Maras Moray Hike: Walking from Moray to the Salt Flats
A 6 km hike connecting the Moray terraces, Maras, and the Inca Salt Flats.
The Maras Moray Hike is a continuous walk, not a series of short stops — roughly 6 km connecting three of the Sacred Valley’s most recognizable sites on foot. The route starts at the Moray agricultural terraces, continues through the colonial town of Maras, and ends at the Inca Salt Flats, with the option to finish there or continue the descent toward the Urubamba River, where the vehicle waits.
The hike stays within a fairly narrow altitude band throughout — starting at Moray’s 3,500 m and descending gradually to the Urubamba River at 2,871 m — meaning the physical demand comes from sustained walking distance rather than steep climbing, at a moderate pace that suits most reasonably fit travelers.
| 💰 From | $64 USD per person (group of 10) |
| ⏱️ Duration | Full day (~3 hours hiking + transport) |
| 📏 Distance | ~6 km / 3.7 miles |
| ⛰️ Altitude range | Moray 3,500 m down to the Urubamba River at 2,871 m |
| 🚶 Physical level | Moderate |
| 📅 Season | April–December |
| 👥 Group size | Private, 1-10 travelers (10+, contact us) |
| 🎂 Minimum age | 6+ with a guardian over 21 |
A continuous 6 km hike connecting three of the Sacred Valley’s most recognizable sites, on foot. – Start at the Moray terraces, an Inca agricultural laboratory of concentric circular platforms. – Walk through the colonial town of Maras, with its stone mansions and family crests. – Reach the Inca Salt Flats, thousands of salt pools still worked using pre-Inca methods. – Descend toward the Urubamba River, where your vehicle is waiting. This is the Maras Moray Hike, start to finish.
Most visitors see Moray and the Maras Salt Flats as two separate stops on a van tour, similar to the Sacred Valley from Urubamba itinerary. This hike connects them on foot instead — a genuine walk of roughly 6 km, following the same paths that once linked the agricultural terraces of Moray to the salt-producing community of Maras.
The route starts at Moray, where concentric circular terraces once served as an Inca agricultural laboratory, each ring holding a slightly different microclimate. From there, the trail continues into Maras itself, a colonial town whose stone mansions still carry the family crests of the era. The hike’s final stretch reaches the Inca Salt Flats — thousands of pools cascading down the hillside, still worked using methods that predate the Incas — before descending toward the Urubamba River, where your vehicle picks you up. Travelers who’d rather not do the final descent can choose to end the hike at the Salt Flats instead. Prefer to cover this same ground on wheels? Take a look at the Sacred Valley ATV Tour instead.
Both visit Moray and the Maras Salt Flats, so it’s worth knowing the difference. The Maras Moray Half Day is a vehicle-based tour with short walks at each viewpoint and a brief descent into the Salineras — efficient, at around 5 hours total. This hike is different: a continuous 6 km walk connecting Moray, Maras, and the Salt Flats on foot, for travelers who want the physical experience of the route itself, not just the sites.
The Maras Moray Hike stays within a fairly narrow altitude range for its entire length, which keeps the day’s physical demand consistent rather than front-loaded or back-loaded. Moray, the starting point at 3,500 m, is reached by vehicle, so the hike itself begins already at altitude rather than climbing into it.
From there, the route trends gradually downhill — through Maras, on to the Salt Flats, and finally down to the Urubamba River at 2,871 m — meaning the day’s elevation loss happens steadily across the full distance, rather than in one demanding stretch.
Private transport picks you up at 9:00 AM (from Cusco or Urubamba, on request), roughly 1 hour 30 minutes to the Moray trailhead. A guided visit to Moray’s concentric circular terraces — understood to have functioned as an Inca agricultural experimentation site — opens the day, before the hike begins in earnest, following a pre-Hispanic colonial path toward the town of Maras with panoramic Sacred Valley views along the way. A stop at the Machu Qolqa viewpoint offers sweeping views over the valley before the descent continues.
The trail passes directly through Maras, walking among colonial-era stone mansions still marked with family crests, before continuing toward the Inca Salt Flats — distant views of the salt pools appear well before arrival at the site itself. At the Salineras de Maras, there’s time to explore thousands of salt evaporation pools, still worked using methods that predate the Inca Empire. (Travelers who’d rather not continue can end the hike here — see the note in Section 9.)
For those continuing, the trail descends from the Salt Flats down to the Urubamba River, where your vehicle is waiting for the return to Cusco (or drop-off in Urubamba, on request).
Day 1 stats
None
Moderate
6km (3.7 miles)
3. Hrs.
Moray Ruins: 3,500m (11,482 ft)
Urubamba River: 2,871m (9,419 ft)
That tour moves between sites by vehicle with short walks at each stop. This is a continuous 6 km hike connecting Moray, Maras, and the Inca Salt Flats on foot.
It starts at the Moray terraces and ends at the Urubamba River, passing through Maras and the Inca Salt Flats along the way — or you can end at the Salt Flats if you prefer a shorter hike.
Moderate — the terrain is manageable, but the sustained ~6 km distance and gradual descent require reasonable fitness.
A series of concentric circular Inca terraces, believed to have functioned as an agricultural experimentation site, each ring holding a slightly different microclimate.
Thousands of salt evaporation pools built into the hillside near Maras, still worked using methods that predate the Inca Empire.
Yes — travelers who’d rather not do the final descent to the river can end the hike at the Inca Salt Flats instead, with pickup arranged there.
No, but snacks and drinks can be purchased at local shops along the route.
The recommended minimum age is 6, accompanied by a guardian over 21.
April through December offers the most reliable dry-season conditions.
No — most day tours visit both sites by vehicle. This is a dedicated hike connecting them on foot, for travelers who want the walking experience itself.
Very little — most of the route is exposed, so sun protection matters even on cloudy days at this altitude.
Mostly dirt path and packed earth, with some uneven or rocky sections, particularly near the Salt Flats.
Yes — small stalls at the site sell locally harvested salt, with proceeds supporting the families who maintain the pools.
| Persons | Price (p/p) | |
| 1 | $ 261.00 USD | |
| 2 | $ 159.00 USD | |
| 3 | $ 122.00 USD | |
| 4 | $ 101.00 USD | |
| 5 | $ 90.00 USD | |
| 6 | $ 82.00 USD | |
| 7 | $ 75.00 USD | |
| 8 | $ 70.00 USD | |
| 9 | $ 67.00 USD | |
| 10 | $ 64.00 USD |
Moray Maras Hike
Moray Maras Hike
Moray Maras Hike
