LAQO (SALONNIYUQ, SALONPUNKU)

It is an interesting archaeological group found approximately 1 Km. (0.62 miles) away

northeast from Q'enqo by the existing trail (today a car way). Likewise, it is possible to get to
that spot through a dusty road branch from km. 6 of the Qosqo - P'isaq road. In the popular
knowledge this site is also called "Moon Temple" or "Monkey's Cave". It is located on the
ancient Inkan Road towards the Antisuyo, and surely it was also another of the "Wakas" or
adoratories reported by chroniclers. Its original name is lost, that is why today it is known with
several names. It is placed over a gray limestone protrusion of the Yunkaypata Cretaceous
Formation. The natural rock was carved all over its surroundings showing a large amount of
stairways, niches, foundations of some other buildings, two birds very similar to those found in
Q'enqo and a quadruped, of which the heads were mutilated. Also on the upper side there is
an "Intiwatana" or interrupted-conical (it has no vertex) solar observatory, sculpted in the in-situ
rock. In the lower part there is a passage communicating the two faces of this shrine that was
partially carved taking advantage of the natural fault. Besides, there are two carved rooms
inside the great rock which because of the elements they contain must have had strictly
religious duties. The second room (the upper one) is the most interesting and has a great
snake carved in its entrance and, inside it a quadruped with a broken head. Deeper inside
there are niches, platforms and toward the ceiling an interesting skylight that according to
popular belief it was a moon temple. At midnight of the full moon closest to the winter solstice
the cave's interior is fully illuminated by light going through the skylight. Today, this spot is
mainly visited by "mystics" and "esotericists" who carry out sometimes circus-like ceremonies
willing to emulate to the real Andean Religion priests. This same spot has become famous
during the last decades as it is preferred by confused young people that in the full moon nights
visit it for a pilgrimage of "alcohol, sex and drugs".