Ollantaytambo (pronounced O-yan-tai-tam-bo)

The Incas built Ollantaytambo against a hill, with a spectacular view of the adjacent mountain and the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Ollantaytambo is the only Inca town that is still inhabited and is known as the 'Living Inca City'. Its stone streets preserve the Inca architecture combined with temples and colonial squares. Ollantaytambo has beautiful Inca lithic structures. Because it was the scene of hard battles between rebellious Incas and Spanish in 1537, many of its buildings are damaged or destroyed. Even so, the site still conserves the magic and history of many centuries ago.

The best preserved area, to the point of being a living museum, spans the four streets parallel to the stream, with their respective crossing roads, making up a total of 15 blocks of houses built over old carved-stone walls, located north of the main square. The Real Casa del Sol (House of the Sun) is made up of 17 very large superimposed terraces facing the main square of the town. The Square Mañay Raqay or 'K'uychipunku'(Royal Hall) is located on the right side of the rivulet (next to the entrance door of the site) Its name means in Quechua 'Plaza of the petitions' Its walls have many openings that, it is believed, would be doors. Careful attention should be paid not only to the area's design, but also to the Inca-epoch walls and even the interior of houses. The fortress of Ollantaytambo was named after the legendary Ollanta, a chieftain famous for his romance with a princess, the daughter of Pachacútec. Ollantaytambo is divided in two sectors separated by a rivulet (Patacancha) that flows north to south along an old Inca canal. Accessible with the boleto turistico

This town is also the place where you catch the train to Machu Picchu. Peru Rail is the oldest company, authorized to operate the Machu Picchu route and we were booked onto the Expedition class wagons which are totally covered by panoramic windows to capture all the views. Whilst this is the budget option we were perfectly comfortable for the ride and could purchase food and drink if desired at reasonable prices and had a table between our seats to sit things on. The trip takes approximately 90 minutes.

We are gradually inching our way towards Machu Picchu and tomorrow is the big day when we finally get to see this amazing bucket list site. You can feel the excitement building within our group as we prepare to walk up and down the many steps we know are there.......