Half Day
Moray and Salt Mines of Maras Tour: Embark on an unforgettable half-day journey to two of the most iconic and historically rich sites in the Cusco region: Moray and the Salt Mines of Maras. First, you’ll visit the impressive Inca agricultural terraces of Moray, a series of circular depressions that functioned as an experimental laboratory for adapting crops to different microclimates an outstanding example of Inca agricultural ingenuity. Then, you’ll head to the stunning Salt Mines of Maras, a complex of more than 3,000 salt pools carved into the mountainside and still harvested by local families today using ancestral techniques passed down for generations. The tour begins at 8:45 a.m. with a meeting at our office, conveniently located at Portal Nuevo 270, Plaza Regocijo, just a few steps from the Plaza de Armas of Cusco. You’ll travel in a comfortable tourist vehicle and be accompanied by a professional local guide, who will enrich your experience with valuable cultural and historical insights. The tour concludes around 3:30 p.m. with drop-off in Cusco’s historic city center. Along the way, you’ll have time to explore, take photos, and connect with the living traditions of the Sacred Valley.
ITINERARY: Maras – Moray – Salineras 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
On this tour, you will travel through the Peruvian historic Urubamba Valley. Located between Cusco and Machu Picchu, the Urubamba Valley is known for its lush scenery, picturesque colonial towns, and magnificent Inca fortresses.
We will pick you up from your hotel between 8 and 8:15 a.m. and head to Moray. The drive will last around 1 hour and 20 minutes and is absolutely beautiful. You will drive through the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, the lush yellow wheat fields, and traditional Andean villages. You will ultimately arrive in the fascinating terraces of Moray. Moray is made up of three amphitheater-like terraces made by the Incas. These terraces are carved deep into the earth in a bowl shape, and have been used as an agricultural laboratory to determine the optimal conditions for cropping.
After exploring Moray, you will head to the Salt Mines of Maras, which are just 2 miles away. Dating back to colonial times, Maras was considered a salt-producing center. Carved into the mountainside are over 3000 salt pools, which are filled daily by a little stream of water. Once the water evaporates, it leaves behind a glistening patchwork of salt. The Salt Mines are a great spot to take pictures and capture the amazing beauty of both the Andes and the spectacular Salines. We will then head back to Cusco.
IT IS INCLUDED:
- Professional guide
- Transportation
IT IS NOT INCLUDED:
- Entrance fees:
- Moray is part of the tourist ticket that you may have already purchased. If not, it is 70 soles for the partial ticket or 130 soles for the general ticket. We recommend purchasing the general ticket if you plan on doing the city tour or visiting other ruins sites around Cusco, valid for 10 days.
- Maras salt flats has an additional cost of 15 soles
- You can buy both entrance tickets when we arrive at the sites
WHAT TO BRING
- Backpack for personal items
- Comfortable clothes and appropriate footwear
- Extra money for souvenirs and handicrafts
- Camera
- Sunscreen
- Water and snacks
- Sunglasses
- Personal medications
- Extra money in Soles
RECOMMENDATIONS
If besides visiting the Moray you would also want to visit the Sacred Valley the next day or the day before it is ok to just by the tourist ticket that costs 70 soles but if you are taking the City Tour within the next 10 days after visiting Moray, you should buy the tourist ticket that costs 130 Soles. With the general ticket you will also have access to other attractions and museums in Cusco.
Flexibility cancellation/ change
- Cancel your tour 48 hours in advance and be reimbursed for the full amount of the tour. If you cancel the tour after these 48 hours prior to your tour no refund will be processed.
- The policy to reschedule or to make any amendment allows the update to be made no more than 5 days prior to the date of your tour and it is valid until December 30th, 2022.
- The itinerary may be subject to changes due to unforeseen circumstances, beyond the control of the operator, changes without prior notice.
Why is the tourist ticket not included?
The Boleto Turístico (tourist ticket) is a personal ticket and is not sold in advance. It must be purchased in Cusco or at the entrance of the visited sites where this ticket is required.
Check our guide with all the information about the tourist ticket.
Can I do this tour in the morning and the City Tour in the afternoon?
No. Due to the travel times and distances between one place and the other, it is not possible to combine the two tours in the same day.
I will be staying in the Sacred Valley, can I start the tour from there?
No. All group tours depart from Cusco. If you want to start from your hotel in the Sacred Valley you will need to hire a private tour.
