Inti Punku hike to the incredible Sun Gate in Ollantaytambo

This mysterious Inti Punku place is located in the sacred valley of the Incas, in Ollantaytambo, a two-hour bus ride away. I invite you to discover this place on this Inti Punku hike to the incredible Sun Gate; it is considered a three-dimensional door and built to show respect to the sacred snowy Veronica that is in the same direction. Read more

This tour to the gate of the sun (Inti Punku) starts at 7 in the morning from the main square of Ollantaytambo; We will cross the Inca bridge to connect to the correct path that is signposted throughout the route until we reach the Inca ruins of Inti Punku.

The complete round-trip route is 18 km from ollantaytambo-intipunku-ollantaytambo, reaching an altitude of 3,874 m and climbing a positive slope of 1,086 m.

This cultural building at Ollantaytambo has a peculiar similarity to the construction style of the Inti Punku Gate in Machu Picchu, with a difference in the type of stone used.

Halfway through this walk, you will already be able to see the Verónica snow-capped mountain between the mountains, which has an altitude of 5,894 m.

On the way to Inti Punku, we will also visit the Cachiccata stone quarry, where stones were extracted to build the Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo and where there are still some giant stones in the process of being finished and transferred to the town of Ollanta.

Two routes to Inti Punku

The first route starts from the town of Ollantaytambo and is 18 km long. Of the distance between going and returning, the first stretch of ascent, which is the most difficult part, takes 4 hours, and the return stretch, which is down, takes 3 hours, completing a total of 7 hours of walking to the inti punku.

The second route to the Intipunku started from the town of Cachiccata, which is 30 minutes away by motorbike taxi from Ollantaytambo. This route connects directly to the Cachiccata quarries. The distance of this route is 6 km one way and 8 km roundtrip. Back to the town of Ollantaytambo, the time is 3 hours up and 2 hours back; one more option for people who do not have much time or do not like long walks.

You choose which of the routes you would like to take; in both options, you will enjoy nature, fresh air, and the incredible viewpoint of the sacred valley of Ollantaytambo, the snow-capped Verónica.