Sun Gate One Day Tour

Day 1: Cusco | Ollantaytambo - Sun Gate - Cusco.

Highlight of the Day: Exploring the impressive site of Sun Gate of the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

• Hiking distance: 10 miles/16 km (7 hours).
• Highest altitude: 3,892 meters above sea level.
• Considered: Moderate to difficult.
• Meals: Breakfast, snacks and lunch! Box meals.
• Weather: Cold and windy.

We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 5:00 a.m. (from the Sacred Valley at 6:00 a.m.)and will be driven in a private car for 1 hour and a half to the town of Ollantaytambo. After a nutritious breakfast, we will hike uphill for 4 hours to Intipunku, the ceremonial gate of the snowy Veronica. Throughout this climb, we will see gigantic corn fields and panoramic views of the most important town in the Sacred Valley of the Incas; We will also pass through the Cachicata quarries, place from where the Incas obtained the pink rhyolite stones for the construction of the Ollantaytambo sun temple.

Once in Intipunku (sacred valley sun gate), we will be surprised by an impressive view of the snow-capped Veronica; important deity of the Inca civilization. Without a doubt, this place was very important for the Inca people, and because of that they built a ritual door for the worship of this snowy mountain. It is very difficult to describe the beauty of this magical place; come and discover on your own why many previous travelers recommend visiting this place off the beaten track.

After a delicious lunch in front of an amazing sight and learning a little more about the Inca religion, we will begin to descend for 3 hours to the town of Ollantaytambo. During the downhill hike, we will observe a fascinating sunset and twilight with a panoramic view of the sacred valley. We board our private transportation back to Cusco, where we will arrive around 18:30 pm.

** Be away from the crowds and enjoy a magical view of the Inca Sacred Valley sun gate.

At Pacha Peru Explorers, we specify the included and non-included services under all the tour itineraries listed on our website. We take care of all the logistics, but please pay attention to the details to avoid missing anything. Some items may be different for specific programs, so please read carefully before booking with us.

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

Pre-departure Briefing: You’ll meet your trekking guide and group in our office for an orientation before your tour. The meeting will be at 5:00 pm the evening before the trip begins.

Experienced Tour Guide: English and spanish speaking, professionally educated, and official tour guide. Your guide will explain the culture and surroundings along the entire route, including leading your group in ancient ceremonies! He or she will keep you safe, sound, and comfortable on your trek so that you can enjoy your time worry-free!

Medical Kit or First Aid Kit: All Pacha Peru Explorers guides have received specialized training in first aid. We hold mandatory training sessions with our guides every February. Your guide will always carry a first aid kit to face basic emergencies (altitude sickness, travelers' diarrhea, cuts, scrapes, etc.) as well as oxygen. If necessary, we’ll evacuate you from the path as quickly as possible and ensure that you arrive at a clinic for treatment.

Extras Included in our Services: We believe that attention to small details is what sets us apart from other local companies. You’ll receive a pair of walking sticks with rubber tips (for trekking poles) and a rain poncho.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.

Snack and Water: Before starting your trekking, your tour guide will provide you a cloth bag with local fruits, cookies, chocolate, caramels, etc. In addition, you'll receive a bottle of water.

Private Transport: All your transportation is included in this package. We will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the starting point of the hike. Once you complete the tour, we will take you back to the door of your hotel in Cusco.

Entrance Tickets: Entrance ticket to the Sun Gate of the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED?

Dinner.

Hiking Clothes.

Travel Insurance.

Additional costs or delays beyond our control: Landslides, bad weather conditions, itinerary modifications due to a safety concern, illness, pandemic, government policy changes, political instability, strikes, act of God, etc.

We want to make your trip to Peru as memorable and as carefree as possible. In this section, you’ll find the answers to all the questions you have about traveling with Pacha Peru Explorers in one place. Please read the following information carefully – it will help you with any questions about our services.

Briefing or Informative Meeting: All information meetings and briefings are held in our main office in Cusco (or your hotel) at 5:00 pm, one night before the tour begins. These meetings last approximately 30 to 45 minutes. If you’re unable to attend, you must coordinate another time by email, by phone or at the Pacha Peru Explorers office.

Trek Balance Payment (in Cusco): The trek has to be paid for in full at most 7.30 pm one day before your departure (generally after the briefing).
It would be much appreciated if you pay the trek balance in cash US dollars or local currency at our office in Cusco. You can withdraw some money from several ATMs along Avenida Sol (either in US dollars or local Peruvian Soles). You can pay by credit card or PAYPAL online, but you will have to pay an 6% service charge, charged by VISA and PAYPAL. We do not accept bank checks or payment of the balance by traveler’s checks.

Can I store my luggage at your office?: During the trip, your main luggage can be stored at our office (you can organize it with us on the briefing day or by email) or at your hotel, both free of charge.
Any equipment that you won’t need on the trek can be stored safely in your hotel. Nearly every hotel will provide this service. Don’t leave items of value with your bags; put them in the hotel safe and obtain an itemized receipt (in the unlikely case of theft, many insurance companies require that you have a copy of the receipt itemizing everything). It’s best to put items such as credit cards inside a sealed, signed envelope for extra peace of mind.

Pick up of guests: Pacha Peru Explorers can pick you up from your hotel, as long as it’s in the Historical Center of Cusco. Your guide will coordinate the pickup time in the briefing session, but please keep in mind that the time may vary between 30 and 45 minutes due to traffic.
Cusco is an old city, meaning it has many narrow cobbled streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs may be located on streets without access to cars or on long, steep slopes, making it difficult to transport luggage. We strongly recommend that you book accommodation with good access.

Group Tours: Group tours are made up of different types of people, then physical conditions and ages can vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, each person can go at their own pace on the route.
It may be the case that a group wishes to modify the tour; however, the guide will be the one who decides, after consulting with all the participants, if such modifications are possible.

Strikes and demonstrations: Strikes and demonstrations are usually common in Peru, and this may interrupt some of our tours. Roads can be blocked, and train tracks can be taken over. However, we will try to keep your trip as originally planned, even if it means leaving the night before the scheduled date. Under these circumstances, tours may also be canceled. In case of changes or cancellations, everything will be coordinated with you by our operations department. Your safety is our highest priority, and our decisions will be made to protect it.

Lost Objects: Please pay attention to where you leave your things and remember to take everything once you leave our transport or restaurants. You’re the only one responsible for your objects during the tour.

"Sun Gate One Day Tour" can leave any day of the week, from January through December.

2022 Land Cost:

Group Price: US$ 170.00 per person
Required Pre-payment: US$ 70.00 per person
Balance (Cusco): US$ 100.00 (Commonly paid in Cusco after the briefing).

This small-group journey is guaranteed to operate with just two guests.
Notice that PayPal charges a fee of 6%, which we ask the client to cover since it's due to the use of its service. This tax is just for online deposits so that you will pay the remaining in cash (the briefing day in Cusco) without charges.
Please, after your deposit, send us the transfer number to contact@pachaperu.tours; only after that, we'll be able to confirm your deposit and reservation.

Extensions & Offers: There are several extensions you can include to your Peru Adventure.

• Rainbow Mountain: US$ 120.00
• Sacred Valley: US$ 90.00
• City Tour: US$ 60.00

Price Guarantee: Once your booking has been confirmed, we guarantee the price won’t increase, whatever the circumstances. So please, before booking, ensure you’ve read all our important tour information.