Considering A Journey To Peru? Here’s What To Pack

By Nicolai Ryan Klausen

September 9th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

Visitors are drawn to Peru because it offers the perfect base for an epic adventure that blends history, adrenaline, and breathtaking scenery. The main attraction is Machu Picchu, the site of the ancient Inca ruins perched high in the Andes mountains. Long regarded as the cultural stop in South America, Machu Picchu’s popularity is overwhelming, so limits have been set on the number of visitors who can explore the ruins to preserve the UNESCO World Heritage site. The most favorable time to experience Peru is between April and December, with the highest visitor numbers seen from May to August, when temperatures typically go beyond 30°C.

Peru offers excellent value for money compared to many international destinations, which means it’s accessible for budget-conscious travelers while still providing meaningful experiences.

No matter where you go, Peruvian cuisine is on the map. Many dishes contain meat and potatoes, but Peruvians don’t consider a meal complete without plenty of rice because it balances the strong spices. Lima boasts an incredible restaurant scene that introduces you to classics such as adobo, anticuchos, or pachamanca. English isn’t widely spoken outside tourist areas, but the Peruvian Spanish accent isn’t hard for Spanish language beginners to understand. Peru offers excellent value for money compared to many international destinations, which means it’s accessible for budget-conscious travelers while still providing meaningful experiences.

Packing for the Andean mosaic isn’t just about tossing a couple of shirts and socks into a bag. You must prepare for icy mountain mornings, tropical downpours, and everything in between, for a smooth, enjoyable, and safe experience. Preparing for a trip to Peru is about understanding the unique challenges and opportunities this incredible country presents. Please continue reading to discover how to build the perfect travel kit.

A SIM Card

You should pack a SIM card, either your home SIM or a local/international SIM card, to have data access as soon as you land in Peru, which allows you to use navigation, book transport, and stay connected without using Wi-Fi. You can make calls or send messages in emergency situations, contact your accommodation if plans change, or reach out to your friends and family to provide peace of mind. You won’t have Wi-Fi when you’re out exploring, navigating or in transit. If your phone supports dual SIM, you can use both a physical SIM and an eSIM for larger data allowances.

The ancient Inca ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru.

By equipping your device with the best eSIM for Peru prior to departure, you can traverse ancient ruins, navigate winding Andean roads, and livestream vibrant local festivals without resorting to a physical SIM swap. The carrier securely transfers the profile to the eSIM on the device, and this profile contains all the information needed for the phone to connect to the carrier’s network, including authentication and access credentials. eSIM technology improves connectivity by allowing you to switch between network providers, ensuring optimal service based on location, price, or network quality.

Sunscreen

If you’re visiting Peru in the summer, you can expect hot, dry heat, with temperatures ranging between 25°C-35°C or even higher. Peru is situated in the Southern Hemisphere, where extreme heat waves can occur since the Earth is closer to the sun, and this translates into high levels of UV radiation. It’s easy to get sunburns. The most important thing to pack, and the one that should never be forgotten, is sunscreen, which protects your skin from the sun’s damaging rays. It’s recommended to use a sunscreen with at least SPF 30, especially if you’re spending time outdoors, to prevent sunburn, premature aging, and the risk of developing skin cancer.

A Portable Charger

The brand of phone charger is something you can decide on – having charger with you is important – don’t leave home without one.

An eSIM offers much cheaper data rates than international roaming charges from your home carrier, and the plan activates within minutes of purchase, giving you immediate connectivity upon arrival. Many providers offer unlimited data in Peru, but the data allowance depends on the specific plan you purchase from a mobile carrier or eSIM provider. That being said, a portable charge is highly recommended, and often essential, when traveling because it ensures your phone stays powered in situations where access to traditional outlets is limited or unavoidable. Your device is your camera, memory keeper, and social media hub, and running out of battery means running out of special moments.

A Spanish Phrasebook

English isn’t an official language in Peru, but estimates suggest that around 11% of the population can communicate in English to some degree, especially in urban and tourist-focused areas. Peruvians overwhelmingly speak Spanish, plus one or more indigenous languages (e.g., Quechua), and learning even just a few phrases makes navigating daily life easier and enhances your travel experience. A compact Spanish phrasebook allows you to bridge the local culture, so ask questions, listen attentively, and be respectful of local customs and etiquette. Having essential phrases at your fingertips is useful when asking for directions, ordering food and drinks, booking transportation, and shopping/bargaining.

If you need more versatile and comprehensive translation capabilities, consider using a translation app, which can be a dictionary app with a built-in automatic translator or something more sophisticated like an AI-powered chatbot. If you’re visiting Quechua- or Aymara-speaking regions, see if the app offers those packs, or if it mostly covers major languages. You can point your phone at menus, signs, and maps for instant text overlaps, or tap the microphone for both you and the local speaker. Some translation apps, such as Microsoft Translator and iTranslate, have pre-translated common expressions, meaning you can access common sentences without typing.

Bug Spray

Peru is rich with biodiversity, including insects, especially in jungle regions like the Amazon, which is home to beetles, moths, dragonflies, bees, grasshoppers, and more. Even if you encounter some bugs in Lima, the greatest diversity of insects is found in the jungle, so you should be prepared for biting insects by packing bug spray. Mosquitos, sandflies, ticks, and triatomine bugs are vectors for diseases like Zika virus, dengue fever, and others. Bug repellents are designed with a simple pump that is easy to use, but it’s necessary to rub it in; otherwise, the repellent stays in isolated areas.

Wrapping It Up

Having a packing list helps ensure a smoother, more organized, and stress-free trip to Peru. Being well-prepared helps you be more in control and confident, which can improve your overall travel experience.