The Temple of The Moon
James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.
Last Updated on January 28, 2021 by James Bustamante
The Temple of the Moon located in the Machu Picchu complex has always been considered one of the more mysterious temples within the Inca city.
This is because it is actually located below the Huayna Picchu peak. This Moon temple bears no relation to the moon goddess Mama Quilla of the Inca religion though.
Table of Contents
Where is The Temple of The Moon?
This ancient Inca temple is located at the Huayna Picchu mountain. The Inca structure is located within a naturally occurring cave within the mountain peak itself.
This puts the Inca temple at 2,720 meters (9,000 feet) above sea level. To reach Huayna Picchu and the temple of the moon you will first need to head north from the city of Machu Picchu. Remember that to enter the Huayna Picchu section you will need an additional permit that will have to be reserved ahead of time.
Traveler’s Tips: If you want to ensure your entrance to Huayna Picchu book your permit at least 30 days prior to travel. If you wait any longer there is the possibility that you won’t find a permit and will not be allowed into the mountain.
The Name Temple of The Moon
This cave where the temple is located goes by the name of “The Great Cavern”. This name was actually given to this cave by the explorer Hiram Bingham during his original excursions through the area.
The name “temple of the moon” came much later and was apparently thought up of by settlers and not the Inca. The temple of the Moon was carved out right into the granite in great detail inside this cave.
So to sum it up, this Inca construction has two names, it is also referred to as “the great cavern”.
Purpose For The Temple of The Moon
There are plenty of ideas as to what exactly the temple of the moon was used for. What differentiates this temple from the rest that you can see during the Machu Picchu tour is that it is located within a cave.
The Incas had a particular admiration for caves; they had the belief that caves could connect them to Ukhu Pacha or the “world of the dead.”
Once you enter the temple of the moon you realize there is a flat surface, archaeologists believe this could have been used for offerings or sacrifices.
To this day researchers cannot fully confirm or at least come to a consensus as to what the purpose of the temple was.
Getting To The Temple of The Moon
Ok so how exactly do we visit the temple of the moon? First, you need to have your Machu Picchu hiking permit booked as well as the pass to enter The Huayna Picchu mountain.
We will have a fully guided tour of Machu Picchu first. Afterward, you go north of the city until you reach the entrance to Huayna Picchu, it’s a huge mountain so you won’t miss it.
Once we get through the gates we begin to go up the “stairs of death of Huayna Picchu”. No worries, it is merely a name given to this hike due to how vertical the climb is.
We finally reach a small path that takes us to the Temple of the moon. You will see this path on the descent part of the hike so don’t bother looking for it on the way up, at this point, it is best to focus on the climb.
The full visit to this Machu Picchu landmark will take around one hour so there is no need to rush.
Additional Information
The hike up to the temple of the moon is pretty nice. The views surrounding the location are like something out of a storybook. There are a few things to remember before you go to the temple.
This hike is part of the Huayna Picchu climb so understand that this will be a moderate to difficult hike before even attempting it.
If you climb up to Huayna Picchu and also want to see the temple of the moon on the way down, make you begin the descent no later than 11:30 am.
This brings us to the next point if you want to see this Inca temple make sure you follow the signs. If you come down all the way down you will not be allowed back up the mountain unless you purchase another permit which will not be available.
Permits will have to be purchased at least 30 days in advance but if possible try to do it even earlier.
Children under the age of 12 will not be allowed into the Huayna Picchu hike. Remember this is a moderate to difficult climb with limited space.
Conclusion
The temple of the moon is a great place to visit while on the Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu hike. If you came all the way to Peru to visit Machu Picchu you should plan to see as much as possible during your time here.
To ensure your permits please contact our advisers so they can put your Machu Picchu travel package together for you.
Resources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_the_Moon_(Peru)
Frequently Asked Questions About the Temple of The Moon
Why is it called the Temple of The Moon?
The name came up throughout the years but it was not the Inca that named it
Is the Temple of the Moon related to the Inca goddess of the Moon?
No. The temple of the moon bears no relation to the Inca Moon goddess Mama Quilla.
Does the temple of the moon have more than one name?
Yes. The temple of the moon is also referred to as the “Great Cavern”. This name was given to this temple by Hiram Bingham.
Will I need a Huayna Picchu permit to see the temple of the moon?
Yes. In order to access the temple of the moon, you will first need to enter Huayna Picchu.
Do I need to climb Huayna Picchu before visiting the temple of the moon?
Yes, you will need to reach the top of the mountain before being able to access the path that takes you to the temple of the moon.
What was the temple of the moon used for?
There are several theories but it seems to have been used for offerings and sacrifices. The Inca believed that caves and caverns had a connection to the world of the dead, also known as “Ukhu Pacha” in the native Quechua tongue.
