Ollantaytambo

Ollantaytambo both a town and an archaeological site in the Sacred Valley. Most of the Incan ruins are up on the hills and look down over the town. There are ruins on the valley floor which are slowly being excavated including some impressive plumbing that still works, but the most impressive things are up on the hills.

One side has an unfinished temple and terraces, the other side does not have any terraces, but it has quite a few huge grain storehouses. The view, like most of these places, is amazing.

The town itself is quite lovely. Small, easy to get around it is one of the more accessiable towns you can visit. It is based on the original Incan layout so gives you an idea of what it would have been like several hundred years ago.


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Ollantaytambo. Our second set of Inca ruins
3:36am 29th February 2012
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I loved the way they'd make steps for themseves
3:39am 29th February 2012
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Looking across at Ollantaytambo town and the grain storehouses
3:39am 29th February 2012
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View of the temple on top of the mountain
3:42am 29th February 2012
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Looking back up the valley
3:43am 29th February 2012
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Impressive stone work
3:56am 29th February 2012
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A moth we found
3:58am 29th February 2012
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Doorway of the temple
3:59am 29th February 2012
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This was a taranchula of some sort, no idea what though
4:00am 29th February 2012
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Tina, photographing a tarantula
4:01am 29th February 2012
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The Incas use every available space
4:02am 29th February 2012
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Ralph, photographing the photographer
4:02am 29th February 2012
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Looking over the ruins and up the side valley
4:03am 29th February 2012
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Another view of the side valley and ruins
4:03am 29th February 2012
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Tight lines on the stone
4:04am 29th February 2012
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This was the unfinished temple at the top
4:09am 29th February 2012
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Decorative top to the railings
4:11am 29th February 2012
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Motif carved into the stone in the temple
4:14am 29th February 2012
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Part of the altar stone
4:15am 29th February 2012
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Looking up to the top of the mountain
4:16am 29th February 2012
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Me, taking it all in.
4:16am 29th February 2012
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Rougher walls, so some less flash buildings
4:17am 29th February 2012
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Looking down the terraces to the valley floor
4:23am 29th February 2012
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Prickly!
4:25am 29th February 2012
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My succulents don't look like this
4:25am 29th February 2012
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Some buildings completely encompase the terraces, making them excellent defensive points.
4:26am 29th February 2012
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Looking across to the temple
4:26am 29th February 2012
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I loved the way plants just cling to the rock faces
4:27am 29th February 2012
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The gang at Ollantaytambo
4:27am 29th February 2012
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Looking back towards the temple from around to one side
4:28am 29th February 2012
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Now everyone's looking over the edge at Ollantaytambo
4:31am 29th February 2012
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Looking down a staircase and drain through the terraces
4:32am 29th February 2012
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Red daisy
4:32am 29th February 2012
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Yello daisy
4:33am 29th February 2012
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A hairy fly and a pretty flower.
4:33am 29th February 2012
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And a small white daisy
4:34am 29th February 2012
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Everyone admiring the view
4:34am 29th February 2012
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The grain store houses were high up for easy defence
4:35am 29th February 2012
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Path around to one of the storehouses
4:35am 29th February 2012
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Walking down the steps at Ollantaytambo
4:41am 29th February 2012
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Ralph and Tina admire the stones
4:44am 29th February 2012
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This is looking up a drain beside one of the staircases
4:44am 29th February 2012
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The creek still flows through the channels made for it
4:47am 29th February 2012
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And over one of the fountains
4:48am 29th February 2012
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Looking back up towards the terraces
4:48am 29th February 2012
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Another rock fountain
4:51am 29th February 2012
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I believe this is one of the fountain altars they had
4:52am 29th February 2012
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This room had a view back to the main site
4:53am 29th February 2012
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Last modified: July 02 2023 04:35:23.
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