Getting To and Away

The most popular way to visit Ollantaytambo is with a tour agency on a day trip from Cusco; tour operators usually combine a stop in Ollantaytambo with other surrounding villages such as Chinchero or Písac. However, the most economic-and arguably the most enjoyable-way to explore Ollantaytambo is at your own leisure and on your own time, by going it alone, or hiring a local guide at the entrance to the ruins.


By Bus

Though rumors abound of buses running directly between Cusco and Ollantaytambo, the easiest thing to do is to catch a bus from Cusco to Urubamba and then change. Urubamba buses leave Cusco from two places: Avenidas Tullumayo and Garcilazo (around $1, 2 hrs) or Puente Grau on Avenida Grau (around $1.50, 1.5 hrs). Once you arrive in the Urubamba bus terminal, you will have no problem finding a colectivo to Ollantaytambo: the colectivo operators greet passengers from the Cusco-Urubamba buses and usher them into waiting minibuses. The colectivos leave regularly-when full-and cost around $0.50; it's about a 30 minute ride. A taxi from the Urubamba bus station to Ollantaytambo is slightly quicker and costs around $4. It is much more straightforward to return to Cusco from Ollantaytambo, as vans now run from the train station to Cusco after each train arrives ($4 per person).


By Train


Ollantaytambo is the mid-point for trains running between Cusco and Aguas Calientes. It's possible to arrive to Ollantaytambo by road, but from here to Machu Picchu, you can only go in train. Budget travelers can bus to Ollantaytambo and then catch the Machu Picchu-bound train, which is about $20-30 cheaper than taking the train from Poroy (the nearest stop to Cusco). The rail station in Ollantaytambo is on Avenida Ferrocarril.

Three rail companies run the Ollantaytambo-Aguas Calientes route, with several departures leaving from early morning until late at night. Round-trip tickets range from $63-180, depending on the company and class of train you choose. For information on each company, prices and departure times, see Getting to and Away from Aguas Calientes.