Maras, Moray and Salineras

We pick you up from your hotel at 08:30 am to start the Moray, maras & salt mines tour. First, you will visit Chinchero Peru, a town that preserves its Inca essence and its millenary culture. In Chinchero Peru, also is located an archaeological site where you can see structures used for agriculture. Its inhabitants are talented textile artisans and you will have the opportunity to appreciate their work and see the ancestral techniques of spinning, dyeing and weaving that they use.

Later we visit the archaeological site of Moray that is distinguished by its circular concentric structures. Discover the area that functioned as an agricultural research center with levels that recreated different microclimates. After lunch at a restaurant in the area, you will continue to Maras, the famous and ancient salt mines of the colonial era.This salt mines are composed of about 3,000 small wells of approximately 5m ² from which the salt is extracted. The obtaining of the salt follows the process of extraction and drying of salt water from an underground spring. The salt mines have been exploited since the time of the Incas in which it was used as a means of economic exchange.

The contrast of its white wells with the green valley is imposing and must-see for a spectacular postcard of the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

• Tourist transportation,
• Professional bilingual Tour Guide,
• Entrance fee to Salt mines.

• Tourist Ticket,
• Water (You can buy it during the tour)
• Meals
• Tips to local staff.

Many of us think inmediately about Machu Picchu, Pisac, Ollantaytambo or Cusco when we talk about this area of Peru. Here we tell you why Maras, Moray & salt mines tour is essential when you visit Peru:

• We will see in Moray gigantic natural depressions or pits on the surface of the land, used to built terraces or agricultural platforms with their respective irrigation channels, compose moray. Therefore, it is a prototype of a greenhouse or biological experimental station, quite advanced for its time. This helped the antique American man to produce 60% of the vegetable products he used to consumed, in addition to a thousand and a half of diverse varieties of potatoes, one hundred and fifty varieties of corn, and many other products.
• Maras, picturesque community with beautiful landscapes, has a church made of mud, typical of the religious architecture of the town. Inside the church, are kept canvases of the Cusquenian School.
• Salt mines are constituted by 3,000 small wells with an average area of about 5m². During the dry season, they are filled every 3 days with salt water that emanates from a natural source located at the top of the wells. Therefore, when the water evaporates, the salt contained in it gradually solidifies. Later, the salt is granulated to be packaged and sent to the markets of the region. Today that salt is being iodized, which is why its consumption is not harmful.
• Chinchero Peru is about 30 minutes by car from the Moray complex and is the place where the Incas believed that the rainbow was born. In Chinchero we find several important points that are worth visiting, the first being the ruins, which are accessed from the main square, and where we can visit an Inca archaeological complex

• Camera or video camera (Optional).
• Sunglasses, sunscreen, caps or hats.
• Light clothing.
• Warm clothes.
• Snack
• Rain Poncho cost U$ 10
• Bring cash to buy some souvenirs that locals offer in the main square and some archaeological places.

What is the appropriate clothing for the tour?

Wear comfortable clothing, hiking pants and T-shirts during the day, and sweaters, raincoat and jackets for night. Remember in Cusco the weather changes easily and rains can suddenly occur.

Reccomendations for the Maras, Moray and Salineras tour:

• Wear a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a jacket for rain
• Drink coca tea or lemon candies for dizziness
• If you have a prescribed prescription, always have it with you for emergencies
• Cusco has a somewhat cool climate although very changeable, although the rains may be unexpected, the months of June to July are the best, without the presence of much rain and cold.
• Recommended age from 5 years
• Book at least 1 day before

Where to buy the Cusco tourist ticket?

These are the places where you can buy the Cusco Tourist Ticket:

• COSITUC main office: Tourist Galleries, Avenida Sol No. 103 (Monday to Friday 8 am to 5:30 pm and Saturday from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm).
• OFEC branch offices: Calle Garcilaso s/n (Monday to Saturday 8 am to 5 pm and Sunday 8 am to 8 pm).

Differences between the general and partial tourist ticket

General Tourist Ticket

Partial Tourist Ticket

The price for this ticket is S/70 (U$22) S/40 (U$13) for students with a valid ISIC card. It is valid for 1 day.Only you can visit City tour, Sacred Valley or Maras with this ticket. Not included the Cusco museums, Pachacutec Monument and the Centro Qosqo (It's a theatre where you can appreciate the typical dance of Cusco)

Please Note:In this general tourist tickets. Not include entrance to Qoricancha or the Cathedral of the Cusco. Entrance to Qoricancha is S/15 or S/10for student. Entrance to The Cathedral is S/25 or S/12.50 for student.