How To Get to Pisac

Getting from Cusco to Pisac:

Journey time: 45 – 50 minutes.

Distance: 28km.

Road type: Two-way, paved road. Spectacular views of the Andes Mountains but be prepared for windy curves and sharp drops off the side of the road.

Colectivo: Take the colectivo (a shared mini-bus service) to Pisac from the top of Puputi Street in Cusco. Fares approx. S/.4 (Approx. US$1.50.) There is another colectivo service across the road that goes to Calca and can also drop you off in Pisac but it costs slightly more at S/.6 (Approx. US$2.15)

Taxi: If you want to travel in greater comfort ask your hotel to organise a taxi to take you to Pisac. Prices vary according to hotels. If you pick up a taxi on the street, make sure it’s a licensed taxi. Fares should be between S/.50 – S/.60 (Approx. US$17.85 – US$21.50)

Car hire: A great way to see the sacred Valley is by car hire. Cusco however, is a daunting place to drive with poor signage, congestion and no real rules of the road in operation! Our advice, if you go for this option is to hire a car and drive out of Cusco as quickly as possible. Once you leave the city behind it’s a beautiful way to see the Sacred Valley of the Incas and Cusco’s South Valley. The main car hire companies in Cusco are the usual suspects Hertz, Avis, and Budget. There are some tour agencies that rent cars in Cusco but we recommend going to the big names where you can be sure of getting good quality, well maintained cars and adequate insurance.

Bus: Get the bus from the bus terminal in Cusco. We recommend you avoid the bus on the route from Cusco to Pisaq and instead take the colectivo which is safer, quicker and more comfortable. The bus tends to take longer and there has been frequent accidents over the past few years with old badly maintained buses and poor drivers. Bus fares approx. S/.2.50 (Approx. US$1.25).

Getting from Pisac to Cusco:

Taxi: You can take a taxi from Pisac to Cusco at the official taxi cooperative office which is located just in front of the bridge on Avenida Amazonas where you are guaranteed a clean car in decent condition with a registered driver. Fares to Cusco cost between S/.50 – S/.60 (Approx. US$17.85 – US$21.50).

A shared taxi service also operates from just in front of the bridge on Avenida Amazonas for S/.5 per person. (Approx. US$1.80.) Taxis depart once they have 4 passengers.

Colectivo: Other than a taxi this is one of the quickest and most comfortable ways of getting from Pisaqcto Cusco. These mini-buses or colectivos are in decent condition and go directly to Cusco with no stops along the way. Drivers can sometimes fly around the corners so just ask for them to slow down and they will usually do so. Fares S/. 4 (Approx. US$1.50.)

Buses: You can take any of the buses that stop on the Avenida Amazonas, the main road that runs through Pisaq just outside the Chaska Pisac Hotel to the bus terminal in Cusco. There is often a large queue of people particularly in afternoons and early evenings. Buses are old and noisy and usually crammed with people. Fares approx. S/.3.50 (Approx. US$1.25) We highly recommend taking the colectivo (mini-bus service) instead of the bus as there has recently been a few bus accidents on this route.

Getting from Pisac to Urubamba:

Journey time: 45 minutes.

Distance: 39.8km

Road type: Two-way, paved road. This is a flat road that winds through the bottom of the Sacred Valley of the Incas with great views of the surrounding mountains.

Taxi: You can take a taxi from Pisac to Urubamba at the official taxi cooperative office which is located just in front of the bridge on Avenida Amazonas. Fares cost S/.50 (Approx. US$18). Alternatively ask your hotel to organise a taxi for you.

Buses: Urubamba is just one hour from Pisad so if you want to experience how the locals travel catch the Clorinda de Matto or Richary bus at the corner of the hospital on Avenida Amazonas. Fares cost S./2.50 (Approx. US$1)

Getting from Pisac to Ollantaytambo:

Journey time: 45 minutes.

Distance: 58.6km

Road type: Two-way, paved road. This is a flat road that winds through the bottom of the Sacred Valley of the Incas with great views of the surrounding mountains.

Taxi: You can take a taxi from Pisac to Ollantaytambo at the taxi cooperative office which is located just in front of the bridge on Avenida Amazonas. Fares cost S./80 (Approx. US$29) Alternatively ask your hotel to organise a taxi for you.

Buses: Take the bus to Urubamba at the corner of the hospital on Avenida Amazonas. (See instructions above) Fares cost S./2.50 (Approx. US$1) When you arrive in the bus terminal in Urubamba cross to the other side of the terminal and take a colectivo to Ollantaytambo. Fares cost approx. S./1.50 (Approx. US$0.60) and journey time is approximately 30 minutes.