Inti Punku
Inti Punku means “Sun Gate” in Quechua, the language of the Incas, and that is where we are going. It is located on a mountaintop just outside of Ollantaytambo, with incredible views in all directions. It is a fierce, three thousand foot climb up a trail about four miles long. There is the option of renting a horse for the ascent if you prefer. Once we get to the top, you will be treated to an Incan archaeology site that very few tourists ever see. This is one of our favorite places to hike to anywhere in Peru!
This walk is a strenuous one day (6-8 hr) hike that first goes up to the rock quarries, (‘las canterras’ in Spanish) where the Incas mined and shaped the massive stones that make up the Ollantaytambo fortress.
We leave directly from Ollantaytambo, go down to the Urubamba river and cross the bridge over into Cachiccata. The route turns into a narrow trail that goes steeply up the mountain side. This area is rich with archeological discoveries, several of them hidden but we know where they are! Some highlights include Incan mummies, a little-known Incan carved wheel, and a lot of Incan ruins where the workers lived. This hike has great views of the sacred mountain Veronica and of Ollantaytambo. Trekking Inti Punku requires a moderate to high amount of fitness, but those not up for hiking can still accompany the group by using a horse for the ascent!
Inti Punku has amazing views of the surrounding mountains, Ollantaytambo, the sacred Incan mountain (“apu”) of Veronica, and the valley below Abra Malaga. At the top, the guide will lead you in an ancient Incan ceremony. After visiting this sacred place, we will walk back down to Ollantaytambo the way we came. This is a chance to see a very important Incan site that few travelers take the time to see!
Pricing per person (based on your group size):
2-3 ppl
4-5 ppl
6-7 ppl
8+ ppl
$110
$100
$90
$80
Option for horse: $100/ per h
Horses can be shared, but keep in mind horse trail is different in some sections from the normal hiking trail.
