Peru is most famous for the sacred archaeological site of Machu Picchu – visited each year by scores of intrepid hikers who brave the Inca Trail’s arduous slopes to explore the age-old ruins. The country’s attractions extend far beyond the mystical allure of this legendary location and include palm-fringed beaches, quaint Andean villages and archaeological treasures that predate Machu Picchu by hundreds of years – all imbued with the nation’s rich melange of indigenous and colonial cultures. Equally enticing are the exotic reaches of Peru’s Amazon rainforest; Lima’s superb eateries, exquisite architecture and effervescent nightlife; the glittering, mountain-ringed waters of Lake Titicaca; and the vibrant city of Cusco, referred to by the Incas as ‘the centre of the world’.
A “Living Inca Town” on the western edge of the Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, also called Ollanta, has narrow cobblestone streets that have been continuously inhabited since the 13th century. The town is dominated by two massive Inca ruins, including a fortress built to guard the valley and later used as a stronghold during Inca resistance against Hernando Pizarro. The site functioned as an agricultural, administrative, religious, and social centre, with terraces, a temple, and an urban area. Two sections stand out within the complex: Araqama Ayllu, the ceremonial zone with fountains and ritual spaces, and Qosqo Ayllu, the residential district where locals still live in Inca-era buildings. Ancient roads, aqueducts, walls, and towers reveal its strategic importance. Today, travellers often pause here on the way to the renowned Machu Picchu.
