Before you go

Your trip to Ollantaytambo.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Ollantaytambo – Cusco Destination Cusco, the Vale Sagrado and Machu Picchu about 72 km from Cusco

How to get there

Aeropuerto Internacional Alejandro Velasco Astete (CUZ) Cusco · 72 km
Estación de Ollantaytambo (trem para Machu Picchu) 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Confirm before purchasing. From Cusco it is about 72 km via Pisac and Urubamba, or slightly less via Chinchero, about 1h30 to 2 hours by car or van. Vans depart from Cusco and Urubamba throughout the day. The train links Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, at the foot of Machu Picchu, and the station is 1 km from the square. The nearest airport is Cusco.

How many days

One day for the fortress and the village, and another for Moray and the Salineras de Maras. Many people sleep in Ollantaytambo the night before Machu Picchu to catch the morning train. The altitude, lower than Cusco's, makes the village a good first stop.

When to go

The dry season usually runs from May to September, with sunny days and cold nights. From December to March it usually rains in the afternoons. The village is active year-round because of the train to Machu Picchu. In June, the festival of the Señor de Choquekillka, the village's patron, features dances and processions.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

You don't need transport for the village and the fortress, which are explored on foot. For Moray and the Salineras de Maras, taxis from the square run the tour with waiting time, and agencies sell the circuit. Vans connect the village to Urubamba and Cusco. A car with a driver helps if you want to combine everything in one day.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Ollantaytambo

Morning
Fortress
Climb the terraces of Ollantaytambo's fortress at opening time up to the Temple of the Sun, with its six pink stone monoliths.
Afternoon
Inca village
Have lunch in the square and walk the streets of the Qosqo Ayllu neighborhood, with water channels and the courtyards of inhabited Inca houses.
Late afternoon
Pinkuylluna
Climb the short trail on the Pinkuylluna hillside, opposite the fortress, to see the Inca storehouses and the village from above.
Evening
Square and train
Dine near the square. Those going to Machu Picchu the next day prepare everything for the morning train.

2 days in Ollantaytambo

Day 1

Morning
Fortress
Fortress and Temple of the Sun at opening, before the tour groups.
Afternoon
Village
Lunch and a walk through the village's Inca streets.
Late afternoon
Pinkuylluna
Trail to the Pinkuylluna storehouses, with views of the fortress.
Evening
Dinner
Dinner in the square.

Day 2

Morning
Moray
Go by taxi or with an agency to Moray, the circular terraces on the plateau, at about 3,500 metres.
Afternoon
Salineras de Maras
Continue to the Salineras de Maras and see the salt ponds on the hillside. Buy salt from the cooperatives at the exit.
Late afternoon
Return to the valley
Descend to Urubamba and return to Ollantaytambo through the valley.
Evening
Preparation for the train
Night in Ollantaytambo before the train to Aguas Calientes.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth staying in Ollantaytambo before Machu Picchu?

Yes. The village is about 1h30 by train from Aguas Calientes, and staying there avoids departing Cusco in the early hours. The lower altitude also helps.

What is the altitude of Ollantaytambo?

About 2,790 metres, roughly 600 metres lower than Cusco. It is one of the lowest bases in the Sacred Valley.

How to go from Ollantaytambo to Moray and Maras?

By taxi with waiting time, hired at the square, or on an agency tour. Moray and the Salineras are on the plateau between Urubamba and Chinchero, about 40 minutes by car.

Is the Ollantaytambo fortress included in the tourist ticket?

Yes, it is part of the Cusco tourist ticket, as is Moray. The Salineras de Maras have a separate entrance fee. Confirm before you go.

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