This archaeological complex was a gigantic agricultural, administrative, social, religious and military center in the era of the Tahuantinsuyo. The Spaniards called it the Fortress of Ollantaytambo. It is located 97km from Cusco down a modem highway.
Once can see the architectural style of its streets and squares which are distinctly pre-Hispanic, with enormous polyhedrons forming the walls and trapezoidal doors of temples and palaces. The urban distribution was set along rectilinear and narrow streets which have been inhabited constantly by natives since the Incas’ time.
In the upper and western part of the city rises a mountain which houses innumerable pre-Hispanic constructions such as magnificent crafted temples and terraces. A striking construction is the partially destroyed main temple, where once can see the front stone carving made up of six perfectly built red monoliths. It also has stepped molds, a characteristic made by the Earth. This made academics to consider Ollantaytambo a living museum.
TO MACHUPICCHU.- The town of Ollantaytambo is located in the far western part of the Urubamba Valley, in a place where the asphalt highway connects with the circuit called the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the railway that leaves Cusco bound for Machupicchu.
The train service covering the Cusco-Machupicchu route allows tourists to visit the area, board the train in Ollantaytambo and within two hours arrive in Puente Ruinas, from where buses leave for the Machupicchu citadel.
This possibility of boarding the train at Ollantaytambo can be done early in the morning or in the evenings from Monday to Saturday or Sunday mornings only. On the other hand, one can also get off at Ollantaytambo on the way back to Cusco from Machupicchu, and begin to explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas from there. More information Ollantaytambo >>>