Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley is one of the few places in Peru where the original Inca street grid is still in daily use. Located 72 km from Cusco, the town pairs an Inca fortress above with a working colonial-and-Quechua population below.
The fortress climbs the hillside in terraces to the Temple of the Sun. Six pink granite monoliths at the top were quarried 4 km across the valley and lifted on ramps that are still visible on the opposite ridge. Manco Inca won a rare 1537 victory against Spanish cavalry here before falling back to Vilcabamba.
Peruways runs guided day trips from Cusco with hotel pickups, English-speaking driver-guides, and optional stops at Chinchero’s weavers or Moray’s circular terraces en route. Lunch is in Urubamba on the full-day version.
Climbing the Pinkuylluna granaries on the opposite ridge is the quieter afternoon add-on — same valley views without the main-site crowds.
Discover Peruways’ Sacred Valley options at Peruways. Ollantaytambo is also where Machu Picchu trains leave from, so most itineraries end the day here before the morning gorge-run.
