Ollantaytambo was one of the most important towns in the Sacred Valley, primarily because it is the closest Inca city to Machu Picchu. Today, the archaeological remains are the main attraction of the place.
The town of Ollantaytambo is the only Inca town that is still inhabited today, which is why it is known as the Living Inca City. The town's design around the archaeological site still maintains the architectural style of the Inca culture, and the inhabitants still keep traditions inherited from Inca ancestors.
It is said that the town of Ollantaytambo was built during the expansionist era of the Inca Empire by order of Pachacútec. However, there are walls that were built by the Huari culture, such as the Pumamarca fortress, which later became a military compound accessible by the well-known Inca Trail.
Some historians indicate that the name Ollantaytambo comes from the term "Ullantawi," which means "to look down." Over time, it evolved to Ullanta, and upon becoming a tambo, it acquired its current name.
Ollantaytambo is also known for an Inca drama titled "Ollantay," whose protagonist was General Ollanta. In this literary work, the setting of the story is this place.
Ollantaytambo served as an access point to the Sacred Valley, as it is a mandatory passage to Machu Picchu, thus being considered a strategic military point. This place was vital in the Incas' fight against the Spaniards during the conquest, as they managed to stop the Spanish cavalry by flooding the fields around Ollantaytambo.
The Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park is located in the district of the same name, in the province of Urubamba, 60 km in a straight line from the city of Cusco. It is strategically located at the opposite end of the Pisac archaeological site.
It is an impressive architectural complex almost completely destroyed, with only the immovable pieces that make up a stone canvas that, due to its solidity, volume, and fitting precision, withstood the onslaught of the idolaters' eradicators and also repelled treasure looters.
It is thought that the entire complex formed the Temple of the Sun, of which only the western wall remains, made up of six stones of red porphyry, with strips fitting with incredible accuracy.
It is a beautiful water fountain with a triple spout in parallel and broken lines, sculpted on the front face. The Incas built groups of liturgical fountains in every urban center.
Mañay means request and Raqay means barn; it is interpreted as the Plaza of Requests. This name was given to the Plaza of Ollantaytambo and it remains to this day; this plaza is located on the right bank of the Patakancha stream, rectangular in shape, with the boundary walls featuring many doorways.
The Royal House of the Sun still retains the urban planning layout of the Inca era. It consists of 17 superimposed terraces, a succession of straight and wide terraces oriented towards the side of the plaza and the town; the upper group of terraces runs transversely to the previous group at a higher elevation.
It is the last terrace of the upper group of terraces, with the entire wall consisting of two stone canvases forming a kind of room. This hall is now incomplete, with the outer wall and the wall that contained the entrance door being demolished; the foundations remain, and it can be seen that the niches faced the interior and not, as now, exposed to the elements.
Several kilometers before reaching Ollantaytambo, there are groups of parallel terraces, with formidable walls sloping towards the hill, with steps embedded in the walls.
Choqana is a Quechua word meaning "where it is knocked down or thrown," referring to a barracks located two kilometers before Ollantaytambo, on the left side of the Urubamba River. It was a place of administrative control, signal station, and communication, as it has many enclosures arranged for surveillance.
Monday to Sunday from 08:00 am to 05:30 pm.
Entrance to Tambomachay is included in the Tourist Ticket.
The climate in Tambomachay is generally sunny during the day and temperate-cold at night. It is recommended to visit this place in the morning, as the wind in the afternoon can make the visit uncomfortable.
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