Cusco
Price $69
Min age 0
Rating 4.38 / 5 [388 ratings]
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Travel bucket list idea:
Cusco Region, Peru
Of all the Inca sights in Peru, only Machu Picchu is more impressive than this huge fortress. It’s cut into the mountain above the Sacred Valley, with massive cut stones and vast terraces.
Machu Picchu was never discovered by the Spanish – instead, it fell through neglect. By contrast, Ollantaytambo was the last stronghold of the Incas near Cusco and the site of a famous victory. In 1536, Manco Inca diverted the course of the River Patacancha to wash away the advancing Spanish and their Amazonian Indian allies.
It was another thirty years before the Incas finally fell and the ruins – with crumbling walls and astonishing views – have an even greater poignancy than Machu Picchu.
Allow an hour or so for an exploration of Ollantaytambo village, and its textiles and souvenir market. It’s as touristy as an airport shop, but there are occasional bargains.
The Parwa restaurant in Lamay village, about 30 minutes’ drive from Ollantaytambo, serves authentic Quechua Andean food and is run by an indigenous co-operative.
Ollantaytambo is well-served by transport – nowhere in the Sacred Valley is easier to reach. Trains run from Cusco, and you can catch the train to Machu Picchu for Ollantaytambo. Cab rides take around 90 minutes, bus rides 160 minutes. Most tour companies in Cusco offer bus visits. You can also see the ruins on a white-water rafting excursion.
For food & drink before or after, Apu in the heart of the village serves Peruvian staples with wonderful mountain views from the rooftop terrace.
The site is open daily from April to October. During the peak July-August period, consider staying overnight in the village to avoid the busy tour bus crowds which arrive from Cusco after 10am. The light is spectacular in the early morning and late afternoon.
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