Ollantaytambo is a can’t miss town. It is located in the beautiful Sacred Valley (or the more poetic sounding La Valle Sagrada) and is the gateway to taking a train into Machu Picchu. A tour to Machu Picchu (not involving hiking the Inca trail) usually includes the Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo town, so it’s pretty accessible, very beautiful, albeit a bit touristy.
Ollantaytambo is about two hours drive from Cusco, and we arrived there around 3 pm after a wonderful, meandering drive through the Sacred Valley (pics to come in another post).
Why visit Ollantaytambo?
If you’re visiting Machu Picchu, there’s no getting out of visiting Ollantaytambo. This town is the starting point for taking the train or bus to Machu Picchu Pueblo. It’s also the starting point for the Inca trail.
What’s cool about Ollantaytambo
Surrounded by mountains in every direction, Ollantaytambo’s cobbled streets and tiled roofs contrast to the lush scenery.
The town is also like a blast from the past. We arrived after a long and beautiful drive through the Sacred Valley (pictures are yet to come in an upcoming post).
As soon as we drove in, we couldn’t take our eyes off the massive Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo.
The ruins dominate the entire town, and it was the first place we visited.
It’s a bit of a hike, but seeing as many of these ruins as possible is worth seeing. There are multiple temples devoted to the various Gods of nature.
It’s history
The town was conquered in the 15th century by the Incan emperor Pachacuti, who rebuilt the town and installed elaborate terracing, an irrigation system, and a fortress. The nobility lived in the town, and the terraces were used as farmland. The ruins of this once-great town can still be seen towering over the central plaza today.
Legend has it that Pachacuti’s general, Ollantay, fell in love with his daughter, who was off-limits because she was of noble blood. Ollantay revolted, and after a long battle and the eventual death of Pachacuti, his bravery resulted in the naming of the town after him.
Ollantaytambo was the last stronghold of the Incas during the Spanish colonization.
The markets
After roaming the Incan ruins, we headed toward the market. It was pretty nice roaming around the place and taking photos, although I didn’t buy anything.
The best souvenir shopping is at Machu Pichu Pueblo market while waiting for the bus to Machu Picchu. I found it the most reasonably priced and had the best selection. Usually, touristy places greatly hike prices, but this was not the case in Peru. I also recommend the airport shops for buying alpaca wool sweaters and scarves. They were less brightly colored than the souvenir shops but are more wearable once you return home.
The people
Lima is very cosmopolitan, with many Spanish-origin or people worldwide. However, as you get into the interior – such as Cusco and Ollayantambo, you meet the local people descended from the Incas or other local tribes. And it’s fascinating to speak to the locals. Cusco was packed with sightseeing, and there was less time to relax; however, in Ollantaytambo, I had the time to chill and chat with the locals.
Generally, the people are super friendly and like to chat. I had very limited toota-phoota Spanish and used that to engage them in conversation. It ended up mostly with sign language and lots of smiles and hugging. I came back to India determined to learn at least one foreign language (to communicate better the next time I travel).
Too bad I didn’t do this before I actually went to Peru. While in quarantine, I actually managed to finish my first level of Spanish certification and am now on to the next. Hopefully, my next trip is to a Spanish-speaking place, and I”ll be able to use my new language skills then.
How much time to spend in Ollayantaytambo?
If you want to explore the Sacred Valley – you’ve two choices. You could use Cusco as a base and visit Ollantaytambo, or you could opt to spend a couple of nights in Ollantaytambo. Overall, I’d still suggest staying at Cusco – as a city, there’s much to see and do locally.
I was pressed for time, so I spent one night in Cusco, one night in Ollantaytambo, then started my day trip to Machu Picchu, and then directly back to Cusco via cab – a bit of a rushed schedule, but it worked for me. I wouldn’t change a thing about this part of my itinerary.
Last thoughts
Ollantaytambo is by no means a must-see place in Peru, but you’ve to visit it anyway. So, you might as well make the best of it and enjoy what it offers. It’s a beautiful and chill town, and I really liked hanging out there.
Peru and Machu Pichu are still on my big dream list. I hope to visit it one day. Ollayantaytambo looks fantastic. I heard about this place, and I know it’s worth to visit. I love less favored areas. Your post is so informative! The ruins dominate the entire town looks so impressive; the legend is also excellent. You had a beautiful trip.
When I read the title of your blog about Ollayantaytambo. It seemed familiar and when I read about Machu Picchu, I realised I have visited this place and it was super awesome. I loved the ruins and the valley. I took a one day trip from Cusco and I traveled by the local transport which was pretty cool.
I found it interesting when locals are friendly, just like in Ollayantaytambo. It makes your stay really pleasant. And I like your tips about buying souvenirs, including buying alpaca sweaters and scarves at the airport. It helps a lot for people who plan a trip there.
Yeah, I love the knits, and the bright colors look amazing on the locals, but the subdued colors in the airport shops are much more wearable in day to day life at home and work.
After reading your post I think this could be a must see place for me in Peru. I would like so much to visit those temples dedicated to the Gods of nature and chat with the local people. I cannot wait to visit this place one day.
Your post makes me sorry that we never made it to Peru this year when our cruise was refused landing. And now I know I also missed seeing Ollayantaytambo. So very cool that the ruins are right at the town. And that Ollayantaytambo was the last stronghold of the Incas. Nice that you got to meet some of the locals as you waited for your bus.
I have never been to Peru but I keep getting amazing comments from everyone I know about it and I’m getting major FOMO! My dream trek is to take the Salkantay route, not the traditional Inca trail. but I would probably still take some time to go ahead and see this town. It looks os cute.
Peru was a dream destination for me, especially since it’s so, so far from where I live.
We were super excited for our Peru trip in April and looking forward to cultural experience. damn Covid!! Great post, will refer it for the next year, hope we will visit Peru in 2021.
I got back just before Covid closed everything down. I was tense throughout the trip, but at that time (mid-end Feb), there were no cases in Peru. One week after I got back, everything blew up.
I do hope you get to visit it next year. It’s an amazing place!
I wonder about the acculturation in the business setting of this area. With it seeming to be culturally and locally driven in a tourist type setting, I would imagine that it is easy to evolve into their nature! I would probably start in the city of Cusco like you mentioned, and then branch out, staying maybe two nights and having around three-ish days! One in the city, and then one in the surrounding, and then one from leaving. Thanks for such an informative post!
That’s exactly what I did – one day in Cusco, one day in Ollayantaytambo, then the day trip to Machu Picchu, and then back to Cusco. It was a little tiring but it’s what I would recommend if you have limited holidays.