Ollantaytambo - Cusco

The National Archeological Park of Ollantaytambo - known by the Spaniards as “The Fortress of Ollantaytambo” because of its huge walls - is located at 2800 m.o.s.l. and 75 Km northwest from the city of Cusco, in the Sacred Valley of Cusco. The temperature is about 21°C all year round. Besides being an important Inca center, Ollantaytambo is a modern city, ready to give every kind of traveler what they need, from a cultural expedition to several adventure tours, depending on what you are capable of.

Tourists usually come to Ollantaytambo to admire the amazing architecture of the Fortress and the Terraces. The architecture is admirable because of its technology, which is really similar to the Tahuantinsuyo and the Tiahuanaco pre-Inca cultures. They invented a spectacular way of taking the stones from the valley all the way to the upper part of the mountain by using the river flow of a channel they constructed. It is also interesting to know that Ollantaytambo was built using a different technique from Pisac, Sacsayhuamán or Machu Picchu, all of them nearby centers, which used dry stone. Moreover, you also have the Terraces, such as the Pumatallis Terraces, that show how agriculture was practiced, in a sort of stairlike platforms, in the mountains by the Incas, a technology still impressive for architects and engineers.

There is also a part of Ollantaytambo, not as well known as the others, called “Arajama”. This part was built by Manco Inca in order to defend the city from the Spanish warriors.

Regarding the architecture, there are two sections: the popular district - which is where residents live, in the lower part of the town -; and the sacred district, where all the temples are located, in the upper part. In the popular district, the principal attractions are the Incas buildings and the rectilinear set and urban distribution of the streets. When it comes to the sacred district, one of the most famous places to visit is the “Temple of the Sun” - still incomplete for some people and destroyed by man for others -, where you can observe the wall of the six monoliths, an amazing megalithic stone handwork.

If you are looking for adventure, this is your place. For soft adventurers, we have walks through the architectural structures, horse rides and the observation of migratory birds. But if you are looking for extreme adventures, you will love the rafting – at the Urubamba River- , hiking and climbing. Do not forget about the Inca Trails - one of the best world treks - the famous pathway that would have taken the Incas from the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu. If you want to get to Machu Picchu, and the trails are just not right for you, you can choose the train as well.

It has recently been recognized, a new conservational area called Qosqoccahuarina. A Park of 1827 hectares of forest, home of several bird species in extinction. Regarding mammals, you will find the Andean mountain cat, the taruca – or North Andean deer -, the puma – or mountain lion -, and the culpeo fox. Apart from animals, you will also find the Polylepis Native Forest and the pastureland, located in the highest part of Patacancha watershed, which is the only water supply in the locality.

This article was written by a Peru Travel expert at Peru travel Now, available to help you custom design your exciting Peru Tours.