Ollantaytambo, the Inca-origin city in Cusco region, has dazzled The New York Times —one of the world’s most important and influential publications. The town has been included in the newspaper’s annual “52 Places to Go in 2025” list for its monumental constructions, diverse culinary offerings, and colorful markets.
PromPeru noted that The New York Times experts considered the gastronomy, culture, adventure, and natural beauty of each selected destination, inviting travelers to explore them.
For Ollantaytambo, the renowned U.S. daily highlighted its archaeological site, where the Incas fought against conquistadors, as well as its cobblestone streets lined with comfortable cafes, colorful souvenir markets, and restaurants serving local delicacies. Besides, it is possible to go hiking routes around the city.
Other destinations included in the list this year feature two locations in Spain, one in Hampshire (England), Thailand, Nepal, the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), Angola, and Nicaragua.
The New York Times also emphasized Peru’s efforts to promote archaeological sites as part of a strategy to expand and diversify the region’s tourism offerings while preserving the
Historic Sanctuary of Machupicchu.
PromPeru highlighted that in 2023, Time magazine -another prominent U.S. publication- included Ollantaytambo in its “World’s Greatest Places of 2023” list. On that occasion, the publication praised the city’s impressive architecture, exquisite gastronomy, and sustainable accommodations.
Ollantaytambo: An Architectural Gem
Known locally as “Ollantay,” it served as a strategic military, religious, and agricultural center, still dazzling visitors with its stone terraces and imposing constructions over four meters high.
Located in the heart of the Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo is known as the “Living Inca City” and is home to one of Peru’s most visited archaeological parks.
Thanks to its well-preserved architectural, natural, and cultural heritage from the Inca era, coupled with its current commitment to sustainable tourism, Ollantaytambo has earned significant accolades.
In 2021, it became the first Peruvian town selected among the “Best Tourism Villages in the World.”
The following year, it was named the first “Charming Town” in Peru, a distinction awarded by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur).
Located in Urubamba province, 80 km from the city of Cusco, and 40 km from Machupicchu, Ollantaytambo’s homes, streets, and canals from the Tahuantinsuyo era have stood the test of time.