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Voykit pocket guide · Peru
Chinchero
Half-day stop between Cusco and Urubamba: see the Inca terraces and colonial church, then move on. Not a base.
Chinchero sits at 3,762 m, higher than Cusco, and offers a compact set of Inca terraces and a 17th-century church with frescoes. The Sunday market is the main draw, but on other days the ruins are quiet. Most travellers pass through on the way to Urubamba or Maras.
- Country
- Peru
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (rain)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- PEN
- Money
- Currency is the Peruvian sol (PEN, S/). Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants in Lima and Cusco; markets, small towns, taxis and entrance fees in villages need cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget S/ 50–80 excl. bed · Mid S/ 80–150 excl. bed · High S/ 150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Claro, Movistar, Entel and Bitel sell prepaid SIMs; register with your passport at official shops.
- Emergency
- Police 105 · Fire 116 · Ambulance 106
- Plugs
- Types A, C · 220 V · 60 Hz · US devices need to be dual-voltage (most chargers are).
- Tipping
- Restaurants: About 10% if service is not included.; Inca Trail porters and cooks: Per the operator's guidance; pooled at the end.; Guides: S/ 20–50 per person for a day tour.
- Water
- Not safe from the tap; bottled or filtered.
- Toilets
- Paper in the bin; carry tissue and coins for public toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bus Cusco–Chinchero | S/ 3 |
| Boleto Turístico (1-day) | S/ 70 |
| Market souvenir (small textile) | S/ 20–50 |
| Lunch set menu | S/ 15–25 |
| Bottle of water | S/ 2–3 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CUZ · Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport
- About 1 h by bus or taxi via Cusco
Typical fares
- Bus Cusco–Chinchero
- about S/ 3, about 1 h (check)
- Bus Chinchero–Urubamba
- about S/ 3, 20–30 min (check)
- Taxi Chinchero–Urubamba
- S/ 30–50 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walkable: the ruins, church and market are around the plaza. Combis to Urubamba and Cusco pass through the main road.
See and do
Known for
- Inca terraces and ruins
- 17th-century church with frescoes
- Sunday textile market
- Weaving workshops
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Maras and Moray | Bus to Urubamba, then taxi or tour; about 30 min total | About 1 h |
| Urubamba | Bus from the main road, 20–30 min | About 30 min |
| Cusco | Bus from the main road, about 1 h | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Chinchero town centre
- A few basic hostels and guesthouses; limited dining options.
- Urubamba
- More accommodation choices, 20–30 min by bus.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Buenos díasbway-nohss dee-ahs |
| Thank you | Graciasgrah-see-ahs |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwahn-toh kweh-stah |
| Where is the market? | ¿Dónde está el mercado?don-deh eh-stah el mehr-kah-doh |
| I don't understand | No entiendonoh en-tee-en-doh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; one cheek kiss among acquaintances; avoid: Skipping greetings
- Food pride: Ask about local dishes; avoid: Comparing pisco or ceviche unfavourably with Chile's
- Photos: Ask and pay if asked; avoid: Photographing people without asking
- Politics: Listen; avoid: Taking sides in protests
Scams and watch-outs
- Altitude: 3,762 m. Acclimatise in Cusco or the Sacred Valley first.
- Boleto Turístico required for the ruins and church: S/70 (1-day) or S/130 (10-day) — check current prices.
- Market is only on Sundays; other days the plaza is quiet.
Safe during daylight; watch for altitude sickness. Keep valuables out of sight on buses.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Chinchero yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Inca terraces and ruins
- 17th-century church with frescoes
- Sunday textile market
- Weaving workshops
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Chinchero, revision 4970235 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4970235
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/chinchero). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.