About this experience
If you want to see unique places in the world and you have very little time for the trip, we recommend this Maras Moray Tour, an experience that connects you with beautiful nature, the setting of impressive archaeological sites and the visionary scientific and agricultural development of the Inca Empire.
Discover the spectacular Maras Salt Mines, some 3,000 pools dug into the Qaqa Wiñay mountain (3,380 masl / 11,080 ft) that, in addition to their beauty, allow you to see the process of extracting pink salt using the same technique used by the Incas. You can also visit the visionary and ingenious circular terraces of Moray, a marvel of science that was used, among other things, as an agricultural laboratory for the Incas.
At a glance
- Duration: 6 hr 30 min
Plan your experience
Set aside 6 hr 30 min for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.
Before you go
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Local guides to help you plan
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.
How to Get Around Cusco Without a Car
Explore Cusco without renting a car. This practical guide explains when to walk, take a taxi, use a colectivo, or arrange transportation for the airport, Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu.
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.
What is included
- Bilingual professional guide
- First aid kit
- Air-conditioned vehicle
Not included
- Feeding
- entry to the moray
- entry to Maras
Itinerary and highlights
08:30: Pick up from accommodation – Maras
After breakfast at your accommodation, between 8:00 – 08:30 our professional guide stops by to transport you to Maras, a small colonial town and one of the 4 pink salt producing spaces in the world.
Once you reach the mountain Qaqa Wiñay (3,380 meters / 11,080 feet) you appreciate the Inca ingenuity by digging more than 3,000 mines or pools in the mountain for salt exploitation, thanks to a manual system for the extraction of the mineral, which for its effectiveness remains to this day.
The turn will continue to visit the town of Moray, notable mainly for the existence of 3 “coliseums”, circular platforms or terrace systems that the Incas used for their crops, activating in the same geographical space, different microclimates for agricultural production, generating different temperatures between the depressions of the terraces, built according to the orientation of the sun and wind.
2:30 – 15:00: Return to Cusco
After seeing two of the most popular attractions of the Sacred Valley, you should return to Cusco, arriving at Plaza Regocijo around 15:00 pm.
Meeting and pickup information
- The pick-up will be in the center of the main square, where the fountain and the statue of the Inca are. The transfer will wear a black jacket and a cap with the company logo. The passenger will be contacted minutes before pick-up.
- The transfer will pick you up in the lobby of your accommodation, you will wear a black jacket and a cap with the company logo. The passenger will be contacted minutes before pick-up.
Languages and tickets
- English — Guide
- Spanish — Guide
- Mobile Only
Tour operator
- ATV CUSCO ADVENTURES ON WHEELS
Accessibility and practical details
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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