Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There & Away
Bus & Taxi
Frequent
combis
and
colectivos
shuttle between Urubamba and Ollantaytambo (S1.50/
2.50, 30 minutes), from 6am to around 5pm. To get to Cuzco, it's easiest to change in
Urubamba, though there are occasional departures direct from the train station in Ol-
lantaytambo to Cuzco's Puente Grau (
combis
S10, two hours,
colectivos
S12, 1½ hours).
Even though Ollantaytambo is closer to Santa María (for those traveling on to Santa
Teresa) and Quillabamba, those buses pass through here already full. It's best to backtrack
to Urubamba's bus terminal to get a seat.
Train
Ollantaytambo is a transport hub between Cuzco and Machu Picchu: the cheapest and
quickest way to travel between Cuzco and Machu Picchu is to catch a
combi
between
Cuzco and Ollantaytambo (two hours), and then the train between Ollantaytambo and
Aguas Calientes (two hours). Three companies currently offer the service:
Peru Rail
(
www.perurail.com
;
Av Ferrocarril s/n; 5am-9pm)
Formerly the only ser-
vice to Aguas Calientes, with multiple departures daily. There are three levels of service:
Expedition (from US$98 roundtrip), Vistadome (from US$146 roundtrip) and the luxuri-
ous special service (from US$540 roundtrip).
Inca Rail
( 43-6732;
www.incarail.com
; Av Ferrocarril s/n)
New company with three
departures daily from Ollantaytambo and four levels of service (roundtrip US$82-180).
Children get a significant discount. An environmentally sustainable practice business.
Machu Picchu Train
(
www.machupicchutrain.com
; Av Ferrocarril s/n)
A new service of
panoramic view trains, travels only from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (roundtrip
adult/child from US$100/70) three times daily in high season. Breakfast or snacks may be
served.
Show up at least one day beforehand to buy tickets; during high season, make reserva-
tions as far in advance as possible. Buy a return ticket. Trains leaving Aguas Calientes
usually fill up since the vast number of people who hike to Machu Picchu return to Cuzco
by train.
