Cusco to Ollantaytambo: Transfer, Colectivo, Bus, Taxi and Train, Both Ways
Ollantaytambo is about 1.5 to 2 hours by road from Cusco, and the journey is the first leg of almost every trip to Machu Picchu, because most trains to Aguas Calientes leave from its station. There are two road routes, the faster one across the plateau via Chinchero and Urubamba and the longer one down the valley via Pisac and Calca, and several ways to travel them: a private transfer, a shared tourist van, a colectivo or local minibus, a taxi, or a Sacred Valley tour that drops you at the station at the end of the day. The train from Cusco itself exists but is not the usual way. Below we explain each option in both directions, with the timing that matters most: getting to your train on time, and getting back to Cusco at night after Machu Picchu.
How far is Ollantaytambo from Cusco?
Measured in time, which is what matters here, Ollantaytambo is about 1.5 to 2 hours from central Cusco by road on the usual route, the one that climbs over the plateau through Chinchero and drops into the valley at Urubamba. The other route, down to Pisac and along the Urubamba River through Calca, is longer and usually takes around 2 hours or a little more. Traffic leaving Cusco, roadworks and stops can add to either.
Ollantaytambo sits at the western end of the Sacred Valley, at about 2,800 m (9,200 ft), roughly 600 m lower than Cusco at 3,400 m (11,150 ft). That is one reason the trip is easy on the body: whichever route you take, you finish lower than you started. The Chinchero route climbs first to the plateau, about 3,760 m at Chinchero, before the long descent, so it is normal to feel the altitude for a while if you have only just arrived.
Beyond Ollantaytambo the road ends for most travellers, and the railway continues down the Urubamba canyon to Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu. If you are planning the whole journey, our step-by-step guide on how to get to Machu Picchu covers every leg. This article is only about the road between Cusco and Ollantaytambo, in both directions.
Cusco to Ollantaytambo: all the options compared
| Option | How it works | Approximate time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer | A car or van with driver, from your hotel door to the station | About 1.5 to 2 hours | Families, luggage, early or late trains |
| Shared tourist van | A tourist van that collects several travellers and drops them at the station | About 2 hours, plus pick-ups | Solo travellers and couples on a budget who want a fixed time |
| Colectivo or combi | Shared car or minibus that leaves Cusco when full | About 1.5 to 2 hours, plus waiting to fill | Light travellers in daylight with time to spare |
| Public bus | Local bus to Urubamba, then a colectivo to Ollantaytambo | Longer, with a change | Very tight budgets and no train to catch that day |
| Taxi | A taxi hired for the trip, with the fare agreed before leaving | About 1.5 to 2 hours | Groups of three or four without a booked transfer |
| Sacred Valley tour | A full day of sightseeing that ends at Ollantaytambo station | A full day | Seeing the valley on the way to Machu Picchu |
| PeruRail train | Trains from Poroy or San Pedro in Cusco, sold as services to Machu Picchu | Slower than the road | Rarely the right choice for this leg alone |
The two road routes: via Chinchero or via Pisac
Via Chinchero and Urubamba (the usual route). From Cusco the road climbs north-west out of the city onto the high plateau, passes the town of Chinchero, then winds down a long series of bends into the valley at Urubamba. From Urubamba it follows the river downstream to Ollantaytambo. This is the shortest and quickest way, and the one that private transfers, tourist vans and most colectivos use, especially when there is a train to catch. On a clear day the plateau has wide views of the snow peaks of the Cordillera Urubamba.
Via Pisac and Calca (the valley route). The other road leaves Cusco to the north-east, passes close to the Inca sites above the city and drops steeply to Pisac, where it meets the river. From there it follows the valley floor through Calca, Yucay and Urubamba to Ollantaytambo. It is longer, but it is the more scenic road along the river, and it lets you stop at Pisac's ruins and market. Use it when the drive is part of a day out, not when you have a tight train time.
Both routes meet at Urubamba, so the last stretch to Ollantaytambo is the same. If you would like to visit the sites along either road, our Sacred Valley guide explains each stop, including Pisac's ruins and market on the valley route.
Private transfer from Cusco to Ollantaytambo
A private transfer is the easiest way to make this trip, and the one we recommend when you have a train to catch. A driver collects you at your hotel at an agreed time, takes the quickest route and drops you at the entrance to the station. You do not have to find a stop, wait for a vehicle to fill or carry your bags through town, and the driver knows how long the road takes at that hour.
It is also the safest option for very early trains. The first PeruRail train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes leaves at 05:05 on PeruRail's May–December 2026 timetable, which means leaving Cusco in the middle of the night, when colectivos are few and you should not be waiting by the roadside. A booked transfer is the sensible way to do it.
Transfers are arranged through agencies, hotels and some train tickets. Inca Rail, for example, lists a Cusco–Ollantaytambo transfer with some of its round-trip tickets, so read what your booking includes before you arrange a separate one. Prices vary with the vehicle and the hour, so we do not quote a figure here; ask for a fixed price for your date and number of people.
Shared tourist van
Between a private transfer and a colectivo there is the shared tourist van: a minibus that collects several travellers, often at their hotels or at a meeting point in central Cusco, and drives them to Ollantaytambo for a set departure time matched to the trains. It is cheaper per person than a private car and more predictable than a colectivo, because it leaves at a fixed hour whether it is full or not.
The trade-off is time. Collecting other passengers around Cusco can add half an hour or more before you even leave the city, and you arrive with everyone else. Check the meeting point, the departure hour and what happens if the van is late, and choose a departure that leaves a comfortable margin before your train.
Cusco to Ollantaytambo by colectivo
Colectivos are shared cars and minivans, and combis are small local minibuses. They are how local people travel between Cusco and the Sacred Valley, they are the cheapest way to get to Ollantaytambo, and they leave when they are full rather than at fixed times. On a normal day there is a steady flow in daylight hours; early in the morning and at night there are far fewer.
In Cusco, colectivos to Urubamba and Ollantaytambo have long left from the area around Calle Pavitos, near Avenida Grau, a short taxi ride from the historic centre. Drivers call out the destination, and you pay the driver in soles. Stops do change, so ask at your hotel the day before for the current departure point, and do not assume a stop you have read about is still in use. Fares are not published officially and change, so carry small notes and confirm the price before you get in.
If there is no direct vehicle to Ollantaytambo when you arrive, a common alternative is to take one to Urubamba and change there for the short last stretch. It works, but each change adds waiting time, so it is not a good idea on a day you have a train ticket.
Our honest view: colectivos are fine for light travellers, in daylight, with time to spare. Seats are tight, there is little room for bags, and some drivers go fast on the mountain bends. If you have a large backpack, a train to catch within the next couple of hours or a very early or very late journey, pay for a transfer instead.
Is there a bus from Cusco to Ollantaytambo?
Not in the sense of a big intercity coach from the Cusco bus terminal. Cusco's long-distance bus terminal serves routes to Puno, Arequipa, Lima and other cities, not the Sacred Valley. What people usually mean by the bus from Cusco to Ollantaytambo is one of three things: the shared tourist vans described above, the local combis and colectivos, or a larger local bus to Urubamba, where you change to a colectivo for Ollantaytambo.
The local buses are the cheapest option of all and a real slice of daily life in the valley, with market traders, school children and sacks of produce. They are also the slowest, with frequent stops and a change in Urubamba, and they are not designed for travellers with luggage. We would only suggest them on a day when you have no train to catch.
There is one more kind of bus that matters: the bimodal service. When PeruRail's direct trains from Cusco do not run, usually in the rainy season, PeruRail sells a combined ticket with a bus from its Wanchaq station in Cusco to a station in the valley and the train from there. If you hold a bimodal ticket, the bus is part of your journey and you do not need any other transport to Ollantaytambo. Check the departure point and time printed on your ticket.
Cusco to Ollantaytambo by taxi
You can hire a taxi for the whole trip, and for three or four people it can be a reasonable alternative to a transfer you have not booked. Agree the total price, the route and whether it includes waiting or stops before you set off, because there is no meter for long trips. Ask your hotel to call a company it trusts, or use a registered taxi company, rather than accepting an offer on the street.
Many Cusco taxis are small cars with little room for luggage, so if you have suitcases or more than two large backpacks, ask for a bigger vehicle. And remember that a taxi driver may not know your train time or the station entrance: tell him both, and give yourself the same margin as with any other option.
Sacred Valley tour that ends at Ollantaytambo station
If you are travelling to Machu Picchu, the best use of this road is often not to treat it as a transfer at all. A Sacred Valley tour leaves Cusco in the morning, visits sites along the way and finishes in Ollantaytambo in the afternoon, where you board the train to Aguas Calientes. You see the valley, you reach the station, and you do it in daylight, without paying for a separate transfer.
That is how our packages work. On the Sacred Valley VIP day we visit Chinchero, Moray, the Maras salt mines, have lunch in Urubamba and then a guided visit to the Ollantaytambo archaeological complex, before taking you to the station about an hour before your train. Our Ollantaytambo guide describes what you will see in the ruins and the Inca town, and our Maras and Moray guide covers the earlier stops.
Two things to keep in mind if you book a tour that ends at the station: travel with only your small overnight backpack for Aguas Calientes, because you carry it all day, and check that the tour's finishing time matches your train. A good operator will set the visit around the train, not the other way round.
Is there a train from Cusco to Ollantaytambo?
Yes and no. PeruRail runs trains from San Pedro station in the city and from Poroy, about 20 minutes by road from central Cusco, but they are sold as services to Machu Picchu Pueblo, not as a shuttle to Ollantaytambo. On PeruRail's May–December 2026 timetable, the morning trains leave San Pedro at 06:40 and reach Machu Picchu Pueblo at about 10:52, and leave Poroy at 06:40 and arrive at about 09:54. The line climbs out of the Cusco valley in switchbacks, which is why it is slow.
So if your goal is only to reach Ollantaytambo, the road is faster and far more flexible. Even if you are going on to Machu Picchu, a road transfer to Ollantaytambo plus the train from there usually gets you to Aguas Calientes sooner, and Ollantaytambo has many more departures, from the first train at 05:05 to the evening services. The trains from Cusco make sense mainly if you want the whole journey by rail or if a particular departure suits your Machu Picchu entry hour.
In the rainy season, usually from January to April, PeruRail's direct trains from Cusco are normally replaced by bimodal services with a bus from Wanchaq station to the valley, as described above. Inca Rail runs its trains from Ollantaytambo only. Our comparison of PeruRail vs Inca Rail sets out the stations, classes and timetable logic in detail. Always confirm times on the official PeruRail or Inca Rail website before you book.
How to time your transfer with the train to Machu Picchu
Work backwards from the departure time on your train ticket. Be at Ollantaytambo station at least 30 minutes before departure, with your passport, because it is checked against the ticket at the gate. On our packages we get travellers there about an hour early, which gives room for a slow road or a queue at the entrance.
Then add the road. Allow about 2 hours from your Cusco hotel on the Chinchero route, and more in the early morning rush leaving the city, on holiday weekends or if you are taking a colectivo that still has to fill. For a morning train that means leaving Cusco very early; for the 05:05 train it means a pick-up in the middle of the night, which is why most of our travellers take an afternoon train after a Sacred Valley day instead.
The station is on the edge of town by the river, a short walk downhill from the main square. Depending on traffic around departure times, you may have to walk the last stretch with your bag. Both PeruRail and Inca Rail use the station, and it gets busy in the half hour before each departure.
If you have a Machu Picchu entry the same day, the train time is not your only deadline. Leave at least two hours between the train's arrival in Aguas Calientes and your entry hour for the bus up and the queue. With an early entry, sleep in Aguas Calientes the night before: no train from Ollantaytambo arrives early enough.
Ollantaytambo to Cusco: coming back after Machu Picchu
On the way back, the train from Aguas Calientes returns to Ollantaytambo and you still have 1.5 to 2 hours by road to Cusco. Many return trains run in the late afternoon and evening, and on PeruRail's May–December 2026 timetable the last departures from Machu Picchu Pueblo reach Ollantaytambo late at night, the very last close to midnight. That means you often arrive in Cusco late in the evening or after midnight.
This is where a pre-booked transfer really earns its keep. Your driver meets you outside the station with your name on a sign, and you are on the road within minutes of getting off the train. Colectivos and taxis do wait outside the station when trains come in, and drivers call out "Cusco", but after dark we prefer that our travellers do not bargain with strangers in a crowd, tired, with bags. If you do take one, choose a vehicle with other travellers, agree the price before loading your bags, and make sure it is going all the way to Cusco.
Inca Rail includes a connection to Cusco on some of its tickets, and PeruRail's bimodal services bring you back by bus in the rainy season; in both cases the details are on your ticket. Check it before you arrange anything else, so you do not pay twice.
A last practical point: do not book a flight out of Cusco on the evening you come back from Machu Picchu. Trains can run late, especially in the rainy season, and the road at night is slower. Plan your flight for the next day, and leave a free afternoon if you can. Our Cusco airport guide explains the timings on the day you fly.
Sleeping in the Sacred Valley instead of going back to Cusco
You do not have to make the round trip on the same day. If your train arrives late, or if you want to spend a day in the valley, you can sleep in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba and travel to Cusco the next morning, in daylight and without hurry. The valley is lower than Cusco and many travellers sleep better there.
It works the other way too. Spending the night before your train in Ollantaytambo means the transfer is a ten-minute walk, and you can visit the ruins early in the morning, when they are quiet. If your trip has a spare night, ask us how it would fit your dates.
Luggage between Cusco and Ollantaytambo
- The road is not the problem; the train is. A private transfer or taxi will carry suitcases, but the trains to Machu Picchu will not. As of 2026, PeruRail allows one backpack of up to 8 kg and 100 cm, or one carry-on of up to 12 kg and 115 cm, and Inca Rail one piece of hand luggage of up to 8 kg and 118 linear cm.
- Leave your suitcase in Cusco. Hotels store luggage for their guests, and on our packages your big bags stay at your Cusco hotel until you return.
- Colectivos have little room. Bags may go on the roof, in a small boot or on your lap. Keep valuables, passport and train tickets on you, never on the roof.
- On a Sacred Valley tour, carry everything for the night. You will not pass through Cusco again before the train, so pack your overnight bag before leaving the hotel in the morning.
- Check the PeruRail vs Inca Rail rules for your class. Our PeruRail vs Inca Rail comparison has both companies' luggage limits side by side.
Safety tips for the Cusco–Ollantaytambo road
- Travel in daylight when you can. The road over the plateau has long bends and fog in the rainy season, and fewer vehicles run at night.
- Use a booked transfer for very early and very late journeys. Do not wait by the roadside in the dark for a colectivo.
- Choose official or recommended operators. Ask your hotel, or book through a licensed agency. Avoid unmarked cars offering rides on the street.
- Agree the price first. With taxis and colectivos, settle the fare and the destination before you put your bags in.
- Wear your seatbelt and speak up. If a driver is going too fast on the bends, ask him to slow down; most will.
- Keep documents on you. Your passport and train and Machu Picchu tickets go in your day pack or a money belt, not in a bag on the roof.
- Mind the altitude. If you have just arrived in Cusco, the climb to the plateau can bring a headache or nausea. Drink water and see our altitude sickness guide.
- Have offline maps and the hotel's number. Mobile signal on parts of the road and in the valley is patchy.
How our packages handle this leg
- On the way there: the Sacred Valley VIP day is Day 4 of the Peru 7 days package and Day 6 of the Peru 9 days package. We leave your Cusco hotel in the morning, visit Chinchero, Moray and Maras, have lunch in Urubamba and visit Ollantaytambo with a guide, then take you to the station about an hour before your train to Aguas Calientes.
- On the way back: after Machu Picchu, you take the train to Ollantaytambo and our transport takes you on to your hotel in Cusco.
- Inca Trail travellers: on the Classic Inca Trail 4 days we return you to Cusco the same way, by train to Ollantaytambo and road transport, so you never have to look for a colectivo after four days of walking.
- Included: transport, guide and the train on these days, with the times already matched to your Machu Picchu entry. The 7-day package is from US$998 per person.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from Cusco to Ollantaytambo?
About 1.5 to 2 hours by road on the usual route via Chinchero and Urubamba, and usually a little more via Pisac and Calca. Allow extra time for traffic leaving Cusco and, with a colectivo, for the vehicle to fill.
What is the best way to get from Cusco to Ollantaytambo?
With a train to catch, a private transfer from your hotel to the station is the safest and simplest. If you are going on to Machu Picchu and have the day, a Sacred Valley tour that ends at Ollantaytambo station is the best use of the road. Colectivos are the cheapest option for light travellers in daylight.
Where do colectivos to Ollantaytambo leave from in Cusco?
They have long left from the area around Calle Pavitos, near Avenida Grau, a short taxi ride from the historic centre. Departure points change, so ask your hotel for the current one the day before. Colectivos leave when they are full and run mostly in daylight.
Is there a direct train from Cusco to Ollantaytambo?
PeruRail runs trains from San Pedro and Poroy in Cusco, but they are sold as services to Machu Picchu Pueblo and are slower than the road. From January to April they are usually replaced by bimodal bus and train services. For Ollantaytambo itself, go by road.
How do I get from Ollantaytambo back to Cusco at night?
Book a transfer to meet you at the station, or check whether your train ticket includes a bus connection to Cusco. Colectivos and taxis wait for arriving trains, but after dark a pre-booked vehicle is safer. Expect 1.5 to 2 hours on the road.
How early should I arrive at Ollantaytambo station?
At least 30 minutes before departure, with your passport, which is checked against your ticket. On our packages we arrive about an hour early. From Cusco, allow about 2 hours on the road on top of that.
Can I take my suitcase from Cusco to Ollantaytambo?
In a transfer or taxi, yes, but it will not go on the train to Machu Picchu, which only allows one small backpack or carry-on. Leave your suitcase at your Cusco hotel and travel with an overnight bag.
Is it safe to take a colectivo from Cusco to Ollantaytambo?
Thousands of local people use them every day, and in daylight they are generally fine for light travellers. Agree the fare first, keep your documents on you, and avoid them very early in the morning, at night or when you have a tight train connection.
Official sources: PeruRail: official train timetables between Cusco, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu · PeruRail: official timetable May–December 2026 (Machu Picchu, Poroy, San Pedro, Urubamba, bimodal and Titicaca trains, PDF) · PeruRail: luggage allowed on board the trains to Machu Picchu · Inca Rail: official train services between Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu · Inca Rail: comparison of its train services (The Voyager, The 360°, The Prime, The First Class, The Private) · Inca Rail: luggage policy on its trains to Machu Picchu · CDC Yellow Book: High Altitude Travel and Altitude Illness
