Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Belgium
Denmark
Spain
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Portugal
the United Kingdom
Sweden
Switzerland
Village · Ollantaytambo, Cusco
Centro histórico de Ollantaytambo
The best-preserved inhabited Inca village in Peru, with blocks of stone walls, communal courtyards and water channels running through the streets, and the Pinkuylluna storehouses on the hillside.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Centro histórico de Ollantaytambo
Ollantaytambo is one of the few towns in Peru that preserves the Inca layout and remains inhabited. The Qosqo Ayllu neighborhood, north of the Plaza de Armas, is made up of rectangular blocks of stone walls, each with a central courtyard, the canchas, which grouped several houses of the same family. Many entrance doors are still original, in a trapezoid shape.
Along the narrow stone streets run water channels that descend from the mountain and have supplied the town since Inca times. In some courtyards, families open their homes to visitors, with cuyes raised in the kitchen, everyday objects and the ancestors' altar. The main square has cafés, restaurants and the van stop.
On the slope opposite the fortress, the Pinkuylluna mountain holds the Inca stone storage houses, the qollqas, built high up to take advantage of the cold wind that preserved food. A short, steep trail leaves the town and climbs up to them, with views of the fortress and the valley.
The town is the main train station for Machu Picchu, and it is busy all day. At night, when the tour groups leave, the streets become quiet.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1 to 2 hours for the Inca streets; with the Pinkuylluna trail, another 1 h 30.
Best time
Early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the streets are quieter. The Pinkuylluna trail is best in the late afternoon, with the light on the fortress.
How to get there
The town is explored on foot from the Plaza de Armas. The Pinkuylluna trail starts on a street a few blocks from the square and is signposted. The train station is 1 km away, about a 15-minute walk.
Tip
Walk the streets behind the square in the Qosqo Ayllu neighborhood and notice the trapezoid doors. Climb Pinkuylluna with sturdy footwear: the trail is steep and lacks handrails in several sections.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Centro histórico de Ollantaytambo
Is Ollantaytambo really an Inca village?
Yes. The Qosqo Ayllu neighborhood preserves the layout, the walls and the water channels from the Inca period and remains inhabited.
What are the Pinkuylluna storehouses?
They are the qollqas, Inca stone storehouses built on the hillside, in front of the fortress, where the cold wind preserved food.
Is the Pinkuylluna trail long?
It's short, about a 1-hour round trip, but steep, with stone steps. It's worth it for the view of the valley from above.