Tikki huts for tourists' enjoyment along the river's edge at the resort below
Here, our bus pulls into the quiet colonial town of Urubamba to have lunch at this extravagant valley resort.
In the building on the left-side of the picture we enjoyed a delicious buffet lunch in this most beautiful setting.
Now deep in the valley, we reach the town and well-preserved Inca site of Ollantaytambo, about 72 km NW of Cusco
The scenery around Ollantaytambo is some of the loveliest in the region. The narrow valley is embraced by snow-capped
mountains and lined with Inca andenes, or agricultural terraces. Most extraordinary are the steep terraced ruins of a
massive temple-fortress built by the Inca.
Rising above the valley and an ancient square are dozens of rows of stunningly steep
stone terraces carved into the hillside.
The upper section is reached after climbing 200 steps of masterful masonry to the top of the peak.
This was the valley's main defense against the Antis and was the site of the Incas' greatest
victory against the Spanish in 1537.
The complex was more likely a temple, for worship and astronomical observation
than a citadel to the Incas. A massive and elegant doorjamb indicates the principal entry to the temple;
to its right is a series of 10 niches.
Across this valley is the quarry that provided the stones for the structure;
a great ramp descending from the hilltop ruins was the means by which
the Incas transported the massive stones from several kilometres away.
Below the ruins is Ollantaytambo, a complete Inca town. Its original architecture and layout is
still preserved. The old town is a splendid grid of streets lined with adobe brick walls, blooming
bougainvillea, and perfect canals, still carrying rushing water down from the mountains.
In the photo above we see a family using traditional farming techniques to plow their land.
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