Ollantaytambo

Travel Guide

Cusco featuring mountains, landscape views and a small town or village
Ollantaytambo
Ollantaytambo featuring street scenes and a small town or village
Ollantaytambo which includes a small town or village, mountains and landscape views
Ollantaytambo featuring landscape views and building ruins

Home to the ruins of a striking temple, this quaint village has changed little since it was inhabited by the Inca centuries ago. 

A well-worn stop for visitors traveling to Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo exudes an old-world charm despite the crowds it attracts. The Old Town is among the longest continuously inhabited neighborhoods on the continent, with a well-preserved layout designed by the Incas. The town’s most famous attraction is an ancient fortress, one of the Inca’s most stunning architectural achievements.

Explore Ollantaytambo’s Old Town, a delightful grid of streets organized into canchas (blocks). Each cancha usually had one entrance leading into a main courtyard bordered by a group of houses. Investigate Calle del Medio, an excellent example of one of these small communities. Follow blue plaques around town designating theOllantaytambo Heritage Trail, which guides visitors to the most interesting sites.

This city is a perfect base for hikes around the surrounding valley and mountains. Climb the stairs near Calle Lares K'ikllu and walk along the trail leading to Pinkuylluna. This 1.5-hour hike will take you to an old set of Incan granaries, a scenic spot with views over the Old Town and fortress.

Don’t miss the iconic Fortress of Ollantaytambo, an impressive example of Incan stonework consisting of terraces carved into the hillside. The ruins are believed to have served as a temple for worship and astronomical observation, before being used as a fortress to defend the city against an attack by the Spanish. At the bottom of the terraces, find Baños de la Ñusta, an area once used for ceremonial bathing.

Visit Ollantaytambo during its colorful festivals, when the city comes alive with dance, music and ceremonial processions. Numerous festivals are held throughout the year Fiesta de Reyes in January is one of the best. During this festival, an effigy is carried into town from the sacred site of Marcaquocha.

Ollantaytambo is located at the northwestern entrance of the Sacred Valley. The fortress ruins are popular with large tour groups during the day, so it’s best to visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

El Albergue Ollantaytambo
El Albergue Ollantaytambo
3 out of 5
Estacion De Tren, Ollantaytambo, Cusco
The price is CA $134 per night from Jul 15 to Jul 16
CA $134
CA $147 total
Jul 15 - Jul 16
Stay at this 3-star guesthouse in Ollantaytambo. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), room service, and a sauna. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (448 reviews)
"Lovely boutique hotel right inside the train station. Ollantaytambo is a small town, so everything is easily walkable from here. I also loved their farm-to-table food – fresh and delicious. Big shout-out to the staff who went above and beyond to help us."

Reviewed on Jul. 3, 2025

El Albergue Ollantaytambo
Vertical Sky Luxury Suites
Vertical Sky Luxury Suites
3 out of 5
Antanuca, Onora Fundo Huaraccpunku, Ollantaytambo, Urubamba
The price is CA $325 per night from Jul 18 to Jul 19
CA $325
CA $363 total
Jul 18 - Jul 19
Stay at this 3-star lodge in Ollantaytambo. Enjoy free breakfast, private hot tubs, and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (35 reviews)
"Excellent place to stay, be advised that you have to be in fit healthy condition to be able to hike up to your rooms up on the mountains of Ollantaytambo. Giancarlos and Gabby are excellent hosts, please make sure to communicate with them on WhatsApp before your arrival."

Reviewed on Jul. 4, 2025

Vertical Sky Luxury Suites
LA CASA DE OLLANTA
LA CASA DE OLLANTA
3 out of 5
Av. Occobamba, Ollantaytambo, Cuzco
The price is CA $44 per night from Aug 11 to Aug 12
CA $44
CA $44 total
Aug 11 - Aug 12
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Ollantaytambo. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Popular attractions Plaza de Armas and Ollantaytambo Archaeological ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (38 reviews)
"Very safe"

Reviewed on Jul. 4, 2025

LA CASA DE OLLANTA
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Pyramid under the stars + barbecue + breakfast
Pyramid under the stars + barbecue + breakfast
Ollantaytambo
Book a stay at this family-friendly vacation home in Ollantaytambo. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and patios. Popular attractions Ollantaytambo Archaeological Site ...
Under the stars beside the mighty Urubamba River!
"This is a lodging experience like no other. Located a 10 minute walk from the town of Ollantaytambo, it’s nestled in a eucalyptus forest alongside the roaring Urubamba River. Very secure, behind stone walls, locked gates and with the adorable, loyal “guard dog” Beethoven . we stayed in the glass ..."

Reviewed on May 2, 2025

Pyramid under the stars + barbecue + breakfast
THE CAS DE OLLANTA 5 FROM THE PLAZA DE ARMAS
THE CAS DE OLLANTA 5 FROM THE PLAZA DE ARMAS
ollantaytambo cusco
Stay at this vacation home in Ollantaytambo. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Plaza de Armas and Ollantaytambo Archaeological ...
"loved it"

Reviewed on Jul. 29, 2023

THE CAS DE OLLANTA 5 FROM THE PLAZA DE ARMAS
Casa Capac, inka stone house which was inhabited by Incas.
Casa Capac, inka stone house which was inhabited by Incas.
2 out of 5
Ollantaytambo
Stay at this vacation home in Ollantaytambo. Popular attractions Plaza de Armas and Ollantaytambo Archaeological Site are located nearby.
Casa Capac, inka stone house which was inhabited by Incas.
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Things to do

Reviews of Ollantaytambo

4.8
Top destination
5 - Excellent
17
5 - Excellent 77%
4 - Good
5
4 - Good 23%
3 - Okay
0
3 - Okay 0%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Easy access to Machu Picchu. Some great yin’s in Ollantaytambo as well.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Small town with lots of character.

5/5 - Excellent

Rani

Very nice ruins. People are friendly.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Great stop on the way back to Cusco. Often just a stop over for the train station. Worth at least a one night stay.

5/5 - Excellent

Linda

Ollanatytambo is a great place to use as a base when exploring the Sacred Valley. It is more than other places honouring it’s history at the same time it deals with changes tourism demand.

5/5 - Excellent

Pete

This is the perfect place to base yourself for your stay in the sacred valley. Rumba is too big and Agua Calliente is too overrun with tourists and high priced.

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