Urubamba is a small town in Peru within the Sacred Valley of the Incas that is 48 km from Cusco.
It is calmer and less tourist-oriented than Cusco and most other towns in the Sacred Valley, although it largely lacks their historic sites. At 3000 m of elevation, it's a good place to adjust to the altitude for a day or two. The town is a crossroads from which you can change buses or colectivos for various local destinations.
Ask your hotel to arrange a taxi, or if you pick up a taxi on the street, make sure it’s licensed. S/50-S/60.
By taxi, it is about 45 min from Cusco airport.
Get a colectivo from the taxi terminal on Pavitos Street from early morning to 18:30. 1 hour, S/7 per person. Colectivos leave when they have four passengers. Safer, quicker and more comfortable than the bus.
The city of Cusco has poor signage, congestion and no real rules of the road in operation. Get out of Cusco as quickly as possible, then enjoy the beauty of the region. Hertz, Avis, and Budget have agencies in Cusco.
From the bus terminal on Grau Street. 1½-2 hours until Cusco. Buses leave every 15 minutes from dawn until 18:30. S/3.50.
The main town is small enough to get around by foot; it's centered around the Plaza de Armas.
Perfect place for starting a journey to the Southern Andes.
Urubamba has an ordinary, non-touristy fruit and vegetable market that's good.
Textiles and handicrafts are for sale as usual. The local market is a good place to try Andean produce.
Anywhere! The restaurants around town cater to locals, and are often menu places, meaning they have a set option, arroz con pollo or lomo saltado usually with sopa as a starter, all for a reduced rate usually S/3-5. If you are craving American style fair, try The Muse, right off the main plaza. Try their camote chips, superburger, and brownie with icecream.
At the project Niños del Arco Iris, is a possibility to stay and sleep in the casa´s that are there for people who are interested in the project.
Niños del Arco Iris is a project, founded by a Dutch woman that gave up everything in Holland to look after the poorest children in Urubamba and surroundings. She has 17 children living with her and another 120 children that come to the project for food, a shower and education.
Also 80 young adults get education every day. There's also a doctor and a dentist where the poorest people in the valley can go to.
2nd-order administrative division
Primary administrative division