I guess the most famous landmark in Ollantaytambo are the fortress ruins on Temple Hill. Reading about it beforehand it sounded intriguing, but when I was faced with the entrance fee, I wasn’t so sure anymore. To get access you have to buy a ticket that covers several attractions in the Sacred Valley, and with me just visiting this one, it became quite expensive. Since I didn’t have much else planned, I decided to bite the bullet, and go ahead. Correct decision? 50/50, I’d say. The stone terraces, originally made for agricultural purposes, are impressive. Climbing up the stairs, a good work-out 🙂 The view of Ollantaytambo from up above, a nice reward. Otherwise, not much to see. The uncompleted ceremonial center at the top, now in ruins, is exactly that, uncompleted, and in ruins. Same goes for the ruins at the base of the fortress. Don’t know if the structures ever were completed, but quite uninspiring in their current form. Looks like fountains and pools, of some sort.
An Inca Fortress
It looks impressive, too bad it was so expensive😕 #wanderfulwednesday
I would have loved it to be more impressive and less expensive 🙂
It looks impressive. Sorry it was so expensive to go in but you probably made the right decision since you were there!
#WanderfulWednesdays
Not as impressive as it looks 😉 The ticket included several sights in the valley, so I guess I couldn’t expect it to be super cheap. But would have been nice to have had a one-attaction-only ticket. Well, well, water under the bridge 🙂
Oh wow these Inca temples are impressive!! #WanderfulWednesday
Might look a bit more impressive in the photo 😀 I wasn’t too impressed 😉
We stayed in Ollantaytambo for a few days last November. Those steps looked quite daunting and even more so climbing while still battling altitude sickness. We actually hired one of the tour guides by the gate. I think it made a big difference with our visit to the fortress. It made us appreciate this whole complex. Those views were amazing.
Yes, a guide would have provided more insight. Just didn’t think it was going to be so unidentifiable at the top. Going up there with altitude sickness must have been exhausting!
Gorgeous photo, but it definitely sounds like a lot of hard work climbing up those stairs! But hey, a little bit of exercise on vacation doesn’t hurt. I bet the views from the top were spectacular! Thanks for sharing
Thanks! I didn’t find it to tiring, but it was nice to walk out onto the terraces here and there 😉 Great views!