Ollantaytambo

Ollantaytambo was one of the villages that came under the rule of the Incas. The city served as an important checkpoint. According to Inca laws, these lands were reserved for the dynasty of Inca rulers.

Learn all about the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo in Cusco, Peru.

What does Ollantaytambo mean?

According to various studies, Ollantaytambo is a word of Aymara origin (language of the Peruvian high plateau) that would mean "place of observation from below".
In Ollantaytambo, culture and history are deeply combined, producing the admiration of the people who visit it.
If you decide to tour the city of Ollantaytambo on your trip to Machu Picchu, you will enjoy not only green and beautiful landscapes but also the daily life of the inhabitants of this ancient human settlement.
According to oral tradition, Ollantaytambo owes its name to the Inca drama 'Ollantay', which featured the Inca general 'Ollanta'.

When was Ollantaytambo founded?

In the middle of the 15th century, Emperor Pachacutec destroyed the town that settled there to found Ollantaytambo and incorporate it into the Inca Empire.
Pachacutec ordered the construction of the main buildings of the current archaeological site of Ollantaytambo.
Pachacutec is known as the Inca builder. Under his rule, the Incas also built the Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu.
Until today, the town of Ollantaytambo conserves its urban organization as well as many Inca walls.

What is the historical importance of Ollantaytambo?

Ollantaytambo was an important religious, agricultural and also military center. Due to its strategic location during the conquest it served as a defense post against the Spanish.
In 1537 the Spanish conquistadors faced off with the last Incas who resisted the European invasion in Ollantaytambo.
The resistance of Manco Inca could not stop the Spanish attack so they had to flee to the city of Vilcabamba, in the jungle of Cusco.
The city was in the hands of the invaders and being an 'encomienda' at the hands of Hernando Pizarro.
The encomiendas were territories placed at the disposal of the Spanish colonizers. Due to this, Ollantaytambo combines Inca, colonial and contemporary buildings.

What is the town of Ollantaytambo like?

The town of Ollantaytambo retains its Inca urban layout very well organized with a polygonal design. The square is in the center of the same city.
At present, the space occupied by the town of Ollantaytambo is a fraction that it had in antiquity.
The south side of the town of Ollantaytambo shows a higher quality construction. The north side, on the other hand, has lower quality buildings.
Currently, the town has various tourist services such as hotels, restaurants, cafes and many places to visit.

What places to visit in Ollantaytambo?

The archaeological site of Ollantaytambo has various buildings such as the Ñusta Bath, the Real Casa del Sol, the Monumental Home and many others.
However, the most popular and imposing buildings in Ollantaytambo are the Temple of the Sun and the beautiful andenería system.
At the top of the mountains that surround Ollantaytambo you can visit some constructions called 'Colcas'. These structures served as warehouses for basic products such as corn or potatoes.

What else to see in Ollantaytambo?

In Ollantaytambo you can also visit the abandoned quarries from which the construction material of the city was extracted.
From Ollantaytambo you can take walks to Pumamarka or visit the Yanacocha lagoon.
From Ollantaytambo the trains leave in the direction of Machu Picchu. Visit the archaeological site or the Inca people is a good option before knowing the Wonder of the World.