Maras & Moray

Though they may not make the list of big-hitter Incan sites in Peru, the ruins at Moray and pre-Inca salt mines of Salineras are no less fascinating than their more famous counterparts. Discover these off-the-beaten track ruins on this day tour from Cusco, which also includes a visit to the quiet colonial town of Maras. A guided tour makes it easy to explore less-frequented locales and includes informative commentary and round-trip transportation from Cusco.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Maras, Maras, Cusco Region

We will be leaving from our office to Maras. Maras is home to over 3600 Salt Wells. Strategically dug into the mountainside, thousands of shallow pools filled with salt water eventually evaporate and leave behind the crystallised salt, a process that has been practiced for more than 500 years. It’s believed that the salt pans were originally constructed by the Wari civilisation, which predates the Inca. However, the Inca saw the economic opportunity in harvesting the salt of Maras and expanded the salt pans further up the mountainside.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Moray Valle Sagrado de los Incas, Maras 08655 Peru

We will then be visiting the iconic, Moray agricultural terraces. Moray is 4.5 miles from the town of Maras and 39 miles from Cusco. The main feature that impresses travellers is its system of circular agricultural terraces, which are up to 330 feet deep. They are build using retaining walls connected by an irrigation system. Moray can be considered a crop lab– they used the terraces to create micro-climates and grow various products.

Duration: 2 hours