Temple of the Moon at Machu Picchu: The Hidden Cave Shrine on Huayna Picchu

What Is the Temple of the Moon at Machu Picchu?

Temple of the Moon: a group of Inca ritual structures set inside and around a shallow cave under a giant boulder on Huayna Picchu's far side. Inside the cave, fine fitted masonry lines the walls, with trapezoidal niches and a stepped throne-like carving in the rock floor. Small buildings and a tall double-jamb doorway stand nearby.

The quality of the stonework matches the most important buildings in the citadel, which tells archaeologists the site mattered greatly. Most visitors never see it because it lies out of sight behind the mountain.

The bigger context is explained in our Machu Picchu map guide.

The shrine is one of several sacred spaces in the sanctuary; the Machu Picchu facts and myths guide puts it in wider context.

Why Is It Called the Temple of the Moon?

The name Temple of the Moon is modern and has no proven Inca origin. It was given after the site was documented in the 1930s, partly because moonlight was imagined to reach the cave at night and partly as a counterpart to the Temple of the Sun. There is no firm evidence it was dedicated to the moon.

In Inca belief the moon, Mama Killa, was the wife of the sun god Inti, so the pairing is appealing. Compare the solar shrine in our guide to the Temple of the Sun at Machu Picchu.

What Was the Temple of the Moon Used For?

The Temple of the Moon was most likely a burial shrine or a place of worship linked to Pachamama, Mother Earth, and the underworld. Caves were seen as entrances to the inner world in Andean belief, and the niches may have held mummies or offerings. Some researchers think it honored Huayna Picchu as a sacred mountain.

Some guides say the stonework represents the three Inca realms, the heavens, the earth and the underworld. That reading is popular but interpretive, since the Incas left no written explanation of the site.

How Do You Get to the Temple of the Moon?

To get to the Temple of the Moon, buy a Machu Picchu ticket for Route 3C, which includes the Huayna Picchu trail but turns off before the summit. The path drops steeply down the north side of the mountain to the cave, then climbs back up to rejoin the main trail and exit.

1. Book Route 3C early, as daily places are limited.
2. Enter the citadel and walk to the Sacred Rock control point.
3. Start up the Huayna Picchu trail and sign in.
4. Take the signed branch toward the Great Cavern.
5. Descend the long stone stairs to the Temple of the Moon.
6. Climb back up and return to the citadel exit.

Route 3C is priced like the mountain routes and has mainly run in high season. Check current details in our Machu Picchu tickets guide and the Machu Picchu circuits guide.

How Hard Is the Route 3C Hike?

The Route 3C hike is hard because of its length and the many stairs. You descend and then regain several hundred meters of elevation on narrow stone steps through humid cloud forest. It has fewer exposed ledges than the Huayna Picchu summit, but it demands more stamina and time overall.

If you want the summit instead, read our Huayna Picchu hike guide.

Is the Temple of the Moon Worth the Hike?

The Temple of the Moon is worth the hike for fit visitors who value quiet trails, fine Inca stonework and a sense of discovery more than big views. It is not worth it if you are short on time, uneasy on long stairs or mainly want the classic photo of the citadel.

Hikers often describe it as the most peaceful part of their visit, with only a handful of people at the cave. The trade off is less energy left for the main ruins afterward.

Machu Picchu vs Cusco Temple of the Moon

Machu Picchu's Temple of the Moon is different from the Temple of the Moon near Cusco, also called Amaru Marka Wasi. The Cusco site is a carved rock shrine with caves just above the city, near Sacsayhuaman, and is easy to visit on foot or horseback. The Machu Picchu temple needs a long hike.

If you are acclimatizing in Cusco before Machu Picchu, the Cusco temple makes a gentle half-day outing. Plan your days with our best time to visit Machu Picchu guide.

Prefer to have it all arranged? Our Machu Picchu vacation packages covers transport, tickets and a licensed guide.

The Temple of the Moon trail branches from the Huayna Picchu path, so read the Huayna Picchu hike guide and check Machu Picchu circuits and ticket routes before buying.