Inca stonework, Andean markets & the lost city
This is leg 1 of 2, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Cusco & Machu Picchu
Cusco to Sacred Valley
Cusco and Sacred Valley sit about 25 km (16 mi) apart in a straight line, with Sacred Valley to the north-west. It is leg 1 of 2 on our Cusco & Machu Picchu itinerary, a 7-day trip. Here is how long it takes by train, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 25 km · 16 mi
- Est. road distance
- 30–36 km
- Est. drive time
- 25–45 min
- Direction
- Heading north-west
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By train
Our Cusco & Machu Picchu itinerary is planned around rail, so a train is the likely way to cover this leg. Timetables and direct connections vary — check the operator before you book.
By car
Driving is an estimated 30–36 km (19–22 mi) and 25–45 min at typical average speeds, not a routed time.
Most travelers fly into Cusco, then use vans, buses or private drivers around the Sacred Valley. From Ollantaytambo a scenic train climbs to the town below Machu Picchu, and a shuttle bus or a hike covers the final stretch to the site.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Sacred Valley
Give it two days: Pisac and the market one day, Chinchero, Maras and Moray the next, ending in Ollantaytambo for the train.
Pisac Archaeological Park
Terraced Inca citadel high above the town with temples and cliff tombs.
Pisac Market
Craft and produce market around Pisac's plaza, liveliest on Sundays.
MIL Centro
Virgilio Martínez's restaurant beside Moray serving Andean ingredients in tasting menus.
Cervecería del Valle Sagrado
Craft brewery and taproom on the valley road near Ollantaytambo.
Chinchero
Village with Inca terraces, a colonial church and weaving cooperatives.
Salineras de Maras
Thousands of terraced salt pans fed by a salty spring, worked since pre-Inca times.
Before you leave Cusco
Take two to three days here to acclimatize: colonial center and Inca walls, San Blas cafés, and the ruins above town.
On this curated route
Where Cusco → Sacred Valley sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Sacred Valley to Cusco is the same 25 km in a straight line, heading south-east. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Cusco to Sacred Valley: questions travelers ask
How far is Cusco from Sacred Valley?
Cusco is about 25 km (16 mi) from Sacred Valley in a straight line, with Sacred Valley to the north-west. By road, we estimate 30–36 km (19–22 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Cusco to Sacred Valley?
An estimated 25–45 min, assuming 30–36 km of road at average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day. Our itinerary leans on rail, so check train times too.
Which itineraries include the trip from Cusco to Sacred Valley?
Our Cusco & Machu Picchu itinerary includes this leg. Cusco & Machu Picchu runs about 7 days across 3 stops, best in May – Sep.
Onward from Sacred Valley
Guides for both ends
- Cusco travel guide
- Cusco weather best time to visit
- Sacred Valley travel guide
- Sacred Valley weather best time to visit
Sacred Valley by month
Plan Cusco → Sacred Valley with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.