Maras and Moray – Tour to Moray and the Maras Salt Mines.
Dificulty
Easy
Duration
1 Day
Group Size
14 a 19 People
Max Altitude
3,600 m.s.n.m
Description
Discover three of Peru’s most fascinating destinations on a tour full of history, culture and stunning landscapes. Located in the Sacred Valley, these sites offer an unforgettable experience for those visiting Cusco and Machu Picchu.
Why visit Maras, Moray and Chinchero?
Each of these places has its own beauty and cultural significance, making them unmissable stops on your trip:
Salineras de Maras – The white gold of the Andes.
A natural and ancestral spectacle: More than 3,000 salt pools that have been used since pre-Incan times.
Artisanal process: Learn about salt production, which is still done using traditional methods.
Stunning views: Located in a valley surrounded by mountains, they offer unique landscapes for spectacular photographs.
Moray – The Inca agricultural laboratory:
Mysterious circular terraces: The Incas used this site to experiment with microclimates and optimize their crops.
Advanced Architecture: Discover how this civilization mastered agriculture and engineering with amazing techniques.
Mystical Energy: Moray is said to be a center of feminine energy and connection with Pachamama.
Chinchero – Textile Tradition and Art:
Ancestral Weaving: Enjoy a demonstration of the weaving process with alpaca wool, dyed with natural dyes.
Living History: Tour the archaeological site and visit the colonial church built on ancient Inca foundations.
Artisan Market: Find beautiful crafts and unique textiles, handmade by local people.
An Experience for Everyone
Whether you are passionate about history, culture or nature, this tour will delight and inspire you. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the heart of the Sacred Valley and immerse yourself in the magic of the Peruvian Andes.
Ready for adventure? Book your tour and live an unforgettable experience!
Day 1: Cusco | Moray - Maras Salt Mines - Chinchero Handicraft Market
Maras, Moray Tour. Available schedules: 8:00 am or 12:30 pm (Morning or afternoon, you decide!)
We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco to embark on a fascinating adventure through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, exploring archaeological sites, breathtaking landscapes, and the region’s living traditions.
After a 1-hour drive, we will arrive at Moray (3,450 m / 11,318 ft), an astonishing complex of circular terraces where the Incas experimented with different microclimates to enhance their crops. Here, you will learn about this civilization’s agricultural innovations while enjoying the stunning Andean scenery.
30 minutes from Moray (3,385 m / 11,105 ft), we will visit Maras, a charming town with narrow streets and adobe houses that retain their colonial architecture. You can also admire its historic church, built during the colonial period.
Maras Salt Mines (3,200 m / 10,498 ft): The highlight of this tour is this incredible system of over 3,000 salt pools, in use since pre-Inca times. Here, you will learn about the traditional process of salt extraction, which continues today, and have the chance to purchase this unique natural product. A perfect place to capture unforgettable photographs!
Finally, we will travel 40 minutes to Chinchero, a town famous for its handicraft market and textile traditions. You will witness a demonstration of the weaving process using natural fibers such as alpaca and sheep wool, dyed with plants and minerals, following ancestral techniques.
At the end of this enriching experience, we will return to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel for a well-deserved rest.
Tour Details:
- DURATION: Half-day
- TOTAL WALKING TIME: 3 hours
- DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Easy
- MINIMUM ALTITUDE: 3,200 m / 10,498 ft
- MAXIMUM ALTITUDE: 3,754 m / 12,316 ft
Incluye
✓ INFORMATIVE MEETING OR PHONE CALL BEFORE DEPARTURE
- The night before the tour, you will receive a phone call via WhatsApp from your guide, who will provide you with important information about your trip. To ensure you receive all necessary details, it is essential that you provide us with accurate and complete personal information.
✓ FIELD STAFF
- Professional Guides:
Our official tour guides speak English and Spanish and are professionally trained and certified. We select them for their experience, responsibility, boundless passion for exploration, and pride in sharing our culture and history. During each experience, they will keep you safe and comfortable so you can enjoy your time without worries.
✓ TRANSPORTATION
- All transportation is included in this tour. You will be picked up from your hotel and travel in private transport along with the group to the excursion point. We provide specialized transportation for the Sacred Valley tour, ensuring you travel comfortably between each point of interest.
✓ EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT AND REMOTE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
- First Aid Kit:
We have alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine tincture, germicidal soap, cotton, gauze, bandages, adhesive medical tape, surgical gloves, pain relievers for muscle and stomach pain, and antipyretics. If you take prescription medications, you may bring your own. - Portable Oxygen Tank
✓ IMPORTANT:
- Please note that only a medical professional can issue a prescription. Our guides DO NOT have the authority to prescribe treatment to clients. During the entire trek, all medications will be administered with your consent and under your own responsibility. If you have a medical prescription, it is recommended that you bring your own medication.
No Incluye
× CUSCO TOURIST TICKET
- This ticket is required and allows you entry to many of the most popular attractions in Cusco and the Sacred Valley, including archaeological sites and museums.
From 70.00 soles (US$ 20.00) to 130.00 soles (US$ 36.00) per person.
× MARAS SALT MINES ENTRY TICKET
- The entrance fee is 20 soles per person (US$ 6.00).
× BREAKFAST AND DINNER IN CUSCO
× CLOTHING AND PERSONAL HIKING GEAR
× TRAVEL INSURANCE
- This is not a requirement, but we always recommend that our clients obtain it in case of flight issues or unexpected health problems. Please check if your travel insurance policy has altitude restrictions, as some policies become void above (4,000 m / 13,123 ft).
× ADDITIONAL COSTS
- Delays beyond the administration’s control (landscape, bad weather, itinerary changes due to safety concerns, illness, government policy changes, political instability/strikes, etc.).
✓ TIPS FOR YOUR CREW
- Tipping is customary in tourism or any excursion. Although we pay fair wages to our entire team, any extra is always appreciated, especially considering the hard work they do. Group participants usually collect their tips together.
- Original ID or Passport.
- Sun hat and wool hat for different temperatures.
- Warm clothing (jacket, scarf, gloves, hats).
- Short-sleeved T-shirt.
- Trekking shoes or waterproof boots for your comfort, if they are sneakers with rubber or thick soles it is an excellent option.
- Rain gear: A good raincoat, rain pants (only for the rainy season).
- Long pants.
- Sunglasses.
- Small backpack to carry water, snacks, camera, etc.
- 2 liters of water (there are options to buy along the route).
- Snacks such as apple, cereal bar, candy and chocolates.
- Personal medical kit.
- Sunscreen.
- Cash in soles for personal expenses.
✓ Price per person:
- $30 USD – Adults
✓ Price Guarantee
- Once your reservation is confirmed, we guarantee that the price will not increase under any circumstances. Therefore, before booking, please make sure to read all the important information about the tour.
✓ How to Book
- You can reserve your spot online through our website, where our booking platform will guide you step by step. The tour payment can be made with any credit or debit card, and you can also pay in your home currency for added convenience.
Please note that IZIPAY charges a 5% fee, which we ask the client to cover, as it is a service charge applied by the platform. This fee applies only to online deposits.
✓ Cancellation of Your Reservation
- Partial Refund: If you cancel within 24 hours but before 5:00 p.m. the day before the tour, you will receive a 50% refund.
- No Refund: Cancellations made after 5:00 p.m. the day before the tour are not eligible for a refund.
✓ Recommendations:
- We strongly recommend that you fully understand all booking and cancellation policies before making your payment to ensure that your investment is protected and that you have a seamless booking experience for your adventure.
✓ Group tours:
- Group tours are made up of different types of people, so physical conditions and ages may vary. By agreeing to be part of a group tour, you also accept that some people may be faster or slower than you. Therefore, each person can go at their own pace on the route.
It may be the case that a group wishes to modify the route; however, it will be the guide who decides, after consulting with all participants, if such modifications are possible.
✓ Customer pick-up:
Please note:
- All pick-ups are within the city of Cusco, but we recommend that you book a hotel in the historic center with a good location. Our guide or staff will confirm the pick-up time with you one day before the tour. Due to traffic conditions, the pick-up time may vary between 30 to 45 minutes. Cusco is an ancient city with many narrow cobblestone streets. Some hotels and Airbnbs are located on streets with no transportation access or on long, steep climbs, making it difficult to transport your luggage. We highly recommend that you book accommodation with easy access.
✓ Lost and found:
- Please pay attention to where you leave your things and remember to pick up everything once you leave our transportation, campsites or restaurants. You are solely responsible for your things during the tour.
✓ Weather:
- Of course, the weather is unpredictable. Typically the dry season in Cusco is from April to October, but this doesn’t prevent rain in June or sunshine in December, so be prepared – no matter what month you’re hiking, make sure you have rain gear that includes a waterproof jacket, pants, poncho and waterproof gloves. Many people forget gloves, but the cold and humidity make hiking very unpleasant.
Also, be prepared for four seasons. Hiking in the Andes involves several microclimates, and you’ll need to be prepared. Layers are always essential as they are easy to adjust to different temperature changes. Be prepared with a warm jacket as the night will be cold.
✓ Altitude sickness (soroche) and stomach pain:
For those hikers who come to Cusco directly from places at sea level, we recommend arriving 2 days before their hike. Two of the most common health problems among tourists in Cusco are: Altitude sickness (Soroche) and stomach pain caused by slow digestion.
- Altitude sickness: some of the symptoms are: headache and nausea. There are some over-the-counter medications (pills) that help minimize the symptoms of this problem, Aspirin, Diamox, Soroichi Pill, alti vital, among others. If the symptoms persist, the next step is the use of oxygen. In these circumstances, we have the equipment and staff ready to help our hikers.
- Stomach pain: It is recommended to drink between 3-4 liters of water a day. Your body will need it to stay hydrated. Warm drinks such as coca leaf tea are especially recommended. Soups, vegetables and carbohydrates (not fried or heavy) are also recommended. Sweets, chocolates, biscuits and fruit are also a good option. In general, all foods that are easy to digest. Do not drink alcohol or smoke.
Try to sleep at least 8 hours and do not exercise too much. Keep your body at a suitable temperature by wearing warm clothing to protect yourself from the cold. During adaptation to altitude, there is a general rule to follow: eat what is necessary and drink plenty of fluids.
This valley was a sacred area for the Incas as it encompassed a vast and highly productive agricultural territory. The main crops cultivated by the Incas included corn, potatoes, olluco, quinoa, and coca leaves, which were considered sacred.
The tour usually lasts around half a day. However, we can extend it to a full-day tour including Ollantaytambo or other places of interest.
Many people arrive the same way as you. Along the route, the highest point is Chinchero, while the other locations are at a lower altitude than Cusco. In any case, the guide will always be attentive to your condition.
The Maras Moray tour is one of the most comfortable. However, walking is required at each site since it is the only way to visit the archaeological centers. If someone has significant difficulty walking, we recommend booking a private tour so they can go at their own pace instead of following a group.
No, it is not necessary to purchase tickets in advance. All entrance tickets to the tourist sites can be purchased on the day of the excursion.
The tour operates year-round, always subject to weather conditions.
We recommend booking the tour in advance, as there are two seasons (high and low), which vary in the number of tourists we accommodate. For this reason, it is best to reserve early to avoid any issues with tour availability.
Any luggage that is not necessary for the excursion should remain in Cusco. All hotels in Cusco are accustomed to storing luggage. If you don’t have a place to leave your belongings, you can store them at our offices until the adventure is over. We will ensure that your luggage is stored safely, so there’s no need to worry!
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