Ollantaytambo, what a wonderful place! Renowned for being a “living Inca town”, because it still shows a lot of the ancient urban and farming design, folklore and archaeology. Moreover, the landscape is really like planet Mars before it became a desert, amazingly-shaped gigantic hills. Really a marvel of Cusco’s Sacred Valley!
In this post, we will talk about one more splendid adventure available in Ollantaytambo: the hike to the Sun Gate (Intipunku), which is on top of a mountain next to the village. This hike is growing increasingly popular, for many reasons we will find further in the post. Let’s check the highlights of this great adventure:
- From beautiful Cusco City we have to take a highway ride until Ollantaytambo village in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, looking at wonderful Andean range landscapes.
- Once arriving at Ollantaytambo village, we have to take some transportation (mototaxi, bus, van) for around 15 minutes to the village of Cachicata, which is at the base of the Sun Gate (Intipunku).
- Now the adventure gets more exciting! This is the starting point of the Sun Gate (Intipunku) hike; all the way up on a wilderness path, with a length close to 3 kilometers (1.87 miles). The Intipunku itself is at a 4,000 meters above sea level elevation (13,123 feet). From the summit you have an astonishing 360° view of the region.
- As we hike upwards, the Ollantaytambo village and archaeological area grow tiny in the distance, while the surrounding mountains grow bigger, massive and the white clouds get closer.
- Up along the wilderness trek, you will be surrounded by breathtaking scenery, especially the Veronica snowie, deemed sacred by the Incas, and central to all the Sun Gate (Intipunku) purpose.
- Finally, while feeling literally at the top of the world, you will spot the Sun Gate (Intipunku) at the mountain’s summit. It is a basic construction, however, it had plenty of religious meanings for the Inca people.
- Basically, its design is meant to suggest a gateway to Heaven (Hanan Pacha in Quechua, their official language), because the flow of natural and spiritual energy up there is patent to everyone. That summit is a place the Incas found to be one of profound mystical union with Nature, just like Machu Picchu. This energy will powerfully clean your mind and heart, to the point some visitors are moved to tears.
- Indeed, the Ollantaytambo Sun Gate (Intipunku) was a place of pilgrimage; Inca people walked up there to worship and be in union with the subtle energies of nature, like Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the snowies (Apus), hence the importance of the place being aligned to the Veronica snowie.
- The summit at the end of the hike where the Sun Gate (Intipunku) resides is awash in strong flow of natural energy which really can take visitors to higher states of consciousness.
- The spot is perfect for unforgettable sightings of range landscapes, pictures and videos, connection with nature and spiritual experiences.
- One insider tip is to begin early in the morning, so you can be back for lunchtime, because the return hike lasts about 2 hours. And don’t forget to bring a reusable bottle of water or even better, coca leaves tea, for refreshment and stamina.
So, now you know the Sun Gate (Intipunku) at Machu Picchu’s entrance isn’t the only one… there is another in the amazing Ollantaytambo area, in the equally amazing Sacred Valley of the Incas.
The 3 kilometers (1.87 miles) upward hike to that sacred spot is becoming trendy and also one more great option you can add to the dream vacation in Cusco!
Talk to our professional staff for organizing and booking a perfect trip to Cusco! Maybe you could also do the Ollantaytambo Sun Gate (Intipunku) hike to this Heaven’s Portal.
