About this experience
This half-day private tour from Cusco offers a unique blend of culture, history, and stunning Andean landscapes. Begin at the Moray archaeological site, where the ancient circular terraces served as an agricultural laboratory for the Incas, showcasing their advanced farming techniques.
Next, visit the traditional town of Maras, with its charming streets and authentic Andean architecture. The tour culminates at the famous Maras Salt Mines, a striking site with over 3,000 salt pools still harvested using ancient techniques. With a professional guide, you’ll learn about the history, cultural significance, and traditional salt extraction process while enjoying an organized, educational, and memorable experience. This tour is perfect for travelers seeking a half-day cultural adventure near Cusco, combining history, nature, and photography opportunities.
At a glance
- Duration: 4 hr 30 min
- Private experience
Plan your experience
Set aside 4 hr 30 min for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.
Before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Local guides to help you plan
Maras Salt Mines Day Trip From Cusco
Plan a practical day trip from Cusco to the Maras Salt Mines, with route estimates, entry guidance, walking considerations, and an optional Moray stop.
A Slow Sacred Valley Itinerary: Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Maras and Moray
Skip the rushed day tour. This three-day route gives the Sacred Valley the time it deserves, with honest notes on transport, food, and where to sleep.
Moray Day Trip From Cusco
Plan a Moray day trip from Cusco with practical advice on road transport, Circuit III tickets, site hours, altitude, weather, and heritage-site rules.
What is included
- Hotel pick up and drop off in the City center of Cusco
- English / Spanish speaking guide
- Private services tour minimum 1 maximum 15
Not included
- Meals
- Entry/Admission - Salinas de Maras
- Entry/Admission - Moray and Chinchero
Itinerary and highlights
We start picking you up from your hotels at 8:30 am a 9:00 am, we will make a trip of about 40 minutes to the archaeological center of Chinchero.
The town of Chinchero and visit the Royal House of Tupac Inca Yupanqui, where its original Inca walls are still well preserved. We will also have the opportunity to meet the women of Chinchero, with their beautiful and traditional attire in the local market.
After a 40 minutes trip from Chinchero we will arrive to visit the archaeological center of Moray.
Moray, during the Inca period, was possibly one of the most important agricultural research centers, where cultivation experiments were carried out at different altitudes. The layout of its terraces produces a variety of microclimates with higher temperatures in the center of the concentric circular terraces and lower temperatures gradually decreasing towards the exterior.
After our visit we will continue our trip to the Salt Mines or Salineras, for about 30 minutes approx.
The salt is extracted in an artisanal way, the salt mines are formed by about 3000 small wells that have been exploited since Inca times and was a form of economic exchange.
At the end of our visit, we will continue our trip back to Cusco with a duration of approx. 1 hour and a half, arriving at approximately 2:30 in the afternoon,
Meeting and pickup information
- we pick up all passengers from their hotels in the historic center of Cusco.
Languages and tickets
- English — Guide
- Spanish — Guide
- Mobile Only
Tour operator
- Ausangate trail
Accessibility and practical details
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Within the assigned hours, travel time is considered, which is approximately 2 hours of travel to the archaeological parks.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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