Full Day Hiking to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku)
Duration
From
Overview
The Inti Punku, which means Sun Gate in Quechua, is the main control gate and entrance to the city of Ollantaytambo. Walking through it in the opposite direction leads to the original Inca Trail and Machu Picchu itself. This beautiful destination is a lovely lookout point over the Sacred Valley.
Full Itinerary
Starting our Tour around 8:00 am, we travel from Cusco to Ollantaytambo by private transport. On our way, we will pass the small traditional community of Cachicata, whose name derives from the nearby quarries from which the Incas took the large stones to build the archaeological complex of Ollantaytambo. We stop here with our car and start hiking up to the fantastic lookout point. Walking up the path, we will find a few massive, perfectly shaped stones – some of them are graves (Chulpas), for the great Inca constructors.
After 4 hours of slow hiking, we will reach the Inti Punku. The Incas once built this strategic lookout point to serve as a control gate. Still, the gate also has astronomical significance, as it is connected to the solstice and to a religious event related to the sun that took place there. With the help of the Sun Gate, the ancient sun priests could predict the times of planting and harvest by observing the angle at which sunlight shone through the gate. The Inti Punku also faces the sacred mountain (Apu) Veronica, which lies in the direction of Machu Picchu.
Reaching the gate, we will have our box lunch and take a short rest. Enjoying the incredible view, we will descend the same way downhill to get back to the starting point. The whole hike will take us approximately 8 hours.
Included/Exclude
- Transportation Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Cusco
- Professional bilingual guide
- Lunch box
- First-aid kit and oxygen
- 24-hour support from the company owner
- Drinks during the hike
- Insurance of any kind
Recommendations, what to bring
- A personal light backpack
- Hiking shoes
- Raincoat or rain poncho
- Thick jacket
- Hat and sunglasses
- Sunblock
- Extra T-shirt
- Personal medication
- Toilet paper
- Energy bars
- Camera with charger and extra batteries
- Extra money (Soles).
What we need when you make a reservation
- Full name, as written in your passport (please include a scanned copy of your passport)
- Passport number
- Nationality
- Date of birth
- Tour departure date
- Send a deposit of 60% of the total price of your tour. (The remainder of your balance will be due upon your arrival in Cusco.) Payment can be made via Western Union, PayPal, or ABN AMRO Bank in Holland, or securely and directly through our website by selecting your desired tour and clicking the BOOK NOW button.
Prices
- Price US$ 200 per person / based on 2 persons minimum
“With every tour you book with Green Peru Adventures, you can request a free walking tour of Cusco’s mysterious and historical city, accompanied by one of our professional guides, who speaks several languages.”
We are looking forward to creating an unforgettable experience for you.
