Ollantaytambo Reviews (Cusco, Peru)

A fascinating insight into Inca building techniques

Nottingham, England

October 11, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo The misnamed Fortress of Ollantaytambo is a fascinating place because it was never finished and this lack of completion gives us some excellent clues as to how the place was built. I should start off by explaining why I say Ollantaytambo is ...Read more The misnamed Fortress of Ollantaytambo is a fascinating place because it was never finished and this lack of completion gives us some excellent clues as to how the place was built. I should start off by explaining why I say Ollantaytambo is misnamed. The place was never designed to be a fortress and it’s more likely that it, like Machu Picchu was viewed as a sacred place and the site was intended to be developed as place of worship. However, when the Conquistadors invaded Peru it is believed that the Inca King was "holed up here". It was the Spanish who attached the title of fortress to Ollantaytambo because of the siege of the Inca King. Indeed it was in 1563 that Manco Inca successfully defended the site against the Spanish troops and inflicted a significant blow to their perceived superiority.

At the base of the Inca construction was the ever present market and of course we had to run a bit of a gauntlet to get from the car park to the entrance. Still we made it, as the Peruvian market traders do readily accept a polite "no thank-you".

It’s a long haul to the top of the complex, but our guide suggested that we would manage it if we took our time and paused at each of the levels. Indeed he said that we would need to make such a stop so that he could tell us about the key elements of the site. There were two stops before we reached the top and at the first level our attention was drawn to the narrow buildings built into the cliffs. These carefully constructed buildings were not dwellings but storage buildings and were constructed out of stones from the hills. Apparently their high altitudes location, increased wind and lower temperatures meant that the stored food decayed at a much slower rate. To capitalise on these conditions, the Incas built in additional ventilation systems and grains produced on the agricultural terraces was generally stored in them. Indeed here we once again see the classic agricultural terracing that the hills-men of the area built to make full use of the landscape.

Looking down on the old town of we can see its geometrical layout and our guide explains that there are four main streets crossed by seven parallel streets and at the very centre was a plaza. Whilst we’re looking down at the town our guide excitedly points to a hedge of flowers saying that he’d seen one of Peru’s largest Hummingbirds. We initially struggled to see this bird as it’s not colourful, but after some time of pointing I managed to see it through my binoculars. It almost blended into the background but it indeed was much larger than I realised hummingbirds were. Unfortunately trying to get a photograph from this distance proved impossible. We’d obviously rested sufficiently as now our guide indicated that we should make our way up to the next level.

We took a deep breath and started to climb the steep staircase. Well it’s not really a staircase rather a range of different depth steps, making the climb even more difficult. Soon we were all puffing and blowing as we combated the altitude and the rough steps. I had to rest a couple of times before I got to the next "stop" and was just about got my breathing back to normal when my wife and her friend arrived. Our guide complimented us all on our progress so far and then let us appreciate the view before he started to explain the mountain in front of us was important as a calendar for the Incas. It was here that they were able to chart the summer and winter solstices according to the position of the sun as it moved cross the hillside.

This feature almost was a confirmation of the sacredness of the site, but then our guide excitedly pointed out another amazing geological feature. He was so excited that it seemed as if it was the first time that he’d seen the cragged face seemingly carved into the mountain. On the mountainside opposite we see "a face" believed to be that of Viracocha the Inca God of creation - a clear message from the gods. Once we’d seen the figure, which we believe is naturally formed, we wondered why we didn’t see it when we were looking towards the grain store.

Next we make the final claim to the summit of Ollantaytambo and it’s here, when we breathlessly get there, that we see several rocks in various state of completion, on ramps ready to be levered in to place. Across the river we are pointed out the main quarry for Ollantaytambo at Kachiqhata. It’s a good 5 kilometres from the site and there must have been an elaborate network of ramps to enable the un-carved rocks to be dragged up to the summit. Not only is there a fantastic view from the top down to the valley below (apparently the temple "priests" could identify the months of the year from the way the sun reflected on the valley below – it was according to our guide a huge calendar .

Our walk back down was much easier and we reached it with no sign of breathlessness. We had time to check out the buildings and here were a couple of temples including one dedicated to the Sun God. Here the entrance looked unimpressive but there was an elaborate double doorway on the exit. I speculated that the builders had got this the wrong way round and our guide did not disagree with me.

Ollantaytambo gave a fascinating insight into Inca construction methods and the current town was full of original Inca features including, niches, doorways and stone walls. It all made for an incredibly interesting visit.
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From journal The sacred Valley

Strange Name. Wonderful Town

by britgirl7

Dallas, Texas

April 2, 2009

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Best of IgoUgo Ollantaytambo was our first stop on arriving in Peru. It’s a small traditional town nestled in the Sacred Valley with the Andres mountains looming all around. Ollanta was built on the foundations of the original Inca ruins and so you can easily look ...Read more

From journal South of the Equator to Peru

Ollantaytambo

by Shady Ady

Hinckley, England, United Kingdom

September 16, 2006

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Best of IgoUgo As we were approaching Ollantaytambo, our tour guide informed us to be ready to see some of the best preserved and outstanding Inca ruins that can still be viewed today. After seeing the delights on offer at Machu Picchu, I thought that this might ...Read more As we were approaching Ollantaytambo, our tour guide informed us to be ready to see some of the best preserved and outstanding Inca ruins that can still be viewed today. After seeing the delights on offer at Machu Picchu, I thought that this might be a bit of an exaggeration, but I have to admit I was totally wrong. In my eyes, behind Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo is one of the best attractions of Inca heritage on offer in Peru.

Located at a slightly lower altitude of 2,800m, compared to other places in the Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo is around 2 hours (75km) from Cusco. The actual town of Ollantaytambo, located next to the ruins, is built upon the top of original Inca foundations, and is the best example of Inca town planning surviving to this day. It is so good, that all of the irrigation systems are still intact and in use, and can be seen along the narrowed cobbled streets. In total there are fifteen square blocks of streets or canchas that formed the town of Incan Ollytantambo.

The location of Ollantaytambo, which means ‘Storehouse of my Lord’, connects perfectly between Machu Picchu and the mountain range of Vilcabamba, along the Inca road. Even though the ruins were not completed, they served as both a temple and a fortress. It was here where Manco Inca retreated in order to amass his armies after the fall of Cusco to the Spanish Conquistadores.

It’s hard to describe the enormity of this once dominant complex. Upon reaching the outskirts of Ollytantambo, the first evident signs of past glory can be seen, with a number of well preserved look-out towers viewable on both sides of the valley. These look as though they were carved straight from the rock face. As you pass through the town entrance, which has been restructured from the original main gate of Incan Ollytantambo, the main ruins come into sight, dominating the skyline.

The ticket ‘Boleto Turistico’ (approximately $25, but grants access to 15 other attractions around Cusco) gains you entrance to the ruins, which is strategically positioned, in the lower Urubamba Valley. The main spectacle of the ruins, the temple, is located at the top of steep terracing, which helped to provide an impressive defence system. What’s even more impressive is that the stone used in these ruins was brought all the way from a quarry on the opposite side of the valley, beyond the Urubamba River. Such work must have involved thousands of workers.

The town of Ollytantambo has more or less all amenities that you could need, including a wide selection of hostels and hotels. The only problems I can envisage are that the ruins are set upon steep terraces that are very hard work to climb, even without the altitude added on top. Also buy water outside of the ruins if you need it, as there isn’t any available inside. More information on the Inca ruins and the town itself can be found at www.ollantaytambo.org/en Close

From journal The Sacred Valley of the Incas

Ollantaytambo Ruins

by akakd

, Arizona

July 12, 2005

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On the advice of a friend, we flew from Lima to Cuzco, then immediately went down into the Sacred Valley. This was a perfect way to acclimate gradually to the altitude. After checking into our hotel in the Sacred Valley (Sonesta Posada del Inca ...Read more

From journal Cool Cusco

Ollantaytambo

by Pguthrie

Little Rock, Arkansas

May 9, 2005

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Anywhere else in the world, this would be a major destination for adventure travelers... since it's 40 miles from Macchu Picchu, it's a secondary site. I thought it was great. The guide we had was very informative and easy to understand. This was ...Read more

From journal Peru

Ollantaytambo

by fallschirmhosen

New York, New York

April 27, 2005

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Best of IgoUgo Part of the Sacred Valley Tour offered throughout Cusco is a stop in the ancient Inca city of Ollantaytambo. On most tours, this is one of the last stops. It is built into a steep mountainside and was a strategic outpost for defense, as well as a ...Read more Part of the Sacred Valley Tour offered throughout Cusco is a stop in the ancient Inca city of Ollantaytambo. On most tours, this is one of the last stops. It is built into a steep mountainside and was a strategic outpost for defense, as well as a religious center. Unlike many places, the town here has original Inca structures that are still lived in by people today. It is a great example of an Inca town still used today.

The history behind Ollantaytambo is quite amazing. After Manco Inca was defeated by the Spanish at Sacsayhuaman, he retreated to here. Hernando Pizarro (Francisco's brother) then came with an army to capture Manco Inca. The Inca's forces and neighboring jungle tribes attacked the Spanish troops and flooded the plains below Ollantaytambo to stop the Spanish advance. Hernando ordered a hasty retreat, though the victory was short-lived when the Spanish returned with four times their previous force. Manco Inca retreated to his jungle stronghold in Vilcabamba, and Ollantaytambo fell into the hands of the Spanish.

Ollantaytambo is made of enormous stepped terraces constructed of unbelievably huge stones. Believe me when I say my pictures do not do any justice. You'd be amazed at the number and size of rocks here. The rock quarry used to build much of the site was across the river valley on the opposite hillside. Workers moved stones used sloping planes, ramps, and rollers. The river was diverted around the rocks on the valley floor, easier than transporting the rocks across the river.

The easiest way to get to Ollantaytambo is to join one of the many Sacred Valley tours offered by many hotels and tour companies in and around Cusco. Look around the Plaza de Armas in Cusco for these operators. The average cost of these tours is $25, plus the $20 Tourist Ticket (a ticket for admittance to 16 historical sites in Cusco and the Sacred Valley, including Ollantaytambo). Most tour companies also include a buffet lunch with the tour. Tours last all day, departing Cusco around 9am and returning around 6pm. Close

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