Getting to Ollantaytambo from Cusco:
Journey time: 75 – 90 minutes.
Distance: 60.5km
Road type: Two-way, paved road with great views of the Andes Mountains. Road passes through the town of Chinchero and near the Moray Ruins and Maras Salt Mines – all wonderful attractions to stop and visit!
Taxi: If you want to travel in comfort ask your hotel to organise a taxi to take you directly from Cusco to Ollantaytambo. Prices vary according to hotels. If you pick up a taxi on the street, make sure it’s a licensed taxi. Fares should be approx. S/.80 (Approx. US$28) to Ollantaytambo.
Shared taxi: Get a shared colectivo or combi (like a mini-van) from the taxi terminal on Pavitos Street which costs S/.10 (Approx. US$3.60) per person. Shared taxis cost S/.15 (Approx. US$4.70) to Ollantaytambo. Shared taxis and colectivos run from dawn until approx. 6.30pm and leave as soon as they are full. Journey time is 90 minutes.
Bus: This is a longer and more complicated option. Get the bus to Urubamba from the bus terminal on Grau Street. We recommend you avoid the bus on the route from Cusco to Ollantaytambo and instead take one of the collective taxis from Pavitos street which is safer, quicker and more comfortable.
If you do opt to take the bus, the journey takes between 90 minutes to 2 hours and buses leave every fifteen minutes from dawn until 6.30pm. Bus fares approx. S/.3.50 (Approx. US$1.25). When you get to the Urubamba terminal, cross to the other side of the terminal and take a colectivo or shared minibus to Ollantaytambo. Fares cost approx. S./1.50 (Approx. US$0.55) and the journey takes about 30 minutes.
Car hire: A great way to see the Sacred Valley is by car hire. Cusco however, is a daunting place to drive with poor signage, congestion and no real rules of the road in operation! Our advice, if you go for this option is to hire a car and drive out of Cusco as quickly as possible. Once you leave the city behind it’s a beautiful way to see the region. The main car hire companies in Cusco are the usual suspects Hertz, Avis, and Budget. There are some tour agencies that rent cars in Cusco but we recommend going to the big names where you can be sure of getting good quality, well maintained cars and adequate insurance.
Getting from Ollantaytambo to Cusco:
Taxi: You can take a taxi from Ollantaytambo to Cusco outside the main market just off the main square in Ollantaytambo or from the train station. Fares should be approx. S/.80 (Approx. US$28) to Cusco.
Colectivo: Other than a taxi this is one of the quickest ways of getting from Ollantaytambo to Cusco. These mini-buses or colectivos leave from two locations:
1. The direct Ollantaytambo to Cusco service leaves from outside the train station as soon as trains arrive from Machu Picchu. These are usually newer vehicles and are well maintained. Shared mini-van or colectivo Fares S/.10 (Approx. US$3.60.) Shared taxis from S/.15 (US$4.70).
2. A local colectivo service which will take you to the town of Urubamba where you will have to change onto either a bus or shared taxi to get to Cusco. The local colectivo service leaves from outside the main market just off the main square in Ollantaytambo.
Getting from Pisac to Ollantaytambo:
Journey time: 45 minutes.
Distance: 58.6km
Road type: Two-way, paved road. This is a flat road that winds through the bottom of the Sacred Valley of the Incas with great views of the surrounding mountains.
Taxi: You can take a taxi from Pisaq to Ollantaytambo at the taxi cooperative office which is located just in front of the bridge on Avenida Amazonas. Fares cost S./80 (Approx. US$29) Alternatively ask your hotel to organise a taxi for you.
Buses: Take the bus to Urubamba at the corner of the hospital on Avenida Amazonas. (See instructions above) Fares cost S./2.50 (Approx. US$1) When you arrive in the bus terminal in Urubamba cross to the other side of the terminal and take a colectivo to Ollantaytambo. Fares cost approx. S./1.50 (Approx. US$0.60) and journey time is approximately 30 minutes.
Getting from Urubamba to Ollantaytambo:
Journey time: 30 minutes.
Distance: 20km
Road type: Two-way, paved road. This is a flat road that winds through the bottom of the Sacred Valley of the Incas with great views of the surrounding mountains.
Taxi: You can take a taxi from Urubamba to Ollantaytambo at the bus terminal located on the main road through Urubamba. Fares cost between S/.20 – S/.25 (Approx. US$7.15 – $9). Alternatively ask your hotel to organise a taxi for you.
Colectivo/minibus: Take a colectivo or shared minibus to Ollantaytambo from the bus terminal at Urubamba. Fares cost approx. S./1.50 (Approx. US$0.55) and the journey takes about 30 minutes.
