs are not allowed. If your bag is too big, you must store it before entering. Pack light - you only need essentials for 2-4 hours.
Can I bring snacks into Machu Picchu?
No. Food is not allowed inside Machu Picchu. Eat a good breakfast before entering. You can bring a water bottle (reusable preferred). If you need snacks, eat them before passing through the entrance gate. There is a small cafe near the entrance for before/after your visit.
Do I need hiking boots for Machu Picchu?
Full hiking boots are not necessary for the main ruins circuit. Comfortable walking shoes or trail shoes with good grip are sufficient. However, if you are also hiking Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, shoes with ankle support and excellent tread are recommended. Avoid sandals, flip-flops, or smooth-soled shoes.
Should I bring a rain jacket even in dry season?
Yes, always. Machu Picchu is in a cloud forest where rain can occur any month. Even in the driest months (June-August), brief showers are possible. A lightweight, packable rain jacket takes up minimal space and can save your day. Umbrellas are prohibited inside the site.
Can I bring trekking poles to Machu Picchu?
Yes, but they must have rubber tips. Metal tips are not allowed as they damage the ancient stone paths. You can buy rubber tips in Aguas Calientes for a few soles. Poles without rubber tips will be denied entry. Trekking poles are most useful if you are hiking Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain.
Is there bag storage at Machu Picchu?
Yes. There is bag storage available near the entrance gate and in Aguas Calientes. Your hotel in Aguas Calientes will also store bags for free. If you are arriving with a large hiking pack from the Inca Trail or Salkantay Trek, store it at your hotel and bring only a small daypack to the ruins.
Do I need insect repellent at Machu Picchu?
It depends on the season. In the wet season (November-April), mosquitoes and other insects are more active due to higher humidity. In the dry season, insects are less of an issue. If visiting in wet season, bring repellent. Apply it before entering since aerosol sprays are prohibited inside.
Related Articles
Machu Picchu Guide
Complete guide to visiting Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu Rules
Current rules and what's prohibited.
Machu Picchu Weather
Month-by-month weather and climate guide.
Aguas Calientes Guide
Guide to the gateway town below Machu Picchu.
Inca Trail Guide
Complete guide to hiking the Inca Trail.
Salkantay Trek
Alternative trek to Machu Picchu.