Moray, Maras and Salineras Tour (Half Day)

Moray, Maras and Salineras Tour (Half Day)

Moray, Maras and Salineras Tour is a popular half day tour in Cusco. You will be visiting two prime sites in the Sacred Valley of Incas.

Maras and Moray are hidden gems of the Sacred Valley of Incas. Both these sites have played a significant role during the Inca Empire in Cusco. In fact, the locals still continue to excavate salt and keep up the traditions of Incas. 

These two sites have gained popularity for its distinct appearance and layout among travellers. If you search for Sacred Valley on the Internet you will come across amazing pictures of these unbelievable places.

We suggest making the tour during the dry season, but you can also make it during the rainy season. However, the roads are sometimes muddy and on some occasions, access can be difficult.

The tour includes visiting Maras and Moray on one day, thanks to their close proximity.

If you are a small group we can make the trip a bit adventurous, with our Quad bike ATV tour to Maras and Moray.

Moray:

Moray is a deep circular bowl type agricultural terrace measuring up to 330 feet deep from the ground. This was one of the extraordinary creations of Incas. Back then the Incan civilisation had an advanced agricultural techniques and Moray is a prime example of this.

The circular agricultural terraces were primarily used to test the condition of crops at different levels. At each level of the terrace the temperature differed a lot. In fact, the temperature from the top of the terrace varies about 15 degrees centigrade to the bottom. Moray was more of an agricultural laboratory to the Incas, the different micro climatic conditions at different levels of the terrace allowed them to study wild vegetation.

As a result Peru is home to over 2,000 varieties of potatoes and different types of maize among other vegetables.

Maras:

The Salt Pans of Maras have existed since pre-Incan times. Maras is popular for the salt pans cascading down a hill like uneven steps. These salt pans are fed by natural spring water which flows down the pool when opened.

Salt is harvested from the patchwork of shallow pools via an evaporation process.

Once one of the salt pools is filled, the water is allowed to evaporate. Then the salt crystals are scraped off the ground with simple instruments. Then the whole process begins again.

You can also find the natural pink salt that it’s extracted only from 4 places worldwide and Maras it’s one of them. Getting its rare color from natural elements which come from mountains (such as magnesium, calcium, potassium and silicon).

The Salt Mines are now home to over 3,000 pools which are managed by local families that live at the town of Maras. 

The entrance fee to enter the Salineras de Maras (Maras Salt Mines) is about S/10 soles.

We also invite you to check our one day tour to Rainbow Mountain, but if you are looking for an adventure for more than a day we recommend you to read more about our Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.