We have the opportunity of uncovering the Temple of the Moon Archeology Site in Cusco on Horseback. This is a part of the larger Sacsayhuaman site and is near to the most visited parts, however today we are going by horse!
Let’s go!
The Horseback Journey
I had walked up the mountainside to the Sacsayhuaman Inca Archeology Site yesterday and taken a guided tour there. The same guide arranged a tour on horseback to the Temple of the Moon guided by his nephew for the following day.
The next morning, I met the guide at his taxi in La Plaza de Armas. We introduced ourselves and up the mountain we went in his taxi. It was a short ride of twenty minutes, and we were at an open field with horses, other guides, and other tourists that were starting their journey.
Different rides with various locations and durations were offered. I signed up for a two-hour horseback and hiking tour to three Inca archeological sites close together. The tour just consisted of the guide who spoke only Spanish and Quechua, the native language of the Incas; and myself with my intermediate Spanish skills. We saddled up and off we went exploring.
Temple of the Moon
The Temple of the Moon is just one part of this site. This temple was built up in the Imperial Inca period (1438-1532 AD) and carved into the rocks of the mountainside. The temple was built to honor the God of the Moon, which represented fertility and bountiful harvests of rocks. There were windows carved into rocks that would let the beams of sunlight of the solstices hit the prepared Inca altars inside.
Alongside the temple are the remnants of other buildings and homes where people lived. There were rock caves built into the mountains for the storage of food, and deep pools for the collection of rainwater. We also explored some of the man-made and natural caves at the site.
Agriculture of the Area
This area is well suited for agriculture and the Incas took full advantage of it. Today the local farmers still grow crops such as potatoes and corn, and raise cattle, sheep, llama, and alpacas. It is still a region full of small farms and local produce. Along our route we saw small patches of a variety of crops and animals grazing.
Back to Cusco
After two hours, our tour was over. We rode the horses back to the staging area, they hit the water pond first, and then we removed the saddles off their backs. The horses were left to graze peacefully until the next batch of guides and riders came.
We take the taxi back to town and I said goodbye to the guide and was ready for the next adventure!
See our adventures on YouTube: @HBMaverick
See what Camera Gear I use in Peru.
“We will see YOU on the next adventure!”
