Ollantaytambo

This wonderful town is one of the few places that still have the original Inca layout. Ollantaytambo is laid out in a trapezoidal shape. Buildings are arranged in blocks. In Inca times each block had two entrances. These finely worked original entrances can be seen amongst the rough-hewn recent doorways. Another characteristic of an original Inca town is the presence of water. Down most streets there is a gully and these flow in the rainy season keeping the air fresh down the narrow walkways. In the dry season, these channels can be flooded by opening up a sluice in the Patakancha Valley. In the square is a statue of Ollantay, a local warrior chieftain who fought bravely for the Inca.

The ruins at Ollantaytambo are very impressive. It was to here that Manco Inca retreated in the great revolt against the Spanish. Indeed this is the only place where the Incas won a battle against the Conquistadores. Manco recruited archers from the jungle. He placed these on the terraces. Then he ordered the Patakancha river to be blocked near where it entered the Urubamba. The plain in front of the ruins became a swamp. Not knowing this, the Spanish thundered in on their horses and became stuck. Archers opened fire and if Manco had followed the Spanish towards Cusco in pursuit then surely the Spanish would have been defeated for good. Alas this was not the case and Manco retreated further down the valley to Vilcabamba. The snowy peak visible down the valley from the top of the ruins is Veronica or Wakaywilca. She is the biggest Apu (spirit) in the region.