Hidden Peru Tours: Cusco's Lunar Temple

Cusco is among the most visited of Peru's cities

, largely thanks to the number of ancient ruins in the city and surrounding region, not least the world famous Machu Picchu. One of the problems though is the volume of other visitors. For a refreshingly quiet experience, try something different and visit the Temple of the Moon.

There are a few different ways that you can find your way up there. The simplest, of course, is to get in a taxi and ask the driver to take you to the dirt road that leads up to the temple. There is still plenty of walking you can do so you don't have to feel like you're cheating.

Another way is to go from the Cristo Blanco, the white Christ statue near Sacsayhuaman. In fact, you can combine the two. Head up to the Cristo Blanco first and then head back down by the road, walking away from Sacsayhuaman. You'll go around several bends in the road before coming to a dirt road on the right hand side.

You'll recognize this dirt road because there are three signs. One is a color sign from the Instituto Nacional de Cultura. Another advertises rock climbing. And the third admonishes people not to wash their cars there.

A less roundabout route to the ruins, and a good acclimatisation hike in advance of a longer trek you may be planning, is to walk through Cusco's Zaguan del Cielo district and hike up the hill. It's a bit tricky as you are going to go up various stairs to get there but ask for help along the way and you should (hopefully) find that same road. As you walk up the dirt road, there will be a path branching off to the right. Continuing along the trail leads direct to the temple.

I like the ruins because they aren't all polished and smooth. The place has a more basic, rustic ambiance. Somehow it seems like a more spiritual place precisely because it was never plated with gold or encrusted with jewels. It feels just like the kind of place where one might worship the moon.

Common to many ruins of this type, the central temple was carved into a cave. The ruin is purpose built in order that the overhead moonlight will fall through a gap in the ceiling and land directly onto the altar. Animal sacrifices would be made on the altar, often a llama.

There are some other sites nearby and it's quite easy to wander up around the hills here. It's not a bad idea to throw a picnic lunch in a backpack and sit yourself down when and where you're ready. Do make sure however, as you're wandering around up here that you leave yourself enough time to get back before dark.

by: Matt James Barker

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