Ways to get to the Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley of the Incas is quite extensive, covering more than 100 kilometers long and running from west to north in the territory of Cusco. There are two direct roads that connect Cusco with the Sacred Valley and connect the towns of Pisac, Urubamba y Ollantaytambo. The Alejandro Velasco Astete airport in Cusco is the closest to the Sacred Valley. To get to the Incas' Sacred Valley, you must first arrive in Cusco; generally your visit will start in the town of Pisac and continue through the city of Urubamba and then visit the beautiful town of Ollantaytambo; from here it is possible to take the train Machu Picchu; but you will not be able to enter the Inca city without reserving the Machu Picchu tickets in advance.
By bus
The buses leave every day from Cusco to all the cities of the Sacred Valley; You will find buses that leave every 15 minutes towards Ollantaytambo. Bus tickets cost around S / 15 soles. And they are the cheapest way to travel through the valley; However, an organized tour will save you the time you spend making transport connections; In addition, you will travel safer and more comfortable.
Getting to Pisac by bus will take you 45 minutes to an hour and costs approximately S / 7. After arriving in Pisac, you can walk 5 minutes to the market or visit the ruins of Pisac, in the upper part of the city. From Pisac, you can go to Urubamba in 30 minutes, or to Ollantaytambo in 1 hour; prices vary between 5 and 10 soles.
You can also get directly from Cusco to Urubamba. The trip takes around an hour and a half and costs S / 6. From Urubamba you can visit the towns of Maras, Moray and Yucay, all of which are just a few minutes from this city; then you can continue to Ollantaytambo (30 minutes). Be sure to bring plenty of change to pay for buses through the Sacred Valley. Buses to tour the Sacred Valley can be taken at the "Calle Pavitos" or in the "Puputi Street", in progress.
In collectives or taxis
Collectives are a popular and profitable way to get to the Sacred Valley. Small cars or minivans leave Cusco once full; This service can cost between 15 and 20 soles per person; You can find the buses at various points in the city of Cusco, in the Pavitos Street, in the main square Ollantaytambo (return), and in the way to Cusco- Pisac.
Taxis are the fastest and most convenient way to get to the Sacred Valley; They cost between S /. 60 and 120 soles depending on where you want to go. Taxis are often speeding along valley roads, so if you think your driver is taking unnecessary risks, don't be afraid to tell him to slow down.
On an organized tour
Join a group in a pre-organized tour, is the most popular way to tour the Sacred Valley of the Incas. In addition to acquiring the Machu Picchu tickets For you, They can take care of organizing your entire itinerary and transportation through the Sacred Valley. This guarantees you qualified guides, reliable drivers and greater comfort. It also means that you won't waste "valuable" time making transport connections yourself. In most cases an organized tour begins in Cusco, with stops in Pisac, its market, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo and the town of Chincheros back to Cusco. One of the best options for people traveling to Machu Picchu is to spend the night in Ollantaytambo and continue to Machu Picchu on the first train in the morning, instead of returning to Cusco.
On a private tour
Exploring the Sacred Valley on a private tour gives you greater flexibility in your route schedules and itinerary. You can decide which places you want to spend more time, such as the Pisac market or somewhere that draws your attention to others.