To book your tour, fill out our Reservation form in order to book your trek to Machu Picchu, we need to purchase permits and entrance tickets for your trek, on your behalf. To purchase the requisite permits and entrance tickets, we require certain information from each of the participants. Therefore, please be ready with the following information of each participant when booking your tour:
Full name (exactly as on passport)
Passport number
Gender
Date of birth (DD / MM / YYYY)
Nationality
*** We also require copies of each participant’s passport when booking in order to purchase the permits for your Machu Picchu trek, we require a deposit of US$ 210.00 per person to be made online.If you have any more questions on how to make a booking, please feel free to contact us via booking@machupicchuexcursions.com
It would be greatly appreciated, if you pay the balance of the booking fee in cash at our office. We accept US dollars or Peruvian soles. We have many ATMs within the historical center. You can also pay online but you will have to pay a 5.5% credit card transaction fee on top of our booking fee, charged by the credit card company.
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 ISIC cards). For example, if you book a trek or a tour at the age of 17 but you turn 18 before you do your trek, you do not qualify for a student discount.
For 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.
Send us a copy at booking@machupicchuexcursions.com
Unfortunately, the answer is generally, no. Once the tickets have been bought the Government of Peru does not allow any changes, so we are unable to change any departure dates.
Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable.
With alternative treks, we may be able to change dates for a fee, depending on what has already been purchased. Please contact our office as soon as possible if you need to change your date.
In the event you cancel your trek, please be informed that the deposit is non-refundable.
The weather is very unpredictable and it’s difficult to foresee. We recommend always dressing in layers as it is easier to adjust to the different climates.
Typically, the dry season in Cusco is from May to October, but this does not stop rain from falling in June or the sun from coming out in December – so just be prepared. No matter what month you are doing the trek, please make sure that you have rain gear that includes a waterproof jacket, pants, poncho and waterproof gloves.
Also come prepared for four seasons. Many of the treks through the Andes involve many micro-climates and you will need to be prepared for all seasons. Layers are always key as they are easy to adjust to the different temperatures. Evenings will always be cold, so please be prepared with a warm, winter-weight jacket.
Yes! You have to bring your original passport and it is very important that it is the same passport you used to book your trek, other entrance tickets, and reservations.
Passports will be checked at the entrance to Machu Picchu, the trek, and when you board the train.
In the event 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 or update your name for a fee of US$ 25.00 per person. We must have a copy of your old and new passport to make the change.
If you do not wish to pay this fee, you will need to bring both passports with you to Peru. You can enter Peru with your new passport, but you will need to show both passports, old and new, in order to enter the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu or board the train. If you do not have both passports, you will not be allowed to enter Machu Picchu or board the train.
In general, if you exercise regularly and spend a couple of days in Cusco or the Sacred Valley, you will be able to acclimate normally. It usually takes between 24 hours to 2 days to acclimatize to Cusco’s high altitudes.
The recommended remedies for altitude sickness are water, coca tea, and oxygen (if needed). Don’t worry, our guides are trained to treat you for Altitude Sickness, so if your experiencing any symptoms while on your trek please be sure to let our guides know and they’ll take care of you.
As soon as people book their trip to Peru, specifically Cusco, they start wondering about Altitude Sickness. The air at high altitudes contains less oxygen than at sea level and forces your body to work harder to get the oxygen it needs. When you spend several days at high altitude, your body adjusts to the lower amount of oxygen in the air. This is why we always recommend spending at least two days in Cusco before beginning any trek. If you have more time, even better. Cusco is an amazing city with a lot to do, so you won’t be bored.
With Altitude Sickness, you may first feel like you have the flu or a hangover. You may have a headache, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, trouble breathing during exercise. If any of these effects become severe, please contact our office and we will help you get to a doctor.
If you want to learn more about Altitude Sickness in Cusco and Machu Picchu, be sure to read our blog article on ‘6 Ways to Beat Altitude Sickness In Cusco And Machu Picchu’.
Our maximum group size is 8 persons. Our groups are usually between 2-6 persons. MACHU PICCHU EXCURSIONS specializes in small, private group tours and provides a personalized experience.
The trek can be fairly difficult, and you should be prepared and healthy prior to starting it. You should be moderately fit and take regular exercise prior to doing the trek.
In preparation: try walking 15 km / 9 miles in a day or working out in the months leading up to the trek.
It is also important to be well acclimatized to the altitude. Try to spend at least 2 or 3 days in Cusco (3,400 m / 11,150 ft. above sea level) prior to starting the trek.
Travel insurance is inexpensive and strongly recommended. These trips are planned months ahead of time and you can never predict what will happen. Adventure travelling includes more risk than your normal trip. Insurance is a way to protect the investment you have made on this amazing journey. We can help to recommend an agent to walk you through this type of insurance, if needed.
Unfortunately, strikes are very common in Peru and can cause a lot of disruption to our tours. Roads are often blocked, trains stopped. We will do everything possible to operate your tour including leaving the night before your start date. Tours may need to be canceled under these circumstances. Our Operation Department will coordinate with you in this situation. Your safety is always our top concern and will guide our decisions in this respect.
You are responsible for your personal items throughout the tour. Please be diligent about where you leave your things and remember to remove all items from our vans, your tents, restaurant, etc.
Do not leave anything unintended while hiking. Other trekkers or teams may pick it up not knowing who it belongs to.
It’s important that you are honest with your guide about any ailments, injuries, or illnesses you may be suffering from. While our guides are not medical professionals, they are trained to provide First Aid. We also work with a clinic in Cusco that can help assist our team.
In the event you are unable to finish the trek due to a health issue, we will take you to the nearest town to receive treatment.
We always carry oxygen on the trek in case you experience any respiratory ailments or Altitude Sickness along the way.
There are no refunds in the unlikely instance that you are unable to finish the trek.
If you recover quickly, you may continue the journey to Aguas Calientes (cost incurred by trekker) and visit Machu Picchu according to the original plan.
Absolutely! Hotel pick-ups and drop-offs are included with all of our packages! If you have booked your hotel in the Sacred Valley, we will drop you off there and vice versa.
It will depend on the availability of trains (could be fully booked during high / peak season). We plan to give you as much time as possible in Machu Picchu and allow you to enjoy the amazing views on the way back to Cusco in the train. Therefore, we usually book the 2.55 pm train for your journey back to Cusco.
You can upgrade to the Vistadome Train for US$ 67.00.
The Vistadome train service has nicer seats, panoramic windows, and a ceiling. You will be offered snacks and entertainment on board the train. These trains run from Aguas Calientes to Poroy. We will pick you up in Poroy and drive you back to Cusco, which takes about 25 minutes. Please be sure to make your request in advance.
If you’re happy with the services provided, a tip – though not compulsory – is appreciated.
While it is not mandatory, it’s of great significance for the people who will take care of you during the trek. It inspires them to give excellent service and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many MACHU PICCHU EXCURSIONS destinations.
Of course, you are free to tip as much as you would like, depending on your perception of the quality and the length of your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Tipping is part of the tradition of any trek to Machu Picchu and while we pay good wages to our entire team, anything extra is always appreciated. Please know that this is not obligatory and that you should never feel pressured to give a tip.
Yes! We are a local, sustainable, and responsible tour operator that incorporates universal principles of tourism: protect the environment and benefit the local communities by respecting their culture and religion. With this in mind, we have trained all our local staff to be respectful of the people and places of Peru.
We are also committed to protecting Peru’s wildlife, and through our ‘Plant a tree, preserve our planet’ project we aim to plant 5,000 Polylepis trees by 2025. We also organize annual clean-up drives during the off-season to help restore the trails to their original pristine state and rid them of any plastic waste and other litter.
The entrance to the Inca citadel is per hour, so buses take visitors at the hours described to the sanctuary and are done in an orderly manner and there is less impact.
Entry / departure at 06:00 am to 09:00 am
Entry / departure at 07:00 am to 10:00 am
Entry / departure at 08:00 am to 11:00 am
Entry / departure at 09:00 am to 12:00 pm
Entry / departure at 10:00 am to 13:00 pm
Entry / departure at 11:00 am to 14:00 pm
Entry / departure at 12:00 pm to 15:00 pm
Entry / departure at 13:00 pm to 16:00 pm
Entry / departure at 14:00 pm to 17:00 pm
Huayna Picchu is one of the most popular tours and must be booked in advance as it sells out very quickly. This hike takes approximately 45 minutes to the top and another 45 minutes back down. Tickets are sold in time sessions, dictating when you can start this hike.
1st session: 7:00 am – 8:00 am
2nd session: 10.00 am – 11.00 am
Again, this refers to when you can begin your hike and we normally book the second session so you can enjoy your tour with your guide first. This hike is done on your own, but your guide will show you where to begin.
Machu Picchu Mountain is a bit longer and a bit less popular. It takes 1 hour and 30 minutes to the top and another 1 hour and 30 minutes to the bottom. Again, there are two sessions to choose from:
1st session: 7:00 am – 8:00 am
2nd session: 9:00 am – 10:00 am
We normally purchase the second session.