Tourism in Ollantaytambo

Within this area you have many alternatives into living Inca town that is Ollantaytambo which is the first of all how as inevitable point to forward and visiting all archaeological sites that contain the religious fortress of Ollantaytambo. The present town stands in the same spot where the urban sector was in Inca times. And it's really interesting because it is the only place in Peru where you can still find people living in the same buildings that served as housing for the Inca nobles. Some of its narrow streets still maintain waterways, where limpid water flowed for use of the population, streets that apparently keep their inca names. The village was divided into rectangular blocks with an orderly geometric arrangement that gives the impression of being a town designed by modern architects, where each block was composed of two "kanchas" or departments with entrances of double jamb and lintel that indicate they were veritable palaces with rooms around a central courtyard. At least the bottom of the current buildings is original and made with walls of type "pirka" but were coated with the respective plaster and possibly had some murals in some cases too. Today, their thatched roofs have been replaced with tiles and it can breathe a little air of modernity with electricity and potable water, but essentially the village still has flavor Inca.

Some decades ago, here conducted a world meeting of representatives of the "Indians" around the world, who declared this town as the "World Capital of Indianness", at that time there were some hints of wanting help to effective conservation of the original structures.

Into this short tour you will see the barns of Pincuylluna hill that enclosing the mysteries of ancient storage of Perú and the graphic representation of Tunupa or Wiracochan, that it was an entity that connected with the Wirachoca. Furthermore, out of all Inca moments that you can see, you 'll know the museum tha is the Andean Center of Traditional Technology and Culture of Communities of Ollantaytambo (CATCCO) work. We recommend to visit, because it presents in a didacitc and modern way the region history. Contains five rooms on the second floor inside a royal house over an ancient Inca court, allowing visitors learn more about the history, archeology, architecture, crafts and beliefs of the Ollantaytambo people. Also, this association organizes walks through seven ancient routes: Yanacocha, Pincuylluna, Pumamesarca, Huilloc, Páchar, Cachicata and Ollantaytambo. These walks take three to seven hours, and have tour guides.

Farm of Pachar, Compone, Yanawuara, Chillipawa, Kamikancha, Sillque, Phiri

This places are over Inca houses and archaeological samples of a great architectural caliber of Ollantaytambo. The estates in Ollantaytambo as: Pacha, Compone, Yanawuara, Chillipawa, Kamikancha, Sillque, Phiri play the role of reminding the postincaico period and authoritarianism to the Peruvian ancestors who lived during the conquest. The first estate and the most important is Pachar, that belongs to Antonio de Porras, who obtained this property in the first half of XVI century, thanks to links with spanish hierarchy.

Then this Pachar estate became a part of bethlehem order for agricultural crop and was the largest of its time. Inside of this circuit we found a wonderful road surrounded by terraces and Andean vegetation to reach Chocana, and returning it located the places of Pintay and Inca Racay in tower forms of tilled stone, which possibly was the entrance to omnipotent Ollantaytambo.

Yanacocha lagoon

The beauty of Yanacocha lake shows a great landscape potential. The presence of Queuña Forest and other native species, which give an approximation of how was the natural history in Cusco, and it possible to make some natural reconstructions. This lovely place is located to 3900 m., having a impressive view of Sacred Valley. Also, it can be narrow that from Yanacocha the ancient Peruvians (Incas), built a canal that carried water to the fortified and religious Ollantaytambo, through 14 km of paved road which facilitated the circulation of the sacred liquid for whole city of General Ollantay. One of the highlight details in Laguna Yanacocha are the edges that were lined with stones to prevent leaking out and overflow.

On the road to Yanacocha noticed all the mysteries about the people technology of ancient Peru and Andean people, who formed a fundamental part of all its urban and agricultural development, because by smooth stone strokes that guide the water distillations from the source that it was Yanacocha, the incas were able to survive and develop in Ollantaytambo.

Cachicata Trekking

During his stay in Ollantaytambo and after you enjoy the archaeological remains of the city. This road is one of the greatest alternatives for the history and the work that Incas did to build his archaeological sites. All these stones came from Cachicata quarries. For this route, we enter three-day hike.

Day 01: Cusco – Pachar – Raphcca – Qorimarca
Begin the day with a delicious breakfast. Then we will pick you up from your hotel to Pachar. We will pass incredible places in Huarocondo Canyon until Raphcca community (2900 m), from this point we will start by foot through Qorimarca Valley and we'll observe its Inca terraces and channels of Andean culture. Also we will observe a vast range of birds to reach Qorimarca complex, located at the top of Soccma Valley and it will be our first day of camp.

Day 02: Qorimarca – Paso De Chancachuco – Q’Euñacancha
After a good breakfast prepared by our expert chefs, we will start our walking to Chancanchuco (4400 m) and we'll observe a panoramic view of the range mountains (Verónica, Ausangate, Qoyllority snowcappeds). Continuing the walk, we will pass through laggons and it can be observe ducks, Andean geese, ibis, etc.. At the end of the day we'll descend to Q'euñacancha and spend the night in this place.

Day 03: Q’Euñacancha – Punkuyuc – Cachicata – Ollantaytambo
Our third day starts with a fortified breakfast to start the walk to Yana Orco hill (Black Mountain). From this point observe the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Ollantaytambo as we descend through forests of Q'euña to reach the archaeological remains of Inti Punku, also observe the Choquetacarpo enclosure(possibly places that were used as a residence for the work performed Inca engineers group).

Willoq and Patacancha trekking

Willoq and Patacancha are places with Inca traditions and experiences of more than 500 years ago, that contain a historical transcendence stagnanted over time. Here in the village the people interact with the visitors to join their customs and it is considered another living Inca town. You can observe and be a part of Andean culture, also the peculiar distinction in the color of their clothes and weave that keep the same line of their ancestors.

To reach Willoq, the transport is taken from Ollataytambo with direction to Willoq (around 45 minutes by car), after going through spectacularly and beautiful views, we will arrive to Willoq, rural community, visited by foreign tourists since 1992.

Day 01: Journey to Willoq
Begin the day with direction to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of the Incas and visit this iconic town. After a brief stay in the Living Inca City, we'll go to Willoq, where we will can interact with people in the area knowing their lifestyle and participate with cattle raising, agriculture, textiles and those routine chores in their homes. Lunch and dinner typically, plus a presentation of Willoq people. Overnight in villagers homes (rooms prepared by the villagers themselves with basic and clean services).

Day 02: Willoc - Patacancha
In this day we will visit Patacancha, where we will have another presentation of their products and daily activities. We will participate in its activities of Patacancha like: The textiles contain in their clothing its ancient ascendancy, where prevail the red and black colors. For this reason the people of this place are known as "Huayruros" for their clothing that will keep the same color of the seeds of good luck.

In the Community are located weavers who only speak Quechua (runasimi) and can be observed: llicllas, Scarves, Ponchos, Bags and Blankets that it counts with an impressive finesse and made with natural fibers (sheep or alpaca). Lunch with the commoners. Return to Cusco.

Day 03: Qollpaq'asa - Ututo
We will hike to the small Maukachaka village and will continue to walk throught Pampaconas highpass. Then we go on tour and descend to Ututo where we are camping for the night. Also here, we will have the opportunity to do a little fishing.

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