Urubamba, Peru Travel Guide
City City in Cuzco Department, Peru near Sacred Valley
In the Sacred Valley, Urubamba offers market stalls, high-altitude cornfields and views of surrounding Andean terraces. Hikers, photographers and visitors bound for Ollantaytambo or Machu Picchu use it as a practical, food-forward base.
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Why Visit Urubamba, Peru? #
Urubamba sits in Peru’s Sacred Valley as a cultural and culinary hub between Pisac and Ollantaytambo. The town’s markets, traditional weaving and seasonal festivals showcase Andean life, and local cuisine-roasted corn, pachamanca and cuy-ties food to ancient farming practices. Travelers use Urubamba as a base for exploring Inca terraces, nearby ruins and the railway routes up toward Machu Picchu.
Best Things to Do in Urubamba, Peru
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Urubamba, Peru Bucket List
- Plaza de Armas de Urubamba - Central square with colonial church, cafes and a good base for valley excursions.
- Mercado de Urubamba - Lively market selling fresh Andean produce, textiles, and regional street-food specialties.
- Local weaving cooperatives - Small artisan shops where traditional weavers demonstrate techniques and sell handwoven goods.
- Kuchuy Qosqo viewpoints - Less-visited terraces and viewpoints near small Inca ruins offering panoramic valley scenes.
- Andean farm visits - Family-run farms offering insight into traditional potato varieties, llamas and local agriculture.
- Riverside picnic spots - Shaded riverbanks ideal for relaxed lunches with views of surrounding Andean peaks.
- Machu Picchu (via Ollantaytambo) - Iconic Incan citadel reached by train from Ollantaytambo, accessible as a full-day excursion.
- Maras and Moray - Salt terraces at Maras and the circular, experimental agricultural terraces of Moray close by.
Best Time to Visit Urubamba, Peru #
Urubamba is best visited in the dry season (May-September) for reliable trails and clear views of the Sacred Valley. The wet months bring lush landscapes but more travel disruption and cloud cover.
Best Time to Visit Urubamba, Peru #
Urubamba, Peru's climate is classified as Cold Semi-Arid - Cold Semi-Arid climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 4°C to 24°C. Moderate rainfall (507 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 8°C. The wettest month with 96 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 9°C. Regular rainfall (92 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (74 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (36 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 6°C. Light rainfall.
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June
June is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 5°C. The driest month with just 3 mm.
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July
July is the coolest month with highs of 22°C and lows of 4°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 5°C. Almost no rain.
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September
September is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 7°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 24°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (31 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is cool with highs of 24°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 9°C. Regular rainfall (86 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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How to Get to Urubamba, Peru
Urubamba sits in Peru's Sacred Valley and is reached via Cusco (CUZ). The usual route is flying into Cusco and continuing by road (private transfer or colectivo) or combining train and road travel via Ollantaytambo for rail connections.
Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ), Cusco: Cusco is the main air gateway for visitors to the Sacred Valley. From Cusco to Urubamba the road transfer typically takes about 1-1.5 hours by car depending on traffic; private transfers and colectivos (shared vans) are common.
Juliaca / Lima connections: International visitors may arrive into Lima (LIM) and connect by domestic flight to Cusco; from Cusco continue by road to Urubamba. There are no direct commercial flights into Urubamba itself-use Cusco as your hub.
Train: The railway in the Sacred Valley (PeruRail and Inca Rail) serves stations such as Poroy (Cusco), Ollantaytambo, and Aguas Calientes; Urubamba is close to Ollantaytambo and served by taxi/van from those stations. Tourist train routes are scheduled and priced by service class.
Bus / Colectivo: Shared minibuses (colectivos) and private buses run Cusco-Urubamba and connect valley towns; travel time is usually around 1-1.5 hours by road and fares are modest-colectivos depart when full from designated pickup points.
How to Get Around Urubamba, Peru #
Urubamba is compact enough to walk around the central area and market, but many visitors use taxis or colectivo minibuses to reach nearby Sacred Valley sites like Ollantaytambo and Pisac. Regular shared vans run between the valley towns and Cusco, making side trips straightforward if you know departure points. If you plan multiple day trips or early starts for hikes and train departures, book private transport or confirm colectivo times the day before.
Where to Stay in Urubamba, Peru #
- Sol y Luna (budget rooms) - Simple rooms in a lodge atmosphere
- Urubamba budget listings (Booking) - Range of small guesthouses listed nearby
- Sol y Luna Lodge & Spa - Comfortable boutique lodge with spa
- Hotel Siglo XVI - Central, traditional style hotel
- Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa - Large resort with riverfront grounds
- Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba - High-end eco-focused hacienda stay
Where to Eat in Urubamba, Peru #
Breakdown of cuisine types found across Urubamba, Peru's restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.
Nightlife in Urubamba, Peru #
Nightlife in Urubamba is modest - quiet bars and restaurants provide evening meals and occasional live music, but there’s no major club scene. Most travellers head to larger towns or enjoy relaxed dinners in local eateries.
Shopping in Urubamba, Peru #
Urubamba’s main market serves both locals and visitors with fresh produce, Andean textiles and basic crafts; it’s a good place to buy local foodstuffs and everyday handicrafts. For a broader selection of artisan goods, nearby Pisac and Ollantaytambo have larger tourist markets.
