Peru Cusco Travel Guide - Peru Hotels - Cusco Hotels - Machu Picchu Tours

Ollantaytambo

Is one of the most spectacular archeological remains of Peru, for its multiplicity of archeological and the singularity of each one of them.

Location

It is located in the district of the same name, to the north east from the city of Cusco , over the 9,160 feet above sea level. Travelling thought the train tracks, the station of Ollantaytambo is in the 68 km, going by car through Chinchero-Urubamba the distance is of 46.6 miles, going through Pisaq the distance is of 58 miles.

Opening Hours
From 7:00 to 17:30 hrs.
Price

The entrance fee is included in the Tourist Ticket.

Meaning of the Name

svalleyollanta1_about_sacredAccording to the aymara language, Ollantaytambo comes from the vocabulary ulla-nia-wi, that jeans “place to look down”, the word tambo, was added later. For the language of Quechua the word comes from ollanta (this was the name of a Inca captain, which history was saved as a oral tradition) the word tambo means “city that offers lodging”

In the opposite side of Pisaq and 80km from Cusco city we find the town of Ollantaytambo. One can come to this district, providence of Urubamba one can come by road through Chinchero - Urubamba, and also through the train tracks. The archeological complex of Ollantaytambo was a strategic army center, religious and agriculture. The scenery is exceptional because of its magnitude, style and the buildings have a particular form.

Ollantaytambo is one of the most spectacular archeological remains of Peru, for its multiplicity of archeological and the singularity of each one of them, they still haven’t come to a conclusion in the techniques that were used for the construction of the enormous walls made out of rock. Each rock is elaborated in an independent form in relation to all the other rocks, angles and different volumes.

The town was divided into rectangular blocks with in a well plan geometric design made by modern architects. The narrow streets are directed to the Urubamba River. Each block is composed by houses that share the same door to the central patio. In the town there is a distribution of rectilinear streets and very narrow streets that are inhabited since Inka times.

How to get to Ollantaytambo?

You can reach Ollantaytambo taking the Tour Sacred Valley or a Private Transportation, it takes 2 hours to get there form Cusco through Pisaq. If you reach Ollantaytambo through Chinchero, it will take just one hour and a half.