Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park,
Sacred Valley, Peru.
2009
Another view of the lowest of the Inca ruins on the slopes of Apu Pinkullyuna.

Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park,
Sacred Valley, Peru.
2009
Throughout our visit to the ruins at Ollentaytambo, our wonderful guide, Edwin Torres, kept pointing out the profile of an Inca ruler carved into the northern flank of Apu Pinkullyuna.  But we couldn't really see what he was describing until we had traversed the main area of terraces and walked farther north along the face of the opposing hillside.  In this shot, you can see the profile quite clearly.  I think Ed said it was believed to be a representation of Pachacuti, the transformative ruler who raised the Inca to dominance in this region of the Andes roughly 100 years before the Spaniards under Pizarro destroyed their great empire.

Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park,
Sacred Valley, Peru.
2009
It was uncommon for the Incas to built two story structures.  This is one such.

Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park,
Sacred Valley, Peru.
2009
From the look of things, archaeological investigations and restorations are ongoing in the part of the park seen here.

Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park,
Sacred Valley, Peru.
2009
At Ollantaytambo it is literally true that the current residents live among the ruins of their Inca ancestors.  Here you can see fields of corn and other crops running right up to the boundaries of the Archaeological Park.

Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park,
Sacred Valley, Peru.
2009
Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park,
Sacred Valley, Peru.
2009
Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park,
Sacred Valley, Peru.
2009
Looking back at the region of the site we first visited, midway through our traverse across the hill face.

Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park,
Sacred Valley, Peru.
2009
Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park,
Sacred Valley, Peru.
2009
Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park,
Sacred Valley, Peru.
2009
Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park,
Sacred Valley, Peru.
2009
See photo in original gallery.