Our Quick Guide To Ollantaytambo

When travelling to Machu Picchu, visiting the quaint town of Ollantaytambo for a day or two is a must. Walking along the narrow cobblestone streets lined with fortified stone walls and ancient Incan irrigation channels makes one feel as though they have been transported 600 years back in time.

Below is a quick guide of Ollantaytambo, with some recommendations of things to do during your stay.

How to get to Ollantaytambo from Cusco

We chose to take a colectivo (shared van) from Cusco. It is easy and affordable (10 soles per person). In Cusco, walk to Calle Pavitos. If you arriving from the airport you will need to take a taxi or arrange transport.

On Calle Pavitos there are various people and companies advertising transportation, from private cars to taxis to colectivos. The colectivos do not leave until they are full, and we waited approximately 45 minutes to depart. We were kept entertained by some cute Peruvian children who wanted to play with us on the bus! On the way to our destination, the van stopped to pick up and drop off passengers, and we circled in Urubamba until the driver could pick up a few more passengers going to Ollantaytambo. Payment is made on board during the ride.

How to return to Cusco

Colectivos pick up passengers in the town square for return trips to Cusco. There are many other people offering private cars and shared taxis for four passengers, but for significantly more money. We lucked out and were able to negotiate a private car for 10 soles each, which is the same price as the colectivo. The driver was desperate to fill his car, as he already had two other passengers ready to go. The drive back to Cusco was much faster and we were dropped off in a central plaza, a quick 10 minute walk to our hotel.

Where we stayed

We stayed at Janaxpacha Hostel. It is located a short five minute walk to the main town square. We stayed in a private room with ensuite bathroom and warm shower. Although it got fairly cold at night and loud at times (it is on a main road into town), it was certainly adequate for our needs. The staff was very friendly and made breakfast for all guests each morning. Breakfast included a cooked egg, freshly blended juice and Peruvian bread with butter and jam. There were also a few loveable four-legged friends to keep us company!

Some highlights

Maras Salt Mines

Located just outside of Ollantaytambo, we took a colectivo to Terreno en Venta Tarabamba. In advance, we did some research and starred it on our smartphone. During the colectivo ride we followed the route along with our GPS, and notified the driver where we would like to be dropped off. The driver stopped on the side of the road to let us off and we paid for our fare. It cost a mere 3 soles for the two of us to get there.

From there, we walked down a dusty path for about 5 minutes, eventually reaching a bridge. After crossing the bridge, we followed a marked path up a mountain to the salt mines. The whole walk took approximately 30 minutes. The salt mines were quite spectacular to see and definitely worth the trek to get there. There is a path to continue the hike to the town of Maras, but we decided to head back on the same path and return to Ollantaytambo. We waved down a colectivo from the side of the road for the return trip. For some reason, the return trip cost 6 soles instead of 3. We suspect it was because we were in a tourist bus, but we are not totally sure. Our advice would be to confirm the price before getting in.

Pinkuylluna Ruins

Directly across town from the Ollantaytambo archeological park are the Pinkuylluna ruins. This is free to visit between the hours of 7:00am-4:30pm.In Ollantaytambo, walk to Lares Calle (there are signs for Alma Amor Vegan food and Yoga, as well as Apu Lodge).Look for the sign for Pinkuylluna and follow the path. It is a fun hike to the top and takes approximately 30 minutes, with a couple rest and photography breaks! We were rewarded with a birds-eye view of Ollantaytambo and the sacred valley.

Sunshine Café

We stopped in to Sunshine Café for lunch and were not disappointed. We shared a turkey sandwich and a mexican salad. The portion sizes were huge, the wifi was great, they serve (free) filtered water, and my coffee was delicious!

Happy Hour Drinks at Sunset

Practically every restaurant in Ollantaytambo has a happy hour special – some of them are all day! We scouted around looking for the best price. We found a place that offered 3 drinks for 15 soles. This place was located just off the main street, on the street that leads to the train station. Note: Our highly technical directions are all you need in a tiny place like Ollantaytambo! We enjoyed our strong pisco chilcanos (pisco, the national drink of peru, with lime and ginger ale) in the early evening while watching the sun disappear behind the mountains.

These were just a few things to do in Ollantaytambo. With more time, there are other options, such as exploring the Sacred Valley, visiting the archeological park (admission is 70 soles) and other hikes in the Sacred Valley area. A lot of people visit the market in Pisac or explore Urubamba. If you have any great recommendations, comment below!