Tourists who make the famous Inca Trail have the first vision of Machu Picchu through the Intipunku. The name of this Inca construction comes from a Quechua word that means ‘Sun Gate’. All visitors to Machu Picchu who wish to visit the Inti Punku, will have to enter only with the entrance ticket Machu Picchu + Inti Punku. This construction was probably the real checkpoint for the ancient inhabitants of Tahuantinsuyo who wished to enter or leave during the Inca period. Let’s learn more about this important Inca construction.

• This is the famous Intipunku
• Where is the Inti Punku (Sun Gate)?
• How to get there?
• Intipunku Map in Machu Picchu
• Intipunku history
• How high is it?
• What to do in the Intipunku?
• Do I need a special ticket to make the walk to Sun Gate?
• Intipunku image gallery in Machu Picchu
• Tips during your visit
• Questions and answers about Intipunku

View to Machu Picchu from Intipunku

This is the famous Intipunku

• Intipunku or La Sun Gate is a name arbitrarily chosen by the discoverers of Machu Picchu who found themselves in need of establishing a nomination for the new findings.
• The truth is that this construction was the most important access door of the Inca city. It connected Machupicchu with the empire’s road network (qhapac ñan) currently known as the Inca Trail.
• This construction is made up of enclosures with windows and doors where the sun’s rays enter all the summer solstices.
• Every day many tourists make this walk here to see the Inca city from the top. Visitors who arrive on the Inca Trail route have the first impression of the place through this construction.

New entrance to Inti Punku?
To enter Inti Punku, a special ticket is required. This ticket will be available only during the official high season. That is, from June 1st to October 15th. Only during this season you can access this ticket. Also, it is important to mention that the reservation of this ticket can be made well before the month of June. This ticket is called Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu.

Where is the Inti Punku (Sun Gate)?

The Inti Punku is one of the enclosures that are far from the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. For example, to get to Inti Punku, you have to walk for an hour. More information below:

• The Sun Gate is located in the upper part, southeast of Machu Picchu in Cusco, Peru.
• Due to its location in the highest part of Machupicchu, from there it was possible to control the arrival of visitors. At the time of the Incas, they would have had guards to protect the city.
• This enclosure is part of the entire historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu. That is why it belongs to the region of Cusco, the province of Urubamba and the district of Machu Picchu Pueblo.
• To get to this site you follow part of the Inca Trail. The approximate walking time is 1 hour.
• During the walk you can see part of the Inca Trail, platforms and more Inca constructions that are really striking.
• Now during the tour you can only see the upper platform of Machu Picchu.
• In this sense, it is only possible to contemplate the wonder of the world from its main viewpoint.
• Finally, if in addition to visiting Inti Punku and the Inca citadel, it will be necessary to book another Machu Picchu ticket.

Entrance to the construction site in Intipunku

How to get there?

• To reach the Sun Gate you must follow the path that begins at the door of the archaeological site through the agricultural terraces.
• The trail is marked with wooden signs that go almost parallel to the road that leads to the top of Machupicchu mountain.
• Likewise, the Sun Gate is the place where people who traveled the famous Inca Trail to Machupicchu enter, either the 4-day or the 2-day route.
• Whether through the Inca Trail or the route from the Inca city, the tourist who wants to visit the Intipunku must buy his ticket to Machu Picchu.
• The following are some of the differences between the Inca Trail and the normal entrance to Inti Punku.

Intipunku Map in Machu Picchu

Inti Punku will only be visited with the Machu Picchu + Inti Punku ticket, to make the reservation of this ticket is through the website or an authorized travel agency.

• Inti Punku is located 1.8 kilometers from the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. The hike lasts between 40 to 60 minutes.
• The route is flat, with some uphill sections and stairs. It is generally an easy hike.
• During the ascent you will be able to appreciate all of Machu Picchu in a spectacular way.
• Due to the timetable, it is recommended to use sunscreen and a hat or cap.
• The path that follows is through the mountains of the place.
• It is recommended to start the tour with an ascent to Machu Picchu in the ecological buses.
• Learn more about the tour thanks to our route map.

Tour of the Intipunku route of Machu Picchu

Intipunku history

• The Sun Gate was a kind of control gate for people entering and leaving the Inca city. Because of its remote and strategic location, it is believed that Machupicchu only welcomed guests invited and selected from the elite of the empire.
• The construction is dedicated to the sun. During the summer solstice, the sun’s rays appeared around the place. The people who returned after seeing the city were treated with greater respect by the people who were on their way to the Intipunku.
• After the discovery of Machu Picchu in 1911 , the new gate of the Inca city was on the slopes of the archaeological site. Thus, the Intipunku began to be visited only by visitors who make the ascent from the bottom or tourists who make the Inca Trail.

Are there other constructions similar to Inti Punku?
The constructions called Inti Punku or Sun Gate. They receive this name mainly because they are located in strategic points and on the top of a mountain. Therefore, the presence of the sun is guaranteed, especially during the equinoxes. In this sense, it is believed that these constructions were control points and could be found in all Inca citadels. There is the case of Ollantaytambo and also near Waqrapukara. Surely there are many more.

How high is it?

• The Intipunku is 2,745 meters above sea level (9,005 ft).
• As we mentioned the easiest way to get there is by the upper platform.
• The hike achieves an altitudinal ascent of 300 meters (984 feet) above sea level.
• This slight altitudinal change does not considerably change the geography of the place.
• But when arriving at Inti Punku and seeing the other mountains and the rest of the geography, the presence of the high jungle and the high Andes is verifiable.
• These changes can also be appreciated when you take the Inca Trail route. Where it is more immersive. But, also, making the trip by train from Ollantaytambo.
• A special detail is that the river that surrounds the mountains also comes from Cusco.
• This river is called Vilcanota, which is said to come from the Quechua “Willkamayu” which means Sacred River.

What to do in the Intipunku?

• Perform the hike – The ascent from Machu Picchu to the Intipunku is one of the most famous walks made by tourists who travel approximately 2 kilometers along the ancient paths built by the Incas hundreds of years ago.
• Observe landscapes – From the top of the Sun Gate you can see landscapes of Machu Picchu that cannot be seen from elsewhere. You can see the Urubamba river, the Huayna Picchu mountain, the town of Aguas Calientes and its surroundings.
• Take pictures – Some of the best photos that visitors can find in the Inca city are from the Intipunku. Not only at the top, if not in some of the sections of the road, you can get unique photos of the Inca city.
• Bird watching – During the trip to the top you can see some of the bird species that inhabit Machupicchu. Visitors will appreciate species such as the cock of the rocks, the Andean turkey, the tile tanager, the chestnut-breasted hummingbird, the mountain watchmaker among others.
• Knowing the Sun Gate – This construction is one of the most important in Machupicchu but it is not regularly visited by tourists due to its location in the highest part. If you want to know more about this place, you must hire a private tour guide and go there in your company.
• You will be able to have panoramic views – One of the advantages of doing the tour from any point to Inti Punku, is that it allows you to appreciate the Inca citadel from a completely panoramic view.
• Museum visit option – The site museum is located near the river. It is best to get there on foot or on the way back. There you can find more details of what life was like in Machu Picchu.

Tourists at Intipunku waiting for the sunrise

Do I need a special ticket to make the walk to Sun Gate?

• Now, after the changes of 2024, it was determined that the exclusive entrance ticket is the Machu Picchu + Inti Punku.
• This entrance ticket is only valid during high season. That is, from June 1st to October 15th.
• It is possible to make the reservation months before June.
• This new ticket will be part of the Machu Picchu Panoramic Circuit.
• This ticket only allows access to the upper platform and the route to Inti Punku.
• The entrance hours for the Machu Picchu + Inti Punku ticket are:
  • First group, enters at 8:00 in the morning.
  • Second group will enter from 9:00 in the morning.
  • The third group will enter from 10:00 in the morning.
  • The fourth and last group will enter at 11:00 a.m.
• Each ticket has 45 tickets available. Reservations can only be made virtually.
• The total tour has a duration of up to 4 hours in total for the activity.

Photo Gallery

Tips during your visit

• If you plan to visit the Intipunku or take any of the walks in Machupicchu, wear hiking shoes. This way you will avoid accidents and kinks on the cobbled paths.
• The route to the Sun Gate is not included in the tourist circuit so if you want to do it in the company of a tour guide, you must hire one in private service.
• Due to the season in which the entrance is enabled, it is likely that it will not rain. However, it is advisable to bring a waterproof poncho.
• Do not forget to bring mosquito repellent and sunscreen.
• A hat or cap will also be important.
• On the other hand, the hike should be done carefully and only along the established stretches.
• Remember that the Machu Picchu + Inti Punku ticket only allows the tour through the established circuit.
• It is important to maintain order and not alter the tour so that everyone can have a pleasant experience.

Questions and answers about Intipunku

• 1) Can I see the sunrise in the Intipunku?

  The entrance to Machupicchu is from 6 in the morning. A quick ascent may take 30 minutes or more. Due to the time it takes for the ascent, once at the top it is unlikely that you can see the sunrise. Tourists entering the Inca Trail can see the sunrise.

• 2) Is there an age limit?

  There is no age limit to enter the Sun Gate. Tourists of all ages can visit it.

• 3) Is it safe?

  Yes. The paths that lead to the Sun Gate are wide and well affirmed. There are no cases of accidents during this route.

• 4) What are the entrance hours to Inti Punku?

  All entrance begins at Machu Picchu and to get to Inti Punku you must also make a brief check-in at the control booth. In this sense, the 4 groups of schedules start from:

  • Group 1: 8:00 am.
  • Group 2: 9:00 am.
  • Group 3: 10:00 a.m.
  • Group 4: 11:00 a.m.

  NOTE: The maximum waiting time is 45 minutes for all 4 groups.

• 5) When is a good time to go?

  The route to Inti Punku can only be done during the high season. This begins on June 1st and ends on October 15th. However, reservations can be made well before this time. These tickets can only be acquired through virtual purchases or reservations.

• 6) Can I go beyond Intipunku?

  After the Sun Gate, the Inca trails lead to the archaeological site of Wiñaywayna. This tourist attraction is prohibited for visitors who enter with the Machupicchu entrance. The only ones who can visit this place are the tourists who make the Inca Trail.

• 7) What to wear?

  In addition to a rain poncho and sunscreen, it is recommended to bring snacks, mineral water, an extra polo and a backpack to easily carry all these objects. In Machu Picchu, umbrellas are prohibited, among other things.

• 8) Can I go if I am not well physically?

  Yes. The walk to the Intipunku can be done despite the poor physical condition of the visitors. It is recommended to go slowly enjoying the landscape.

Advice from people who have been there

Intipunku

By: Maria V.

“It's very beautiful“

“If you are already in Machu Picchu, go to the Sun Gate, it is about 45 minutes walking uphill, if you go early you can see the sunrise and how it accompanies you to the door. It is beautiful and in the morning, the sun does not heat but illuminates.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, September 10, 2024