Ollantaytambo – The First Surviving Inca City and Cradle of the Wallata Dance
The Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park , also known as the “living Inca city,” is one of the main access points toward Cusco’s jungle region and the town of Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. This impressive archaeological site holds a tourist attraction of great historical and cultural value, surrounded by other important Inca sites, such as the Ollantaytambo Qolqas (storehouses). Visiting this complex is an essential stop for those heading to Machu Picchu by train, as it allows visitors to appreciate the grandeur of Inca engineering and the traditional life that this majestic place in the Sacred Valley still preserves.
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Etymology
Ollantaytambo comes from the Quechua words “Ullantay Tampu”:
Ullantay: “Inca general Ollanta”
Tampu: “inn or resting place”
It means: “Ollanta’s Inn” or “Ollanta’s Place/Valley,” derived from the union of these two Quechua words.
Location
Located approximately 90 km northwest of the city of Cusco (accessible via the Chinchero-Urubamba highway or by train, km 68), it sits at 2,700 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.).
Historical Overview
Ollantaytambo was a strategic center in the Inca Empire, noted for its religious, military, and economic importance due to its location as a nexus between different ecosystems and its connection to the vital Chinchaysuyo road. Although its origin traces back to an agricultural settlement of the Tampus tribe, its structure was consolidated for the Inca nobility. In the mid-15th century, Inca Pachacútec reformed or refounded it, commissioning the constructions that define the imposing archaeological site today and establishing it as a crucial point of the empire.
Over time, the role of Ollantaytambo evolved: during the 20th century, agrarian reforms transformed it into an area of Agrarian Production Cooperatives. Currently, its significance is primarily cultural and patrimonial, being globally recognized for its history and the impressive Inca architecture. In essence, Ollantaytambo represents a valuable chronological synthesis of Andean occupation and development, from its agricultural beginnings to its modern status as an unmissable cultural landmark.”
Tourist Attractions
The Temple of the Sun
This is a majestic architectural complex, largely destroyed by time, but whose towering stone walls still stand as eternal witnesses to Inca greatness. Each block, perfectly fitted, forms a stony canvas that radiates strength and harmony. Its solidity and admirable construction allowed it to resist the attacks of the extirpators of idolatries and frustrate the attempts of looters seeking hidden treasures.
Monumental Gateway and the 10-Niche Enclosure
This impressive structure is found on the highest level of the upper terrace group of the Real Casa del Sol (or Ollantaytambo Fortress). It features a monumental and polished wall composed of two imposing stone panels (lienzos pétreos) of fine ashlar masonry. Despite being unfinished or partially destroyed after the Conquest, the enclosure is renowned for its ten large trapezoidal niches (hornacinas).
The Ñusta’s Fountain (Fountain of the Princess)
This is a fountain with a triple spout, arranged in parallel and broken frames, finely sculpted on its frontal face. With their admirable command of hydraulic engineering, the Incas built these liturgical fountains in urban centers for ritual ceremonies and the worship of water, a sacred element in their worldview.
Andenes (Terraces)
Ollantaytambo’s andenes are a prominent example of Inca agricultural engineering. Built into the mountain slopes, they controlled erosion, optimized irrigation, and generated microclimates for various crops. Their precise design demonstrates the harmony between Inca architecture and the nature of the Sacred Valley.
Pinculluna Hill – Qolqas
Opposite the Archaeological Park, on the slope of Pinculluna Hill, are the historical qolqas (Inca food warehouses). In addition to these structures, the mountain slope itself naturally forms a stone, long-aged face that local residents often associate with Ekeko, the Andean deity of abundance and prosperity.
Danza Wallata
This is a Cultural Heritage item that represents the courting and fidelity of the Wallata (Andean goose). The dancers simulate the movements of this sacred bird, celebrated in the high Andean communities, mainly during Carnivals.
Preservation
The Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park was declared a Cultural Heritage of the Nation (National Directoral Resolution N° 395/INC of May 27, 2002) and delimited with an area of 34,800 hectares. This status ensures the PAO is a protected area, guarded by the Decentralized Directorate of Culture of Cusco and supported by current national legislation.
Importance
The Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park is one of Cusco’s most important Inca complexes, noted for its vast infrastructure including andenes, irrigation canals, qolqas, tampus, huacas, and temples. Within this complex, the Historic Town of Ollantaytambo is an invaluable testament, as it is the only Inca town that remains inhabited today, earning it the title of the “World Capital of Indianity.” Further reinforcing its cultural richness, the emblematic Danza Wallata was officially declared a Cultural Heritage of the Nation on October 30, 2008.
Conclusion
Ollantaytambo represents the supreme synthesis of Inca ingenuity and engineering, having functioned simultaneously as a formidable fortress, temple, and administrative center. Its most unique legacy lies in being the only Inca town that remains alive, with families still inhabiting the original urban layout amidst its ancestral streets. This exceptional persistence, along with its monumental architecture and astonishing stone constructions, firmly establish Ollantaytambo as an unavoidable testament to an advanced civilization and the deep cultural resistance at the heart of the Sacred Valley.
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