Before visiting Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo is the town that you travel through to get there, but is often overlooked. We stayed in Ollantaytambo the night after hike to Machu Picchu, and my only regret is that I wish I would have stayed there longer. Here are the reasons why I loved it so much.
1. It’s close to Machu Picchu.
Since Ollantaytambo is so close to Machu Picchu, a lot of people decide to the spend the night either before or after visiting Machu Picchu.
One great reason to spend the night in Ollantaytambo before the trek is that you can sleep in a bit longer. Our tour group picked up the people in Ollantaytambo at 6:15am, compared to 4:30am in Cusco!
Spending the night after the trek is also a great option. You don’t have to take a long train ride back to Cusco, and you have more time relaxing and exploring the town before leaving. For me, it was the perfect way to end 2 days of hiking!
2. It’s easy to get to Ollantaytambo
Getting to Ollantaytambo is very easy. There is a train station a 10-15 minute walk away from the downtown area. If you go on a group tour to Machu Picchu and want to be dropped off here after your tour, tell your guide in advance and remind the hostess on the train. The train will stop at Ollataytambo and you are on your way!
The train station in Ollantaytambo is on a busy street with a few restaurants and convenience stores along the way. It is very easy to walk to, so no need to take a car or tuk tuk!
There will most likely be a lot of other travelers walking to and from the train station as well (even in the early morning – so that they can go to Machu Picchu, of course!) so it feels very safe.
To get to Cusco from Ollantaytambo is also very easy. We decided to hire a taxi with Taxidatum which took us on a day tour of the Sacred Valley as we traveled back to Cusco. The best part about this is that we didn’t have to negotiate a taxi fare, and it was very reliable and safe!
3. It’s a small, quiet town.
After coming from the hustle and bustle of Cusco, Ollantaytambo was a welcome relief. We weren’t being constantly approached to buy something; and because most of the roads are cobblestone pathways there isn’t a lot of traffic.
4. The views are stunning
Ollantaytambo is in the Sacred Valley, and reminds me so much of Machu Picchu. It’s surrounded by tall mountains, and it has a river running next to the town. The cobblestone streets are small and narrow with little rivers running through them. It felt so peaceful.
5. Ollantaytambo Ruins
There is so much to do I would have spent two days there. There are two ruins you can visit, a chocolate museum, and a market.
The Ollantaytambo Ruins are the most popular, and require a Tourist Ticket to get in (Tourist Tickets can be purchased right at the Ruins if you don’t already have one).
We had spent the night before in Ollantaytambo, so we were able to go to the ruins when they opened in the morning and beat the afternoon rush. We took our time at the ruins, and were there for about 2.5 hours.
The other ruin you can walk to (which is free!) are the Pinkuylluna Ruins. We unfortunately didn’t get the time to see them since we had planned to leave Ollantaytambo at 12:30pm that day.
6. It’s easier to breathe!
Ollantaytambo is 2792m above sea level. Cusco is located 3399m above sea level. If you are just arriving in Cusco, or are having trouble adjusting to the altitude, Ollantaytambo is a good place to acclimatize. It was nice to be able to walk around and explore the ruins without getting extremely out of breathe (compared to Cusco!).
7. It’s close to Maras and Moray
When we decided to spend the extra night in Ollantaytambo, Alpaca Expeditions was kind enough to offer to pick us up the next day at 6:00pm. We decided to book a day tour with Taxidatum instead so that we could explore Maras Salt Flats and Moray as we headed back to Cusco.
Moray is located about 30 minutes away from Ollantaytambo, so it saved a lot of driving back and forth from Cusco.
Where to Stay
We stayed at the Ollantaytampu Hostel Patacalle. A lovely hotel close to the river overlooking the ruins. It is about a 15 minute walk to the train station.
It felt like we were the only ones there, and we were treated so nicely. We were able to take a nice hot shower after the trek, and sit on their outside patio listening to the river rush by.
Their breakfast was excellent too. A chef personally made us eggs and a bagel with a tomato, yogurt and fruit, freshly pressed orange juice, and tea. Overall it was a great experience.
Where to Eat
There are lots of really nice restaurants in Ollantaytambo. The places we chose were next to the Ruins and only served small meals like crepes and empanadas (which are delicious, by the way), since that was all we were in the mood for.
Have you been to Ollantaytambo, or are planning a trip there? Let me know what you did in the comments below!
