As I get ready to leave for Peru in a few days, I am inevitably making the important decisions about what to put in my suitcase. We are only going for one week, so I am trying not to over pack as I normally do 🙂

Here is a list of key items I believe will be necessary for our first trip to the South American continent which includes stops in Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, Peru:

1. Sunscreen– Although the temperature is not going to be very warm (high of 65 degrees in Cusco), the sun will be intense due to the high elevation of over 11,000 feet. I chose an SPF 55 due to my very pale complexion. I also have lip balm with SPF protection because I have made that mistake before.
2. Bug Spray– Luckily the mosquitoes are much worse in the Amazon rain forest, but I have still been warned that they could be pesky even where we will be. Note: I actually ordered bug spray from Amazon that is DEET free and contains the active ingredient picaridin.  I will let you know how it works, but it is supposed to be odorless, not greasy and as effective as DEET. I will still be wearing long sleeves though…
3. Rain jacket– the rainy season in Machu Picchu is from November through April, but I don’t want to get caught in a rainstorm on a day long tour.
4. Camera– duh, why would I go to one of the New Seven Wonders of the World without being able to take pictures.
5. Outlet adapter– this is different than a voltage converter. The voltage in Peru is 220 volts while the standard in the U.S. is 110-120 voltz. Be sure to check your electronics to make sure they can be used with 220 voltz or buy dual voltage appliances (as I did with my hair straightener). The outlet adapter I am bringing simply converts the plugs from U.S. style to European style plugs that they use in Peru. Big bonus, it includes USB outlets for iPhones and iPads.
6. Anti-diarrheal medication– not something anyone wants to talk about, but it is a definitely possibility that you will eat something in Peru that doesn’t agree with your digestive system. Better safe than sorry.
7. Hiking shoes– from what I have read, the hike to Machu Picchu is relatively short, but can be intense especially since we aren’t used to the altitude.
8. Sun protective clothing– you may have sensed a theme here. I am very pale, have experienced sunburn and want to do everything I can to avoid that pain. I have several long sleeved shirts with built in UPF 40 protection and my hiking pants also have this technology.
9. RFID blocking waist pack– If you read my post about my second trip to Europe, you will know that I have had my passport stolen. I am now much more aware of the real threat of being pick pocketed, so I now carry my valuables in a pouch under my clothes. Unfortunately new technology allows thefts to use an RFID reader to steal your credit card info without even stealing the actual card.
10. Cash– most restaurants and stores in Peru apparently take U.S. dollars and credit cards but I plan on exchanging money at a bank or hotel after we arrive in Peru.
11. Copies of our passports and credit cards– very important to have a back up in case something is stolen. I have learned this lesson the hard way.
12. Hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes– Just in case we don’t have clean water to wash our hands.

I will update this post after our trip with any items I wish I had or those I could have done without.

 

***Update***

My packing list turned out to be on point with only a few items I didn’t end up using.

• The sunscreen was crucial as the sun was every bit as intense as I predicted.
• We only used the bug spray at Machu Picchu and even then we didn’t really notice many bugs.
• Luckily we did not have to crack open the anti-diarrheal medication but we were very careful about the foods we chose to consume.
• All three hotels we stayed in had both 110 volt and 220 volt outlets but the outlet converter did come in handy to charge our iPhones.

Be on the lookout for an in-depth post about our trip 🙂