MARAS AND MORAY HIKE
This private Maras and Moray Hike starts at the Inca site of Moray and leads toward the Maras Salt Mines in Peru’s Sacred Valley. It is a full-day outing from Cusco for travelers who want to combine walking, archaeology, and rural Andean scenery. The route passes farmland and small communities before reaching the salt pans.
At Moray, you will see large circular terraces built into natural depressions in the landscape. The site is widely associated with Inca agricultural knowledge because its terraces create different environmental conditions. From there, this Moray to Maras Salt Mines hike continues through the highland landscape of the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
The day ends at the Maras salt mines, where saline water is directed through channels into thousands of small evaporation ponds on the hillside. Salt production here has roots in the pre-Hispanic period and remains connected to the local communities of Maras and Pichingoto. Sacred Valley Tours offers this experience as a private tour, with an itinerary that can be adapted to your interests and pace.
Itinerary
Day 1: Moray and Maras Trek 1 Day Itinerary
The full-day hike from Moray to Maras salt mines begins with a pick up from your hotel in Cusco or Urubamba. Our private vehicle will transfer you to the trailhead located in Moray. Once there, you will start with a guided tour of Moray Inca site and learn about the purpose of construction.
The Incas sculpted four massive natural depressions on the Andean plains into stepped agricultural terraces. Hundreds of years ago, this site served as an experimental station to adapt various crops to different altitudes. This was possible because of the discovery of a fascinating phenomenon: the climates of different ecological zones were present at a single site.
Your hike from Moray to Maras salt mines continues enjoying breathtaking views of the Vilcanota Mountain Range. This section involves a two-hour hike, passing rural communities and farms. Once there, You will stroll down the narrow streets of Maras, seeing its fine examples of colonial doorways and also have a chance to buy some snacks.
Later, we hike for two hours until we reach the Maras Salt pans. The Maras salt mines or so called “salineras” have about 4000 pools with an average area of 5 m². People fill up the pools during the dry season every four days, with spring salty water located on the top of the area. So, when the water evaporates the salt flakes remain in it until slowly solidify. This process will be carried out during a month until a considerable amount of salt is obtained.
Finally, our Maras and Moray hike experience ends with a transfer to the hotel in Cusco or the sacred valley of the incas.
Photo Gallery
