PUMAMARCA TO OLLANTAYTAMBO (Hike&Ruins)

This morning we visit the old Inca town of Ollantaytambo an attractive little town located at the western end of the Sacred valley. The town has been built on top of original Inca foundations and is probably the best surviving example of Inca town planning. It is divided in canchas (blocks) and each one has only one entrance ( usually a huge stone doorway) which leads into a central courtyard. The town itself is located at the foot of the spectacular ruins of an Inca fortress which protected the way to the lower Urubamba valley. Here in 1536 Manco Inca had a victory over the Spanish, stemming the tide of their expansion for a short while.This victory was short-lived however and then the Spanish returned with four times their previous force, Manco Inca retreated to his jungle stronghold in Vilcabamba and Ollantaytambo fell to the Spanish. Stone used for these buildings was brought as huge worked blocks weighing many tons from a quarry high up on the opposite side of the Urubamba river, an incredible feat involving the efforts of thousands of workers. The complex was still under construction at the time of the conquest and was never completed. The fortress and town represent some of the best of Inca architecture and construction with fine examples of beautifully carved polygonal stones and monumental rocks. At ground level below the fortress there is smaller scale ceremonial stone constructions where rivulets bubble along cut channels and water tumbles into pools over finely carved rocks.

After a look around, our waiting vehicle take us for a short drive up this hidden valley, passing colourfully dressed locals on the way. Leaving our vehicle behind, we have a short but steep climb up to Pumamarca, a remarkably well preserved and extensive Inca site with spectacular views down the valley towards Ollantaytambo. After some time to explore, we follow an old Inca trail along the steeply terraced valley down towards Ollantaytambo where we end our hike.

Total hiking distance; 6km-3.730ml.L