Pumamarca ruins are about 2.5 hours from the Inca town of Ollantaytambo and it is one of the most popular of the Sacred Valley destinations. The area is very interesting because it is a place where the Spaniards suffered one of their few defeats in a direct confrontation with the Incas. Pumamarca is a fortress built on a steep slope, which was built to control the entrance to the Sacred Valley of the nearby jungle. A steep climb will be rewarded with a beautiful panoramic view and the knowledge that you will be visiting a place known only to a few tourists. After visiting Pumamarca, you'll spend the night in Aguas Calientes and you will get up early to visit Machu Picchu.