What to Pack for an Adventure in Peru’s Amazon Rainforest

Wondering what to pack for your trip to the Amazon Rainforest? This post is here to explain everything you should bring with for a stay at a lodge in the Amazon Rainforest!

My trip to the Amazon in Peru is one of the first trips of my life that I felt I had actually packed well enough for that I could pass on my packing tips to my readers. Seriously, this was the first trip. Haha. I almost always over-pack or forget a key wardrobe piece.

The biggest key to me finally mastering packing for this trip was because I’ve finally acquired a decent amount of outdoor/hiking clothes. Our adventures almost always include hiking, so the fact I’ve made it this long without an arsenal of proper hiking clothing is ridiculous! Alas, though, I’ve finally figured it out!

We had stayed at the Treehouse Lodge near Iquitos, Peru, but I believe this packing list would work fine for any of the lodges you would stay at in the Amazon. It’s going to be buggy, humid and hot, and potentially rainy, no matter which lodge you stay at!

What to Pack for an Adventure in Peru’s Amazon Rainforest

*I was packing for 4 days and 3 nights. This is what I packed along with a few suggestions I would make when you pack. The links go to the products I use.

Carry-on bag

For this trip, we each only brought a carry-on bag. My husband is a fan of Standard Luggage’s carry-on, and I like CHESTER’s cute pink carry-on + my backpack for my camera gear.

I also swear by Carry Courage’s sustainable luggage tags!

Tops

• 1 white, loose travel t-shirt (pictured above) that was the best shirt I brought with for this trip and wore it multiple times.
• 2 loose, moisture-wicking exercise tank tops. (I would recommend t-shirts or long sleeves, if you can handle it, though.)
• 1 long-sleeved, loose, moisture-wicking exercise top – I could’ve brought along one more of these, this came in very handy for bug protection. It also was good if it was windy and I was a bit chilled – it was never cold enough that I wanted a jacket.
• 1 “cute,” loose-fitting tank top (pictured below), just in case!

**A moisture-wicking button-up top would have also been a great idea to bring along for bug and sun protection.

Pants

• 1 pair of hiking pants for each day!
• 2 pairs of ankle-length breathable hiking pants
• 2 pairs of zip-off, hiking pants.
• 1 pair of beach pants (for the plane ride and hanging out in our treehouse)

**No shorts for me! I wanted to be as protected from the insects as possible!

Shoes 

• Hiking boots – these I didn’t really feel as though I needed. It was the rainy season, so the water was quite high and we didn’t do much hiking. If you go during the dry season it might not be a bad idea to bring them. However, I wouldn’t invest in a pair of hiking boots specifically for this trip. You could get along just fine with athletic shoes of some sort.
• Athletic shoes – my trusty Nikes were perfect for this adventure.
• Sandals – I packed one pair to wear around the treehouse and lodge.

Socks

• 8 pairs of long athletic socks. You’ll want long socks that will protect you from bugs and that are moisture-wicking. I brought 2 pairs for each day and went through them all. Socks I always think are good to overpack – and underwear!

Accessories

• Sunglasses – you’ll for sure want one pair that will stay on your head while boating (mine are pictured above).
• Hat – I wore a headband because I can’t stand hats. However, a hat for sun protection is a really good idea! (Like the one my husband is wearing, below.)
• Watch – I didn’t have my cell phone on me at all, so a watch was necessary to know when I needed to meet our guide, get lunch, etc.
• I also brought one set of seashell jewelry – because I needed a little pizzazz with my outfits! Haha.

Toiletries

Bring the bare minimum. You’re going to be in the jungle – doing your hair and makeup will not be a top priority…I promise!

• Shampoo & conditioner (The lodges likely won’t provide this for you)
• A small travel set of face wash/moisturizer
• Sunscreen – SO important
• Bug spray (at least 30 percent deet)- possibly the most important thing you can pack!!
• Anti-itch cream – for after the inevitable bug bites
• Aloe – just in case
• Deodorant – it’s humid and hot, haha

Other good things to pack

• A flashlight or headlamp – you’re either going to be at a lodge that doesn’t have electricity or electricity will occasionally go out (the last one was the case at Treehouse Lodge). It’s also good to have for any nighttime excursions you do.
• Rain poncho – I packed this but fortunately never needed it. It’s way too humid to wear a raincoat, so a lightweight poncho would be all that you need.
• Backpack – one was good for both me and my husband. We used it to carry our sunscreen, bug spray, camera equipment, snacks, etc.
• Self-sterilizing water bottle – we were able to refill our bottles at the lodge

*Regular readers, this will be my last Amazon Rainforest post. If you missed any of my Treehouse Lodge/Amazon Rainforest posts, you can click here to see them all. 

What would you pack for an adventure in the Amazon Rainforest? And did you like having a packing post or not? Let me know in the comments!

• Read next: My Honest Experience Staying at the Treehouse Lodge in Peru
• Read next: How to Spend 10 Days in Peru – The Ultimate Itinerary
• Read next: Fishing in the Amazon Rainforest

Travel Insurance

It’s a good idea, no matter where your adventure takes you, to have travel insurance. You never know what might happen! Whether you get sick before your trip and can’t go, or you become sick or injured while on your adventure – being covered with travel insurance is a must. Some credit card companies do provide this (check with yours), or you can get a free quote from travel insurance companies such as RoamRight to find the best plan for you and your adventure. To get a free quote, click here.

Visa Requirements

To check if your country requires a Visa for traveling to Peru, click here.

Want to Learn Spanish Before Your Trip?

Knowing some basics in Spanish can be helpful for your time in Peru. Try a free 3 day trial of Rosetta Stone (the best way to learn a foreign language) by clicking here.

*Disclosure: some of these links are affiliate links. Meaning, if you click a link and make a purchase, Have Clothes, Will Travel gets a very small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible! I am also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

*c/o = courtesy of, meaning the company gave me the product to be used on my blog, and I did not pay for it. All opinions are my own, and I am not being compensated for a positive review.