Ollantaytambo tours: choose the start and finish
Ollantaytambo tours can serve quite different journeys. A day beginning in Cusco can bring you through the Sacred Valley and finish in town, while a private outing collected from an Ollantaytambo hotel takes you out and back. Start with where you will sleep before and after the excursion. That decision tells you whether a station drop-off, a return journey or a local pickup is actually useful.
The comparison here covers three valley outings. Two begin in Cusco; the private Maras and Moray trip collects in Ollantaytambo. Their guiding, transport and meal arrangements differ, and archaeological admission needs separate attention. For a visit centred on the terraces themselves, use the ruins and fortress guide. For other routes and combinations, follow the topic links rather than treating every activity as the same day tour.
Our picks: Ollantaytambo tours
For a station finish, choose the valley trip from Cusco. For a shorter private outing, the Maras and Moray trip starts at your Ollantaytambo hotel.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of November 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private Maras and Moray trip
- Round trip transportation
- Bilingual guide (English/Spanish)
Entry to Maras and Moray is extra.
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Sacred Valley trip ending at the station
- Bilingual guide
- Buffet lunch in Urubamba
- Drop-off at the train station
The tourist ticket and salt mine entry are extra. Return transport to Cusco is not included.
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Sacred Valley day trip from Cusco
- Tourist mobility (shared service)
- Buffet lunch (Urubamba)
- Visit to the textile center of Chinchero
The listing also mentions hotel pickup, so confirm the meeting point. Tourist and salt mine tickets are extra; do not count on Pisac if leaving early in Ollantaytambo.
Check availability →Compare valley days and a private Maras outing
Choose between a Cusco departure ending at the station, a shared valley route and a private return trip from an Ollantaytambo hotel.
Arrive through Chinchero, Moray and the salt mines
The Chinchero, Moray and salt mines itinerary is listed as an eight-hour outing. Hotel pickup is in Cusco, and the final drop-off is Ollantaytambo railway station. A bilingual guide, transport and buffet lunch in Urubamba are included. Return transportation to Cusco is excluded, which makes the final stop an important part of choosing this trip rather than a minor detail.
The Boleto Turístico and salt mines admission are extra, as are drinks and tips. If you intend to continue by rail, arrange the tour finish and train departure as separate appointments, with time for station procedures between them. A station drop-off is a transport endpoint, not a rail reservation. For the next leg, consult the train guide and keep the actual train ticket alongside your tour confirmation.
Shared Sacred Valley route from Cusco
The broader valley day is listed as nine hours and uses shared tourist transport. Its inclusions cover a professional English and Spanish guide, buffet lunch in Urubamba and a visit to the Chinchero textile centre. It is a Cusco departure. The pickup wording mentions a hotel while the meeting information names the fountain at the main square, so obtain the specific meeting arrangement for your reservation.
The itinerary takes in valley sites including Pisac and Ollantaytambo, with an early finish in Ollantaytambo possible. If you choose that finish, leave the later Pisac visit out of your expectations. Archaeological admission and salt mines entry are extra. This choice suits travellers comparing a shared valley route against a one-way arrival day, but the final stop needs to match the rest of your journey.
Private return outing from your hotel in town
The private Maras and Moray trip begins at an Ollantaytambo hotel and includes return transportation and a bilingual English and Spanish guide. The stored duration is four and a half hours. Meals, Maras admission and the Boleto for Moray are extra. This provides a useful contrast with the Cusco departures: your accommodation in town is the starting point, and the journey returns rather than leaving you to arrange the next road leg.
Moray belongs to the Boleto Turístico valley circuit, while the salt mines have a separate admission arrangement. The Sacred Valley guide explains those destinations and other valley itineraries. If your priority is a private fortress visit or a longer combination instead of this return outing, compare the distinct starting points on the private tours page.
Admission and onward journeys
The Boleto Turístico is separate from guiding and transport. The Valle Sagrado partial ticket covers Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero and Moray; the salt mines and Machu Picchu require different entry arrangements. Buy the Boleto in person and carry identification. Its validity starts on the purchase date, so consider the order of your site visits before choosing a purchase day.
For Machu Picchu packages, compare the overall departure point as well as the train section from Ollantaytambo. These packages answer a different need from the valley days here. The classic Inca Trail is a regulated trek with permits and camping, requiring its own multiday plan. If you are still deciding how to reach town, begin with arrival from Cusco and work forward to the visit you want.
Tour booking questions
Which outing collects from Ollantaytambo?
The private Maras and Moray outing includes collection from a hotel in Ollantaytambo and return transportation, with a bilingual guide. Meals and admissions are extra.
Does the Chinchero route return to Cusco?
The described Chinchero, Moray and salt mines day ends at Ollantaytambo station. Return transportation to Cusco is excluded.
Can I finish the shared valley day in town?
An early finish in Ollantaytambo is possible. Choose that version with the understanding that the later Pisac visit is not part of your remaining day.
Are entry fees included with these trips?
Budget separately for the Boleto Turístico and salt mines admission. Guiding, transport and the meals specified for each outing are different components from those entry fees.