Tour to the Moray and Maras Salt Flats

Explore the treasures of Cusco with Machu Picchu Wayna on a fascinating tour to Moray and the Maras Salt Mines. Discover the magic of Maras, Moray, and the Salt Ponds on a half-day tour filled with history, ancient culture, and breathtaking landscapes that will connect you with the essence of the Sacred Valley.

Highlights

Pickup and Departure:

Departure from Cusco in private transportation.
Enjoy the beautiful scenery and traditional villages along the way.

Visit to the Chinchero Textile Center:

Observe the ancestral weaving techniques of the women of Chinchero, passed down from generation to generation and still practiced today.

Visit to Moray:

Admire the Urubamba Mountain Range and the snow-capped peaks of La Verónica and El Chikón.
Explore the archaeological site of Moray, known for its circular agricultural terraces resembling amphitheaters.
Learn about the Inca irrigation system and their agricultural experimentation center.

Visit to the Salt Mines:

Explore the 3,000 salt ponds located on the slopes of the Qaqawiñay mountain.
See how the salt is extracted and processed, with the ponds displaying a variety of colors and textures.

Return to Cusco:

Return to Cusco around 3:30 p.m.

🌍 Travel itinerary

Our tour begins with pickup from your hotel in the city of Cusco in our private transportation. We’ll head toward the town of Maras, passing through traditional villages and enjoying the beautiful landscapes along the way. Upon arrival, we’ll visit the following sites:

📅Moray

We’ll begin our adventure departing from the city of Cusco toward Maras, where we’ll admire the Urubamba Mountain Range and the snow-capped peaks of “La Verónica” (18,642 ft / 5,682 m) and “El Chikón” (18,143 ft / 5,530 m). We’ll stop to taste a traditional drink made from corn. Next, we’ll continue toward the archaeological complex of Moray — unique in its kind in the region. It consists of giant natural depressions or terraces where the Incas built circular agricultural platforms, each with its own irrigation system. What’s most fascinating is the noticeable difference in average annual temperature between the top and bottom levels of the terraces. It’s believed that this agricultural laboratory was built on a rocky surface, which prevents flooding even during the rainy season. We’ll spend about an hour here exploring its construction and design before taking a break to enjoy our boxed lunch.

📅Salt Mines

We’ll then arrive at the Maras Salt Mines (located northwest of Maras), where we’ll find about 3,000 small salt ponds, each around 1.8 meters deep, built on the slopes of the “Qaqawiñay” mountain. During the dry season, these ponds are filled every three days with salty water from a natural spring located above them. As the water evaporates, the ponds begin to dry, revealing an incredible range of colors and textures. The salt gradually solidifies and is later processed for human consumption. Finally, we’ll return to the city of Cusco at approximately 3:30 p.m.

Includes