Ollantaytambo
Plaza de Armas with Pinkuyllyuna rising behind the town
The face of an Inca warrior/deity between harvest silos on Pinkullyuna
From Cuzco, we caught a collectivo to Ollantaytambo. Collectivos are a popular mass transit solution in South America. A private van waits around for enough passengers to fill every seat before taking off. For those who crave the local experience (or just like to save money like us), there’s no better way to travel but it can be extremely cramped and let’s say… fragrant.
Ollantaytambo is the closest town to Machu Picchu, but an important Inca site by itself. The residential area was laid out in a trapezoid outlined by irrigation channels and has been continuously inhabited for over five hundred years since. We stayed in the very affordable Hostal Iskay right in the area.
Ancient streets
The primary site is Ollantaytambo itself where terraces rise up dramatically to a religious site that revolved around the sun. It was on these terraces that the Inca had their greatest victory against the Spanish invaders, dominating them from the high ground and flooding the plains to eliminate the horseback advantage. The site is preserved beautifully with constant reminders of the civilization’s astonishing stonework.
Approaching the Ollantaytambo site first thing in the morning
The view of the Spanish, looking up the terraces
At the top, and the giant rock slabs of the Sun Temple
Perfect stonework, all without mortar and surviving centuries of earthquakes
The view enjoyed by the Inca defenders, straight down the terraces
Looking across the terraces at the religious rock outcropping
The terraces walls are huge
Carved stones lay at an unfinished site suggesting an abrupt work halt
Tourists are the only invaders of Ollantaytambo now (come early if possible)
The Pinkullyuna mount faces Ollantaytambo and a short climb leads to views over and across town to the Ollantaytambo site. After immersing ourselves in Inca history, we allowed ourselves a chance to enjoy their culinary delicacy called cuy, otherwise known as roast guinea pig.
The view from Pinkullyuna
Getting ready for local fine dining
Cuy is tasty, a sort of duck-pork flavor, but very difficult to eat with lots of bones and little meat
