What to pack in your backpack for Machu Picchu and what stays outside
In this article
For the day you visit Machu Picchu, carry a small daypack with your original passport, your ticket, a refillable water bottle, a rain jacket or poncho, sunscreen, a hat and insect repellent. Leave the big backpack, the tripod, the umbrella and the snacks outside: bags larger than 40 x 35 x 20 cm, tripods, drones, umbrellas and food are not allowed inside the citadel. And go to the bathroom before you enter, because there are none inside.
This list is only for the day of your visit. If you're wondering which clothes to pack in your suitcase for the whole trip, read what to pack for Cusco and Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu bag rules: what size is allowed
The citadel's official code of conduct does not allow backpacks, bags or purses larger than 40 x 35 x 20 cm (about 16 x 14 x 8 inches). That's roughly a 20 to 25 liter daypack, the kind you'd take on a city walk. Anything bigger has to stay outside.
- A soft daypack with a hip or chest strap is the most comfortable on Inca steps.
- A rain cover or a poncho big enough to go over the pack is worth more than a waterproof bag.
- Keep your passport and ticket in an outside pocket: you'll show them at the gate and sometimes at checkpoints.
Staff at the entrance check bags, and rules are updated from time to time, so take the size limit seriously and confirm it shortly before you travel.
What to carry in your daypack
- Original passport (not a photocopy), plus a student card if your ticket has a student rate.
- Your Machu Picchu ticket and bus ticket, printed or on your phone. On our tours, your guide carries them for you.
- Refillable water bottle. Single-use plastics are restricted in Peru's protected areas, and a reusable bottle saves trouble.
- Rain jacket or poncho. Machu Picchu is in cloud forest and it can rain in any month.
- Sun protection: high-factor sunscreen, a hat or cap and sunglasses. The sun is strong at 2,430 m even on cloudy mornings.
- Insect repellent. Tiny biting flies are common around the citadel and in Aguas Calientes.
- A light extra layer for misty mornings, which you'll probably take off by midday.
- Small cash in soles for the toilets at the entrance and the bus or a drink before going in.
- Phone, camera and a power bank. Bring a spare battery: you'll take more photos than you think.
- Personal medication, including anything you take for the altitude.
What you can't bring into Machu Picchu
These are the items most often stopped at the gate. The official list is longer and can change, but these are the ones that affect travelers:
- Large backpacks and bags over the permitted size.
- Tripods, monopods and selfie sticks. Your phone or camera in hand is fine.
- Drones. Flying over the sanctuary is forbidden.
- Umbrellas. Use a poncho or rain jacket instead.
- Walking sticks. They are restricted; older visitors or people who need support usually enter with a stick that has a rubber tip. Ask us before your visit.
- Food and kitchenware. Eat before you go in or after you come out.
- Alcohol, musical instruments, speakers and anything that could damage the stone.
If in doubt, leave it at the hotel. Nothing you leave behind will ruin your visit; being turned back at the gate might.
Where to leave your big luggage
Your suitcase doesn't travel to Machu Picchu. The trains to Aguas Calientes allow only one small carry-on per passenger, and each rail company sets its own weight and size limit, which has changed over the years. There are no large luggage racks, so a full-size suitcase is a problem from the start.
- Day trip from Cusco: leave your suitcase at your Cusco hotel, which almost always offers free storage, and travel with just your daypack.
- Overnight in Aguas Calientes: pack a small bag with one night's essentials that fits the train allowance.
- Coming from the Sacred Valley: your Valley hotel or the luggage storage at Ollantaytambo station are the usual options.
We explain the whole route, from Cusco by road to Ollantaytambo and then by train and bus, in how to get to Machu Picchu.
Before you go through the gate: passport, toilets and water
The last few minutes before the turnstile matter more than people think, because once inside there's no turning back.
- Toilets: they are at the entrance, outside the citadel, and usually charge a small fee. Inside there are none, and re-entry is not allowed.
- Passport and ticket: have them in hand. The name and number on the ticket must match your passport.
- Water and snacks: drink and eat something before you go in, then pack away any food.
- Your circuit: check which circuit and route your ticket shows, because the path is one-way. We explain what you'll see on each one in Machu Picchu circuits, and how tickets work in Machu Picchu tickets.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring a backpack into Machu Picchu?
Yes, a small one. The official code of conduct sets a maximum of 40 x 35 x 20 cm, about the size of a 20 to 25 liter daypack. Larger bags have to stay outside the citadel.
Can I bring food into Machu Picchu?
No. Food is not allowed inside the citadel. Eat before entering or after your visit, and keep any snack packed away while you're on the circuit.
Can I bring a water bottle?
Yes, and you should. Bring a reusable bottle, since single-use plastics are restricted in protected areas, and refill it before you enter.
Are there toilets inside Machu Picchu?
No. The only toilets are at the entrance, outside the gate. Use them before going in, because you can't leave and come back on the same ticket.
Do I need my original passport?
Yes. You must show your original passport with your ticket, and the details have to match. A photocopy or a photo on your phone is not enough.
At Inka Planet Adventure we see travelers at the Machu Picchu gate almost every day, and the happiest ones are always those who packed light. Bring the essentials; we take care of the train, tickets, guide and transfers.