Moray and Maras Travel Guide

Maras and Moray

Maras and Moray Guide: Altitude, Tours, and Travel Tips

Plan your visit to Maras Salt Mines and Moray Terraces near Cusco. Learn about altitude, tours, and why these sites are essential stops in Peru’s Sacred Valley.

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Why Visit Maras and Moray?

Maras Salt Mines and Moray Terraces are two unique sites near Cusco (11,152 ft / 3,399 m) that mix Inca history with jaw-dropping landscapes. Moray’s circular terraces were likely an ancient agricultural lab, while Maras’ salt pans have been harvested since pre-Inca times. Perfect for travelers who love history, photography, or off-the-beaten-path adventures.

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Moray Terraces: The Inca’s Agricultural Lab

Location and Altitude

Moray is located 31 miles northwest of Cusco in the Sacred Valley, at 11,500 ft (3,505 m). To get there, take a 1.5-hour drive through Maras village via bumpy dirt roads.

What Makes Moray Unique?

The site features massive circular terraces built into natural sinkholes. Temperature differences between the top and bottom levels (up to 15°C / 59°F) allowed the Incas to test crops like potatoes and maize. Experts believe this “experimental farm” helped develop over 60% of the crops we eat today.

How to Visit Moray

• Tours: Most half-day tours ($20–$40 USD) combine Moray and Maras. Guides explain the science behind the terraces.
• DIY: Take a colectivo (shared van) from Cusco to Urubamba, then hire a taxi (~15 soles).

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Maras Salt Mines: Pink Salt of the Andes

Location and Altitude

The salt mines are 4.3 miles west of Maras village at 10,990 ft (3,350 m). Over 3,000 salt pans cascade down a hillside, fed by a mineral-rich spring.

Why Visit Maras Salt Mines?

Local families still harvest salt using pre-Inca methods. The pink salt (rich in minerals) is sold here cheaper than in Cusco shops. Respect marked paths—these pans are privately owned.

Visiting Tips for Maras

• Entry fee: 10 soles (cash only).
• Best time: Arrive early (7–9 AM) for soft light and fewer tourists.

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How to Plan Your Visit

Tour Options

1. Half-Day Tour: Covers both sites with transport and a guide.
2. ATV Adventure: Ride through the Sacred Valley to Moray (dusty but fun!).
3. Sacred Valley Combo: Add Pisac Market or Ollantaytambo ruins.

Transportation Tips

• From Cusco: Colectivos leave from Calle Puputi (~8 soles to Maras).
• Road conditions: Unpaved and rocky—rent a 4×4 if driving yourself.

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Altitude and Weather Advice

• Moray and Maras are lower than Cusco, but altitude can still cause headaches. Drink coca tea and take it slow.
• Dry season (May–Oct): Sunny but windy. Wet season (Nov–Apr): Trails get muddy—wear sturdy shoes.

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Local Secrets and Unanswered Questions

• Mystery: Scholars debate Moray’s purpose—was it a crop lab, a ceremonial site, or both?
• Hidden gem: Ask locals about natural springs near the salt mines.
• Pro tip: Pair your visit with Chinchero’s weaving villages on the return trip to Cusco.

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FAQs About Maras and Moray

What’s the best time to visit Maras and Moray?

Aim for dry season (May–Oct) for clear skies. Wet season (Nov–Apr) has fewer crowds but muddy trails.

How do I get to Moray from Cusco?

Join a tour or take a colectivo to Urubamba, then a taxi. The drive takes 1.5 hours.

Are the salt mines still active?

Yes. Over 300 local families harvest salt using traditional methods passed down for centuries.

Do I need a guide for Moray?

Guides aren’t mandatory, but they explain the science behind the terraces. Worth the extra $10–$15.

Is there an entrance fee for Maras Salt Mines?

Yes, 10 soles (about $3 USD). Bring cash—no cards accepted.

Can I buy salt at Maras?

Yes! Pink and white salt are sold onsite. Prices are lower here than in Cusco.

How high is Moray?

Moray sits at 11,500 ft (3,505 m). Altitude sickness is rare here, but hydrate and take breaks.

Are the roads to Moray paved?

No. Roads are dirt and rocky. Tours use vans; DIY drivers should rent a 4×4.

Can I visit Maras and Moray in one day?

Yes. Most tours cover both in 4–5 hours. Add Chinchero or Ollantaytambo for a full-day trip.

Is photography allowed at the salt mines?

Yes, but respect workers’ spaces. Drones require special permits.

Why are Moray’s terraces circular?

The shape creates microclimates. Each level mimics different growing conditions, like a natural lab.

Are there bathrooms at the sites?

Basic toilets are available at Moray. Maras has limited facilities—bring tissues and hand sanitizer.

Can I hike between Maras and Moray?

Yes, but it’s a 2-hour walk with little shade. Most travelers prefer driving.

What should I wear?

Layers, a hat, and sunscreen. Temperatures swing from chilly mornings to hot afternoons.

Are the sites wheelchair accessible?

No. Uneven terrain and stairs make access difficult for wheelchairs or strollers.

The Salt Mines in The Time of the Incas

The structures here are typically Inka, although some authors hint that they belong to earlier times, at least about the lower terraces. One of the enigmas is how the drainage for water flowing through the aqueducts worked; it is the hint that underground channels must be built at the bottom, allowing water to drain.

It also hints that the base is settled over a very porous natural rock formation, enabling water to filter into the earth. The fact is that even at present, in those bottoms, neither floods nor inundations take place during the rainy season. Conducting serious studies to know the nature, species, quality, and other features of the vegetables cultivated here is necessary.

Maras Salt Mines Information

Maras, there was a pre-Inka settlement with a subsequent discontinued occupation; there are many pottery pieces of the Chanapata culture and obsidian scrapers and knives all over this area.

Pedro Ortiz de Orue founded the town in colonial times. Its essential occupation began when the Cusqueñean Inca noblemen dispossessed their palaces in Cusco and moved away, settling in small towns like San Sebastian and Maras.

Likewise, during the war started by Manco, Inka was willing to get his Quechua nation back. Maras was used as a stronghold for invaders harassing the Ollantaytambo town, which the Inkas occupied for two years.

It was an enforced way for muleteers and their mule droves to transport tropical products, especially coca leaves, from the higher jungle to supply to the markets in the town and the country.

This town was pronounced the Villa of Saint Francis of Assisi of Maras (Villa is a town with certain privileges). It was much more critical than the Urubamba settlement then, but it is now languishing due to its isolation from modern life development.

Church of Maras

Maras has a church made of sun-dried mud bricks, typical of the village’s religious architecture, where the front patio, a cross carved in granite, is located. Inside the church, some Cusqueñean school paintings represent the apostles, and some very nice ones by the Quechuan painter Antonio Sinchi Roca Inka, a native of Maras who carefully painted for its church.

That painter was contemporary to Bishop Mollinedo y Angulo and became famous by the middle of the XVII century.

Maras Trail to Salineras

Northwest of Maras village, the famous salt mine can be reached by walking on the hiking trail or by car on a dusty road that is almost useless in the rainy season.

The Salineras comprise about 3000 small pools, 5 m2 wide each, / 53.8 ft2, set in the “Qaqawiñay” mountain slope. The users fill those pools with salty water from a natural spring on the facility’s top.

When that water evaporates, the salt contained in it slowly solidifies. That process will be carried out for approximately one month until a considerable quantity of solid salt is piled up (about 10 cm. / 4 inches) high from the floor. Thus, that solid salt is granulated, packed in plastic sacks, and sent to the regional markets. At present, that salt implies duly treated with iodine for human feeding.

On the trail toward the Northwest and following the small valley, a small town called Pichingoto is already located in the Sacred Valley territory. Pichingoto can also be reached on foot from the “Rumi Chaka” bus stop on the road toward Ollantaytambo, approximately seven kilometers (4.35 miles) from Urubamba.

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