Peru - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 749

6km north of Maras village on the
Chinchero side of the river, within a
two- to three-hour walk from Urubamba.
Make a circuit to include the spectacular
Maras salt flats.

flambeado con Pisco (fillet steak flambéed with pisco; S38).
Wed-Mon noon-3.30pm & 6.15-9.30pm.

9

OLLANTAYTAMBO
On the approach to OLLANTAYTAMBO
from Urubamba, the river runs smoothly
between a series of fine Inca terraces that
gradually diminish in size as the slopes
get steeper and rockier. Built as an Inca
administrative centre rather than a town,
it's hard not to be impressed by the two
huge Inca ruins that loom above the
village, or by the foundations that
abound in the cobbled backstreets
radiating up from the plaza, especially
in Calle Medio. Laid out in the form of
a maize corncob - and one of the few
surviving examples of an Inca grid system
- the plan can be seen from vantage
points high above it, especially from
the hill opposite the fortress. Ollanta
is an attractive, laidback village, and
a wonderful place in which to linger.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By bus From Cusco, buses leave from Av Grau 525, while
frequent colectivos depart from along Pavitos; both arrive
at the Urubamba Terminal Terrestre on the main highway,
1km west of town via either Pisac or Chinchero (5am-7pm;
every 20min; 1hr-1hr 30min). Buses depart every 15min
from Urubamba to Cusco (1hr 30min), Pisac (1hr) and
Ollantaytambo (40min). A mototaxi into town will set
you back S1.

ACCOMMODATION
Hostal Los Perales Pasaje Arenales 102 T 084 201 151,
W ecolodgeurubamba.com. This pleasant guesthouse
features six neat rooms set around a large overgrown
garden. There's table tennis and a billiards table, and an
internet café arriving soon. The congenial owner, who
speaks some English, also offer s ap artments sleeping six,
all fully equipped with kitchen. S50
Misky Illary Wasi C Belen Cuadra 6 T 084 201 332,
E [e-mail]. Rooms here have cable TV,
private bath and wi-fi, although the decor is a bi t on the
chintzy side. There's also a kitchen for guests' use. S45

WHAT TO SEE AND DO
The hubs of activity in town are the main
plaza - the heart of civic life and the
scene of traditional folk dancing during
festive occasions - and the Inca fortress.
Off the central plaza, down Patacalle,
there's the recently refurbished Museo
CATCCO (Mon-Sat 9am-6pm; S5),
a small but very interesting museum
containing interpretative exhibits in
Spanish and English about local history,
culture, archeology and natural history.
It also has a ceramic workshop where you
can buy some good pottery.

EATING
Los Geranios Av Cabo Conchatupa s/n T 084 201 093.
Secluded booths at this restaurant/hostel are set around an
interior garden humming with caged canaries, parakeets and
parrots. The food is local and good value, with dishes such as
pollo a la plancha (grilled chicken) and trucha frita (fried trout;
S17). There are also rooms for rent (S70). Daily 11am-5pm.
Tres Keros Av Sr de Torrechayoc. Located on the top floor
of a pleasant wooden building, this is probably Urubamba's
best restaurant. Try the much-sought-after lomo saltado

Medicinal Springs & Quillabamba Paucartambo & Manu

Calca

Huarán

THE SACRED VALLEY

Lamay

Pisac

Urquillos

Huayllabamba

Pisac

Chinchero

Piquillacta

San Salvador
Tipón

Huambutio

Tambo
Machay

Urcos

Pukapukara

Oropesa

Andahuaylillas

Sacsaywamán

Qénqo

Sayla

Poroy

Cusco