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DestinationsDestinationsOther |
Ollantaytambo Peru Travel GuideINTRODUCTION Ollantaytambo is a town and an Incan archaeological site in southern Peru some 60 km northwest of the city of Cuzco. It is located at an altitude of 2,792 meters above sea level. HISTORY During the days of the Incan Empire Ollantaytambo was the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti. Now it is a tourist attraction because of its connection to Incan culture and for being one of the most common starting points for the hike on the Inca Trail. In the middle 15th century Pachacuti conquered and razed Ollantaytambo. The emperor rebuilt the town with extensive terracing and irrigation systems. The town provided lodging for Inca nobility, while the terraces provided adequate farm land. During the Spanish conquest of Peru Ollantaytambo became the capital of a rebel force fighting against the conquistadors. The resistance force fortified the town and its approaches in the direction of the former Inca capital of Cuzco, which had fallen under Spanish domination. In 1536 these rebels defeated a Spanish expedition blocking their advance from a set of high terraces and flooding the plain. This land was eventually worked into the Spanish domain. Today Ollantaytambo is an important tourist attraction and comes alive each time groups head off to take on the Inca trail. 
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