The Temple of the Moon Horseback Ride Cusco with Wonders of Peru Expeditions takes you on a half-day horseback ride through the hills above Cusco to one of the city’s most mystical and least-visited Inca sites — the Temple of the Moon (Amaru Marca Wasi). Built inside natural cave formations, this ancient shrine receives far fewer visitors than Sacsayhuaman, making it a more intimate and uncrowded experience.
The Temple of the Moon sits hidden in the hillside within the Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park, off the standard tourist circuit. Most visitors to Cusco never see it. On horseback, you reach the temple through eucalyptus forests and highland trails that climb to panoramic viewpoints above the city. The ride continues past the temple to Inkilltambo — an Inca administrative checkpoint — and up to Chacan Mountain at over 3,700 meters for sweeping views of Cusco and the surrounding sacred peaks.
Also known as Amaru Marca Wasi (“House of the Serpent”), the Temple of the Moon dates to the Imperial Inca period and was used for fertility worship. It is built within two natural cave formations, with carved altars, serpent and puma carvings, and ceiling openings designed so that moonlight illuminates the interior on specific nights. The site predates even the Incas — earlier cultures used these caves for ceremonies long before Cusco became the capital of Tawantinsuyu.
3 Days
10
English, Spanish
Approximately 2 hours of riding. Departures at 9:00 AM and 1:30 PM. No experience needed. Maximum weight: 86 kg (190 lbs).
