The train from Cusco to Ollantaytambo will cost between $45 and $110 (170-417 Sol), and depending on where your accommodation is located, you may need to account for a bus ticket to the station in Cusco.
How far is it from Cusco to Ollantaytambo?
The approximate distance from Cusco to Ollantaytambo is 38 miles (61 km), which takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes of driving time if you travel by private car transfer.
How much does a taxi cost from Cusco to Ollantaytambo?
A taxi from Cusco to Ollantaytambo starts in the range of $35 to $50 (133-189 Sol) but can become more expensive depending on your exact pickup and drop-off location, whether youтАЩre departing from an airport and the amount of luggage youтАЩll carry with you.
Is it worth going to Ollantaytambo?
Ollantaytambo is certainly worth visiting, particularly for those en route to Machu Picchu. The town itself is home to some of the best-preserved Inca ruins in Peru and is an incredible window into the countryтАЩs ancient history.
Is it better to stay in Cusco Or Ollantaytambo for Machu Picchu?
Many people stay in Cusco on their way to Machu Picchu, but travelers often find that Ollantaytambo offers much more scenic surroundings, fewer crowds, and a culturally rich setting to stay in before the journey to Machu Picchu (90 minutes by train.)
How do I get from Cusco to Ollantaytambo?
The best way to get from Cusco to Ollantaytambo is with a private driving transfer, as this gives you convenient door-to-door service and allows you to stop and sightsee en route to witness parts of Peru you may otherwise miss out on.
The Cusco to Ollantaytambo transfer takes you on a scenic tour to the heart of the Sacred Valley of southern Peru. Here, you can immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring Incan ruins, surrounded by distant snow-capped mountains. The drive from Cusco to Ollantaytambo is 38 miles (61 km) and takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes.
With a Daytrip private driving transfer, you have the option to stop along the way to do some sightseeing. Consider a visit to the QтАЩenco Archaeological Complex, where you can explore the sprawling complex of mysterious rock structures carved by the Inca for use as an ancient spiritual center.
Or, you can choose to stop and visit the mysterious тАЬBath of IncaтАЭ at Tambomachay, where you can witness the still-flowing aqueducts that demonstrate the incredible engineering prowess of this ancient civilization.
If you prefer a more direct route, the Daytrip private car service is still the best option for swiftly and safely getting from Cusco to Ollantaytambo.
About Ollantaytambo
After your Cusco to Ollantaytambo journey, you will find yourself in a town serving as the gateway to Machu Picchu, surrounded by some of the oldest continuously occupied settlements in South America.
The incredible town of Ollantaytambo is home to a series of temples and other sacred sites erected meticulously from stone that would have to have been carried from a distant quarry all the way across a vast valley and up a staggering hill to the settlement site.
Now, the town is a testament to the longevity of Inca creations. Visitors can witness the original irrigation infrastructure in action, as itтАЩs still used today throughout the town and in the surrounding fields. Further, the layout of the town and even some of its guarding walls are original to its settlement centuries ago.
In addition to offering some of the best-preserved Peruvian ruins, the town carries a storied history as the site of resistance against Spanish invasion during the 16th century. Throughout its history, the town also served as a major linking point for the entire Inca Empire, and its lower elevation made it a key stopover along several important transportation and communication routes.
Similarly, today, many travelers will also often use Ollantaytambo as a stopover or тАЬbase campтАЭ for visits to Machu Picchu, which is conveniently about 90 minutes from the town by train. The town offers a comfortable respite for travelers and a chance to learn more about the local Quechua communities, complete with traditional Andean architecture and glimpses of the lasting customs.
From Cusco to Ollantaytambo: travel tips
As you plan your exciting trip from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, there are a few pieces of advice that will elevate your travel experience and allow you to make the most of your time in Ollantaytambo.
Give yourself time before Machu Picchu
If your trip to Ollantaytambo includes an onward journey to Machu Picchu, be sure to plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to arrive in town and find your way to the train station. You should plan to have at least 30 minutes between your arrival and the trainтАЩs departure, as it can be tricky to navigate to the station.
### Enjoy the calmer markets
While in Ollantaytambo, there are a series of markets outside of the gates to the archaeological preserves that are very similar to the ones in Cusco. These markets offer many of the same items but tend to be much less crowded in the smaller town environment, so it can be a great opportunity for calmer and sometimes cheaper traditional shopping.
How to get from Cusco to Ollantaytambo
There are several transportation options for getting from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, including private car services and bus and train routesтАФall varying in cost and time commitments.
Bus from Cusco to Ollantaytambo
Some shuttle buses operate from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, including some departing from the international airport in Cusco. These bus routes vary in cost depending on the company, but tickets seem to cost around $70 (265 Peruvian Sol) on average. This journey takes between an hour and 90 minutes, depending on the departure location, and does not offer you direct door-to-door service.
### Train from Cusco to Ollantaytambo
The train route from Cusco to Ollantaytambo leaves from CuscoтАЩs Wanchaq station, which you may first need to take a bus to, depending on the location of your accommodation. Tickets vary but range from about $45 to $110 (170-417 Sol). The trains take around 2.5 hours to cover the distance, with scheduled departures twice a day.
### Taxi from Cusco to Ollantaytambo
There are taxis from Cusco to Ollantaytambo (and from the airport in Cusco for those on flights heading straight to Ollantaytambo, with journeys starting around $35 to $50 (133-189 Sol). Keep in mind that the costs can vary widely depending on the taxi company.
### Private car service from Cusco to Ollantaytambo
The best way to get from Cusco to Ollantaytambo is to opt for a private driving transfer, as this will give you the benefits of door-to-door transportation directly to your accommodation in Ollantaytambo. With Daytrip, you will be accompanied by a local, English-speaking driver and be helped with your luggage in both destinations. As an added bonus тАУ this travel option starts at just $16 (61 Sol) per seat.
Things to do when you get to Ollantaytambo
Once you complete your Cusco to Ollantaytambo transfer, there are a few must-see highlights for your time in this fascinating destination. This town offers some of the richest deposits of PeruтАЩs history, architecture, and tradition and is incredibly welcoming to visitors.
Explore the Ollantaytambo Sanctuary
Possibly the main attraction for travelers here is the remarkably preserved ruins of the primary sanctuary, with remarkable stonework and stepped terraces; this hilltop feature is a bucket list item for any global explorer. Take your time ascending the hill and learning about the Inca people on your tour of the Sanctuary, and relish the incredible panoramic views from the top.
### Sample Peruvian specialties in ChocoMueso
This unique shop features a range of unique Peruvian artisanal chocolate, handcrafted тАЬfrom bean to bar.тАЭ Here, you can even tour the entire process and try your hand at making your very own Peruvian chocolate in one of the workshops. These can be great souvenirs, and the process itself is a methodical journey into the past.
### Visit Moray
This fascinating archaeological site sits high above the Sacred Valley on a plateau and appears to be a series of terraces taking the shape of concentric circles. This area was most likely used for agricultural research, where the rising terraces each had a different temperature and could best be used to cultivate different plants.
Research suggests that the Incas were able to grow over 250 varieties of vegetables in these terraces using complex hydraulic irrigation techniques.
### Hike to the Pinkuylluna Incan Storehouses
These Incan storehouses overlook the Ollantaytambo ruins and require visitors to hike up a moderately steep path up the mountain. Depending on fitness levels and conditions, this can take travelers anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes, and the views from the top are certainly worth the effort.
When is the best time to visit Ollantaytambo?
Before embarking on your Cusco to Ollantaytambo transfer, it is important to consider the best time of year to visit this historic town. As with the majority of Peru, Ollantaytambo experiences its dry season from May to October. This period sees clear skies and warm weather (around 63┬░F/17┬░C), with slightly cooler temperatures into the early autumn.
If you do intend to visit during the rainy season in the hopes of fewer crowds and potentially cheaper accommodation and flights, you should still avoid the months of January and February when the rains are heaviest and most frequent.
The Inca's spiritual center for the Cusco region is a labyrinth of enigmatic rock-carved structures.┬аMystery, Death, and Sacrifice┬а
Tambomachay
Free-flowing water can be found throughout this strange archaeological site known as тАЬThe Bath of IncaтАЭ.┬аInca Water Worship┬а
Sacsayhuaman
Standing atop the bones of an even older civilization, the massive blocks of stone that make this Incan fortress fit together so perfectly they didn't need mortar.┬аTitanic Tetris┬а
Chincheros
This highland town is famous for its Peruvian weaving, which create a rainbow of color in its local markets.┬аSomewhere Over the Rainbow┬а
Maras Salt Mines
This mountain pass has been used to produce salt for over 1,000 years.┬аPass the Salt┬а
Moray
They might look like Incan works of art, but these terraces are actually a marvel of agricultural engineering.┬аThe Science of Circles┬а
