Between Mollepata and Santa Teresa, there is not a single pharmacy. It is four days of hiking where, if you get a blister, a headache, or something upsets your stomach, you have exactly what you carry in your backpack and nothing else. Camp shops sell water and cookies, not medicine. That is why a first aid kit is not an optional piece of gear: it is the only pharmacy service available during the most demanding part of the route. Here is what you should bring and how to organize it.
What the guide brings and what you need to bring
Reputable agencies carry a first aid kit for the group and oxygen for summit pass day. That kit is intended for emergencies: a wound, a sprain, or an acute case of altitude sickness.
It is not designed to cover the daily needs of ten or fifteen passengers. Your headache, blisters, allergies, or regular medication are your responsibility. And if there is something you take every day, the guide cannot replace it.
Your personal medication
It is the first thing that should go into your first aid kit. Bring enough for your entire trip, plus an extra two or three days in case of delays, and keep it in its original packaging.
Add a written list with the generic names of the medications you take, not just the brand name, which changes from one country to another. If you have any pre-existing condition, let the agency know when booking and tell your guide on the first day.
The blister kit: the most used of all
Blisters are by far the most common issue on the Salkantay Trek. They appear on long descents, when your foot hits the toe of your footwear, and worsen hour after hour.
Bring hydrocolloid dressings, which work best on damaged skin, medical tape or cloth tape, gauze, and small scissors. With these, you can handle almost any blister at camp.
The golden rule is to act early. If you feel rubbing at the second kilometer, stop right there and cover the area. Waiting until the lunch break turns discomfort into a wound.
What to include in your first aid kit
| Category | What to bring | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Pain and fever | Pain reliever and anti-inflammatory | Headaches, muscle, or joint pain |
| Stomach | Oral rehydration salts and antidiarrheal medication | Digestive issues and dehydration |
| Allergies | Antihistamine | Bites and mild reactions |
| Motion sickness | Anti-nausea medication recommended by your doctor | Hours on mountain roads |
| Blisters | Hydrocolloid dressings, tape, gauze, scissors | The most common issue on the trek |
| Wounds | Antiseptic, bandages, elastic wrap, tweezers | Cuts, scrapes, and mild sprains |
| Sun | High-SPF sunscreen and lip balm with sun protection | Intense high-altitude radiation |
| Insects | Insect repellent and bite cream | High jungle area and hot springs |
| Hygiene | Hand sanitizer, wipes, disposable gloves | Before eating and treating a wound |
| Extras | Throat lozenges, anti-chafing cream | Dry, cold air and long hikes |
If you travel with menstrual hygiene products, also bring bags to store waste. There is no trash collection along the route, and everything you generate must come down with you.
About altitude
There are medications used to prevent altitude sickness, but they are not for self-medication: they have contraindications, and not everyone needs them. If you are interested in that option, ask your doctor before the trip, not other travelers at the hostel.
Coca tea and coca candies can help, but they are not a treatment. What truly works is acclimatizing in Cusco before leaving, staying well hydrated, and ascending at a relaxed pace.
If you have repeated vomiting, shortness of breath at rest, or drowsiness that does not go away, it is not a first aid kit situation: tell your guide immediately. How emergencies are handled on each section is covered in services available during the Salkantay Trek.
How to organize it
Your first aid kit goes in your daypack, never in the bag carried by the mules. You will not see that bag until the afternoon, and a blister or headache can appear mid-morning.
Keep it in a waterproof bag, with the most frequently used items on top: dressings, pain reliever, sunscreen, and gel. You can leave refills and anything you would only use at camp in your duffel bag.
Do not carry an entire pharmacy. A well-planned first aid kit weighs just over half a kilo and covers ninety percent of what happens on the route.
If you travel independently
Without an agency, there is no group first aid kit or oxygen, so yours needs to be more complete: add a bandage, extra gauze, and an emergency blanket.
Also write down your travel insurance assistance number and emergency contact details on paper. We explain it in Salkantay Trek independently.
Frequently asked questions
Does the agency carry a first aid kit during the trek?
Yes, established agencies carry a first aid kit and usually bring oxygen for summit pass day. It is intended for emergencies, not to cover each passenger’s daily needs.
Can I buy medication along the route?
Not reliably. The nearest pharmacies are in Mollepata, at the start, and Santa Teresa, already in the jungle area. Medicines are not sold at the camps.
What should I do if I get a blister on the trail?
Stop as soon as you feel it, dry the area, and cover it with a well-secured hydrocolloid dressing. Do not keep walking for hours with the rubbing: that is what turns minor discomfort into a wound that complicates the following days.
Can I bring prescription medication to Peru?
Yes, in its original packaging and accompanied by the prescription or a note from your doctor. This is also recommended in case you need medical care during your trip.
What should I do with first aid kit waste?
Keep it in a bag and take it down with you to Aguas Calientes or Cusco. There is no collection at the high-elevation camps, and wrappers and dressings accumulate along the route.