What to Pack for Peru With Kids: Our Real Family Packing List

Heads up: some links below are affiliate links. They never cost you a cent more and they help keep this blog free. Everything here is gear our family actually packed. Xoxo.

Peru is a packing puzzle, because in one trip you might hit cool mountain mornings, strong high altitude sun, and steamy jungle afternoons. After doing it with two kids, here is exactly what to pack for Peru with kids so you are ready for all of it without hauling your whole house.

The golden rule: layers

Andes mornings are cold and afternoons are warm, sometimes within the same hour. Pack layers you can add and peel all day:

• Base layers and long sleeve tees
• A warm fleece or mid layer per person
• A packable rain jacket (weather turns fast in the mountains)
• A warm hat and light gloves for chilly Cusco mornings
• Comfortable closed walking shoes already broken in

For the altitude

• Refillable water bottles for everyone, because you will drink so much water up high (see my Peru altitude guide for kids)
• Electrolyte packets
• Strong sun protection: the high altitude sun is no joke, so pack SPF, sun hats, and sunglasses
• Lip balm and lotion, since it is dry up there

For the Amazon

• Lightweight long sleeves and long pants in light colors
• Good insect repellent
• A wide brim hat
• Quick dry clothing, because humidity means nothing dries slowly
• A small headlamp for night walks (the kids loved this part, see my Amazon with kids guide)

For the long travel days

Peru means flights, trains, and transfers. The thing that saved us in towns, stations, and airports was a lightweight travel stroller. We use this travel stroller and you can take 20 percent off with code BRAVE20. Pack snacks, a tablet loaded for offline, and a tiny first aid kit too.

My complete, always updated family travel kit lives in my Amazon shop, including our toddler flight kit list, if you want to see exactly what we carry.

The one thing you cannot pack but must not skip

Travel insurance. Altitude, jungle, and long journeys make this the trip to be covered for. We never leave home without SafetyWing, which is built for families who are always on the move. Set it up before you fly.

And the easiest packing tip of all

When your whole route is planned for you, you pack lighter and stress less, because you know exactly what each day holds. Our Peru trip was planned by Travec, who handle every logistic while keeping the real cultural immersion, right down to giving our kids a local friend their own age. Your family gets $200 off a Travec family group trip with code BRAVEFAMILY at traveltravec.com. Honest fine print: family group trips only, not combinable with other promos, entered at booking.

Pack smart and Peru gets so much easier. Start with the full Peru with kids guide, and find all my family guides here.

What family travel insurance actually costs

We never travel or live abroad without it. Here is the live price from SafetyWing:

Xoxo, Marae: your travel mom bestie
www.bravefreetravel.com

Related reading: our full Peru with kids itinerary, managing altitude sickness with kids in Cusco, and is Peru safe for families.

Packing for Peru With Kids: Frequently Asked Questions

What should kids wear in Peru to handle cold nights and hot days?

Layers are everything in Peru. Days in Cusco can reach 20°C while nights drop to 5°C or below. Pack lightweight merino wool base layers that breathe during the day and insulate at night. A good packable down jacket and waterproof shell cover most situations. The Amazon requires light, long-sleeved clothing in neutral colors to protect against insects and sun.

Do I need to bring altitude medication for my kids?

Talk to your pediatrician before the trip. Many doctors recommend acetazolamide (Diamox) for children over a certain age and weight, but it requires a prescription. Regardless of medication, plan a 24-48 hour acclimatization day in Cusco before heading to higher elevations like Machu Picchu. Keep kids hydrated and watch for headaches, nausea, or unusual fatigue.

What are the most important items to pack for the Amazon jungle with kids?

DEET-based insect repellent (30% or higher), long-sleeved lightweight shirts, waterproof sandals or rubber boots, a headlamp for each person, and an oral rehydration solution are the non-negotiables for the Peruvian Amazon. Most lodges provide rubber boots for jungle walks. A good dry bag protects electronics and documents from humidity and sudden rain.

Shop Our Amazon Picks

We put together everything we actually pack in one place. Browse our full Amazon storefront, packing lists, worldschooling supplies, and family travel gear we actually use.

Peru-Specific Picks (By Category)

• Baby carrier for hiking: Ergonomic carriers for altitude hikes, the Moche temples and Sacred Valley involve real walking. A good carrier makes it possible with little ones.
• Kids layers / base layers: Merino wool thermals for kids. Cusco at night is cold. Merino regulates temperature across altitude changes better than synthetic.
• Packable rain jacket, kids: Packable kids rain jacket, the Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes can get heavy rain without warning.
• UPF sun protection kids: UPF 50+ sun shirts for kids, altitude UV is intense. Machu Picchu midday requires full sun coverage.
• Kids insect repellent: Deet-free insect repellent for kids, essential for Amazonia and Aguas Calientes.
• Ginger chews (altitude nausea): Ginger chews for motion and altitude nausea, pack a bag for altitude adjustment days.
• Kids water bottle with filter: Filtered water bottles for kids, tap water in Peru is not safe to drink. Filtered bottles save the constant bottled water cost.
• Packing cubes: Compression packing cubes, the Trujillo→Cusco→Aguas Calientes→Cusco route involves frequent repacking.
• Kids noise-cancelling headphones: Volume-limiting kids headphones, for the long Lima connection and the domestic flights.
• Family first aid kit: Compact travel first aid kit, include rehydration salts and a basic altitude kit.

Browse our full Amazon storefront for everything we bring on family trips worldwide.

For everything we actually travel with for kids ages 2-8, browse our Worldschooling Supplies list on Amazon, curated from real trips to Peru, Japan, Italy, and Spain.

Packing for Peru with kids? Browse our Peru Family Packing List on Amazon, everything we packed for the Amazon jungle, Machu Picchu, and Cusco with kids.