Maras Moray – Salt Mines
This unforgettable tour introduces travelers to some of the most fascinating Inca sites near Cusco. The journey begins in the colonial town of Maras, where you’ll visit its historic church and explore charming streets rich in local culture.
Next, visit the remarkable Inca agricultural site of Moray, a stunning series of circular terraces believed to have been used for crop experimentation and climate adaptation. The tour concludes at the iconic Maras Salt Mines, a Pre-Inca marvel where salt water from a natural spring flows through thousands of small evaporation ponds, producing pure Andean salt.
With sweeping views of the Sacred Valley and an unforgettable mix of history, science, and scenery, this Maras Moray tour is a must-do day trip from Cusco.
Overview
Tour Description
- A half day tour visiting the sites of Moras, Moray and Salt Mines
- Daily departures
- Private and group service available
- Private Service can start from Cusco / Ollantaytambo / Urubamba
- English speaking Guide
Places that are visited
- Maras village
- Moray Inca terraces
- Salt Mines
Itinerary
A great addition to your touring in the Sacred Valley of the Incas! This route will take you off the beaten path where you will visit the small Andean village of Maras that still keeps a good part of its architectural colonial beauty. You can see amazing facades made of thin stone, lintels with sculptures in bas-relief.
We then travel further into the mountains to site known as Moray, or what is often called “The Inca Greenhouse”. Located at 3,450masl we find the agricultural terraces of Moray with their complex system of irrigation and terraces. These terraces served as a natural green house to grow an extraordinary variety of crops at an altitude that they would typically only grow in the tropical Andes.
Towards the northeast we find Salineras, the saltworks, which consist of 3,000 small pools roughly 5 square meters (53.8 ft²) in size. Every three days, during the dry season, workers fill the pools with salt water that comes from natural springs at the top of the Maras complex, and when the water evaporates from the pool the salt is left for collection. This process is carried out over a one month period until the pools reach an approximate volume of solid salt that is 10 centimeters (4 inches) in height. The salt is ground up, treated with iodine, and packaged and sent to the various markets of the region
What's included?
Included
- Group service: Round trip transportation shared with other people
- Private Service: Vehicle & Guide at your disposal. Pick up and drop off at your hotel.
- English-speaking Tour Guide
Not Included
- Lunch
- Entrance fees to all the sites visited – S/ 70 soles tourist ticket, S/ 7 soles Salt Mines entrance.
- What you need to take:
- Sun hat
- Sun protection cream (factor 35 recommended)
- Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
- Water
- Camera and films
Note: If you are doing Maras Moray, Salt Mines & the Sacred Valley it is actually better to purchase the 10 Day tourist ticket (Boleto General). This give you access to other sites in the Valley and some museums and Attractions in Cusco. The price is S/130 soles per person. Please check with your Travel Advisor.
Maras Salt Mines – Ancient Andean Tradition in the Heart of the Sacred Valley
Explore the Maras Salt Mines, a pre-Inca wonder near Cusco. Thousands of salt pools create one of Peru’s most photogenic landscapes.
Tradition in Action – Local Harvesting at Maras Salt Mines, Peru
Witness generations-old techniques at the Maras Salt Mines, where locals still harvest salt using traditional Andean methods near Cusco.
The Salt Terraces of Maras – A Timeless Andean Landscape in the Sacred Valley
Marvel at the Maras Salt Mines, where thousands of terraced salt pools cascade down the Sacred Valley’s rugged mountain slopes near Cusco.
Geometric Beauty of Maras – Aerial Close-Up of Peru’s Ancient Salt Pools
An abstract view of Maras Salt Mines shows the intricate network of hand-carved salt ponds—still used in Peru since pre-Inca times.
Maras Salt Flats – A Living Legacy in the Sacred Valley of Peru
Stretching across the Sacred Valley slopes, Maras Salt Mines showcase ancient Andean salt-harvesting traditions still practiced by local families today.
Life at Maras Salt Mines – Preserving Tradition in the Sacred Valley
Local women walk among the Maras salt pools, where generations have preserved ancestral salt-harvesting techniques in Peru’s Sacred Valley.