A large mountain overlooks a village under a cloudy sky

Ollantaytambo

Travelers come for Inca terraces, a living town built over Inca walls, and the usual start of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

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Ollantaytambo is an Inca ruin site and a working town in Peru's Sacred Valley. It sits at about 2,792 m (9,160 ft) on the Patakancha River, near where it joins the Urubamba. The Quechua name is Ullantaytampu. Visitors come for the ruins and because it is the usual start of the four-day Inca Trail. Colonial-era and later houses stand on Inca walls, and people still live in the lanes.

Emperor Pachacuti conquered the area in the mid-15th century, destroyed the older town and rebuilt it as his royal estate. The main sights are Temple Hill, where the unfinished Sun Temple has the Wall of the Six Monoliths, and the Callejón terraces, where walls create a microclimate about 2 to 3 °C warmer. Across the river, the Araqhama site has a large plaza and carved rocks. The dry season runs from April to December, and nights stay around 5 to 11 °C all year.

Ollantaytambo in five

Rest a day at 2,792 m before hikingThe town sits at about 2,792 m (9,160 ft), and the four-day Inca Trail usually starts from here. Spend a night or two in town before a long walk to adjust to the height.
Book the Inca Trail through a licensed agencyThe four-day, three-night Inca Trail needs a permit and a licensed guide. Book both well before you travel.Tours and tickets
Climb the Temple Hill for the Six MonolithsStairways climb the terraces to the unfinished Sun Temple and its Wall of the Six Monoliths. Wear shoes with grip and go in the morning, before the sun is high.
Go between April and DecemberJanuary to March is the rainy season, so the dry months are the better time to visit. Nights stay around 5 to 11 °C all year, so pack a warm layer.
Walk the living town and mind the Inca wallsColonial and later houses stand on Inca walls, and residents still live in the lanes. Ask before you photograph people or step into a courtyard.

Things to do in Ollantaytambo

See all attractions in Ollantaytambo

An aerial view of a village with a green field

Sight · OllantaytamboOllantaytambo Ruins

Sight · OllantaytamboInca Quarry

Sight · OllantaytamboPinkulluna

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Need to know

Currency: Sol (PEN)
Entry: Visa-free for many passports; check the stay limit before you fly Read more
Emergency: 105 police, 116 fire, 106 ambulance
Tipping: Check the bill for a service charge before you tip
Time: UTC-5, no daylight saving

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Poor

JanuaryRain30 rainy daysHigh12°Low6°Rainy season
FebruaryRain28 rainy daysHigh12°Low6°Rainy, green
MarchRain29 rainy daysHigh12°Low6°Rainy season
AprilRain23 rainy daysHigh13°Low5°Dry season starts
MayRain17 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh12°Low4°Dry, cool nights
JunePartly cloudy10 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh12°Low3°Dry, cool nights
JulyPartly cloudy7 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh12°Low3°Dry, cool nights
AugustRain15 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh12°Low4°Dry, cool nights
SeptemberRain23 rainy days3 days with stormsHigh13°Low5°Dry, cool nights
OctoberRain28 rainy days3 days with stormsHigh13°Low6°Dry season
NovemberRain29 rainy days3 days with stormsHigh13°Low6°Dry season
DecemberRain30 rainy days1 snowy day3 days with stormsHigh13°Low6°Dry, before rains

Average daily high and low in Ollantaytambo, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Ollantaytambo

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 11°
Humidity: 54%
Wind: 16 km/h
Chance of rain: 84%

Ollantaytambo

04:16 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-5

Today11°2°84%Monday: Rain. High 11°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 84%.
Tue11°0°100%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 11°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 100%.
Wed12°-1°96%Wednesday: Rain. High 12°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 96%.
Thu11°3°100%Thursday: Rain. High 11°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 100%.
Fri9°1°92%Friday: Rain. High 9°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 92%.
Sat10°3°100%Saturday: Rain. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 100%.
Sun7°1°87%Sunday: Drizzle. High 7°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 87%.

Updated 12:00 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 3.467 PEN

Amount

Converted to

PEN · Peruvian Sol

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Ollantaytambo

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Cusco, PeruInti RaymiJun 24, 2027 · Read the event guide

Day trips by train

Kachiqhata quarriesAbout 5 km across the riverRose rhyolite quarries that supplied the Temple Hill. Abandoned 'tired stones' line the old transport route.
Choquequillca fortWest of town, on the Machu Picchu roadA fort that guarded the road to Machu Picchu. Check the route and access before you set out.
Fortress of PumamarkaOn the old access route to the valleyA military citadel that controlled the way into Ollantaytambo, on the route later used for the Inca Trail.

Before you go to Ollantaytambo

Tours for the Inca TrailPermits and a licensed guideRead the guide

Stays in OllantaytamboAltitude nights and early startsRead the guide

eSIM for PeruOffline maps for valley roadsRead the guide

Insurance for altitude and treksCover for trekking and missed trainsRead the guide

Rules for Ollantaytambo, checked

Visa-free entry applies to many nationalities. Check the stay limit and entry rules on the Migraciones site before you book.Source
The Inca Trail needs a permit and a licensed guide. Check the current rules with Peru's Ministry of Culture before you book.
Entry to the ruins and the Temple Hill is paid. Check which tickets cover them with the Ministry of Culture before you travel.
Fresh food, plants and some animal products must be declared on arrival. Check the current list with SENASA before you fly.

Plan around Ollantaytambo

All of Peru

Regions, entry rules, transport and money for a Peru trip

Read the guide The Sacred Valley

The valley towns and ruins around Ollantaytambo

Read the guide Tours and tickets

Inca Trail permits, guides and site entry

Read the guide Getting around

Trains, buses and taxis for the valley and Cusco

Read the guide Where to stay

Beds for an altitude night and an early trailhead start

Read the guide Money and costs

Cash, tipping and typical prices in the valley

Read the guide

Ollantaytambo FAQ

Is Ollantaytambo worth visiting?

Yes, for Inca ruins in a town people still live in. It is a major stop in the Sacred Valley and the usual start of the four-day Inca Trail. Allow at least a day for the ruins and the terraces.

How do you get from Cusco to Ollantaytambo?

By road through the Sacred Valley. The road distance is about 72 km, though some sources give about 90 km. Check current train and bus times before you go.

How many days do you need in Ollantaytambo?

One day covers the ruins, the Temple Hill and the Callejón terraces. Two nights give you time to settle at 2,792 m and to see the lanes after the day visitors leave.

When is the best time to visit Ollantaytambo?

April to December is the dry season, and the dry months are the better time to visit. January to March is rainy, with green hills and wetter trails.

Is Ollantaytambo a good base for Machu Picchu?

It is the usual start of the four-day, three-night Inca Trail, so it suits trekkers. Without the trek, check the train and bus options under getting around before you plan the day.

Is the Temple Hill climb hard?

It climbs a series of stairways to the top of the terraces, where the Sun Temple is. Go in the morning, wear shoes with grip and carry water.