Ruinas ollantaytambo — Attraction in Ollantaytambo

Ollantaytambo, located in the Sacred Valley, is a destination known for the well-preserved Inca Ruins and its significance as a train station stop for travellers heading to Agua Calientes/Machu Picchu. Additionally, it is also a key starting point for the Inca Trail. This is a must-visit for anyone exploring the Sacred Valley!

The Ollantaytambo Ruins have a rich history and grand terraces that comprise the Fortress, alongside intricate farming and irrigation systems. The breathtaking views are worth the climb up the large number of Inca stairs to reach the top. At the upper terraces, visitors can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the Sacred Valley. Key points of interest within the ruins include the Enclosure of the Ten Niches, the Temple of the Sun, Inka Watana, Inka Misana, and various terraced areas, from which visitors can look across to Pinkuylluna and observe the remnants of Inca storehouses on the opposite hillside.

To access the ruins, visitors must purchase a Cusco Tourist Ticket, available in single-day or multi-day options, and payment is accepted in cash only at the entrance. It is advisable for visitors to take their time while exploring the ruins and to stay hydrated. It will get especially busy with an influx of tourists and tour groups, particularly during the afternoon when the sun casts softer shadows. Mornings, on the other hand, present more exposure to sunlight and fewer visitors. There are also maps around the ruin that help show the walking route throughout the site.

It is common to find tour guides available near the entrance, eager to lead groups through the ruins and share their knowledge for payment. Additionally, the market situated in front of the ruins serves as a favourable spot for purchasing souvenirs, often at more reasonable prices compared to those found at Machu Picchu and...

We visited the ruins of Ollantaytambo around 2 PM and, unsurprisingly, found the site quite crowded with tourists. Due to the heavy foot traffic, we weren’t able to climb all the way up to the Temple of the Sun—which sits high above the terraces and is one of the site’s most iconic structures—but we did manage to climb a few steps and explore the surrounding areas at a slower pace.

Ollantaytambo was once a royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti and later served as a strategic military, agricultural, and religious center during the Inca Empire. The site’s massive terraces are a marvel of Inca engineering, built not only for agriculture but also for fortification.

The Temple of the Sun, located at the top of the complex, is constructed from enormous pink granite blocks—some weighing over 50 tons—that were transported from a quarry several kilometers away. The precision with which these stones were cut and fitted together is a testament to the Incas’ architectural and engineering mastery. Scholars believe the temple had astronomical significance, aligned with solstices and used for worshipping Inti, the Sun God.

Even without reaching the top, walking through the lower ruins and seeing the complexity of the structures and the panoramic views of the Sacred Valley gave us a deep appreciation for the scale and significance of this ancient site. It’s easy to see why Ollantaytambo was one of the last strongholds of Inca resistance during the...

As ruínas da fortaleza de Ollantaytambo são totalmente rodeadas por montanhas, ficam localizadas a 80 km de Cuzco e a aproximadamente 2.800 metros acima do mar e devido a ser uma passagem obrigatória para quem se dirige a Machu Picchu é um local muito procurado por turistas e visitantes. Presume-se que foi o Inca Pachacutec que ordenou a construção de Ollantaytambo no topo da montanha e o local era fortemente protegido por muralhas de defesa, sendo considerado um tambo ou cidade alojamento, ficando localizado estrategicamente de forma a dominar todo o Vale Sagrado e abrigava um misto de complexo militar, religioso, administrativo e agrícola. Quando se chega ao local, o que imediatamente chama a atenção dos visitantes são os enormes depósitos de grãos construídos pelos incas para guardar alimentos em uma temperatura mais amena e também os gigantescos terraços de pedras amareladas que eram utilizados como áreas de cultivo para viabilizar a produção agrícola e que eram umidificados por canais que distribuíam a água igualmente. Impressiona o tipo arquitetônico empregado, assim como a qualidade de cada pedra, que foram trabalhadas individualmente e fazem de Ollantaytambo uma das obras de arte mais peculiares e surpreendentes que realizaram os antigos peruanos, com destaque para o impressionante Templo do Sol e seus gigantescos monólitos, algumas das rochas utilizadas na construção do local, são encontradas somente a muitos quilômetros de distância da cidade, o que revela o domínio dos Incas em técnicas avançadas de transporte de rochas. Creio ser importante sugerir que devido ao intenso calor que faz na região, quem for fazer a visitação ao local passe protetor solar e use chapéu ou boné, além de ser importante levar uma...