Pumamarca Ruins
Pumamarca Ruins
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Benjamin H
Portland, OR12 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
Sunrise run from Ollantaytambo. Total 9.2 miles round trip, 2.8k’ ascent. Took us a total of 2.5 hours (I was running with my 11 & 15 y.o. boys), so we were back by breakfast. Some things must be watched out for, including lack of signage & some “assertive” dogs. I learned in Peace Corps that dogs know to back off if you bend down as of picking up a rock - these dogs are no different, but it’s even better if you carry a short stick. Anyway it wasn’t a significant issue. The trail was well maintained and somewhat better marked as we got closer. Cell signal was fine all the way.
The ruins were something else!!! We had the whole place completely to ourselves. No admission, zero staff… we just walked around respectfully and appreciated the cornfields and cattle still being maintained all around.
The ruins were something else!!! We had the whole place completely to ourselves. No admission, zero staff… we just walked around respectfully and appreciated the cornfields and cattle still being maintained all around.
Written July 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
everlewis2012
Montrose, CO40 contributions
Oct 2022
Our visit to Pumamarca was a highlight. We had our taxi driver drive us up to the ruins and drop us off there in the morning. There was only one other couple there at the time and we had a wonderful time hiking around the ruins and taking in the view. Then we walked back to town following the trail along the mountain which was also amazing. Had lunch at Sunshine Cafe in Ollantaytambo. It was a wonderful way to spend the morning.
Written February 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patricia - SavvyExploring
Snohomish, WA749 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
This half day mini-adventure will take you off the beaten path on a trail just outside town. You will see lots of terraces while hiking along a mountain trail that passes by farms and through a couple backyards. The trail can be a little tricky to follow. See my full guide at savvyexploring or click the link in my profile for detailed pictures and instructions.
his trail will take you past the Musqa Pukyo Terraces to the Pumarca Ruins (or Pumamarca or Pumamarka). Like many places this site goes by several similar names. Google has it labeled as Pumarca and the trail as Camino de Pumamarca, although the trail isn’t completely accurate. This ruins are not as exciting as the Pinkuylluna Mountain Granaries or the Ollantaytambo Pyramid Ruins, but it is a pretty hike in the mountains with almost no people and you get to see a bit of how people live. If you have trouble with heights, there are a couple spots that may bother you a bit (the worst shown in the image above), but nothing remotely dangerous. There is some up and down, a couple spots with mud, loose gravel, and small streams to cross. There also are some cattle on and around the trail.
While this is just outside town it gets remote in a hurry, so don’t forget water and snacks. Most of the trail is fully exposed to the sun. Also bring some soles if you want to go into the Pumarca Ruins at the end of the trail. It isn’t always manned, but when it is the fee is 10 soles per person as of 2018, and they don’t usually have change.
How Much Time?
Depends on which way you go (see options below). We left Ollantaytambo at 8:30AM, hiked the trail and got to Musqa Pukyo at 10:00AM, Pumarca at 11:00AM, left Pumarca at 12, and got back to Ollantaytambo via the road around 1:30PM. This was our first full day at altitude after coming from sea level, so we took it fairly easy and we took a few wrong turns.
Options:
Take a taxi or a moto-taxi both ways
Take a taxi or Uber there and hike back (down hill)
Hike on the trail (up-hill going there, down-hill coming back, steeper than the road)
Walk on the road (up-hill going there, steep at the end to get to the ruins, down-hill coming back)
We took the trail there and the road back. The trail is more interesting than the road, but it is nice to see everything from both sides since the trail goes along the top and the road goes along the bottom. The trail is tricky to follow, but the road is almost impossible to get lost on.
This is the approximate google map trail: https://goo.gl/maps/yvDXbbrQfus I recommend downloading the offline map before going so you can check periodically to make sure you are in the right area. It is not 100% and had the main trail head wrong when we did it, but it is close. Per google the trail is 5.5 km (3.4 miles) and climbs up 600 meters (2000 ft) one way.
his trail will take you past the Musqa Pukyo Terraces to the Pumarca Ruins (or Pumamarca or Pumamarka). Like many places this site goes by several similar names. Google has it labeled as Pumarca and the trail as Camino de Pumamarca, although the trail isn’t completely accurate. This ruins are not as exciting as the Pinkuylluna Mountain Granaries or the Ollantaytambo Pyramid Ruins, but it is a pretty hike in the mountains with almost no people and you get to see a bit of how people live. If you have trouble with heights, there are a couple spots that may bother you a bit (the worst shown in the image above), but nothing remotely dangerous. There is some up and down, a couple spots with mud, loose gravel, and small streams to cross. There also are some cattle on and around the trail.
While this is just outside town it gets remote in a hurry, so don’t forget water and snacks. Most of the trail is fully exposed to the sun. Also bring some soles if you want to go into the Pumarca Ruins at the end of the trail. It isn’t always manned, but when it is the fee is 10 soles per person as of 2018, and they don’t usually have change.
How Much Time?
Depends on which way you go (see options below). We left Ollantaytambo at 8:30AM, hiked the trail and got to Musqa Pukyo at 10:00AM, Pumarca at 11:00AM, left Pumarca at 12, and got back to Ollantaytambo via the road around 1:30PM. This was our first full day at altitude after coming from sea level, so we took it fairly easy and we took a few wrong turns.
Options:
Take a taxi or a moto-taxi both ways
Take a taxi or Uber there and hike back (down hill)
Hike on the trail (up-hill going there, down-hill coming back, steeper than the road)
Walk on the road (up-hill going there, steep at the end to get to the ruins, down-hill coming back)
We took the trail there and the road back. The trail is more interesting than the road, but it is nice to see everything from both sides since the trail goes along the top and the road goes along the bottom. The trail is tricky to follow, but the road is almost impossible to get lost on.
This is the approximate google map trail: https://goo.gl/maps/yvDXbbrQfus I recommend downloading the offline map before going so you can check periodically to make sure you are in the right area. It is not 100% and had the main trail head wrong when we did it, but it is close. Per google the trail is 5.5 km (3.4 miles) and climbs up 600 meters (2000 ft) one way.
Written August 17, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heather S
20 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
We stayed in Ollantaytambo and hired a driver to take us to Maras and Moray in the morning, then drop us off at Pumamarca after lunch. We brought the directions from the Moon guide with us and had read through the reviews here in order to find the start of the trail back to hike back to Ollanta. We are of average fitness in our mid 20s and it took approx 1.5 hours to hike down (including about 20 min looking for the start of the trail). Coming down from the ruins, you walk through gently terraced fields full of crops and gardens. you then cross the road and continue down. Within 5 minutes we came upon a section of trail edged with large rocks. From here down to Ollanta it was simple to follow the aqueduct and trail signs. The people we came across were very friendly too! We visited during the rainy season and had to cross 2 small streams that were approx. 4-8 inches deep. I imagine finding the trail head going in the other direction would be even harder - the trail starts behind a home that is now painted red (a previous reviewer mentioned it was purple). I'll attach a photo to help find you it.
This was one of my favourite day hikes in Peru. Very few other tourists up there and stunning scenery. In February there were no guides or employees at the site and there are no facilities. I would highly recommend visiting! If you don't have time for the full hike, the drive up allows you to see other scenery that is also quite beautiful!
This was one of my favourite day hikes in Peru. Very few other tourists up there and stunning scenery. In February there were no guides or employees at the site and there are no facilities. I would highly recommend visiting! If you don't have time for the full hike, the drive up allows you to see other scenery that is also quite beautiful!
Written March 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ssycats
Rockerville, SD445 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
We had a taxi take 4 of us to the ruins and drop us off for $40 sols total. We left town around 9 AM. It took about 20 minutes to get there by cab, the road got a bit rough. We explored the ruins on our own for about an hour or so. There are no facilities here. Bring plenty of water. There was a 'national park worker' present at the site. He pointed out the trail back to Ollantaytambo to us. It trail was very easy to follow. The first half of the trail followed an irrigation ditch. The trail was very scenic and we took lots of pictures. Felt very safe on the trail and ran into a few other hikers along the way. I am guessing the hike back to town was about 4 or 5 miles one way. It was very easy hike. We stopped a lot and I think it took us about 1.5 to 2 hours to get back to town. We were back by lunchtime. I highly recommend these ruins and hike back to town.
Written October 13, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KrissaAnn
Ollantaytambo, Cusco, Peru16 contributions
Oct 2012
If you're not acclimated to the altitude, it takes about 2-3 hours to reach Pumamarca from town making it a wonderful day hike. I would recommend that you get a great box lunch in town from Coffee Tree or La Esquina and stop on the way to admire the set of 777 Inka stairs that cut up the middle of the terraces.
Directions to Pumamarca:
From the plaza, go down the hill towards the train station but make the first right onto a cobble stone road called Pata calle. This road will join up with a cement road after 10 min of walking. Continue and cross the small concrete bridge. After the bridge, make a right on a smaller dirt path. Follow this path until it connects with the road(10-15 min). Turn right onto the road and go until the second electrical pole, just before a house (1-2 min). There should be a path going uphill behind the house. Take this path up to a big concrete box and follow the path uphill to the right. Continue following this path to Pumamarca (2 hours). Return by the same path or follow the road down and back to town.
Directions to Pumamarca:
From the plaza, go down the hill towards the train station but make the first right onto a cobble stone road called Pata calle. This road will join up with a cement road after 10 min of walking. Continue and cross the small concrete bridge. After the bridge, make a right on a smaller dirt path. Follow this path until it connects with the road(10-15 min). Turn right onto the road and go until the second electrical pole, just before a house (1-2 min). There should be a path going uphill behind the house. Take this path up to a big concrete box and follow the path uphill to the right. Continue following this path to Pumamarca (2 hours). Return by the same path or follow the road down and back to town.
Written November 6, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark
Paris, France235 contributions
Mar 2012 • Friends
Our hike to Pumamarca took five and a half hours, there and back. As others have mentioned, there are two routes (well more really, but let's not complicate things) to the ruins. One is along the road and the other is up high along the terraces, on the same side of the valley as the ruins (the left side of the valley coming from Ollantaytambo). The owner of our hotel suggested doing a circle, there by road and back by upper terrace route and this worked really well for us. There was no one else at the ruins when we were there. The ruins are quite big (not sure why some people describe them as small - combined with the terracing up the valley the Incans were much busier engineering things here than at the ruins as Ollantaytambo. For us the best part of the journey was the hike itself, with amazing views, impressive terracing and irrigation and interesting plants and birds (though the native vegetation is more varied and intact on the quarry walk from Ollantaytambo, which is also described on trip advisor). We're 56 and 61 and it was wonderful and hard work.
Written March 31, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
stormbird
Pennsylvania3,814 contributions
Sep 2011 • Solo
I was staying at Hostal Iskay and inquired about some self-guided hiking trails, when Cristina mentioned Pumamarca ruins. She drew me a little map, pointing out to make sure I used the shortcut when returning as the views were much nicer.
I set out on my own, walked to the end of Ollantaytambo, crossed the bridge, turned right on the dirt road and followed the river as I continued deeper into the valley. The hike was a nice easy one with spectacular views of snow-capped mountain peaks and the gurgling, cascading river always on my right.
I came to the trail where I turned left and as it slowly ascended I climbed up and out of the valley. By the time you get to the ruins, you are doing a pretty steep climb. Up past grazing cattle and horses who pay you no mind, up and up you climb to the magnificent ruins.
I hiked solo, but saw two other couples who had hiked up and met two ladies from Tennessee who had hired a driver to take them there. There were a couple of local man doing some maintenance work on the ruins. They seemed pleased to see the few of us there to enjoy the little-known ruins.
The ruins are in very good shape. The view from the ruins was phenomenal. Afterwards, I took the shortcut which cut across the ridge of the mountain, all the time following an incredible old working Incan aqueduct which carried torrents of fresh water down into the valley and Ollantaytambo.
The views seen from high up on the mountain ridge trail were worth the walk alone. The trail though high, is easy to walk, and the descent is a gradual one. I passed some very surprised-looking school children who were returning home on the trail. Lucky kids!
If you choose to hike to the ruins, take plenty of water and sunscreen. Wear long pants. I had zipped my legs off my pants only to notice that my bare legs were attracting those tiny little black flies which you don’t notice are biting you until much later when the itch begins. Bug spray would be a great item to carry with you in your backpack, also.
The hike is about a total of six hours. Makes for an awesome independent day trip!
I set out on my own, walked to the end of Ollantaytambo, crossed the bridge, turned right on the dirt road and followed the river as I continued deeper into the valley. The hike was a nice easy one with spectacular views of snow-capped mountain peaks and the gurgling, cascading river always on my right.
I came to the trail where I turned left and as it slowly ascended I climbed up and out of the valley. By the time you get to the ruins, you are doing a pretty steep climb. Up past grazing cattle and horses who pay you no mind, up and up you climb to the magnificent ruins.
I hiked solo, but saw two other couples who had hiked up and met two ladies from Tennessee who had hired a driver to take them there. There were a couple of local man doing some maintenance work on the ruins. They seemed pleased to see the few of us there to enjoy the little-known ruins.
The ruins are in very good shape. The view from the ruins was phenomenal. Afterwards, I took the shortcut which cut across the ridge of the mountain, all the time following an incredible old working Incan aqueduct which carried torrents of fresh water down into the valley and Ollantaytambo.
The views seen from high up on the mountain ridge trail were worth the walk alone. The trail though high, is easy to walk, and the descent is a gradual one. I passed some very surprised-looking school children who were returning home on the trail. Lucky kids!
If you choose to hike to the ruins, take plenty of water and sunscreen. Wear long pants. I had zipped my legs off my pants only to notice that my bare legs were attracting those tiny little black flies which you don’t notice are biting you until much later when the itch begins. Bug spray would be a great item to carry with you in your backpack, also.
The hike is about a total of six hours. Makes for an awesome independent day trip!
Written December 17, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ginsengNewYork
New York City, NY1,314 contributions
Oct 2016
Visited this site on a private horseback tour arranged by La Casa del Abuelo. Very inexpensive, heavenly 4hrs excursion through eucalyptus groves, fields with bulls ploughing and Peruvian little ladies watching over sheep. Totally Zen! A must, even if you don’t speak Spanish, as the horses owner is very caring and attentionate. You can also do it by foot if the altitude doesn't bother you. The Pumamarca site is a few miles up the Patacancha valley near Ollantaytambo, and are easily accessed by foot, or horse back. The sight itself dates back to the 8th century AD and was inhabited continuously until the conquest. The architecture is interesting with a number of buildings some of which were temples and others store houses, it is built in the fashion of the Pucara or fortress with a massive defensive wall surrounding most of the complex. On your way to Pumamarca you can't miss the impressive terracing at Musqa Pukllo which the foot path passes above.
Written March 11, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
haveboots
Seattle, WA88 contributions
Aug 2014
My husband and two boys and I just spent four days in the Sacred Valley and one night at Machu Picchu. The highlight was our hike from Pumamarca to Ollantaytambo. The ruins of Pumamarca are hard to get to--a rugged road goes most of the way up. Others have written about the foot path up from town. Because it was only our second day at altitude, we got a ride up to the end of the road and walked up 10 min to the ruins. There were no other tourists. The view was stunning. It was so peaceful, I wish we could've stayed longer--or camped up there. From there we walked down the path through farms, terraces, eucalyptus and pine forests, along an old aqueduct, past cows, sheep, goats and pigs, along the river, past cacti and yucca...it was a fabulous hike with (I'm guessing) about 2,000ft descent in approx 4 miles. It was so great to get off the beaten path. Later Machu Picchu was hard to take with the overwhelming crowds.
Written August 10, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
has anybody taken a taxi directly from cusco to hidroelectrica
Written December 12, 2017
Sorry have. But you should be able to. Make sure to inquire (at the hotel?) how much it should cost and don't go unless the driver agrees to that amount. That's quite a distance.
Written December 13, 2017
Hi kishAnSL. Why would you not go by road to Punamarca Ruins? I thought of taking taxi to within a half hour walk so as to have more time.
Written February 18, 2017
That's fine. It should be a nice walk. But do leave some time and energy to go up the hills and terraces, which is a steep climb. From up there, there are also trails to hike around.
Written February 18, 2017
If we arrive in Olly at 11am, what time is the latest we should attempt to go down i.e. what time does the sun set and it's dark out?
Written September 17, 2015
We walked there adn back from town starting at 8:30 AM and got back to town at 1:30PM. We were going at a fairly leisurly pace. If you are pressed for time you could take a taxi or mototaxi there and walk back. See my blog at savvyexploring for complete dirrections and options.
Written September 3, 2018
Have the people stuck on the cable car today been rescued?
Written July 22, 2015
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