Visiting the Temple of the Moon in Cusco: Everything you need to know!

One of the more overlooked things to do in Cusco is to visit the Temple of the Moon. Found in the hills surrounding the city, its more remote location makes it a historic site that most people just don’t hear about.

Sara and I made the semi-exhausting journey from Plaza de Armas up to these Inca ruins and ended up having the entire place to ourselves. If you’re too tight on time for Machu Picchu, we think the Temple of the Moon is definitely a great alternative to still experience a small drop of Peru’s history.

So we’re going to cover everything about this location. By the end of this guide you’ll know where it is, how to get there and all about the history of the Temple of the Moon.

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Where is the Temple of the Moon in Cusco?

The Temple of the Moon (aka Templo de la Luna) is located in the hills to the north-east of Cusco’s town center. Generally, it’s not too far, only about 2.5km but the steepness of the hills combined with the altitude can make the hike up a bit of a journey.

The temple itself is carved into a monolithic bedrock that protrudes from the ground. This makes it a natural structure similar to a huaca, which refers to natural locations and often to large rocks.

Surrounding the Temple of the Moon we found vast swathes of fields and killer views further into the Andes. Our first thought as we gazed towards the mountains was “We wonder how many other ruins there must be out there?”

In the immediate vicinity to the temple, though, you’ll find horses roaming the fields and a scenic lookout over the city of Cusco. 

Bear in mind, you can’t actually enter the Temple of the Moon as it’s a protected area. It’s fenced off so you can just walking around the perimeter and admire from afar!

How to reach the Temple of the Moon

The hike from Cusco center to the Temple of the Moon is, overall, a simple and easy hike. Just be aware that it’s probably an excursion you’ll want to postpone if you’re still dealing with altitude sickness in Cusco. 

If you’re new in Cusco, we recommend taking it easy for a bit before tackling this trek. There are tons of things to do in Cusco while acclimating that won’t keel you over like this walk will.

According to Google Maps, there are a few different routes you can take up. We decided to tackle the route that runs through the San Blas neighborhood.

Starting from Plaza de Armas, head north-east towards Plaza San Blas. This part is pretty simple and is a popular road for tourists.

From Plaza San Blas, take the back alleys (the ones with stairs) up to the road Jardines del Inca. Along this road you’ll find an alley that turns to the north, then north-east and connects with the Av. Circunvalacion main road. Make sure to turn around along this route as the views are crazy!

Then after a big uphill section along a residential road, you’ll hit a trailhead that leads into a field full of horses – take it. From here there are signs pointing to the Temple of the Moon, so it’s hard to get lost.

Crossing the fields, head for the giant bedrock that’s sticking out from the ground. Once you’ve reached it, you’ve made it to the Temple of the Moon!

What’s the significance of the Temple of the Moon?

Like most temples, the Temple of the Moon was significant to the Incas as a site for ceremonies. The Incas worshiped many gods, but the main three were Inti (the sun god), Mama Killa (the moon god) and Viracocha (the creator god). The Incan moon temples were constructed to worship the moon and Mama Killa.

Because Cusco was the capital of the Inca empire, its Temple of the Moon would have been one of the most important, aside from the Temple of the Moon at Machu Picchu.

This particular moon temple in Cusco was built into a cave. Caves were also pretty significant in the Incan religion, with the people believing they were entrances to the gods.

Finally, there are cracks in the walls of the Temple of the Moon which allow moonlight to shine on the altar. This likely went hand in hand with the ceremonies they performed.

History of the Temple of the Moon

It’s believed that the caves here were occupied years before the Inca’s moved in. Some say that the temple was originally made by the Killke people, a civilization that lived in the valley of Cusco hundreds of years prior to the Incas.

However, when the Incas took over, they likely would have built upon the foundations made by the Killke. Unlike the Spanish, the Incas preferred to adjust existing locations they found rather than destroying them. The end product would be a structure built in a recognizably Incan fashion. 

Then once the Spanish conquest started, the Temple of the Moon just sort of fell into disrepair. Unlike the temples in the city, which were destroyed and rebuilt as catholic churches, the Temple of the Moon was so far outside the city that it dodged the Spanish. Instead it slowly decayed in the caves until the point as it stands now!

Things to do near the Temple of the Moon

If you’ve made the trek up to the Temple of the Moon, there are a few things nearby you should use the opportunity to visit.

Cristo Blanco Viewpoint

Cristo Blanco is a super popular viewpoint over the entire. As the name suggests, it’s a giant white statue of Jesus overlooking Cusco. 

Usually reaching Cristo Blanco involved a simple 30-minute walk up through the city from Plaza de Armas. However, from the Temple of the Moon, reaching Cristo Blanco is an easy, flat 15 to 20 minute walk along the hills.

Saqsaywaman Ruin

Saqsaywaman Ruin is one of the most popular archeological sites to visit in Cusco. The entrance fee is pretty steep at around $20pp (at least at Peru prices), but you can also get a good look inside from the border of the site.

Again, usually you’d reach the entrance on the way to Cristo Blanco from the city. But you’re doing this trip the opposite direction if you start from the Temple of the Moon. After visiting the temple and Cristo Blanco, just five minutes away from the statue is Saqsaywaman Ruin.

Places to stay in Cusco

If you’re planning this 2 days in Cusco itinerary, here are a few great spots in the historic center to stay!

Hostels:

• Wild Rover Cusco ($7-15/night) ← Cusco’s party hostel.
• Viajero Kokopelli Hostel Cusco ($15-40/night)
• Cusco Rock Hostel ($16.50/night)

Budget Hotels:

• Eco Bunnu Inn ($23/night)
• Cochito Cusco ($28/night)
• Andean Valley Hotel ($26/night)

Mid-Range Hotels:

• Amaru Colonial ($57/night)
• Casa Montes San Blas ($49/night)
• Hotel Hacienda Cusco Centro Historico ($56/night)

Luxury Hotels:

• Union Hotel Cusco ($100/night)
• Auka Boutique San Blas ($74/night)
• Anahuarque Hotel Boutique ($72/night)

Check out our other Cusco guides:

• Is Cusco safe to visit in 2024? Everything you need to know
• What’s the rainy season in Cusco like? – Peru Travel Guide
• Cusco Weather in January: A good time to visit?
• Cusco in December: Weather, celebrations, things to do and more!
• Spending Christmas in Cusco: Things to do and how to celebrate!
• One day in Cusco: The perfect 24 hour itinerary!
• 2 Days in Cusco: The best way to see everything quickly!
• 3 days in Cusco – a full itinerary and everything you need to know!
• 4 days in Cusco: A full itinerary and everything you need to know!
• 16 Completely FREE things to do in Cusco!
• How to avoid altitude sickness in Cusco and Peru!

We hope that our guide covered everything you need to know about visiting the Temple of the Moon in Cusco. We always strive to offer the most accurate and up-to-date information we can but if you think something we’ve said is wrong, please let us know!