We love Ollantaytambo. We’ve been all over South America, and we’ve concluded that it’s the town most worthy of tourist time and attention. We’re not prejudiced – this is an objective fact.

The problem is, Ollantaytambo and its surrounding area are too-often bypassed by tourists and tour agencies who are so preoccupied by Cusco and Machu Picchu that they overlook our charming little town and its picturesque hikes, stunning and little-visited archeological sites, traditional Quechua villages, and heart-stopping adventure activities.

Awamaki is working to promote a more sustainable tourism in Ollantaytambo that encourages visitors to stay longer and spend their money in ways that benefits local families. The tourist economy is a significant force in Ollantaytambo. Too often, however, tourism is a disruptive presence, creating traffic and noise but little local benefit as tourists bulldoze through town to catch the train to Machu Picchu. We aim to harness the economic force of tourism to create real benefit for local folks and their families.

Awamaki has launched a number of programs and initiatives to promote a better tourism in our beloved Ollanta. We operate a homestay program, for visitors who want to make strong intercultural connections and make the greatest positive impact on local families. We publicize and arrange artisan workshops, which allows visitors to go hands-on learning about traditional culture, while permitting traditional craftspeople to maintain their craft. We also lead sustainable, respectful community visits to the indigenous Quechua communities located in the mountains high above Ollantaytambo. We're also launching a 14-day Andean Weaving Retreat that offers the opportunity to visitors to immerse themselves in Andean culture, and learn about the ancient Andean fiber arts of spinning, weaving and natural dyes.

One of the chief problems that Ollantaytambo faces is marketing itself to the travelling world is a lack of knowledge of English, marketing and the tourism industry, and in general, a lack of awareness of what Ollanta can offer to visitors. Awamaki has produced a number of small publications designed to promote and facilitate a better tourism locally, including brochures on artesan workshops and a map of town. We also have, in the works, a guide to the walks and hikes of the area, and a website designed to allow visitors to more easily plan a trip to Ollantaytambo.