Ollantaytambo (2,800 meters, or 9,200 feet above sea level) is the name given both to the Inca ruin complex sculpted into the cliff side at the northern end of the Sacred Valley and to the town founded by the Incas. A private Ollantaytabmo tour can be arranged as part of a longer visit to the Sacred Valley, combined with other Incan sites of interest including Pisac, Chinchero and Moray. Ollantaytambo: A highlight of the Sacred Valley The town of Ollantaytambo is the best surviving example of Inca city planning. The original layout and structure, including canals, are still used by the town's inhabitants. The Incas divided the village into blocks called canchas, each with just one entrance leading into a courtyard. Residents entered their individual houses from the courtyard, rather than from the street. A collection of British charities financed the small Ethnographic Museum in town, opened in December 1997, that highlights the ancient customs and traditions of the peoples of this part of the Andes. There are displays of tools and garments of present-day indigenous populations in the highlands. The Incan Ruins of Ollantaytambo But the true highlight of an Ollantaytambo tour is visiting its ruins. The expansive, steep terraces guarding the Inca fortress are a sight to behold. The Incas likely saw Ollantaytambo as a temple rather than a military stronghold, but the Spanish conquistadors called it a fortress and it has been referred to as such ever since. Some of its walls were under construction at the time of the conquest and have never been completed. The stone used for these buildings was quarried from the mountainside 6 kilometers (4 miles) away high above the opposite bank of the Urubamba River. Transporting the huge stone blocks from the quarry to the site was a stupendous feat, employing thousands of native workers. Incan Battle Victory The complex is also a site of
Ollantaytambo (2,800 meters, or 9,200 feet above sea level) is the name given both to the Inca ruin complex sculpted into the cliff side at the northern end of the Sacred Valley and to the town founded by the Incas. A private Ollantaytabmo tour can be arranged as part of…
Bajada de los Reyes Festival Closely related to Christmas, the popular Spanish festivity known in Spain as “Dia de los Reyes magos” on the 6th of January is also widely celebrated in towns across the Andes. The celebration marks The Epiphany, which sees the visit of the three wise men, or the three kings, to the birthplace of Jesus. In Spain many families celebrate by giving gifts, much as the wise men did to the baby Jesus. The Ephiphany Celebrations As with many celebrations in the Andes, the celebration of “Dia de los Reyes magos” incorporates both native and colonial traditions alike. In pre-Columbian times, January was a very important month; being the height of the rainy season it brought water vital for growing crops, and joyous festivities marked the occasion. These celebrations subsequently became incorporated with the celebration of “Dia de los Reyes magos” that was introduced by the Spanish when they arrived in Peru; apart from anything else, there was the resemblence of giving gifts, much as the the rains gave the gift of nourishment and sustainance. Celebrating bajada de los Reyes festival in Ollantaytambo One of the biggest celebrations of the day is in the town of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. Known as the Bajada de Reyes de Ollantaytambo, the occasion is marked with a colourful procession of El Niño Jesús de Marcacocha - the baby jesus from the church of Marcacocha - which is brought from the valley of Patakancha to Ollantaytambo on the day before, the 5th of January. Locals from communities in the surrounding hills and valleys descend on the town with the effigy of Jesus to take part in the festivities, which begin on the 5th and last throughout the night. Traditional Dancing On the 6th there is a full day of
Bajada de los Reyes Festival Closely related to Christmas, the popular Spanish festivity known in Spain as “Dia de los Reyes magos” on the 6th of January is also widely celebrated in towns across the Andes. The celebration marks The Epiphany, which sees the visit of the three wise…