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Cusco: Moray, Maras Salt Mines

Cusco: Moray, Maras Salt Mines

1 Day from $ USD 100.00

Cusco: Moray, Maras Salt Mines

Cusco: Moray, Maras Salt Mines

43 Reviews | Min Altitude: 2200msnm (3545 fasl) | Max Altitude: 2200msnm (3545 fasl) | 5 Days from $ 1 900.00
Price From
$ USD 100.00
Duration
1 Day
Group Size
Min 2 / Max 10
Physical Level
Easy
Style
No Include

Introduction

Tour to Maras – Moray – Chinchero .- Complete your visit to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, booking this half day tour, you will know unmissable places such as the archaeological ruins of Moray that were used as an agricultural research center for the adaptation of various Andean plants and roots to different ecological floors

After visiting Moray, we will also visit the salt mines of Maras, a salt mine that dates back thousands of years, even today this mine is still in operation for edible and medicinal purposes (it has healing properties, keep in mind that it is not sea salt).

On this half day excursion departing from Cusco, you will also visit an indigenous textile market in Chinchero.

Maras or “Salt Mines”, made up of almost 3,000 small artesian wells that are filled with salt water from a natural source, the water evaporates and the salt gradually solidifies and is then placed in sacks and sold in the markets

Moray was an important experimental center of Inca agriculture, formed by circular terraces built on retaining walls filled with fertile soil and watered by complex irrigation systems, allowed the cultivation of more than 250 plant species, is a prototype greenhouse or experimental biological station advanced for its time.

Trip Details

  • Activities: Cultural, Adventure.
  • Bus transfer: Full day.
  • Difficulty level: 2 out of 5
  • Hiking distance: 2 km / 1.2 miles
  • Maximum Altitude: 4200 masl / 13779 ft.
  • Departure days: Daily departures.
  • Starts: Pick up at your lodging in Cusco around 7:00 AM
  • Ends: Drop off in Cusco around 18:20 PM

Highlights

  • Good sneakers or light hiking boots
  • A small day backpack to carry your personal belongings
  • Camera
  • Comfortable hiking clothes
  • Rain jacket, poncho or umbrella
  • Water and extra snacks
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Itinerary

DAY 1

MARAS MORAY TOUR

Sacred Valley and Maras Moray full day tour, we will pick you up from your hotel between 6:40 and 7:00 am and begin our tour of the Sacred Valley and Moray in Cusco Peru.

On this full day excursion you will have the opportunity to visit the Sacred Valley in its entirety, starting with the beautiful Inca city of Chinchero (3762 m) and enjoy the magnificent views of the Inca and colonial legacies that are still preserved in this city.

In addition, you will be able to appreciate the artistic weavings in the hands of people dedicated to this activity. The spectacular views will amaze everyone and will provide you with interesting memories. Sacred Valley and Maras Moray.

Then we will continue to the archaeological complex of Moray, located in the district of Maras (3300 m). Here you can admire the impressive and unique agricultural laboratory of the Incas: Here the Incas were able to experience the different geographical altitudes for agricultural use in one place. The history of this place in Maras Moray is impressive and the views are epic.

We will also visit the salt pans, a beautiful place where we will find a series of some 3000 wells used and benefited by the inhabitants. Don’t forget to take pictures of Moray!

Our next stop is Urubamba (2871 m), where we will enjoy a delicious buffet lunch at our restaurant “Illary” and get ready to continue our tour.

Then we continue to the Inca city of Ollantaytambo (2792 m), called the “Living City of the Incas” because it is the only city in Cusco that is still inhabited. In addition to the astonishing beauty of the archaeological complex, you will be impressed by the extraordinary urbanism of the Incas, still preserved and inhabited by the current population, the streets of Ollantaytambo will inspire you.

Now we go to the last point, Pisac (2900 m), one of the most important agricultural and spiritual centers of the Sacred Valley, the archaeological complex from where you can see the Vilcanota River and much of the Sacred Valley, then we go to one of the most popular craft markets in Cusco and with the best prices.

Visiting the Sacred Valley is an excellent opportunity to learn many new things. Interesting, cultural, ancient … It is worth remembering.

At the end of your visit, we will drop you off at Plaza San Francisco around 18.45.

Briefing between 17.00 and 19.00 the evening before the excursion in our office, where all the details of the excursion will be explained to our guide.

Physical Level

1, Easy

Recomendations

Documentation to travel to Peru

  • The first thing we always do when discussing a destination is to start talking about the necessary documentation to go.
  • Peru is a country of basically free access. Most countries in America and Western Europe do not require a tourist visa to enter Peru, and the maximum length of stay granted by the authorities is 183 days non-extendable.
  • For a longer stay and for other purposes (business, study, work, etc.) it is necessary to previously request the corresponding visa at the Peruvian consulates.
  • To enter Peru it is an indispensable requirement to present a valid passport, which does not expire before 6 months from the date of your trip.

Currency exchange in Peru

The official currency in Peru is the Nuevo Sol, but US dollars are accepted in many places. It is also easier to change dollars in the exchange houses than Euros. Especially if you go to less touristic areas it is very complicated.

 

Travel insurance

In order to travel with peace of mind, it is best to have a good travel insurance. An unforeseen event can happen at any time, but nothing worse than it happening during your most awaited trip of the year.

There are destinations where travel insurance is not mandatory, but from our point of view you should always travel with travel insurance. You never know when you will need it and it is advisable to have it before the trip.

Peruvian food is very tasty

Thanks to its diverse climate and different regions, you can enjoy very good fish, meat, vegetables and fruits.

The culinary history of Peru goes back to the Incas and pre-Incas with their corn (which you will see many varieties), potatoes and spices and also the influence of the Spanish cuisine and later with the different migrations of Chinese, Europeans, Africans and Japanese.

The most typical dishes you have to try are:
Chifa: This is the term for Chinese restaurants in Peru. It is a combination of Peruvian and Chinese ingredients. They are very simple dishes to prepare, all restaurants seem to serve excellent chifa food around Lima.

Inca Cola: The color of this soft drink is bright yellow and it smells like chewing gum.

Ají de Gallina: This is shredded chicken in milk sauce with spices.

Adobo de cerdo: Pork meat sauce, served with white rice.

Arroz con Pollo: It is boiled chicken seasoned with a green sauce. It is always served with green rice (rice cooked with basil).

Anticuchos: It is marinated beef heart of beef that are fried on the grill.

Carapulca: It is made of dried and chopped potato with pork or chicken and beef, served with rice or alone.

Ceviche: Consists of fish or shrimp mixed with lime. The fish is cut into small pieces and then mixed with lemon juice and left to rest for an hour. Then it is mixed with onion, celery, cilantro, salt and black pepper. The dish is served cold.

Roasted guinea pig: It is considered a delicacy. It is the meat of the guinea pig seasoned with different spices and is traditionally served for very special occasions in the Andean area of Peru.

Escabeche de pescado: It consists of boiled fish seasoned with onion, chili bell pepper and lemon juice.
Papa la huancaína: Potatoes served with a special spicy sauce, olives, lettuce and egg.

Papa Rellena: It is meat stuffed with fried empanadas.

Rocoto Relleno: It is a typical dish with meat, onion, peanuts, milk and eggs, which is introduced inside rocoto (bell pepper), served with potatoes and cheese.

Salchipapa: This dish based on sausages, french fries and sauces has become one of the Peruvians’ favorites.

Toilet paper

One thing that will catch your attention and that you have to take into account is that in the bathrooms, toilet paper, after use, should be thrown in the wastebasket, and not in the toilet.

This is because the pipes are very thin and always cause clogs. Be careful with this.

Pricing List

Private Service
Number of persons Price per person
2 Persons $ USD 90.00 Inquire Now
3 Persons $ USD 80.00 Inquire Now
4 Persons $ USD 70.00 Inquire Now
5 Persons or more $ USD 60.00 Inquire Now

Travel Guide

 

With the Tour Maras Moray Salineras Cusco, you can visit the Sacred Valley by an alternate route that will take you to the town of Chinchero, Moray, Maras and the salt mines.

CHINCHERO, is an eminently Inca city that the Spaniards tried to civilize to establish their culture, but did not succeed in its entirety because its inhabitants until now resist to leave their culture and Inca customs. They keep alive the textile culture using and weaving their clothes for use and decoration, so we will visit a Textile Center to teach us how they dye the thread of sheep and alpaca wool with natural dyes and make garments with ancient techniques, such as the use of the “away” and the “loom”.

MARAS, this town is important for the extraction of salt. Since the time of the Incas was very important for the mineral, essential for human consumption and in colonial times continued in the same way.

TOUR MORAY CUSCO, was a center of crop experimentation used by the Incas for the acclimatization of products brought from other areas. Here you can see four concentric circular stone constructions forming a kind of rings that widen as they ascend. Their constructions are supported by strong stone walls; around the main construction one can observe platforms that form a kind of ironwork. There are those who believe that these constructions may have served as terraces or amphitheaters for civic-religious ceremonies and not only for agricultural use.

The tour to Maras – Moray and Salineras is one of the activities that is part of the Sacred Valley and is near the town of Ollantaytambo, Ollantaytambo an Inca town and is where the train station that takes us to Machu Picchu, everyone who comes to Cusco and the Sacred Valley does it in order to make the tour to Machu Picchu.

Enjoy our Maras Moray Salineras Cusco Tour

MAIN POINTS OF VISIT

  • Chinchero (3,762 masl)
  • Maras (3,385 masl)
  • Moray (3,385 masl)

Faqs Cusco: Moray, Maras Salt Mines

What clothes to take on a trip to Peru?

In addition to your usual clothes, you should keep in mind that, regardless of the season in which you travel you will need:

Hiking boots: that are non-slip and waterproof, especially if you plan to hike any of the mountains of Machu Picchu or walk down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes, the trails are made of stone, they are going to be wet and slippery.

Waterproof poncho: the climate of Machu Picchu means that rains can come very unexpectedly, both in the rainy season and in the dry season.

Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, pills for soroche, apunamiento or altitude sickness.

A backpack with your camera, some snacks, water. Try not to carry unnecessary things, because you will be carrying them all day long!

What is the food like in Peru?

Peruvian food is very fashionable. You will find very expensive and prestigious restaurants. But the good thing is that you can eat well almost anywhere.

How is the transportation in Peru?

In Peru they drive like crazy. But that’s the way it is. There are many modes of public transportation, cabs, combis which are small buses, buses.

At the stations you will see people shouting at the top of their voices the destination, departure time, etc. The price is not public, it is negotiated on a case by case basis. Our learning experience was that if you get it online, you always pay more.

How is the internet in Peru?

Having internet during your trip to Peru will help you to stay connected with family and friends, access whatsapp and upload photos to social networks. Also to have access to GPS, and anything you want to search on the internet.

The good thing about carrying a portable wifi is that with a single gadget you can give high speed internet to all your devices. That is, you can have internet on your cell phone, tablet, laptop, your travel companion’s cell phone, etc.

The price varies depending on the destination and the duration of the rental, but it is usually affordable, especially if you share the cost with your travel companions.

When is the best time to travel to Peru?

The best time to travel to Peru depends on your destination within Peru.

If your plan is to visit the Peruvian beaches, in general the weather throughout the year is quite good without being too extreme, neither too hot nor too cold.

However, the ideal months to visit this destination are between December, January, February and March. The temperature is more moderate, even high, but it is the rainy season.

If you want to visit the interior, such as Cusco or Machu Picchu, the rainy season is not the best. It is more advisable to go in the dry season from April to November.

It should be clarified that in rainy season, it does not mean that it is raining all the time, but there are some very strong showers that last a few minutes. In those cases, the best thing to do is to take shelter from the rain, take cover and wait for it to stop.

If you go during the rainy season don’t forget your raincoat. Here is the post I wrote about what I took to South America.

How can I avoid altitude sickness?

One aspect you should take into account is the altitude issue, especially if you decide to go inland, and go for example to Machu Picchu or Cuzco. To give you an idea, Cuzco is at 3400 meters above sea level.

The natural consequences of altitude sickness are that you will notice that you are more tired and slower, but this is not a cause for concern.

The problem can come if you get altitude sickness. Altitude sickness has other consequences, such as: Intense headache, Fatigue or physical exhaustion, Sleep disturbance, Nausea and vomiting, Digestive disorders, Agitation, Lack of appetite and physical exhaustion.

To avoid altitude sickness you can follow the following tips:
When you arrive in Cusco (or the altitude zone you are going to) the best thing to do is to acclimatize, do not get agitated or make physical efforts at least for the first few days.

It is best to walk slowly and stop to rest when necessary. It is also recommended to sleep well, eat lightly and avoid alcoholic beverages.

To prevent altitude sickness or soroche, as it is called in Peru, it is recommended to drink coca tea and/or chew coca leaves.

Coca tea is quite tasty and is recommended by the locals.

The coca leaves are not literally chewed, they just stick them to the inside of the cheek and let them take effect when mixed with saliva.

If you go to Cusco or any city that is above 2000 meters above sea level, it is recommended that you take these precautions to avoid suffering the symptoms of altitude sickness.

...
Mario Ordoñes Quispe Salvida

In Cusco, I am your travel specialist, with more than 10 years of experience organizing adventure trips.

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