The Sun Gate At Machu Picchu : Inti Punku

James Bustamante( Travel Writer )

James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.

www.journeymachupicchu.com

Last Updated on February 22, 2021 by James Bustamante

The Sun Gate at Machu Picchu was known to the Inca as “Inti Punku” and it is also one of the most requested hikes to Machu Picchu by most travelers.

It can be a stand-alone hike but for most people, it happens to be the deciding factor when choosing a trek leading to the Inca stronghold. Let’s go over some of the key details about the Sun Gate at Machu Picchu: Inti Punku.

What is the Sun Gate at Machu Picchu?

The Sun gate at Machu Picchu is one of the major reasons someone decides to hike the classic 4 day Inca trail since it is the only trek that leads up that path. The name Inti Punku translates to sun gate in “Quechua”,  which happens to be the language of the Incas.

Inti Punku is famous for its view of Machu Picchu. The Inca trail crosses the sun gate early in the morning and is the entry point into the Inca city.

The Sun gate at Machu Picchu was a marker or a gate for the Inca that were looking to arrive at the sanctuary. Researchers believe that it was the way Elite Inca or Inca royalty would take to enter Machu Picchu.

Where is the Sun Gate Inti Punku?

The Sun Gate at Machu Picchu is located at 2,700 meters (8900 feet) above sea level near the Machu Picchu sanctuary. In terms of distance, Inti Punku can be found around 2 hours away from Machu Picchu.

While on the Inca trail You will first get past the Winay Wayna ruins and then continue until you reach the sun gate, eventually you will be able to actually see and travel to Machu Picchu.

How to get to The Machu Picchu Sun Gate

There are two different ways to see the sun gate at Machu Picchu. The first we already covered and it is basically taking the classic 4 day Inca trail to Machu Picchu.

On day 4 of this multi-day hike through the Andes, you eventually walk past Inti Punku as you are getting closer to the Inca stronghold. 

The second way to see Inti Punku is well, the other way around. You enter Machu Picchu via the main door and follow the regular tour route for the complex.

You will eventually reach a path that leads to the entrance to the Huayna Picchu ruins. There is another path nearby that will lead away from the Machu Picchu sanctuary and will eventually take you through the agricultural terraces.

At this point, you will see a sign that reads” Inti Punku.” Take this path and in around 2 hours you will reach The Sun Gate at Machu Picchu, if you continue you will run into the Winay Wayna ruins.

This is the end of the road though since going even further will require an Inca trail permit.

What is Required to See Inti Punku?

If you want to visit the Sun gate at Machu Picchu you will need to take the Inca trail. The permit for the classic 4-day hike will have to be reserved at least 6 months in advance to ensure availability.

The Inca trail permit will include crossing through Inti Punku as well as your guide to Machu Picchu with tickets included. This permit does not include hikes to Huayna Picchu or the alternative Mount Machu Picchu (Not to be confused with the Machu Picchu ruins). 

If you want to hike to the Sun Gate from the Machu Picchu ruins then you will need a regular Machu Picchu entrance ticket.

Once you have your ticket you will first need to go through the path that leads to Inti Punku and leave the guided Machu Picchu tour for later in the day. If you leave the visit to the Sun gate for later in the day you will be required to purchase an additional Machu Picchu ticket + Huayna Picchu access. 

If you want to visit the Machu Picchu Sun gate then go early, make sure you have booked the earliest tickets to Machu Picchu available. Walk to the Inti Punku entrance  on and try to catch the sun rising over the rest of the valley, the view will be incredible,

The Weather At The Sun Gate

Inti Punku is located in the cloud forest region so it falls under the same climate as Machu Picchu and the rest of the area. Between April to September, you can expect the dry season and good weather conditions.

There will be plenty of Sun, which is great to see the Sun Gate, and little to no rain. The absolute best time would be May, June, and July.

The temperatures during this period will range from 16 degrees centigrade (60 Fahrenheit)  to 25 degrees centigrade (77 Fahrenheit). Since we would be located at a high elevation expect the Sun to feel a bit more intense. 

From October to December expect showers in the morning, this represents the initial months of the rainy season. During the months of January and  March, the rains can be a bit more consistent so make sure to wear a rain poncho for the mornings.

The month with the heaviest rains would be February, we do not recommend taking any hikes during this month since the rains can be quite intense. 

For more information on the Machu Picchu weather check with our travel advisers and they will let you know what to expect during the time period of your booking.

Recommended For The Inti Punku Hike

The first thing we always recommend for any travelers that are going to be taking any hikes to Machu Picchu or within Machu Picchu would be a good physical condition.

You don’t need to be an athlete, gym rat, or professional athlete to take any of these treks but you should be able to handle a hike. Since the hike happens to be at 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) it can make it that much harder.

This brings us to the next point, make sure you are properly acclimated to the elevation. Take a day or so to first be well acclimated before attempting any sort of arduous physical exercise. Elevation sickness is a passing issue but it is never fun. 

The next set of recommendations would be your clothing. Make sure to wear mostly loose comfortable clothes while you are taking the hike to the Sun gate at Machu Picchu.

Wearing various layers of clothing is key, that way if it gets too hot during a pass while hiking you can easily remove your fleece or jacket.

Underneath have comfortable shits, hiking pants (the zip-off style) are always a good choice.  Remember to bring a backpack, comfortable shoes, sunglasses, sunblock, insect repellent (this is key!)m, and a rain poncho just in case.

All of the items can be purchased in Cusco or Aguas Calientes rather easily.

Conclusion

The Sun Gate at Machu Picchu will provide some of the most picturesque views of the Inca city. It is well worth it to take this side hike as long as you do it early enough in the day.

We always suggest taking the Inca trail to do this particular hike but if you can’t deal with 4 days of camping then by all means take the route from Machu Picchu.

If you’d like to make Machu Picchu reservations or visit any other part of Peru make sure to contact our travel advisers today!

Frequently Asked Questions About Inti Punku