During this fascinating tour, we will explore the Vilcanota mountain range and its impressive snow-capped peaks in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will start in the picturesque town of Maras, where you can still admire the colonial facades of its houses. Next, we will head to the Archaeological Complex of Moray, an intriguing site composed of several circular platforms believed to have been used as an agricultural laboratory during the Inca era. Here, the Incas experimented with different crops thanks to an ingenious irrigation system and a unique microclimate that allowed varying growing conditions on each terrace.
We will conclude our tour at the Salineras de Maras, an impressive series of over 3,000 salt pools fed by a hypersaline spring dating back to the formation of the Andes 110 million years ago. This place is not only a visual spectacle but also remains a center for salt production, where local residents keep alive the tradition of trading this valuable resource, just as the Incas did centuries ago.
Throughout the tour, we will observe traditional communities surrounded by beautiful landscapes and learn about the history and culture of this unique region. At the end of the tour, transportation will drop us off 2 or 3 blocks from the main square of Cusco.
We will pick you up at your hotel at 8:20 AM and leave Cusco behind to enter the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Our first stop will be the artisan market in Chinchero, where we will spend a maximum of 15 to 20 minutes. Next, we will head to Maras, a picturesque village surrounded by beautiful landscapes that gives its name to the surrounding salt mines. We will visit a viewpoint to admire these impressive salt quarries and learn about their history for about an hour. These mines date back to the Inca era and have transformed the local landscape!
After this experience, we will proceed to the archaeological site of Moray. The transfer from the Salt Mines of Maras to Moray takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes. At an altitude of 3,500 meters, we will encounter its iconic amphitheater of circular terraces. Do you know the purpose that the Inca civilization assigned to it? We will spend about 45 minutes to 1 hour in Moray, strolling through what was once their experimental agricultural center. Optionally, you can descend the rings with prior coordination with the guide.
Finally, we will make our way back to Cusco. At 2:30 PM, the transportation will drop us off near the central Plaza de Armas to conclude the excursion.
This tour requires a General Tourist Ticket or a Partial Tourist Ticket. For more information about Tourist Tickets, please see the ‘Recommended to Bring’ tab.
If you plan to visit most of the major tourist sites in Cusco during your stay, we recommend purchasing the General Tourist Ticket to save on entry costs and simplify your trip.
To purchase your Tourist Ticket, as well as the entrance to the Salt Mines of Maras, you must bring Peruvian soles.
Many archaeologists and anthropologists believe that the ruins of Moray were once used as a means for conducting agricultural experiments. Part of the evidence supporting this is the extensive irrigation system (fed by water from a reservoir located high in the mountains) designed in the terraces.
Another fascinating observation is the temperature difference. From the highest terrace to the lowest, the temperature varies by 5°C, and the sun strikes each terrace at different angles and intensities.
It is likely that the microclimate of Moray allowed the Incas to conduct agricultural research and identify the best conditions for crops to thrive. Additionally, all of this suggests that the Incas used their knowledge of the environment to take advantage of their natural resources.
The Salt Mines of Maras consist of more than 3,000 natural salt ponds near the town of Maras. Each of the ponds measures 5 square meters.
The 3,000 pools are fed by a hypersaline underground spring that originated 110 million years ago during the formation of the Andes.
Currently, these natural salt pools attract hundreds of tourists. The view from this landscape is beautiful.
The people of Maras trade this salt, just as the Incas did hundreds of years ago.
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