Ollantaytambo is a town and an Inca archaeological site in southern Peru some 60 kilometers northwest of the city of Cusco. It is located at an altitude of 2,792 meters (9,160 feet) above sea level in the district of Ollantaytambo, province of Urubamba, Cusco region. During the Inca Empire, Ollantaytambo was the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti who conquered the region, built the town and a ceremonial center. At the time of the Spanish conquest of Peru it served as a stronghold for Manco Inca Yupanqui, leader of the Inca resistance. Nowadays it is an important tourist attraction on account of its Inca buildings and as one of the most common starting points for the three-day, four-night hike known as the Inca Trail.
There are a couple ways to get to Machu Picchu, one way is to take train all the way from Cusco or to take a bus or taxi to any of the train stops a long the way. Back in January 2010 there were HUGE floods that washed many of the roads and the train tracks away. We decided to catch a taxi to the last stop before the Machu picchu exit in the town of Ollantaytambo. We did think we could just show up and get on a train, but the crowds were a lot bigger than we thought, so we had to take the last train to Aqua Calliente. So we spent the day walking around this SMALL town, killing time before our train ride!
Usually you could just take the train to Aqua Calliente(the town which Machu Picchu is reached) from Ollantaytambo, however the tracks had washed away. So, we were shuttled in vans to a new makeshift stop then got on the train for the 1 hour and 40 minutes train ride through the mountains. We we amazed at how well the people of Peru have adapted to the natural disaster that happened only 5 months ago. On our way back from Machu Picchu we spent the night here in this little town.
The institute of national culture in Ollantaytambo
There are a couple ways to get to Machu Picchu, one way is to take train all the way from Cusco or to take a bus or taxi to any of the train stops a long the way. Back in January 2010 there were HUGE floods that washed many of the roads and the train tracks away. We decided to catch a taxi to the last stop before the Machu picchu exit in the town of Ollantaytambo. We did think we could just show up and get on a train, but the crowds were a lot bigger than we thought, so we had to take the last train to Aqua Calliente. So we spent the day walking around this SMALL town, killing time before our train ride!
Usually you could just take the train to Aqua Calliente(the town which Machu Picchu is reached) from Ollantaytambo, however the tracks had washed away. So, we were shuttled in vans to a new makeshift stop then got on the train for the 1 hour and 40 minutes train ride through the mountains. We we amazed at how well the people of Peru have adapted to the natural disaster that happened only 5 months ago. On our way back from Machu Picchu we spent the night here in this little town.
The institute of national culture in Ollantaytambo
Some of the old ruins
Shopping in Ollantaytambo
Some of the beautiful landscape
A bull ring
The large mountains surrounding the small town
We had beautiful clear days!!
More shops!
I bought something!!
Inca ruins
This is for all of you COFFEE lovers!
Women going about their usual day
This is typical Peruvian clothing for women. They wear a skirt to their knees, leggings, their hair braided into two LONG braids connected at the end with a string and a hat that sits very high on their heads.
The water system in this town
The roof tops of Ollantambo
Many women here in Ollantaytambo dressed like this.
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