Planning Your Visit to the Orchids of Machu Picchu
Blooming season begins in October/November and lasts until March. This correlates directly with the rainy season, as more rain means more orchid growth. The Inca Trail is closed in February for maintenance, which is also when the rain is heaviest. Make sure you bring a packable raincoat, you’ll almost definitely need it! The CleverHiker guide has recommendations for various budgets and needs.
There’s also an identifying app made solely for orchids. With Lookuq (pronounced Lookup), you can take a photo of a flower to learn its name, description information and caring guide. This is a great tool to enhance your orchid-viewing experience! There are also plenty of identifying apps for flowers in general. Compare and decide which one is best for you here.