Maras Moray Tour

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From$60
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From$60
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13237
Local and Direct Operator No intermediaries. MINCETUR licensed local operator • DASPE TRAVEL E.I.R.L. (Tax ID: 20601588219).
Expert and Safe Guides Passionate, bilingual, and certified in Wilderness First Aid.
Small Groups We guarantee an intimate, personalized experience away from the crowds.
Guaranteed Official Booking Direct nominal issuance for your Machu Picchu & train tickets. Secure USD checkout with direct confirmation.
1 day
Jan - Dec
Min Age : 10+
Max People : 24
DescriptionItineraryDetailsFAQsPhotosVideo

Description

The Maras Moray & Salt Mines Half-Day Tour explores two marvels of pre-Hispanic engineering in a 5-hour excursion. Visit the concentric agricultural terraces of Moray (3,500 m), engineered by the Incas for microclimate crop experimentation, and over 3,000 artisanal salt evaporation pans at Maras.


Inca Science & Salt Pools: Guided exploration of Moray agricultural craters and the panoramic viewpoints of Maras salt ponds.

Flexible Half-Day (5 hrs): Morning or afternoon departures, ideal for easy high-altitude acclimatization with minimal walking.

Transit & Tickets: Round-trip tourist transport from Cusco (Requires partial Cusco Tourist Ticket – BTC and Maras fee).

Expert Interpretation: Licensed bilingual guide and small group sizes for detailed geological and historical explanations.

The Maras Moray & Salt Mines Tour takes you across the rugged 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.

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 deep mineral 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.

Tour Details

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

Departure & Return

Cusco

Departure Time

07:30 AM

Included

  • Pickup from your hotel in Cusco
  • Round-trip tourist transportation
  • Buffet lunch at a countryside restaurant in Urubamba
  • Professional certified bilingual guide (English / Spanish)

Not Included

  • Cusco Tourist Ticket Partial (Circuit 3: Moray: 70 PEN foreign / 40 PEN Peruvian)
  • Community entrance fee to Maras Salt Mines (20 PEN per person)
  • Meals, snacks, and bottled drinks
  • Voluntary tips for guide and driver

Recommendations

  • Comfortable hiking shoes or sturdy walking sneakers
  • Rain poncho and windbreaker jacket
  • Warm thermal layers for early morning and late afternoon
  • Sunscreen, UV sunglasses, and sun hat
  • Camera or fully charged smartphone with power bank
  • Cash in Peruvian Soles for local entrance fees, snacks and souvenirs

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

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Tour Video

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