As you approach Ollantaytambo, the magnificent terraces of Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park are going to capture your attention. The terraces of Pumatalli, facing down towards the village, are yet another example of the agricultural expertise of the Incans. It transformed hillside land into useful agricultural space, adding to the prestige and defensibility of the site.

What is particularly of note with these terraces is that the walls are cut stone (i.e. precision cut blocks), rather than the usual approach of piling up rocks. The terrace walls can often dwarf the average human in their height. One of the advantages of the size of these stones is that they collected solar radiation during the day, releasing their stored heat overnight. This kept the garden beds around 2 – 3°C (5 – 8°F) warmer than the surrounding area, another technique for replicating growing conditions at lower altitudes than the Sacred Valley.

The area on the official site map marked as “Andenes de Manyaraki” (or a Spanish translated variant of this) contains the largest terraces at Ollantaytambo. These are arguably the most impressive in the region, eclipsing even those of Machu Picchu.

Balcon Pata – This narrow pathway edges along the top of the terraces, and you will find a couple of granary storehouses that have been recreated (look for the thatched roofs). Known as “Qolqas” in Quechua, grain would be poured into the building from the upper level and decanted from the lower level. The high elevation made for less humid conditions, helping to preserve the stores for longer.