Maras - Moray

This half-day tour begins at approximately 8:00 AM with pick-up from your hotel in Cusco. We travel through the beautiful Andean countryside toward the Sacred Valley, enjoying panoramic views of snow-capped mountains, fertile valleys, and traditional farming landscapes along the way.

Our first stop is Moray, a unique Inca archaeological site famous for its circular agricultural terraces built in the form of an amphitheater. These terraces were used by the Incas as an agricultural laboratory, allowing them to experiment with different crops by creating microclimates with varying temperatures and humidity levels. Your guide will explain the importance of Moray in Inca agricultural innovation.

We then continue to the Maras Salt Mines, located just a short drive away. This impressive site features more than 6,000 salt ponds carved into the mountainside, which have been used since pre-Inca times. Here, you will learn how local families still harvest salt using ancient techniques, fed by a natural underground spring. You will also have time to sample and purchase the famous pink salt of Maras.

Our final stop is the charming Andean village of Chinchero, known for its rich cultural traditions and stunning mountain views. You will visit a local textile center where Andean women demonstrate traditional weaving techniques, including alpaca shearing, natural dyeing, and hand weaving on ancestral looms.

In Chinchero, you will also visit the colonial church built on top of an ancient Inca palace, decorated with beautiful murals and baroque details. After exploring the area, we return to Cusco, arriving at approximately 2:00 PM.