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Back to Yucay

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Voykit pocket guide · Peru

Yucay

Skip Yucay as a destination; use it only as a quiet base for the Sacred Valley if you want to avoid Urubamba's noise. One night is enough.

Yucay is a small farming village in the Sacred Valley with no major sights of its own. Its appeal is a calm, lower-altitude base (about 2,850 m) with easy access to Maras, Moray, Ollantaytambo and Pisac. Most travellers stay one night or pass through.

LimaAbancayAguas CalientesAguaytíaAndaguaAndahuaylasArequipaAtalayaAyacuchoBallestas IslandsBarrancaCaballocochaCajabambaCajamarcaYucay500 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Peru
Best months
May–Sep (dry season)
Avoid
Nov–Mar (rainy season, landslides possible)
Stay
1 night

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/ 60–100 excl. bed · Mid S/ 100–200 excl. bed · High S/ 200+ 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 (SAMU) 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

ItemPrice
Lunch buffet at AllpamankaUS$12 (about S/ 40)
Colectivo Yucay–UrubambaS/ 3
Taxi Yucay–OllantaytamboS/ 40–50
Bottle of water (1.5 L)S/ 2–3
Coca tea (mate de coca)S/ 3–5

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

CUZ · Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (Cusco)
About 1 h 15 min by taxi or colectivo via Urubamba

Typical fares

Colectivo Yucay–Urubamba
S/ 3, about 10 min
Taxi Yucay–Ollantaytambo
S/ 40–50, about 45 min
Taxi Yucay–Cusco
S/ 60–80, about 1 h 15 min
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

On foot within the village. Colectivos and taxis to Urubamba (10 min), Maras (30 min) and Ollantaytambo (45 min). A taxi to Cusco costs about S/ 60–80 (check).

See and do

Known for

  • Quiet Sacred Valley base
  • Allpamanka lunch buffet
  • Sonesta Posada del Inca resort

Day trips

WhereHowTime
Maras and MorayColectivo or taxi from Yucay, about 30 minAbout 1 h
OllantaytamboColectivo or taxi, about 45 minAbout 1 h
PisacColectivo via Urubamba, about 40 minAbout 1 h
CuscoColectivo or taxi, about 1 h 15 minAbout 1.5 h
Aguas Calientes and Machu PicchuTaxi to Ollantaytambo (45 min), then train (1.5 h)About 3 h

Sleep

Plaza Manco II de Yucay
Central square with the Sonesta resort and a few small hotels; quiet at night.
Along the main road (Av. San Martín)
More basic hostels and guesthouses; closer to colectivos.

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
HelloBuenos días / Buenas tardesBWEH-nohs DEE-ahs / BWEH-nahs TAR-des
Thank youGraciasGRAH-syahs
How much does it cost?¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAHN-toh KWES-tah
Where is the bus stop?¿Dónde está el paradero?DOHN-deh es-TAH el pah-rah-DEH-roh
I need a taxiNecesito un taxineh-seh-SEE-toh oon TAHK-see
The bill, pleaseLa cuenta, por favorlah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR

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: Yucay is at about 2,850 m; take it easy the first day.
  • No ATM in the village; bring cash from Urubamba or Cusco.
  • Last colectivos back from Urubamba run around 20:00.

Yucay is safe. Standard precautions: keep valuables out of sight, avoid walking alone after dark on unlit roads.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Yucay yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Quiet Sacred Valley base
  • Allpamanka lunch buffet
  • Sonesta Posada del Inca resort

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Yucay

A esta dirección, por favor

To this address, please

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

Carry small bills and coins for colectivos and market purchases.

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/yucay). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.