Uncover the secrets of the ollantaytambo ruins with. This site features as one of our top tourist attractions of peru. If you dont book a flexible rate, you may not be entitled to a refund. Ollantaytambo was the estate of the emperor pachacuti who built the ceremonial center and the town. Information on how to get to ollantaytambo and the best hotels, restaurants and things to see and do. The main attraction of the town is the ollantaytambo fortress. Built by emperor pachacuti in the th century, it is famous for its many houses and elaborate food growing and. It is located at an altitude of 2,792 meters 9,160 feet above sea level in the district of ollantaytambo, province of urubamba, cusco region.
May 31, 2015 mike gasparovic is an independent travel writer based in lima, peru. His chief interests are the history and culture of the spanishspeaking world. Chocomuseo in ollantaytambo cusco things to do in cusco. It is located at an altitude of 2,792 meters 9,160 feet above sea level, ollantaytambo lies in an area the inca people once called the sacred valley and this marvel of architecture once served as both a temple and a fortress, mainstream historians claim ollantaytambo was built. Ollantaytambo is about an hour by bus from cusco airport. Ollantaytambo ruins ollantaytambo, peru atlas obscura. When i had altitude sickness they brought me tea, and helped me arrange for a taxi to take us around the valley. We will confirm them individually, and if necessary, proceed to full returns. There are several ngos in ollantaytambo worth contacting if youre looking for volunteer and homestay opportunities.
Ngo of the same name that administers a weaving project with quechua. Best places to stay in ollantaytambo, peru the hotel guru. We think that it is this blend of new and old that make ollantaytambo, and kb tambo hotel and tours, your best choice to plan your onceinalifetime vacation to peru. History of ollantaytambo ruins in the 15 th century inca pachacutec conquered and began to rebuild the town of ollantaytambo, constructing terraces for farming and an irrigation system.
It has the distinction of being the only place in peru where, in 1536, the inca repelled the spanish army. Hostal iskay has comfortable rooms with views of ollantaytambo or the garden. Compare routes, prices, schedules, departure times, and book travel tickets online. During our stay in the sacred valley of peru, our second trip was to see the remarkable inca ruins at ollantaytambo. Based in ollantaytambo, awamaki calle convencion sn, across from the temple, founded by american kennedy leavens, is a peruvian ngo partnered with a u. However, the author is probably wrong in attributing the peruvian stone work to the incas. Ollantaytambo has some of the oldest continuouslyoccupied buildings in south america. Today the ollantaytambo ruins are a popular stop on the inca trail and a visit to the village and ruins is often included in organised guided treks of the route. Nowadays the ollantaytambo ruins and town are an important and popular tourist attraction in the sacred valley. Volunteer opportunities and ngos in ollantaytambo hachette.
Our guide told us the hill was supposed to be in the shape of a llama. If your going to travel to peru which i did when i read the book then this is an awesome book for you. This large 15 th century inca fortress is one of perus best wellpreserved ruins. Many groups meet up here before setting off on the inka trail, and it is also one of the main places for boarding the train to machu. Enjoy the sacred valley of peru from ollantaytambo to cusco avoiding the crowd. Visiting the ollantaytambo ruins, peru self arranged journeys. The general asked for the hand of the emperors daughter, a request pachacutec. See all 3 chocomuseo ollantaytambo tours on tripadvisor. These huge terraces make up what is called the fortress or temple hill. Ollantaytambo is the northwesternmost place still included in the sacred valley.
The town is pronounced oyyahntietahmbo but everyone calls it ollanta for short. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund. Best ollantaytambo, peru sacred valley hotel specials. Today one of the most asked questions probably is in regard to the incredible sized blocks of stone that were used in the construction. From here, passengers board the train and head to their final destination. I wrote it as a guide for travelers to peru, and for other people interested in learning about the inca, and the conquest by the spanish. Ollantaytambo called by locals ollanta is a small town of cobblestone streets and buildings built on foundations of inca stonework, in the sacred valley of the incas near cusco in the southern sierra region of peru.
Today tourists pass through this town either by rail or road to the. As the inca civilisation developed in the th century, it became the centre of an empire, which in the 15th and 16th centuries would expand to include much of western south america. Close before machu picchu, at the far end of the sacred valley of the incas hides a precious gem only a few tourists to peru have on their radar. It is located where the patacancha river flows into the vilcanota urubamba river. It is located at an altitude of 2,792 m above sea level in the district of ollantaytambo, province of urubamba, cusco region. A branch leading from ollantaytambo to the malaga mountain pass 4,200masl, goes through towns such as picturesque huilloc, home to the renowned wayruros porters.
We were lucky enough to spend a few nights in this charming town with so much history during our peru trip and loved it. Many travellers visit ollantaytambo because its the beginning of the inca trail to machu picchu, but dont rush throughthe ruins are. Perus sacred valley of the incas stretches between cusco, once the capital of the inca empire, and the legendary 15thcentury city of machu picchu. In maras, around a 30minute drive away, check out the striking sight of tiered incanera salt pools stretching as far as the eye can see. Ollantaytambo is a nice place to stay while on a peru tour. Weve selected the best places to stay in ollantaytambo to take in both the spectacular scenery and history. Discover the route from ollantaytambo to machu picchu. Walking in inca footsteps in perus sacred valley bbc. Visiting the ollantaytambo ruins, peru self arranged. They are knowledgeable about incan history, culture, and language because they still live it everyday. During the spanish conquest in peru, manco inca yupanqui, the leader of the inca resistance, used it as a fortress.
If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Ollantaytambo travel guide ollantaytambo sacred valley. The area has hotels, restaurants and horses and mountain bikes for hire. Dominated by two massive inca ruins, the quaint village of ollantaytambo, also called ollanta, is the best surviving example of inca city planning, with narrow cobblestone streets that have been continuously inhabited since the th century.
Ollantaytambo is a great base for a number of excellent hikes, treks, and community visits in the area. Sacred valley tour from ollantaytambo to cusco highlights. Sacred valley tour from ollantaytambo to cusco peru local. Due to restrictions implemented by the country, we will not be able to attend all reservations. It is the closest access point to the historical site of machu picchu which is 6 kilometres 3. Machupicchu or machupicchu pueblo, also known as aguas calientes, is a location in peru situated in the cusco region, urubamba province. Discover what peru has to offer and how to make the most of your time here. This is where the incas retreated after the spanish took cusco. Inca architecture and construction at ollantaytambo first. Ollantaytambo is a marvel of engineering and architecture, it is a fortress, and complex city and many questions have been raised throughout history regarding the construction of this ancient site. Even so, the site still conserves the magic and history of many centuries ago. Ollantaytambo is an ancient inca fortress and modern village located approximately 60 miles north of the city of cuzco, which now contains a series of impressive inca ruins.
It is located at an altitude of 2,792 meters 9,160 ft above sea level in the district of ollantaytambo, province of urubamba, cusco region. The 10 best things to do in ollantaytambo updated 2020. Ollantaytambo was an important gateway city to machu picchu even 600 years ago. Mark adams is the author of the acclaimed history mr. Ollantaytambo was a strategic military, agricultural and religious place to manage and control the sacred valley of the incas, this follows from the constructions that were presumed agricultural reservoirs and for military use as walls and watchtowers probably to protect against jungle ethnicities. Hostels in ollantaytambo top rated hostels 2020 hostelworld. It was named for ollantay, the inca general who expanded the frontiers of tawantinsuyo as far noth as colombia and as far south as argentina during the reign of the inca pachacutec. Ollantaytambo, peru the amazing fortress of the incas. It follows a fairly wellpreserved inca trail to cachicata, the stone quarry 700900 meters above the valley floor that is visible from the ollantaytambo sun temple. Ollantaytambobuilt with advanced ancient technology from the. For bookings made on or after april 6, 2020, be sure to consider the risk of the coronavirus covid19 and associated government measures.
Book your bus, train, ferry, shuttle, van from machu picchu to ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo is a town and an inca archaeological site in southern peru some 60 kilometers northwest of the city of cusco. Ollantaytambo itself is a great little town, which can be reached by bus from urubamba or cusco. We recommend booking an option with free cancellation in case your travel plans change.
Despite its small size, ollantaytambo has some nice restaurants and cafes where you can grab a relaxed bite to eat or have a good coffee. It details the travel experience of an american who spends a great deal of time in ollantaytambo which i also did. With panoramic views of ollantaytambo sanctuary, iskay is built on original inca terraces. Nov 11, 2016 join me and travis as we arrive in ollantaytambo peru and explore the town and the inca ruins. As the sacred valley is both a tourists favorite and a wellsettled area in peru, you really got plenty of options to get from cusco to ollantaytambo. Dating back to the reign of 15thcentury emperor pachacuti who conquered the region, the town of ollantaytambo contains some of perus bestpreserved inca ruins strategically located in the. Bbc travel walking in inca footsteps in perus sacred valley. A writer for many national magazines, including gq, mens journal, and new york, he lives near new york city with his wife and children. See all 249 archaeological park ollantaytambo tickets and tours on tripadvisor. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in ollantaytambo, peru on tripadvisor. Aug 19, 2017 during our stay in the sacred valley of peru, our second trip was to see the remarkable inca ruins at ollantaytambo. All of them include private bathrooms with showers. The huge, steep terraces that guard ollantaytambos spectacular inca.
Mar 19, 2017 exploring the ollantaytambo ruins at the far end of the sacred valley of the incas. During the inca empire, ollantaytambo was the royal estate of emperor pachacuti, who conquered the region, and built the town and a ceremonial center. Explore ollantaytambo holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. If you decide to tour the city of ollantaytambo on your trip to machu picchu, you will enjoy not only green and beautiful landscapes but also the daily life of the inhabitants of this ancient human settlement.
Ollantaytambos history the city was most probably built by inca ruler pachacuti pachacutec between 1439 and 1471 ad. Quechua is the language which the majority of the population 51. This roundtrip walk, which takes 46 hours to the quarries and a few more to reach the sun gate, begins at the inca bridge near ollantaytambo and along the banks of the rio urubamba. Making your own chocolates 120 g with milk or dark chocolate and more than 15 different flavorings. Interestingly, higher than machu picchu, but lower than cuzco. Machu picchu is a 30minute car drive and ollantaytambo train station is only 0. Chocomuseo ollantaytambo 2020 all you need to know. Archaeological park ollantaytambo can be crowded, so we recommend booking etickets ahead of time to secure your spot.
Check out our pick of the best restaurants in ollantaytambo. Walking in inca footsteps in peru s sacred valley encompassing what was the fertile homeland of the inca empire, the transcendent region often overlooked en route to machu picchu is. The huge, steep terraces that guard ollantaytambo s spectacular inca ruins mark one of the few places where the spanish conquistadors lost a. Many travelers visit ollantaytambo because its the beginning of the inca trail to machu picchu, but dont rush throughthe ruins are fascinating. Passengers using the perurail vistadome and perurail expedition bimodal services board a private bus at wanchaq station, 5 minutes away from cuscos historic center, and arrive to ollantaytambo station. It is concise and to the point, with many maps and photos. Insiders guide to the best restaurants in ollantaytambo peru. During the inca empire, ollantaytambo was the royal estate of emperor pachacuti who conquered the region, built the town and a ceremonial center. The archaeological site of ollantaytambo in the sacred valley. Because it was the scene of hard battles between rebellious incas and spanish in 1537, many of its buildings are damaged or destroyed. Receive your ticket via email, and reach your destination with no hassle.
It is located at an altitude of 2,792 m 9,160 ft above sea level in the district of ollantaytambo, province of urubamba, cusco region. This large 15 th century inca fortress is one of peru s best wellpreserved ruins. When there, you will be able to admire the unbelievable construction. Both fortress and temple, these spectacular inca ruins rise above ollantaytambo, making a splendid halfday trip. Ollantaytambo is a town and inca archaeological site located in southern peru, about 90 km northwest of the city of cusco, you can arrive by bus from the city of cusco in an hour and a half. Top destinations top blog posts how to get to machu picchu guide on how to get to machu picchu.
At the time of the spanish conquest of peru, it served as a stronghold for manco inca yupanqui, lea. Ollantaytambo ruins cusco ollantaytambo information. At more than 3,000 years old, cusco is one of the oldest cities in south america. Like mount shasta, there are various versions for how the name ollantaytambo originated. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Perurail train from cusco to machu picchu, puno and. Visit the chocomuseo to discover perus history of harvesting cocoa and join a chocolatecrafting workshop. The people in the province are mainly indigenous citizens of quechua descent.
Sitting beside the beautiful patakancha river, ollantaytambo once served as a capital for the leader of the countrys resistance against the conquistadors, mano inca. Choose the best route for you and reserve your seat easily. He has written for fodors, peru this week, and a host of online websites, in addition to creating two book length guides for expats new to his adopted hometown. America, which the washington post named a best book of 2009, and the new york times bestsellers meet me in atlantis and turn right at machu picchu. What to do in cusco we wait for you in the chocomuseo free entrance, chocolate workshop, cooking classes, truffle workshop, workshops for children. Ollantaytambo is some 70 kilometers away from cusco, where most travelers probably start out their adventure through peru. Three great day hikes in ollantaytambo, peru hachette. Ollantaytambo is an inca archaeological site in southern peru some 60 kilometers northwest of the city of cuzco. Ollantaytambobuilt with advanced ancient technology from. Exploring the ollantaytambo ruins in sacred valley peru. The sacred valley of the incas is the urubamba valley, a 12mile area in peru that was inhabited by the incas until the spanish conquest in the 16 th century. We recommend booking chocomuseo ollantaytambo tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Aug 30, 2016 ollantaytambo is a little incan town located in the heart of the sacred valley.
What to see in the archaeological site of ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo is a town and an inca archaeological site in southern peru some 72 km by road northwest of the city of cusco. Find and book deals on the best hostels in ollantaytambo, peru. Once a stronghold of inca resistance to spanish colonization, its remarkably wellpreserved. Admission is via the boleto turistico tourist card, valid for 10 days and for 16 other sites across the region. Ullantaytampu is a town and an inca archaeological site in southern peru some 72 km 45 mi by road northwest of the city of cusco. Ollantaytambo has beautiful inca lithic structures. Ollantaytambo is one of our favourite towns in the sacred valley and is one of the best surviving examples of living inca architecture in peru. Ollantaytambo is a town and an inca archaeological site in southern peru some 72 kilometres 45 mi by road northwest of the city of cusco. Dating back to the reign of 15thcentury emperor pachacuti who conquered the region, the town of ollantaytambo contains some of peru s bestpreserved inca ruins strategically located in. In ollantaytambo, culture and history are deeply combined, producing the admiration of the people who visit it. Welcome to ollantaytambo dominated by two massive inca ruins, the quaint village of ollantaytambo, also called ollanta, is the best surviving example of inca city planning, with narrow cobblestone streets that have been continuously inhabited since the th century.
Exploring the ollantaytambo ruins in sacred valley peru the. In the language of the quechua, the name comes from ollanta, a wellknown inca general, and the word tambo, a spanish derivation of the quechua word tampu, or city. At the time of the spanish invasion and conquest of peru ollantaytambo served as the last stronghold for inca manco yupanqui, leader of the inca resistance at the time. The fortress was originally built to bring local tribes under inca control, however the inca were soon facing a new threat in the form of the conquistadors, who attacked the fortress in 1536 but were repulsed.
This was our first glimpse of temple hill and the fortress from the town square. At the time of the spanish conquest of peru it served as a stronghold for manco inca yupanqui, leader of the inca resistance. Ollantaytambo ruins ollantaytambo, peru attractions. Three great day hikes in ollantaytambo, peru hachette book. Protzens invaluable book about the incredible stone temples and fortress at ollantaytambo represents many years of careful research.
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