Picturesque Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of the Incas

The town of Ollantaytambo, located along the Patakancha River about an hour and a half from Cusco, is one of the most popular draws in the scenic Sacred Valley of the Incas. Ollantaytambo boasts a lively market, expansive ruins, and picturesque adobe homes arranged alongside cobblestone streets which themselves date back to the time of the Incas. It’s no wonder that the town has become an obligatory stop for those on tours of the Sacred Valley or en route to Machu Picchu.

Ollantaytambo was once the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti and a ceremonial center. Its fortress, the ruins of which you can still visit today, is the only Incan stronghold to have withstood a Spanish attack. (Manco Inca, the leader of the Inca resistance, depeated a Spanish expedition in 1536, but eventually retreated to Vilcabamba in the Amazon because he considered his position untenable.) There also remain Incan temples, storehouses, and other structures as well as Incan terracing and irrigation. There are even still-functioning fountains. The town itself maintains its original layout and some architectural features such as Incan doors still in use. With some of the oldest continuously occupied dwellings in South America, it’s often described as a ‘living Inca town.

 

The town itself is a mishmash of rural life punctuated by internet cafes and locals dressed in traditional dress or in jeans and school uniforms. The views of the town and valley are very scenic, and the ruins are located on a hilltop overlooking the town. Aside from the ruins, the largest draw in Ollantaytambo is its Sunday market, which is half artisan goods (the touristic side of the market) and half produce, food and drink (the local side of the market). It’s lively and eye-catching, and you’re sure to spot some spitting llamas and guinea pig castles. Fresh empanadas from the dome-shaped earthen ovens are a fun treat.

 

If you’d like to experience the local side of Ollantaytambo, consider visiting a chichería to try the local brew. They’re easy to find, as their doorways are marked by wooden dowels topped with red plastic bags. Some find the taste bitter, but it doesn’t get more authentic than chicha. You can read more about Peru’s most traditional drink here.

You can reach Ollantaytambo by catching a mini-van colectivo from Cusco. They cost 10 Peruvian soles and take about two hours. They can be found at Calle Pavitos and leave throughout the day, as soon as they are full. Going direct by taxi takes just an hour and a half but is quite expensive, around 90 soles. If you find a shared taxi (also along Calle Pavitos), the price can fall as low as S/15 soles.

 

You can visit Ollantaytambo without visiting the ruins, but if the latter is in your plans keep in mind that you’ll need to buy a tourist ticket, boleto turístico. This ticket is required to visit archeological sites in and around Cusco. You can get more information about the Cusco and Sacred Valley tourist ticket here.