We all have our opinions on the best, lightest, most intelligent packing principles. I’m someone who will sacrifice extra weight for more layers and older equipment that I love and/or don’t want to replace. That said, I felt really good about my packing job for my recent Machu Picchu and Cusco adventure and thus, feel it only right to share this experience and additional suggestions with other trekkers ready to take this trip.
1. You don’t need snacks. If you are paying for porters and a guide service and it comes with food, be prepared to be stuffed. Without fail, at each meal on the trail our cook provided more than enough food and good variety. Talk about spoiled. You show up carrying your 25 or so pounds and the porters (who carried double that load up the same mountain) are already set up – a dining tent, tea, snacks and sleeping pads laid out on a tarp for your ultimate convenience. Soups, meats, rice, potatoes, creative desserts and endless tea and hot chocolate options – YUM. Don’t waste the space on your own food unless you are pickier than most.
2. Don’t carry too much water. At each meal our porters refilled our bottles. That means the max distance between refills was 4 miles. I carried an extra water bottle that I did not need. Plan accordingly. You can also save space with a collapsable water bottle.
3. A pack that fits you. I love my Deuter ACT Lite 45 + 10 SL pack. The lower compartment was perfect for my sleeping bag and liner, side straps adjusted nicely to carry my poles when not in use (which was not often). The outside stretch pocket was perfect for sandals that saw the horrors of the bathrooms on the trail and should not have shared space with anything else. The ACT Lite 45 was the perfect size for what I was carrying on this trip. The adjustability and fit contoured to women specifically was spot on. Much more comfortable–no rubbing or back pain like other packs I’ve carried on multi-day trips.
4. Trekking Poles. You truly do want these on this trail. Even if you don’t have a busted knee like I do, the up and down on oversized stone steps takes a toll. My Leki Cressida Antishock poles were up to the challenge. These poles pack up nice and small but can extend and be set exactly how you need them for up, flat or downhill. They even come with shock absorbing technology to lessen the impact on your hands and arms planting poles all day. Quick tip: Don’t forget your rubber tips—you cannot use polls without them on the Inca Trail.
5. Rain Gear. Machu Picchu is technically in the Amazon rain forest. The weather can be unpredictable and rain can come with little warning. We lucked out big time with rain only while we slept during our four day stint, but I came prepared with my favorite ultra-light rain jacket, Montbell’s Storm Cruiser Jacket. It’s super light, has a hood that fits a real person’s head and women’s hair, cinches at the bottom, and comes in cute colors–what more can a girl ask for?
6. Long Sleeves. Sun and bugs makes light long sleeves ideal for this trip. Believe me, you want to cover as much of your skin as possible. For the first and second day of the trip, small gnat-like bugs attacked the legs and arms of our fellow trekkers leaving small, itchy red welts all over their legs and arms. I wish I had taken a photo, it gives me the same shudder when I think about it as the idea of bed bugs. Pants are your friend. Light wool layers are your friend, also. Enter Smartwool’s NTS Micro 150 Hoody. It dries quickly, somehow absorbs your horrendous body odors even after three days straight, fits well and has a soft feel. The hood covered my neck and ears one morning when the bugs were particularly swarmy. Also in the layer department, my RAB Shadow Hoody was the right jacket for this trek. The full zip is a convenient feature for hiking when you’re between warm and cold and the Wind Pro technology was effective for the high mountain passes.
7. Sunscreen. You are at altitude and in direct sunlight for much of the excursion. Be smart and protect your skin. Remember #6 – long sleeves layers.
8. Good. Solid. Boots. I could not have been happier with my new Vasque Talus Trek Ultradry boots which provide needed ankle support and perfect comfort for all day hiking with weight. The traction was excellent for one damp morning we had on the trail – rocks + wet = treacherous. Thank you boots!
9. Duffel. Yes, you will pack more if you fly with a checked duffel rather than a carry-on pack or checking just your pack. It was such a relief to have that added space to not wear my boots on the plane ride, stow some additional lifestyle clothing for the touristy first part of our trip, and have added room for the gifts I brought home.
10. Earplugs. Even the nicest companions in your group can snore or sleep talk. Keep in mind tents are not meant to be noise canceling and the camping spots are not vast in nature. You will be RIGHT next to your trekking partners and you will hear every word, fart or snort. Do yourself a favor and bring some earplugs to make the task of falling asleep easier.
11. Stuff Sacks. An organized pack is the best kind. I found it extremely useful to have my electronics and must have items in a small, waterproof sack that was easily accessible at the top of my bag. Camera batteries, Goal Zero Flip 10 Recharger, earplugs, cell phone and meds were always handy. Using four different colors of waterproof bags, I could easily locate my underwear, spare socks, gloves and hat when I needed them. Sea to Summit’s Lightweight Dry Bags fit the bill. With the rolling top seal, these sacks could cater exactly to the packing load for this trip. I also packed myself an extra packing cube for my lifestyle attire which I left at the hotel. Grand Trunk’s Atom series Weekender Compression Pack Cube is a hearty material for travel and allows for extra space with an expanding zipper as needed. Check out their other travel gear for more posh items to fill your duffel (Travel Pillow!).
12. Sleeping Pad. A cush inflatable air mattress while on the trail? Totally worth the space in your pack. After a long day hiking it was heavenly to set up my Big Agnes Stillwater sleeping pad. Not only did it keep me off the hard ground, it also provided some needed stability that other air pads simply don’t offer.
