City, Peru
Getting around Cusco
How to get around Cusco
The center is walkable but hilly, with altitude making it tiring. Taxis and colectivos are cheap; trains and buses reach Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley.
Ways to get around Cusco
| Option | Fare | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi (hotel or app) | About 6–12 PEN in town | Agree the price first; apps work, though some drivers dislike them |
| Combi / colectivo | About 1–2 PEN | Crowded local vans; avoid with luggage or at night |
| Train to Machu Picchu | From about 200–500 USD return | PeruRail or Inca Rail from Poroy or Ollantaytambo; book early |
| Bus to Sacred Valley | About 8–15 PEN | Colectivos and buses to Pisac, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo |
Ride-hailing apps in Cusco
A 5 km ride costs about S/6–12 ($1.7–3.5).
| App | Notes |
|---|---|
| inDrive | Negotiate fares; widely used by locals |
| Uber | Works but some taxi drivers object; use at hotel pickups |
- Hail taxis from your hotel, or use apps at night. Street taxis are cheap but a theft risk after dark.
Arriving in Cusco
Alejandro Velasco Astete (CUZ)
Taxi to the center about 20–35 PEN, 20–30 min; Uber or inDrive often cheaper. Flights from Lima take about 1.5 hours.
Driving and onward travel
- Driving: on the right. Tourists can drive with a home licence plus an IDP for a limited period; driving in Lima is chaotic.
- Onward travel in Peru: Premium overnight buses (Cruz del Sur, Oltursa) link the coast and Andes; flying Lima–Cusco saves a long day. Trains run only to Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca.
Quick answers
Is there Uber in Cusco?
Yes. Apps that work here: inDrive, Uber.
What's the best way to get around Cusco?
The center is walkable but hilly, with altitude making it tiring. Taxis and colectivos are cheap; trains and buses reach Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley.
How do I get from the airport to Cusco?
Taxi to the center about 20–35 PEN, 20–30 min; Uber or inDrive often cheaper. Flights from Lima take about 1.5 hours.
Is Cusco walkable?
Walkable center.
More about Cusco
Going to Cusco solo?
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Sources
- Cruz del Sur
- PeruRail
- Inca Rail
- redBus Peru
- Machu Picchu official tickets
- PeruRail
- Inca Rail
- PROMPERÚ (Peru Travel)
Fares are typical 2026 prices; check the operator for today's fares. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.