The Temple of the Moon is an Inca cave site. No programme, no stage.
In the room
The experience
The Temple of the Moon is a place to stand in, not a music venue. There is no programme here and no booking beyond the permit to climb. It is a set of natural caves on the north face of Huayna Picchu, the peak behind Machu Picchu, worked with fine Inca stonework: blocks cut to fit the rock, false doorways, trapezoidal niches. Scholars are unsure of its purpose and think it may have been funerary; even the name has no archaeological backing. What the atlas offers is the setting: stone close around you, a steep climb behind you and the site's own quiet. We have not measured how sound behaves in the caves and do not claim it.
Insider tip
Walk in knowing
Huayna Picchu permits are limited to 400 people a day in two entry slots (7 to 8am and 10 to 11am) and sell out ahead. Book early and take the first slot.
Why it fits
Why it is in the atlas
Inca stonework in a cave on a mountain above a citadel. The atlas keeps it as a place to be quiet in, not as a venue.
Plan the trip
When to go, hours, getting there
Best time to go
Dry season (May to September) is the safer hiking window. In the wet season (October to April) the trail can be treacherous. The Huayna Picchu permit is required and sells out.
Hours
Access is by timed Huayna Picchu permit, limited to 400 visitors a day in two entry slots (7 to 8am and 10 to 11am). No music is programmed.
Getting there
Train to Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes) from Cusco via PeruRail or Inca Rail, 3.5 hours. From Aguas Calientes, bus or hike to the Machu Picchu site. The Huayna Picchu trail and Temple of the Moon require a separate booking.
Straight from the source
Official site and tickets
Entry, opening times and tickets come from the people who run the site. Opens machupicchu.gob.pe in a new tab.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Where is Temple of the Moon (Huayna Picchu)?
Temple of the Moon (Huayna Picchu) is in Machu Picchu, Peru. Coordinates: -13.1564, -72.5453.
Is Temple of the Moon (Huayna Picchu) a bookable venue?
The Temple of the Moon is an Inca cave site. No programme, no stage.
What is Temple of the Moon (Huayna Picchu)?
The Temple of the Moon is a set of caves with fine Inca stonework on the north face of Huayna Picchu, near Machu Picchu. A place to visit, not a music venue.
When is the best time to visit Temple of the Moon (Huayna Picchu)?
Dry season (May to September) is the safer hiking window. In the wet season (October to April) the trail can be treacherous. The Huayna Picchu permit is required and sells out.
How do I get to Temple of the Moon (Huayna Picchu)?
Train to Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes) from Cusco via PeruRail or Inca Rail, 3.5 hours. From Aguas Calientes, bus or hike to the Machu Picchu site. The Huayna Picchu trail and Temple of the Moon require a separate booking.
Stay
Book somewhere to stay nearby
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