Sacred Valley · highlight

Ollantaytambo: the fortress, the Inca town and the train station

Short answerOllantaytambo is a terraced fortress-temple above the only Inca town still lived in on its original plan, at 2,790 m, the lowest point of the tour. All four versions visit at 14:15 for an hour. On the two ending in Ollantaytambo, the tour finishes here at 15:30, next to the station for the train to Machu Picchu.

Altitude: 2,790 m
Compared with Cusco: 560 m below Cusco
Entrance: Boleto Turístico
Visited by: 4 of the 4 versions
Time on site: 1 h visit

The fortress-temple

Stone terraces climb the hillside to the Temple of the Sun, where its six monoliths still stand.

A town still lived in

Below, the streets keep their Inca-era layout and people still live in them. It’s the only inhabited Inca town that keeps its original plan.

What time do you reach Ollantaytambo?

All four versions meet here after lunch; what changes is whether the day ends in town or carries on. Reference time.

Version	You arrive	Visit	Place on the route	Previous leg	Next
Traditional Sacred ValleyReturning to Cusco	14:15	1 h visit	Stop 4 of 5	1 h 10 to Ollantaytambo	1 h 30 to Chinchero
Traditional Sacred ValleyEnding in Ollantaytambo	14:15	1 h visit	Last stop	1 h 10 to Ollantaytambo	service ends in Ollantaytambo
Sacred Valley + Maras & MorayReturning to Cusco	14:15	1 h visit	Stop 5 of 6	1 h 10 to Ollantaytambo	1 h 50 to Pisac
Sacred Valley + Maras & MorayEnding in Ollantaytambo	14:15	1 h visit	Last stop	1 h 10 to Ollantaytambo	service ends in Ollantaytambo

Your connection

If you end here: from tour to train

The tour ends at 15:30 in Ollantaytambo, a few minutes from the station. These are the two trains we recommend.

15:0016:0017:0018:0019:0020:001 h 06 min3 h 30 min

15:30Tour ends
Ollantaytambo

Until the Inca Rail train: 1 h 06 minUntil the PeruRail train: 3 h 30 min

16:36Inca Rail

19:00PeruRail

Train 16:36 · Inca Rail

1 h 06 min to spare · at the station by 16:06

From the tour to the station with no long wait, and the valley from the window in the afternoon light. Inca Rail requires you 30 minutes before boarding: be at the station by 16:06.

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Recommended

Train 19:00 · PeruRail

3 h 30 min to spare · at the station by 18:30

Time to wander the town and have an unhurried dinner before boarding. PeruRail requires you at the station 30 minutes before boarding: by 18:30 you’re there.

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Sleeping in Ollantaytambo? Train the next morning Another train? Message us on WhatsApp

Indicative schedules: each rail company sets them and they change by season. Confirm yours when you buy your ticket.

For your visit

It’s the lowest stop of the day: 560 m below Cusco.
If you end here, see the trains that fit best and check your margin in end in Cusco or Ollantaytambo.
The archaeological site is covered by the Boleto Turístico.

Versions that stop at Ollantaytambo

★ 4.9

Frequently asked questions

How high is Ollantaytambo?

At about 2,790 m, the lowest point of the tour and 560 m below Cusco.

What to see in Ollantaytambo?

The terraced fortress-temple, the Temple of the Sun with its six monoliths and the Inca town still lived in on its original plan.

Can I end the tour in Ollantaytambo?

Yes. The versions ending in Ollantaytambo finish here at 15:30 and cost US$1 less, designed for the train to Machu Picchu.

Do I need a ticket for Ollantaytambo?

Yes, the archaeological site is visited with the Boleto Turístico, paid separately.