Ollantaytambo is one of the tourist destinations in Cusco that has grown in popularity in recent years and its recognition has crossed borders so much that today it is a popular place for foreigners visiting Peru.
There are several reasons why Ollantaytambo has become the latest trend in world tourism, starting with the public recognition it has received in recent years as a very special place.
Today we will know the most important and necessary details for our next visit, do not miss anything about the next city that will be a trend in social networks in 2023.
What is Ollantaytambo?
First of all, you must know the historical side of Ollantaytambo to enjoy its great structure and rich past.
Ollantaytambo is an archaeological complex that once served as a military, religious, and agricultural center.
Before the site fell under the power of the Incas, it was ruled by an Aymara culture, not with the majesty it has today, named after the word Ullanwtawi, which means: look down.
Later, thanks to the Quechua domain in the region, due to the cultures that housed the Peruvian highlands, the name changed to Ullantay, which over time was transformed again thanks to the construction of a dairy farm on the city esplanade.
The site was known as Ullantay Tampu before being administered by the Incas who built what we know today as Ollantaytambo.
The construction of Ollantaytambo
One of the beliefs surrounding the construction of Ollantaytambo in Inca times is that its purpose was to serve as a refuge for the Inca royalty and nobility.
Its walls and canals were created with huge stones extracted six kilometers from Ollantaytambo, very close to the Urubamba River.
The Incas diverted the entire waterway that surrounded it to transport the enormous stones with which the construction was made, an incredible advance in Andean technique and wisdom to which the Incas had already accustomed us.
Like any Inca construction, the site also served as a ceremonial center where the «priests» performed regular exercises according to their solar calendar.
Where is the town of Ollantaytambo?
Today we find Ollantaytambo 90 kilometers northwest of the city of Cusco, in the province of Urubamba.
It is the capital of the district of Ollantaytambo, so it is very easy to locate it on the map, it is accessible by all types of land transport since there is a road.
How to get to Ollantaytambo?
There are several ways to get to Ollantaytambo in 2022. You can do it yourself or hire a specialized tour team that will accompany you throughout the tour and will explain the most important details of the place.
If you prefer to travel alone, you can get to Ollantaytambo in two ways, by the Cusco – Chinchero – Urubamba highway or also Cusco – Pisaq – Calca and Urubamba.
The second way to get there is to go through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to stop there and discover the history behind the magical city.
How long is the trip from Cusco to Ollantaytambo?
The normal time to travel from Cusco to Ollantaytambo is an hour and a half.
The distance between both points is about 60 kilometers, so in less than two hours you have already reached an incredible destination in Cusco.
Free and paid activities in Ollantaytambo 2023
If you are looking for more reasons to make that dream trip to Cusco to get to know Ollantaytambo better, here we tell you what you can do.
What is there to do for free in Ollantaytambo?
Ollantaytambo is the perfect example to describe the genius of the Incas in the planning and construction of their urban centers.
The site is a trip down memory lane and it’s free if you want to wander its winding cobblestone streets as you dazzle us with its scattered ruins on every corner.
The landscape is spectacular, when in the background we have the agricultural terraces, which are the main attractions of Ollantaytambo, it is impressive to see the engineering behind the town up close.
In the city we can find many possibilities of free activities; However, the best way to get to know Ollantaytambo is to take a tour where professionals attend to the guide.
Ollantaytambo and its tourist activities
The best way to get to know Ollantaytambo is to visit the ruins in the company of a tourism professional, a person whose training allows us to know all the details that this Inca architectural jewel hides.
For this we must search Kuskandes Trek, with them we will meet and discover what is hidden in each stone, each ruin, each corner and each smile behind each Ollantaytambo.
We are specialists in tourism in Cusco and Peru. Our specialty is accompanying travelers to live the best experiences and take the most spectacular photos from all social networks.
Contact us to clarify doubts or questions about your next destination, Ollantaytambo is waiting for you.
