Sol Ollantay Exclusive Hotel

Sol Ollantay Exclusive Hotel stands on Calle Ventiderio in the heart of Ollantaytambo, close to the main plaza and within an easy walk of the fortress. That position is its main strength: the archaeological site is around four minutes on foot, the plaza about two, and the train station roughly eleven, which makes early departures for Machu Picchu simple. The hotel offers a free breakfast buffet, a rooftop terrace and garden, free self-parking, free Wi-Fi, laundry, luggage storage and a concierge service that can help with tours and tickets. A paid airport shuttle can be arranged for a fee per room. The style is comfortable and practical rather than lavish, so it suits travellers who want a tidy base in the middle of town without paying for a resort.

The property offers a wide range of rooms, from singles and doubles to king rooms, triples and family rooms. Superior rooms are compact at around 215 square feet, while the Deluxe rooms add balconies with garden or mountain views, and family rooms reach roughly 269 square feet. Bathrooms have rain showers and hairdryers, and rooms include heating, which is welcome on cold Andean nights, plus power adapters, a pillow menu and daily housekeeping.

If views matter, ask for a Deluxe room with a balcony, and if you are a light sleeper request a room away from the plaza or the patio.

Guests often praise the central location, the friendly and helpful staff, the clean rooms and the breakfast, and the ease of walking to the ruins, restaurants and station. Several nearby restaurants and cafes are only a minute or two away on foot, which makes dinner simple after a day of sightseeing. Some reviewers mention noise, thin doors and windows, dated decor and the occasional maintenance issue, which is common for older town buildings. Treat it as a sensible, well-located base rather than a quiet retreat, and consider earplugs if you sleep lightly.

Ollantaytambo is at about 2,800 metres, lower than Cusco, so many visitors sleep better here and adapt more easily to the altitude. The rainy season runs from roughly November to March, with showers in the afternoons, so bring a light rain jacket.

Who is it for? It suits independent travellers, couples, families who need a triple or family room, and anyone catching an early train, because the walk to the station is short and flat enough to manage with luggage in daylight. Pair it with a night in Urubamba or a stay at one of the garden lodges nearby if you want a quieter few days, and use Ollantaytambo as the base for the fortress, the chocolate workshop, a cooking class and the Machu Picchu train.