Cuzco & the Sacred Valley - Peru - page 517

Sleeping

3 Apu Lodge D2

4 Casa de Wow C1

5 Chaska Wasi C3

6 Hostal las Orquídeas B3

7 Hotel Muñay Tika B3

8 KB Tambo Hostal B2

9 K'uychi Punku Hostal A2

Eating

10 Hearts Café B2

11 Mayu Pata B2

12 Puka Rumi A2

13 Tutti Amore B3

Drinking

14 Ganso D2

Transport

15 Buses to Urubamba & Cuzco C3

The rebellious Manco Inca had retreated to this fortress after his defeat at Sacsay-
wamán. In 1536, Hernando Pizarro, Francisco's younger half-brother, led a force of 70
cavalrymen to Ollantaytambo, supported by large numbers of indigenous and Spanish foot
soldiers, in an attempt to capture Manco Inca.
The conquistadors, showered with arrows, spears and boulders from atop the steep ter-
racing, were unable to climb to the fortress. In a brilliant move, Manco Inca flooded the
plain below the fortress through previously prepared channels. With Spaniards' horses
bogged down in the water, Pizarro ordered a hasty retreat, chased down by thousands of
Manco Inca's victorious soldiers.
Yet the Inca victory would be short lived. Spanish forces soon returned with a quad-
rupled cavalry force and Manco fled to his jungle stronghold in Vilcabamba.
Though Ollantaytambo was a highly effective fortress, it also served as a temple. A
finely worked ceremonial center is at the top of the terracing. Some extremely well-built
walls were under construction at the time of the conquest and have never been completed.