Discover the mysterious otherwordly Inca terraces at Moray and the Maras salt mines on this private Sacred Valley half-day tour from Cusco, with experienced local guides!

DETAILED ITINERARY

To begin our half day tour experience to Moray and Salt Mines of Maras, we will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 7:00 am or 12:30 pm (you can choose a morning or afternoon tour). At your choice!

Then, we depart the imperial city of Cusco by taking our comfortable private transport to the western end of the Sacred Valley, along the Sacred Valley towards the ancient agricultural terraces of Moray, we will see the Snowy Mountains of the Andes, lush yellow fields of barley, and some villages.

Upon arrival to Moray (3,450 m/11,318ft), your guide will take you to explore the fascinating Moray Inca ruins – a series of circular agricultural terraces which are believed to have been an experimental agricultural station for different crop strains. The archaeological site of Moray is also one of the destinations that offers a fascinating insight into the ancient Inca civilization and its architectural wonders.

After spending about 1 hours exploring these huge amphitheatres of Moray, we will proceed to our next destination and visit the amazing salt pans of Maras in Peru’s Sacred Valley, known as Maras Salt Mines, or locally as Salineras de Maras that are in operation for more than 500 years, and are still in use today.

The salt ponds are owned and operated by local families who harvest the salt through evaporation, which can take up to a month. Once harvested, the salt is sold in local markets or used for traditional purposes. There are over 3000 salt ponds, and the harvesting process is truly fascinating and makes for a great photo opportunity.

Finally, we will drive 40 minutes to Chinchero (3,762 m/12,343 ft). Here we will delve into the unique weaving and natural dye traditions of the Andes at an awana wasi, a weaving house; where we can see traditional textile production.

The people of Chinchero are known as expert weavers, and they use a variety of natural fibers, including alpaca, llama, and sheep wool, to create beautiful textiles. They use various techniques, including spinning, dyeing, and weaving, to create intricate patterns and designs that reflect the culture and history of the region.

At the end of the fascinating private half-day tour to the Moray and Maras Salt Mines in the famous Sacred Valley, we will drop you off at your hotel around 13:30pm