Moray and Salt Mines Half Day Tour from Cusco

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Moray and Salt Mines Half Day Tour from Cusco

By TRAVEL 1 TOURS

Free cancellation available

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Features

Free cancellation available
6h 30m
Mobile voucher
Instant confirmation
Multiple languages

Overview

Explore the ancient agricultural terraces of Moray, the colonial town of Maras, and the fascinating Salt Mines of Salineras on this half-day tour from Cusco. Accompanied by a knowledgeable local guide, witness the unique Incan agricultural techniques and take in breathtaking views of the Sacred Valley. This tour is perfect for photography enthusiasts, hikers, and those interested in the rich cultural heritage of Peru. Enjoy convenient hotel pick-up and a small group experience for personalised attention.

Half-day tour includes visits to Moray, Maras, and Salineras
Small group service with a maximum of 18 participants for a more intimate experience
Knowledgeable bilingual guide providing insight into the history and culture
Convenient pick-up from hotels in the Historic Centre of Cusco

Activity location

Sara Textiles Chinchero
- Avenida Nueva Victoria S/n - Chinchero
- Chinchero, Peru

Meeting/Redemption Point

Plaza de Armas
- 08000, Cusco, Cusco, Peru

Multiple meeting/redemption points available, see location information for full list

Check availability

Moray and Salt Mines Half Day Tour from Cusco

6h 30m
English

Travellers

Languages available

Starting time: 9:00

Price details

S$17.18 x 1 AdultS$17.18

Paid at activityS$37.88

Total

20% off

What's included, what's not

For this tour we include bilingual tour guide and tourist transport. The tours starts at 09:00 an will be finished around 3:00 pm next to the Cusco's main plaza.
For this tour it's not included the entrance fee to Moray $22.00 per person and the entrance fee for the Salt mines of Salineras $7.00. If you want, you can buy some snacks at Maras by yourself

Know before you book

Public transport options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Specialised infant seats are available
Not recommended for travellers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travellers
Not recommended for travellers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Activity itinerary

Sara Textiles Chinchero

Chinchero has been known as the birthplace of the rainbow, long before it became the birthplace of the Preinca people. Located 30 km north of the city of Cusco on a high undulating plain, Chinchero has stunning views of the Urubamba mountain range. Here, rainbows frequently arch over potato fields after thunderstorms, the life-sustaining rain farmers need for their crops. Thousands of tourists pass through Chinchero en route to or from Machu Picchu, while many make a quick stop to visit the Tupaq Yupanqui ruins and the colonial church located in the heart of Chinchero, at the same time to visit the local textiles associations. These magnificent fabrics have gained international recognition in recent decades. This fame is due, in large part, to the hard work of the local womens. Who have worked tirelessly since the 1960s to bring back their ancestral designs and carry forward their weaving traditions.

Moray

1h
Admission ticket not included

It is widely believed that the Moray ruins were used as an experimental farm by the Incas over 500 years ago. This theory was first proposed by anthropologist John Earls in 1975 and officially published in 1981. He supported this theory with several findings after spending weeks living at the site. Firstly, an Inca irrigation system, a series of channels fed by water from a reservoir located higher in the mountains, was engineered into the structures of terraces. He also noticed that the temperature difference from top to bottom ranged an astonishing 27 degrees Fahrenheit (12 degrees Celsius). He also observed that the sun hit each terrace at different angles and intensities.

Maras

Maras has been a hub of activity since pre-Inca times, initially serving as an administrative centre and commercial exchange point thanks to its rich salt mines. Throughout the Inca and colonial periods, this village was not only prominent in the salt trade through bartering with neighbouring regions but also became a significant meeting point for descendants of the Incas and colonists.

Salt Maras Peru

1h
Admission ticket not included

You might be wondering how large amounts of salt deposits ended up in the middle of the Andes Mountains. Though the salt pans themselves are man-made, the water that is channelled through them comes from a subterranean natural spring, which is mixed with salt deposits from prehistoric salt lakes. Over millions of years, tectonic plate movement has buried the deposits deep beneath the mountains: the salt is accessible from an underground water flow of brine⁠ – a mixture of salt and water⁠ – that bubbles up in a natural spring near the small town of Maras. Indeed there are many ruins to visit and mountainsides to trek, but one intriguing sight not to be missed are the ancient salt pans, known as the Maras Salt Mines, or Salineras de Maras.

Cusco (Pass by)

After the Salt Mines and Moray tour you will come back to Cusco around 3:00 pm.

Location

Activity location

Sara Textiles Chinchero
- Avenida Nueva Victoria S/n - Chinchero
- Chinchero, Peru

Meeting/Redemption Point

Plaza de Armas
- 08000, Cusco, Cusco, Peru
Plaza Regocijo
- 08002, Cusco, Cuzco, Peru

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