About Ollantaytambo

Pachacutec
He was the Inca Emperor, who had the city of Ollantaytambo built. What is wonderful to realize is that this Inca city is still inhabited with the modern town spread out at the base of the ruins. The old stone streets will take you back in time. This city is important from military, political and agricultural perspectives. During the summer solstice, the sun emblazons the Sun Temple; another testimony to the superb engineering skills of the Inca people. The site has an impressive pyramid-like shape, something that has placed it on the same level as the Eastern island of Chile and the Pyramids of Giza. There are terraces, an agricultural area, a fountain, and a river. It is here that the Inca warriors faced and fought their Spanish invaders in 1537. At the end of the month of June, this historically important site stages a drama called 'Ollantey'. Many of the Inca channels are still in use. This site is a must-visit if you want your own insights about the Inca way of life.
 

Must See

  • The Real House of the Sun
  • The strong Choqana
  • The Square Mañay Raqay or ‘K’uychipunku’
  • The Temple of the Sun
  • The monumental cover and the enclosure of the 10 niches
  • The Bath of the Ñusta
  • The platforms

How to reach

By Car: You can reach Ollantaytambo from Cuzco by bus in roughly 1 hour 30 minutes. One-way fare is about 56.5 SOL. Trains are way more expensive starting at 236 SOL and taking an extra one hour. We would recommend a guided tour by a well-known travel agency via the towns of Pisac or Chinchero.  

By train: Take voyager bimodal service train that goes via Machu Picchu towards Inca Rail to reach Ollantaytambo. The journey is about 2 hours 10 minutes and costs about  55 sol.

Tips

  • The Sun Temple lights up brilliantly during the summer solstice.
  • There are wonderful photo opportunities from the tops of the main terraces.
  • It is better to reach there early to avoid the 11 a.m crowd.
  • The hike cannot be done by people with mobility problems.
  • Those with mobility problems can sit by the Patakancha River. There are benches there.
  • Sturdy shoes are a must.
  • It is better to carry some food and bottles of drinking water.
  • A vial of hand sanitizer and toilet paper are also to be carried along.
  • There are vendors near the entrance selling souvenirs and water.
  • A guide or a very good guide book is essential.

Visit Time

Sunday:      7.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Monday:      7.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Tuesday:     7.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Wednesday: 7.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Thursday:    7.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Friday:        7.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Saturday:    7.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Time Icon

Waiting Time

No

 

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Entrance Fee

Yes

There is no entry to visit only Ollantaytambo.
You have packages for visiting Chinchero, Pisac, and Moray in Cusco including, Ollantaytambo. That has an entry fee of 70 sol.

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Time you can spend Icon

Time you can spend

3 hours to 4 hours

 

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Weather

Overcast Clouds 14.33°C

 

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