Located 5 kilometers from the wonder of the world, Inti Punku is located in Machu Picchu itself, since it is considered the entrance to this great stone city.
This place is no longer the only entrance to the Inca city, but it is considered the main one because it was what was first built to unite all of Machu Picchu. It is located at 2745 meters above sea level and from there you can see the Verónica Mountain.
Inti Punku in Machu Picchu
During the Inca heyday, people who entered Machu Picchu, after traveling the Inca Trail, had their first view of the city from the Puerta del Sol.
The Inti Punku in Machu Picchu was a kind of control gate for the people entering and leaving Machu Picchu. Due to its remote and strategic location, it is believed that only invited and selected people from the empire’s elite were welcomed.
INTI-PUNKU 
INTI-PUNKU
It is known that people who returned after seeing the sacred city were treated with greater respect by those who were on their way to the sanctuary. The construction is dedicated to the Sun, but not only in name, since, during the summer solstice, the sun appears in the Inca city through this place.
The views will definitely take your breath away, since from the Puerta del Sol you can fully see the citadel of Machu Picchu, the Urubamba River, the Huayna Picchu mountain and the surroundings. It is a spacious place, with windows and doors supported by terraces; from there you can see the entire Inca city in the middle of the mountains.
History of Sun Gate in Machu Picchu
The Puerta del Sol was a kind of control gate for people entering and leaving the Inca city. Due to its remote and strategic location, it is believed that Machupicchu only welcomed invited and selected people 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. People who returned after seeing the city were treated with greater respect by the people who were on their way to Intipunku.
After the re-discovery of Machu Picchu in 1911, the new gate of the Inca city was in the foothills of the archaeological site. Thus, the Intipunku began to be visited only by visitors who make the ascent from the bottom or tourists who do the Inca Trail.
How high is the Inti Punku in Machu Picchu?
The Intipunku is located at 2,745 meters above sea level (9,005 ft).
From the archaeological site of Machu Picchu, you must ascend almost 2 kilometers to the ‘Puerta del Sol’. It is estimated that it will ascend 300 meters (984 ft.) Approximately.
How to get to the Sun Gate in Machu Picchu?
To get to Intipunku you must follow the path that begins at the door of the archaeological site through the agricultural terraces.
The path is marked with wooden signs that go almost parallel to the path that leads to the top of the Machupicchu mountain.
Likewise, the Intipunku is the place where the people who traveled the famous Inca Trail to Machupicchu enter, either the 4-day route or the 2-day route.
Either 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.
Do I need a special ticket to make the walk to the Inti Punku in Machu Picchu?
Any entrance ticket to Machupicchu offers the opportunity to know the Intipunku, as long as the walk is done on your own. This route is not part of the usual tourist circuit.
The ticket preferred by visitors is the Machu Picchu Solo ticket. It is recommended to do the walk before 10 in the morning, this will allow you to return before closing, which is at 2 in the afternoon.
What is the best time to visit the Sun Gate in Machu Picchu?
The entrance to Inti Punku is open all year round, but it must be taken into account that from November to April it is the rainy season. At all times, the temperature is subtropical and is between 18 and 19 ° C.
The climate in southern Peru is a must, visitors must be prepared for both rain and sun. It is advisable to bring a raincoat and sunscreen; hats and sunglasses may be included.
Whatever time you visit Machu Picchu, rains tend to occur at any time of the year, regardless of the season. It is recommended to bring enough water during the walk.
