Moray and Maras Salt Mines Group Tour from Cusco

Moray, the Inca agricultural laboratory

Moray is a group of circular terraces sunk into a natural depression on a high plateau, and it is one of the most photographed Inca sites near Cusco. The largest circle has terraces that step down about 30 metres, and the temperature at the bottom is noticeably warmer than at the top. Experts believe the Incas used the levels to test how different crops responded to different climates.

Your guide explains the irrigation, the stonework and the crops that might have been grown here, such as potatoes, maize and quinoa. Entry to Moray is paid in cash on site and is not included. If you are looking for a Moray tour from Cusco, this half-day option is the quickest way to see it together with Maras, and the walk around the rim is easy.

The Maras Salt Mines

The Maras Salt Mines cover a mountainside with thousands of small salt pans, stepped down like a giant white and pink patchwork. A salty spring flows from inside the mountain and is guided through channels into the pools. When the water evaporates in the sun, salt is left behind, and families still collect it by hand as their ancestors did before the Incas.

Walk carefully along the narrow paths between the pools, and wear sturdy shoes. Your guide explains how the pools are shared among local families and how the salt is harvested. Entry to the salt mines is paid in cash on site. Many people ask whether it is worth visiting the Maras Salt Mines, and the view from the top answers that.

The Sacred Valley plateau between Cusco and Urubamba

Moray and Maras sit on a high plateau above the Sacred Valley, at around 3,500 metres, reached by road from Cusco in about an hour and a half. The scenery is open farmland, small villages and views of snow-capped mountains on clear days. It is a quieter part of the valley than the busy Inca sites, which is one reason the trip is popular.

The tour stays on the plateau, so it is a good choice if you want a short outing without a long day of walking. The best time to visit Moray and Maras is the dry season, May to September, when skies are clear and the terraces look their best, and mornings usually give softer light for photographs.

Planning your Moray and Maras tour

Pickup starts from hotels in the historic centre of Cusco, and the pickup time is confirmed the day before. The tour leaves around 08:20 and lasts about 6 and a half hours. The price covers pickup, a bilingual guide and transport. Because drop-off at your hotel is not included, you finish in central Cusco.

The two entrance fees, Moray and the salt mines, are paid in cash at the gate, so bring small notes. Wear layers, sunscreen and sturdy shoes, because the plateau is windy and the paths can be uneven. If you are wondering how to get to Moray from Cusco without a car, a group tour like this avoids the complicated local buses.