Machu Picchu Important Information
You will be welcomed at the airport in Cusco and taken to your hotel. Please ensure that you inform us of your full flight details at least 14 days prior to arrival. Look for our representative holding an Orange Nation Peru board outside the arrivals terminal.
You must exit the terminal in order to find our representative (they cannot enter inside). We can pick you up on any date that is best suited to you prior to your trek!
The Briefing will be the night before the trek at 6pm in our office which is located at Garcilaso Street 210, Office Nº:213 (2nd Floor) in the la CASA DEL ABUELO shopping center.
Of course! During your trek or tour your primary luggage can be stored at our office or at your hotel; both are at no cost to you. Please do not pack anything your main suitcase that your will need for your hike.
FIRST, to book a tour or trek need you to fill out our booking form on our website. You can do this by clicking on BOOK NOW on our homepage or click here to BOOK NOW.
Please be ready with the following information (FROM EACH PARTICIPANT in your group). Per government regulations, we cannot purchase any Inca Trail permits, tickets for Machu Picchu, or make hotel or train reservations without the following information:
- Personal information (your full name, exactly as it appears on your passport):
- Gender
- Passport number
- D.O.B. (dd / mm / yyyy)
- Nationality
SECOND, we require a deposit of per person (the amount depends on which trek or tour you are booking) in order to purchase permits, entrances, hotel and train reservations for your tour or trek.
You can make you deposit by clicking on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on the top of our home page, or you can click on the VISA or PAYPAL symbols on our booking page or click here on the payment of your choice, either VISA or PAYPAL,
It would be greatly appreciated if you pay in cash at our office (US dollars or Peruvian soles) here in Cusco. We have many cash machines in the historical center to withdraw money.
You can also pay by VISA or PAYPAL online but you will have to pay a 5.5% service charge, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. To pay your balance through PAYPAL, you need to log into your PAYPAL account and use our email address orangenationperu@gmail.com to complete your payment.
- According to Peruvian Law you must be under 18 years of age at the time of your trek, tour, or visit to Machu Picchu (students 18 & above need valid university ID cards). For example if you book a trek at the age of 17 but you turn 18 before you do your trek, you do not qualify for a student discount.
- All students from 12 to 17 years, the discount is $40.
- For children from the age of 2 to 12 the discount is $60.
- For children from the age of 0 to 2 are free.
- All students must provide a copy of their passport at the time of their booking to get the student discount.
- If you are 18-25, your University ID card must show your full name, photo and expiration date. The Peruvian government accepts ID cards that are valid for the current academic year only. You must bring the card with you for the $25 discount to be valid.
- Send us a copy at orangenationperu@gmail.com
Unfortunately the answer is no, for the Inca Trail. Once the permits or entrance tickets have been bought, the government does not allow any changes, so we can’t change any departure date after the permits or ticket has been bought. Tickets are also not transferable nor refundable.
In regards to Alternative Treks, it may be possible to change your date for an additional fee. Please contact the office as soon as possible if this occurs so we can assist you in this matter.
*** If you cancel your tour or trek, the deposit is non-refundable!
Yes for sure! You have to bring your original passport and it is very important that it is the same passport number you sent to us to book your Inca Trail Machu Picchu permit, entrance to Machu Picchu, train ticket or other entrances and reservations depending on your choice of trek.
The rangers on the Inca Trail will check your passport every day and it will be checked when you enter Machu Picchu. The train company will also check your passport before allowing you to board the train.
In case you are renewing your passport or changing your name, go ahead and send us your old passport information to secure your permit, and we can change it when you get your new passport number or updated your name for a fee of $25 per person. We must have a copy of your old and new passport to make the change. Before you change your passport keep a copy of your old one.
If you do not wish to pay this fee you will need to bring both passports to Peru with you. You can enter Peru with your new passport but you will need to show both passports, old and new to be to enter the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu or the train. If you do not have both you will not be allowed to enter the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu or get on the train. They are very strict about this here!!
YOUR PASSPORT MUST BE VALID FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS FROM THE DAY YOU ENTER PERU! Most airlines will not let you bord your flight if your passport has less than 6 months left from the date you enter Peru.
The weather is very unpredictable and it’s difficult to foresee. You will have many different varieties of weather as you pass through numerous microclimates. We highly recommend that you bring some warm clothes for the evening and early morning time, and good rain gear in your day backpack in case of rain- no matter the season.
In general if you exercise regularly and spend 2 to 3 days in Cusco, or in the Sacred Valley for acclimatization to the altitude, you should be just fine.
The recommended medicine for altitude sickness is WATER, COCA TEA and OXYGEN IF NEEDED; our guides are trained to treat you for altitude sickness.
We offer the Cusco City Tour and Sacred Valley tours that you can book while you are acclimatizing. Check out our day tours on our Main Page!
Orange Nation Peru toilet facilities have an individual tent and a “camping toilet with a seat.” Which is greatly appreciated by our guests! Our toilet is always set up a comfortable distance from our campsite. At night if you need to use the toilet, it is readily accessible and clean.
The maximum group size for Orange Nation is 8 people. Our average group size is between 4 to 5 people.
Absolutely! Included in our packages is picking you up and dropping you off at your hotel on your return from the trek or tour. If you have booked your hotel in the Sacred Valley, like in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba, we will drop you off there too. Also, if you wish to spend the night in Ollantaytambo before your trek (if your are doing the Inca Trail), we will pick you up from there.
It will depend on the availability of the train (during high season there is a risk of it selling out) but the idea is to give you as much time as possible in Machu Picchu and enjoy the amazing views from the train on the way back to Cusco. Because of this, we usually book the train that departs at 14:55pm, or 15:20pm.
If you wish to elevate your experience, you have the option to upgrade to Vistadome train. The Vistadome has nicer seats, panoramic windows and windows in the ceiling. You will be offered some snacks and a dance show will take place on board.
The additional cost is US$67 per person which includes the transfer from Poroy (Cusco) train station to your hotel in Cusco. It is 1.5 hours by train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and then another 2 hours from Ollantaytambo to Cusco by private van.
If you upgrade to the Vistadome Train, the trip from Aguas Calientes to Poroy (Cusco), takes 3.5 hours, and then 25mins by taxi to your hotel. Usually our clients are back at their hotel by 8pm. If you plan to take the bus to Puno on the same night, that is also possible.
If you’re happy with the services provided, a tip – though not compulsory – is appreciated. While it may not be customary in your country, it’s of great significance for the people who will take care of you during the trek.
It inspires excellent service and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many Orange Nation Peru destinations. Of course you are free to tip as much as you feel is appropriate, depending on your perception on the quality of service and the length of your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Yes, we are a local sustainable & responsible tourism operator. We incorporate the universal principles of tourism: protect the environment and benefit the local communities respecting their culture and religion. With this in mind, we have trained all our staff to know, understand and respect the local places and its people.
