Urubamba: the town on the valley floor where all four departures have lunch at 12 pm
Urubamba is the main town of the Sacred Valley, at 2,871 m on the valley floor, halfway between Pisac and Ollantaytambo. All four departures stop here at 12 pm for the buffet lunch, 50 minutes, at Rustica (included) or at 14 Inkas, Don Ángel or Tunupa for a fixed upgrade. It is not a sightseeing stop: it is the warm, low pause of the day, 479 meters below Cusco.
It is visited tomorrow if you book today before 8 pm, Cusco time. Lunch at 12 pm on all four departures.—Is there space tomorrow?
Book for tomorrow: Express US$32 · Classic US$30 · is there space? · how to book
Which departure visits it, and when
| Departure | Time and duration | Entrance |
|---|---|---|
| Express · retorno a Cusco | 12 pm · 50 min · buffet included | — |
| Express · final en Ollantaytambo | 12 pm · 50 min · buffet included | — |
| Classic · retorno a Cusco | 12 pm · 50 min · buffet included | — |
| Classic · final en Ollantaytambo | 12 pm · 50 min · buffet included | — |
The lunch
| Rustica | Included in the price. Andean and Peruvian buffet: soups, meats, stews, salads, desserts. 50 minutes. |
| 14 Inkas | +US$4. The most chosen by those who upgrade: more variety and a garden. |
| Don Ángel | +US$15. A restaurant with a garden and live music depending on the day. |
| Tunupa | +US$20. By the river, spacious, with gardens. |
The upgrade is a fixed amount, the same on all four departures, and you choose it when booking; it can be changed until the night before. Drinks are extra. All four compared →
The town
The valley floorUrubamba lies in the wide, fertile part of the valley, between the river and the Chicón and Pumahuanca snowpeaks; it is the provincial capital and the service center for the area.
Why lunch happens hereIt is halfway along both routes, it is the lowest and warmest stop of the morning, and it has the buffet restaurants set up for groups on a schedule.
ClimateMild all year: at midday it is warm even if Chinchero had frost at dawn. This is the short-sleeves stop.
Tips for the stop
- 50 minutes: the buffet is served when you arrive; help yourself first and wander afterwards.
- Drinks are extra, in soles or by card depending on the restaurant.
- There are toilets at the restaurants; it is the most convenient stop of the day for that.
- There are ATMs in town, but do not count on having time to find them: get soles in Cusco.
Bookings for tomorrow: non-refundable; you can move the date if there is space, and we reschedule or refund if we cancel because of the weather.