Tierra Viva Ollantaytambo

What to see in Ollantaytambo

• The Inca ruins: stone terraces and temple structures above the town.
• The old streets: stone lanes and water channels laid out on the Inca grid.
• The Sacred Valley: the valley along the Urubamba River in which the town lies.
• The Machu Picchu train: the rail line from the town to the ancient city.

When to go

May to August is the dry season: rainfall is 3 to 17 millimetres, daytime highs are 21 to 22 degrees, and nights fall to about 5. December to March is the rainy season, with 108 millimetres in December and 136 in January. Because of the altitude, take the first day slowly.

Getting there from Turkey

Ollantaytambo is part of MBD's Peru tours, in the "Sacred Valley, Pisac and Ollantaytambo" day. The tours run 8 to 27 nights, join Peru, Bolivia and Chile, and leave Istanbul with Turkish Airlines. Dates and prices are on the tour page.

Who it suits

People interested in history and Inca architecture, and those who want a quieter approach to Machu Picchu. There are many steps, so it can be hard if you have limited mobility.

Questions people ask

Can I stay in Ollantaytambo? MBD lists Del Pilar Ollantaytambo as a 4-star hotel, and El Albergue Ollantaytambo, Ollantaytambo Lodge, Sol Natura Hotel and Tierra Viva Ollantaytambo as 3-star hotels.

How long do I need? Half a day for the ruins and the town.

How do I get to Machu Picchu? By train, which leaves from this town.