As the Spaniards invaded Peru 500 years ago they pushed the Inca’s deeper into the sacred valley, west from Cusco. The Inca rebels set up base and fortifications at the perfect location in Ollantaytambo – with its steep cliffs around the river valley it was a tough place to assault, as the Spanish conquistadors found out when they arrived in the town to be met from all sides with a hail of spears and arrows. We found a more subdued welcome upon arrival in the sleepy village square. For many this is a quick stop before boarding a train to Machu Picchu, or beginning a trek, but it well worth spending a night or two here, enjoying the cobbled traditional Inca town layout, the gushing river, the village market and of course Incan ruins remaining on the steep hillsides.

Las Salinas (Salt Pans), Sacred Valley, Peru

Las Salinas (Salt Pans), Sacred Valley, Peru

We hired a taxi to pick us up from the Hotel (Sol) at 5am to get out to the Salinas (Salt Pans) for dawn, the trouble with being in this part of the world in January is that despite it being their summer there are a lot of overcast days. Frustrating but I will trade a week of them for one good session at Machu Picchu at the weekend…

I met Josephina in the small marketplace in Ollantaytambo, she was sitting with her family at their stall, the picture below is of her sister Edgar. (Both shot with a Nikon 135mm f/2 Prime lens at f/2.8.)

Portrait of Edgar, Ollantaytambo, Sacred Valley, Peru

Portrait of Josephina in traditional dress, Ollantaytambo, Sacred Valley, Peru

Street scene, Ollantaytambo, Sacred Valley, Peru