- 9 Days / 8 night
- Amazon - Machu Picchu
Ollantaytambo Tours with a local guide are the best way to discover the living Inca town of the Sacred Valley. On this 6-hour tour you’ll explore the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo, climb Pinkuylluna Mountain to the ancient storehouses, and stand on the plain of Mascabamba, where Manco Inca defeated the Spanish in 1537.
At 2,792 m (9,160 ft), Ollantaytambo is lower than Cusco, so it’s the perfect place to acclimatize before Machu Picchu. Our Ollantaytambo tours are led by local guides who grew up in the Sacred Valley and share the real history behind every stone, in small groups and at a relaxed pace.
Planning to hike to Machu Picchu after your visit? Combine this tour with our 2-Day Short Inca Trail, which starts by train from Ollantaytambo. Learn more about the Battle of Ollantaytambo.
| Travel experience | Ollantaytambo |
|---|---|
| Duration | 6 hours |
| Starting point | Ollantaytambo Main Square |
| Altitude | 2,792 m (9,160 ft) |
| Difficulty | Easy–moderate (stone steps and a steep trail on Pinkuylluna) |
| Group size | Small groups |
| Price | $ 40 per person |
We begin at the great Inca fortress-temple of Ollantaytambo. Your guide will take you up its giant terraces to the Temple of the Sun, built with enormous pink granite blocks carried from the quarries across the valley. On the way down we visit the Temple of Water and its ceremonial fountains, still flowing after five centuries. From the top you’ll also see how Ollantaytambo is a living Inca town, where families still live in the original Inca streets and houses.
Across the valley from the fortress rises Pinkuylluna, the mountain where the Incas built their qolqas (storehouses). These stone buildings sit high on the slope, where wind and cool air kept grain and food preserved for months. We hike up the trail to explore them and enjoy one of the best views of the fortress and the town. Your guide will also show you the famous face of Wiracocha, which the Incas saw carved in the mountain’s profile.
We end the tour on the plain of Mascabamba to tell the story of the war between the Incas and the Spanish.
In 1536, Manco Inca rebelled against the Spanish and made Ollantaytambo his stronghold. In January 1537, Hernando Pizarro marched against him with about 100 Spanish soldiers, most of them on horseback, and thousands of native allies. Manco Inca’s army, more than 20,000 warriors, defended the high terraces with arrows, slings and boulders, stopping attack after attack.
Then came the masterstroke: the Incas opened prepared channels and flooded the plain. The water rose to the horses’ bellies, the cavalry could no longer move, and the Incas counterattacked. Pizarro ordered a retreat that turned into a rout. It was one of the very few times the Spanish were defeated in open battle in Peru.
Soon after, Manco Inca left Ollantaytambo and withdrew to Vilcabamba, where the Inca resistance continued until 1572.
The price depends on the specific tour you choose. You can select any of our available tours, and we will provide full details for each option. All our tours depart from Ollantaytambo.
Each tour has its own price, and rates are per person. Our tours operate with a minimum of 2 participants or more.
A deposit of $45 USD per person is required to confirm your booking. The final price may vary depending on the tour selected.
