Ollantaytambo is the most important living Inca city of the Sacred Valley of the Incas in the department of Cusco. This town preserves the ancient Inca urban design, composed of cobblestone streets and ditches or water channels that pass through the streets of the town of Ollantaytambo.It is also the most visited destination within the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
The town of Ollantaytambo is located at the bifurcation of the Patacancha and Urubamba rivers. Its construction dates back to the years (1438 – 1471) in the time of the Inca Pachacutec.
Its location is 80 kilometers away from the city of Cusco at 2860 meters above sea level.
MEANING OF THE NAME OLLANTAYTAMBO
The name comes from the Quechua word “Ollanta” who was the Inca captain who fought with the armies of Pachacuteq. The word “Tambo” means city, town, village.
WHAT WAS OLLANTAYTAMBO IN THE INCA TIME?
Ollantaytambo was a military, agricultural, astronomical and religious center.
- Military: because of its strategic location.
- Agricultural: for its geographical location within the Sacred Valley of the Incas and its corn production in the Sacred Valley.
- Astronomical: for the different observatories where you can see the effects of light through shadows on solstices.
- Religious: for its ceremonial centers such as the temple of the sun, the temple of the water cult.
WHAT WE WILL SEE AT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF OLLANTAYTAMBO
- Agricultural terraces which are grouped in parallel with its unique in the production of products such as corn.
- Inca walls with different finishing styles
- Temple of the sun a pinnacle of 6 enormous blocks of pink granite that conform the ceremonial platform.
- View of the god Wiracocha or Tunupa the carved representation seen from the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo.
- The profile face of the Inca staggered sign and in its culmination the profile of the Inca.
- Sundial or Intihuantana observatory where solstices were determined.
- Temple of the Condor the representation of the condor in a part of the mountain.
- Enclosure of water worship where you can see a water fountain vital element and worship.
- Baths of the ñusta (Inca princess) a beautiful water fountain with 3 water outlets.
- The Plaza Mañay Raqay or ‘K’uychipunku’ a square of petitions.
- La Front access to the temple of the sun consists of 10 niches which are oriented towards the main square.
- Qolqas deposits of agricultural products and grains
HOW TO GET FROM CUSCO TO OLLANTAYTAMBO
- Through an organized tour or private service through a travel agency.
- By taking a taxi service Cusco Ollantaytambo
- By private car take routes:
- By private car take routes:
Cusco-Pisac-Calca-Urubamba-Urubamba-Ollantaytambo (96 km)
Cusco-Chinchero-Urubamba-Ollantaytambo (81 km)
Cusco-Anta-Huarocondo-Ollantaytambo (70 km)
TOURIST TICKET FOR OLLANTAYTAMBO
- You can purchase it in the same archaeological site of Ollantaytambo, but by doing so you acquire a partial CIRCUIT 3 ticket that includes the other archaeological sites such as: Pisaq, Chinchero and Moray.
- If you wish to purchase the tourist ticket to Ollantaytambo in Cusco, go to the main office which is located on Sol Avenue (Galerias Turisticas103) attention Monday to Saturday from 07:30 am – 18:30 pm.
- Last method of purchase of the tourist ticket to the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo is through our travel agency Ready to travel Peru.
OLLANTAYTAMBO TRAIN STATION – MACHUPICCHU
- In this town is located the train station to Machupicchu, 1 hour and a half train ride.
- In this station the companies that provide the service are: Peru Rail and Inca Rail both operators are in charge of the service to national and international tourists.
IMPORTANT DATA ABOUT OLLANTAYTAMBO
- In this town of Ollantaytambo there were Inca confrontations with the forces of the army of Ollantay with the armies of the Inca empire of Pachacutec.
- In 1537 there were Inca confrontations with the army forces of the Spanish conquerors.
- In the Pinkuylluna hill that is located in front of the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo, there are deposits of provisions called Qolqas, a place where products were stored.
- In the month of June, the Ollantay Raymi is a staging of Ollantay’s drama.
- 15 km from the town of Ollantaytambo is the starting point of the 4-day Inca Trail.
