While most everyone can easily pack for a beach weekend, preparing for a trip to the Amazon is confusing to many people. We all know that there will be intense heat, humidity, and mosquitos, but how best to prepare for this? Here are our best recommendations for trips to the Amazon Rainforest, whether it be vía Rurrenabaque in Bolivia or Puerto Maldonado or Iquitos in Peru.
There’s no better time to visit Cusco than during Inti Raymi, the Sun Festival, still the year’s most important festival ever since the time of the Inca empire, when Inti Raymi honored the supreme deity, the sun, and celebrated the end of one agricultural year and the beginning of the next. Two weeks of concerts, dancing, and fairs kick off each June 21st during the Andean Winter Solstice, in what has become South America’s 2nd largest festival. During this time Cusco honors its history through elaborate and massive reenactments and colorful celebrations that attract tens of thousands of spectators. Ticket sales will begin this Monday!
Alongside price, weather is one of the most important factors to take into account when planning a visit to Machu Picchu. November, December, January, February and March constitute the rainy season for much of Peru, especially in the Cusco region. If you’re a photography enthusiast, or if you plan on hiking to the ruins, this is a difficult time to visit because of the mud along the trails and the fog which envelops the site for much of the day. Also, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu closes for the entire month of February for maintenance. (Machu Picchu itself stays open, as do the popular alternative trails.) On the upside, January, February, and March are the touristic low season, with much fewer tourists milling about, leading to lower prices for lodging and tours.
The most important thing to consider when planning what to bring with you on the Inca trail is what will be provided for you and what you must bring, and what will be carried for you and what you must carry. Inca Trail operators generally provide all camping gear including tents, stoves, cooking equipment, foam mattresses, food, and utensils. You 
may be asked to provide your own sleeping bag- make sure that it’s certified for about -20 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s easiest to just rent a cheap one in Cusco (around US$12) than to lug one around from your home country. You are allowed a total of 16 pounds of personal gear to give to the porters to carry for you, including the (approximately 4lb) sleeping bag. What you wish to carry is a small backpack with the things that you will want throughout the day:
Cusco will forever be known as the former Imperial City of the Incas and famed for its Incan and Colonial architecture and historical sites, but the city can also make a strong claim to being one of Peru’s adventure sports meccas.
Today, we’re compiling our fave favorite activities for thrill seekers: