Maras Moray Tour

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From$60
Price
From$60
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13087
Local and Direct Operator All your money directly supports families and communities in Cusco.
Expert and Safe Guides Passionate, bilingual, and certified in Wilderness First Aid.
Small Groups We guarantee an intimate, personalized experience away from the crowds.
Flexible and Secure Booking 24/7 assistance from our team, easy payment options, and clear policies.
1 day
Ene - Dic
Min Age : 10+
Max People : 24
DescriptionItineraryDetailsFAQsPhotosVideo

Tour description

The Maras Moray and Salt Mines Half-Day Tour is one of the most stunning archaeological and scenic day trips from Cusco 🏛. It combines Inca agricultural genius with thousands of ancient pink salt pans and Quechua textile traditions.

  • 📍 Location & Circuit: Maras Plateau & Sacred Valley (Chinchero, Moray terraces, Maras Salt Mines, and Cusco).
  • ⛰ Tour Altitude: From 3,200 m / 10,498 ft (Maras Salt Mines) to 3,500 m / 11,482 ft (Moray) and 3,762 m / 12,342 ft (Chinchero).
  • 🛡 Style & Duration: Half-Day guided excursion (approx. 6 hours, Morning shift 8:00 AM–2:30 PM or Afternoon shift 1:00 PM–7:00 PM) in tourist transport.
  • ⭐ Major Highlights: Moray concentric circular agricultural amphitheaters, 3,000+ pink artisan salt evaporation pans, and Chinchero textile arts.

The Maras Moray & Salt Mines Tour takes you across the picturesque Andean plateau flanked by snow-capped peaks. In this half-day journey, you will discover how ancient Peruvians mastered microclimates and topography to build two of the most ingenious production wonders in South America.

At Moray, you will marvel at giant elliptical sunken terraces designed as an agricultural research laboratory with temperature variations of up to 15°C. Next, at the Maras Salt Mines, you will gaze across a canyon filled with over 3,000 salt ponds harvested by local families since pre-Inca times.

Tour Feature Maras Moray Tour (Inka Jungle Tour) Mass Commercial / Local Transit
Departure Schedules Choice between Morning shift (8:00 AM–2:30 PM) or Afternoon shift (1:00 PM–7:00 PM). Rigid schedules with no afternoon departure.
Guided Visits Chinchero textile art, Moray terraces, and Maras Salt Mines with bilingual guide. Rushed stops with minimal archaeological explanations.
Transport Comfort Modern air-conditioned minivans with central Cusco hotel pickup. Crowded 35+ passenger buses slow on unpaved roads.
Acclimatization Gentle half-day walking tour ideal for your first 1-2 days in Cusco. No altitude guidance or pacing for newly arrived travelers.

Detailed itinerary

Stop 1: 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM | Chinchero: Andean Viewpoint & Ancient Textile Art

⏱ Schedule: 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM
🏔 Altitude: 3,762 m / 12,342 ft
🏛 Highlights: Panoramic Vilcanota views and live Quechua backstrap loom weaving demonstration.

We depart from Cusco toward Chinchero to visit a traditional weaving workshop. Discover how local Quechua artisans wash raw alpaca wool using organic saqta root and create vibrant colors using natural plant and mineral dyes.

Stop 2: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Moray: Inca Agricultural Laboratory & Microclimates

⏱ Schedule: 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
🏔 Altitude: 3,500 m / 11,482 ft
🏛 Highlights: Concentric circular terraces, stone drainage, and 15°C thermal gradients.

We proceed to the extraordinary archaeological complex of Moray. Your expert guide will explain how the Incas utilized these concentric bowl-shaped terraces to experiment with crop adaptation from different elevations of the empire.

Stop 3: 12:00 PM – 1:45 PM | Maras Salt Mines: Pink Salt Ponds & Return to Cusco

⏱ Schedule: 12:00 PM to 1:45 PM
🏔 Altitude: 3,200 m / 10,498 ft
🏛 Highlights: 3,000+ artisan pink salt evaporation pans and stunning canyon viewpoints.

We arrive at the world-famous Maras Salt Mines, fed by a subterranean hyper-saline warm spring. Enjoy panoramic viewpoints, purchase gourmet Andean pink salt, and return to Cusco, arriving near Plaza de Armas around 2:30 PM.

Detalles del tour

A continuación detalles y características de la excursión al Valle Sagrado de los Incas:

Inicio & Retorno

Cusco

Hora de Inicio

07:30 AM

Incluye

  • Recojo de tu hotel en Cusco
  • Transporte turístico de ida y vuelta
  • Almuerzo buffet en restaurante campestre de Urubamba
  • Guía profesional certificado en español

No Incluye

  • Boleto Turístico de Cusco (BTC) parcial o general
  • Ingreso a las iglesias o museos no especificados
  • Propinas para el guía y conductor
  • Bebidas y snacks adicionales

Recomendaciones

  • Calzado cómodo para caminatas guiadas
  • Poncho de lluvia y cortavientos
  • Ropa abrigadora ligera para la tarde
  • Bloqueador solar, lentes de sol y sombrero
  • Cámara de fotos o celular bien cargado
  • Dinero en efectivo (soles) para compras locales

Frequently Asked Questions

🎫 Which entrance tickets are required for the Maras Moray tour?

You need the Cusco Tourist Ticket (Partial Circuit II at 70 PEN or General at 130 PEN) for Moray, plus a separate entrance fee of 20 PEN cash directly at the Maras Salt Mines.

🕐 What are the departure times and how long is the half-day tour?

The tour lasts approx. 6 hours. We offer two daily departures: Morning (8:00 AM to 2:30 PM) and Afternoon (1:00 PM to 7:00 PM) with hotel pickup included in central Cusco.

🏔 What is the altitude of Maras and Moray and does it help acclimatization?

Altitudes range from 3,200 m to 3,500 m (10,500–11,500 ft). With minimal physical exertion, this tour is one of the best activities for acclimatization during your first days in Cusco.

🏘 Can visitors walk inside the salt ponds at Maras?

No, walking inside the active salt pans is prohibited for hygiene and conservation reasons. Visitors enjoy panoramic elevated boardwalks and viewpoints offering spectacular photo angles.

🨃 What should I wear and bring on this half-day tour?

Wear comfortable walking shoes and sunglasses (to protect against intense salt glare). Bring 50+ SPF sunscreen, a sun hat, windbreaker jacket, rain poncho, cash in Soles, and your passport.

Tour photos

  • Panoramic view of the agricultural Inca terraces of Pisac in the Sacred Valley
  • Imposing fortress and stone temples of Ollantaytambo in Cusco
  • Traditional textile workshop in Chinchero Cusco
  • Sacred Valley of the Incas Vilcanota River Cusco
  • Inca stone walls Ollantaytambo archaeological site Cusco
  • Terraces of Pisac descending down the mountainside in Cusco
  • Andean women weaving traditional textiles using Inca techniques in Chinchero

Tour video

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