Overview
Maras, Moray & Salt mines tour – Overview
Useful Information about this half day tour
- Daily departures
Places that are visited
- Maras
- Moray Inca terraces
- Salt Mines Cusco
- Chinchero & community
Itinerary
Tour to Moray, Salt mines with Alpacas Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Chinchero – Maras Moray – Salt mines – Cusco
We will pick you up from your hotel around 8 AM and head to Moray. The drive is about 1 hour and 20 minutes and is truly beautiful. You will drive through snow capped peaks of the Andes, through lush yellow fields of wheat, and past some villages. Finally you will arrive to the fascinating display of terraces in Moray. Moray boasts three amphitheater-like terraces made by the Incas. These terraces, which are carved deep into the earth in a bowl shape, were thought to be used to determine the optimal conditions for growing crops.
When you are done exploring Moray you will head to the salt mines of Maras, which are about 2 miles away. This village is known as a former salt-producing center that dates back all the way to colonial times. There are over 3000 salt pools carved into the mountain side, being filled daily by a little stream of water. The area is amazing and beautiful.
Following this, our journey leads us to Chinchero, where we embark on a captivating trek accompanied by our trusty llamas and alpacas. Throughout this excursion, you’ll have the chance to capture stunning photos and videos, and perhaps even stroll alongside your own llama or alpaca. After an invigorating hour of exploration, we pause for a delectable picnic lunch featuring authentic Andean flavors and organic delights, all while soaking in the breathtaking views of the valley lake.
Concluding our adventure, we’ll explore the Chinchero archaeological site and its main square adorned with a fusion of colonial and Inca architectural elements. A leisurely stroll through the village will be accompanied by a captivating textile demonstration, offering insight into local craftsmanship and traditions.
Inclusions
Included
- English, spanish and quecha-speaking tour guide
- Round-trip private transportation with hotel pick-up
- Picnic lunch with tipical organic product from the área.
- Pick up from your hotel
- Emergency oxygen bottle and medical kit
- Water
Does not include
- Entrance tickets to archeological sites: 70 soles (1 day only) or approximately $20 USD per person, which can only be purchased in soles only at the first archeological site.OR You can purchase the general ticket: 130 soles (about $35) for a 10-day ticket. This ticket will give you accessto many other places in the Sacred Valley, as well as some museums and places of interest in Cusco
- Moray is part of the tourist ticket
- Salineras / Salt Mine entrance 20 soles (about $6)
- Snacks
- Tips
- Travel /Health/Emergency Insurance
What you need to take
- Original Passport
- Tourist ticket
- Sun protection: sunscreen, (factor 35+ recommended)
- Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
- Camera with spare batteries
- Sun hat
- Sun glasses
- Sun protection cream
- Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
- Water & snacks
- Camera and films.
Price
Group Service Price:
- US$150 Per Person
FAQs
What are the salt ponds?
The Maras Salt Mines are more than 6,000 salts ponds carved by the Incas. These have been in operation for over 500 years in the middle of Qori Pujio mountain slopes, Sacred Valley of the Incas, (Cusco – Peru), and are still mined by local families. In the distance, these resemble a snow layer. It is an unparalleled view where the pools have various shades of white or earthy brown. The precious Peruvian pink salt is one of the treasures that ancient ancestral cultures have left us. Although the salt flats themselves were created by man, the water that is channeled into these pools comes from a natural underground spring. This underground spring is constantly and quietly carrying the water so that it fills the various ponds with the precious pink salt.
Where is the Maras Salt Mines located?
The Maras salt mines are located in the district of Maras, Urubamba province, in the Cusco department. In other words, the salt ponds are situated over the slopes of Cori Pujio mountain in Sacred Valley, over 3200 meters above sea level, from 50 kilometers northeast of the Cusco capital. These salt mines are surrounded by Chupayoq, Llully Mocco, Cruz Mocco, Qaqawiñay, and Qori Pujio mountains. Also, two local Andean communities like Maras and Pichingoto take advantage of these ponds, producing the famous pink salt.
What is the history of the Salt Ponds?
The Maras Salt Mines are believed to have been built by the Wari civilization, which predates the Inca Empire. Even so, the Incas saw the opportunity that these pools represented, thus expanding the salt flats much higher on the slopes of the mountains Qaqawiñay and Qori Pujio. In this form, the pools never stopped producing salt. Even, during the Colonial times, the descendants of the Inca Tupac Inca Yupanqui were in possession of the vast majority of the mines. Until 1969, when the Peruvian government created the public salt company (EMSAL) and began to assume the extraction, production, and administration of salt throughout the territory.
In 1977, through the “Recognition of the Peasant Community of Maras of the District of Maras” letter, the Maras and Pichingoto communities asked the Peruvian government to re-administer the Maras salt mines, reaching the objective in 1980.
When is the best time to go there?
If you are planning a trip to Peru, you will surely wonder when is the best time to “have the experience” among these ancient pools.
Well, normally, by consensus and advice of already professional travelers, it is usually recommended to travel during the dry season of Cusco (between May and October). The dry season represents a much more pleasant climate where you will enjoy clear skies and bursts of sunshine, making that water evaporates to manifest the brilliant snowy color. The dry season is also beneficial for horseback riding. In addition, you can ride ATVs or hike around the site and appreciate the views better. Conveniently, it is the same recommendation for those who wish to visit Machu Picchu.
On the other hand, during the rainy season that occurs from December to March, the Maras Salt Mines pools turn a more brown and earthy color. To say nothing of heavy rains and thunders, which can make muddy routes and offer opaque photos of the salt pools.
Moray History
What we see now of the Moray archeological complex was created during the reign of the Inca Empire between the 12th and mid-14th centuries. Though many residents of the surrounding areas knew of its existence for ages, it was brought to western attention in the 1930s. In fact, it was the same aerial expedition over Peru’s landscapes that enabled American-Peruvian researchers to observe the Nazca Lines and the Moray ruins for the very first time in modern history.
At the time of its “discovery” until the 1970s, Moray was used by surrounding communities, like the Misminay, for agriculture. After the 1970s the National Institute of Culture (INC) protected Moray and it is now is used as a tourist attraction.
Agricultural Research.
It is widely believed that the Moray ruins were used as an experimental farm by the Incas over 500 years ago. This theory was first proposed by anthropologist John Earls in 1975 and officially published in 1981. He supported this theory with several findings after spending weeks living at the site.
Firstly, an Inca irrigation system, a series of channels fed by water from a reservoir located higher in the mountains, was engineered into the structures of terraces. He also noticed that the temperature difference from top to bottom ranged an astonishing 27 degrees Fahrenheit (12 degrees Celsius). He also observed that the sun hit each terrace at different angles and intensities.
Earl’s theory was that the Inca Empire used each terrace at Moray as its own microclimate. This allowed the Incas to study the effects of altitude, temperature, and sun absorption on crop growth to determine ecological niches suitable for crops to thrive. This experimentation allowed for the Incas to teach neighboring regions agricultural techniques for best crop production despite the differing altitudes and climates throughout the Andes and Peru. Earl’s theory illustrates how the Incas used their understanding of the environment to capitalize on the natural resources at their fingertips and it gives insight as to how the mighty Inca Empire expanded itself so widely throughout South America.
What is Moray?
Moray is one of the famous Inca ruins near Cusco. It is composed of three groups of circular terraces (muyus in Quechua) that descend 490 feet (150 meters) from the highest terrace to the lowest. Each muyu has 12 levels of terraces with the largest depression having a diameter of 600-feet. Surrounded by the towering Andes mountains, looking into the depths of these man-made craters will fill you with awe and wonder.
How the Moray terraces were made
Much like the Machu Picchu terraces, the Moray site has steps carved out from the slope of a mountain. These steps have been reinforced with stones and soil and allow for water drainage. Excavations of the site have shown that the Inca Empire imported soil from varying regions of Peru to Moray, furthering the theory of crop experimentation. Even guano (one of Peru’s largest exports) from coastal destinations like Paracas was brought to the Andes to fertilize the Moray terraces. For a list of other incredible archaeological sites read our list on the 21 Best Ancient Ruins to Visit in Peru.
What Did the Incas farm?
Many of the ingredients found on your plate at MIL were once farmed by the Incas. Potatoes and tubers, quinoa, and corn were big players in the agricultural scene in the Andes and likely to have played a large role at Moray, if experimentation was indeed its purpose. Another theory suggests that corn was the key crop experimented on at Moray due to its significance in religious ceremonies.
The history of Chinchero
At the end of the 15th century, the emperor Túpac Yupanqui built and established his residence there. In 1533, when the Spanish settled in Cusco, Chinchero was an important point for the Inca defense. It was there that the rebel Manco Inca settled to fight the Spanish.
Is Chinchero Peru worth visiting?
Located 28 km from the city of Cusco, it is a place where you can still feel and appreciate Inka culture not only through the preservation of its customs but also through its fascinating archaeology and craftwork. Undoubtedly, a destination that will capture your heart from the very beginning.
What is the altitude of Chinchero?
Chinchero is located 30 kilometers northwest of Cusco city and has an altitude of 3,762 metres (12,343 ft).Its colorful houses and fascinating handicrafts will give you a firsthand experience of the Inca culture.
