Tour a Maras – Salineras

Summary

Important Details

Frequency: Every day of the year
Duration: 1 day
Start time: 08:00 h
Return time: 17:00 h
Mode: Shared Group or Private
Difficulty level: Low (gentle walks and visits)

Why Travel with Peru Coyana?

Embark on a fascinating journey through the Sacred Valley in this full-day tour, exploring the historic sites of Maras, Moray, and the Maras Salt Mines. We begin with a visit to the ruins of Maras, a picturesque village that offers impressive views of the Urubamba Mountain Range. We continue to Moray, a unique archaeological complex with circular terraces used for the domestication of plants. Afterward, we’ll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before heading to the Maras Salt Mines, where traditional techniques for salt extraction have been used since Incan times.

This tour includes tourist transportation, entrance fees to the salt mines, and a professional guide who will provide fascinating details about the history and culture of these emblematic places. With a low difficulty level, the tour is designed to be accessible and comfortable, allowing you to enjoy the archaeological and natural wonders without complications. Remember to bring sunscreen, water, and a camera to capture every moment of this unique experience.

Itinerary Summary

08:00 a.m. – Hotel pick-up and departure to Maras
09:00 a.m. – Visit to Maras ruins
10:00 a.m. – Visit to Moray
12:00 p.m. – Lunch (not included, recommended at local restaurant)
14:00 p.m. – Visit to Maras Salt Mines
16:00 p.m. – Return to Cusco
17:00 p.m. – Arrival in Cusco and transfer to hotel

Detailed Itinerary

08:00 a.m. – Hotel Pick-up

We begin the day with pick-up from your hotel in Cusco. Then, we head towards Maras, a small village located west of Cusco.

09:00 a.m. – Visit to Maras Ruins

In Maras, we’ll enjoy impressive views of the Urubamba Mountain Range and the snow-capped peaks of La Verónica (5682 m.a.s.l) and Chikón (5530 m.a.s.l). Maras was an important village for Cusco nobles during the Incan Empire. Here, we’ll also visit the village church, built with adobe, which displays canvases from the Cusco School of Art.

10:00 a.m. – Visit to Moray

Moray is a unique archaeological complex with enormous natural depressions in the terrain where the Incas built agricultural terraces or platforms. This site was used for the domestication and adaptation of plant species, a process that helped improve Incan agriculture. In Moray, you can observe the temperature difference between the upper part and the bottom of the depressions.

12:00 p.m. – Lunch (not included)

During this stop, passengers will have free time to have lunch at one of the local restaurants in the area.

14:00 p.m. – Visit to Maras Salt Mines

We head towards the famous Maras Salt Mines, located 7 km from Moray. These salt mines have been used since Incan times, and even today, local farmers continue the traditional process of «irrigating» the pools with salt water from a natural spring. This process lasts approximately one month and results in the production of excellent quality solid salt.