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Experience the Sacred Valley on a full-day Moray and Maras Salt Mines tour with Ollantaytambo. This itinerary highlights Inca engineering, local culture, and Andean scenery. The tour also serves as an effective acclimatization day before visiting Machu Picchu or the Inca Trail.
The tour begins in Chinchero, where you will visit the impressive Inca site, a colonial church, and a weaving center. Local artisans will demonstrate traditional textile-making techniques. The tour then continues to Moray, a significant Inca archaeological site. Its circular terraces functioned as an agricultural laboratory, enabling the Incas to create microclimates and test crops at different elevations.
Next, visit the Maras Salt Mines, a network of over 3,000 salt pools on the mountainside. Local families continue to harvest salt using traditional methods, providing insight into Andean livelihoods and creating a visually striking landscape.
The tour concludes in Ollantaytambo, a well-preserved Inca town. Its fortress includes stone terraces, ceremonial structures, and original cobblestone streets that remain inhabited, offering a view into living Inca history.
Explore Moray & Maras Salt Mines in the Sacred Valley
Moray & Maras Salt Mines Tour highlights the hidden engineering and natural wonders of the Sacred Valley on this full-day experience from Cusco. Designed as an ideal acclimatization day, this Sacred Valley tour helps your body adjust to the altitude while you explore some of the most iconic Inca sites in Peru. Begin in Chinchero, a traditional Andean village known for its rich textile heritage, then continue to the impressive Moray terraces, an ancient agricultural laboratory built by the Incas.
Continue to the breathtaking Maras Salt Mines, where thousands of salt pools cascade down the mountainside and are still harvested using traditional methods. The journey ends in Ollantaytambo, one of the most important Inca towns, known for its remarkable stonework and living history. This Moray & Maras Salt Mines tour combines culture, history, and landscapes, making it an essential Sacred Valley day tour from Cusco.
Tour Details: Moray & Maras Salt Mines Tour
Duration: About 8 hours
Departure: Every day, with morning pickup from your hotel in Cusco
Group Size: Small groups of 2 to 8 travelers for a more personal Sacred Valley experience.
Includes: Private transportation, an experienced English-speaking guide, all entrance fees, and hotel pickup and drop-off
Best For:
This Moray & Maras Salt Mines tour is great for travelers who want a short but immersive Sacred Valley day trip from Cusco. It’s ideal if you’re interested in Inca history, local culture, and beautiful scenery. It’s also a good way to acclimate before visiting Machu Picchu or starting the Inca Trail.
Tour Highlights
Moray Agricultural Laboratory: Discover the renowned circular terraces of Moray, an advanced Inca system that replicated diverse climates for agricultural research.
Maras Salt Mines Experience: Observe thousands of salt pools carved into the mountains and learn how local families continue to harvest salt using traditional techniques.
Ollantaytambo Living Inca Town: Stroll through one of the last remaining Inca towns, featuring original streets, water channels, and remarkable fortress terraces.
Sacred Valley Scenic Journey: Journey through striking Andean landscapes, enjoying panoramic views of valleys, mountains, and traditional villages.
Perfect Acclimatization Day: Acclimate to the altitude while visiting significant sites. This serves as ideal preparation for Machu Picchu or the Inca Trail.
Why Book This Tour?
Strategic Pre-Machu Picchu Experience: This tour serves as an introduction to Machu Picchu, allowing you to acclimate while exploring major Sacred Valley sites.
Three Iconic Sites in One Day: Maximize your time by visiting Moray, Maras Salt Mines, and Ollantaytambo in a single, well-organized itinerary.
Small Groups, Better Experience: Benefit from a more intimate and flexible tour, with fewer participants, enhanced interaction with your guide, and additional time at each site.
Deep Cultural & Historical Insight: Gain insight into Inca agricultural innovation, local traditions, and Andean history from knowledgeable guides.
Stress-Free Travel: All logistics, including transportation and entrance tickets, are managed for you, allowing you to focus on the experience.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit the Moray & Maras Salt Mines tour from Cusco is during the dry season, from April to October. Clear skies and steady weather make it easy to see the Sacred Valley’s landscapes. These months are great for exploring the Moray terraces and Maras Salt Mines, with good light for photos and comfortable hiking.
The wet season, from November to March, brings greener scenery and fewer crowds, but rain showers can sometimes affect visibility and trail conditions. No matter when you visit, this Sacred Valley day tour is available all year.
Altitude Information
This Moray & Maras Salt Mines tour takes place at elevations between 3,100 and 3,700 meters (10,200 to 12,140 feet). It’s a great way to get used to the altitude before visiting Machu Picchu or starting the Inca Trail. The gradual increase in altitude helps your body adjust while you enjoy a full day of exploring.
To help you feel your best and lower the risk of altitude sickness, we recommend spending at least two or three days in Cusco before the tour. Drink plenty of water and keep a steady pace during the day. Our guides are trained to watch for altitude symptoms and make sure you have a safe, enjoyable trip.
Moray & Maras Salt Mines Tour detailed Itinerary
8:00 AM – Hotel Pickup in Cusco
We’ll pick you up from your hotel in Cusco to start your day. Meet your English-speaking guide and take in the beautiful Andean scenery as you drive through the Sacred Valley.
First Stop: Chinchero Inca Site & Textile Center
Visit the historic Chinchero ruins, famous for their Inca terraces and a colonial church built on ancient stonework. Next, stop by a textile center to watch local artisans show how they weave with natural dyes and alpaca wool.
Next: Moray Inca Terraces
Next, head to Moray, a unique archaeological site in Peru. The circular terraces here were used by the Incas as an agricultural laboratory to test crops in different microclimates.
Then: Maras Salt Mines
See the Maras Salt Mines, where thousands of salt pools cover the mountainside. Local families still harvest salt here using traditional methods passed down over generations.
Lunch in Urubamba
Have lunch in Urubamba, the center of the Sacred Valley, known for fresh local food and mountain views.
Afternoon: Ollantaytambo Inca Site
Visit the Ollantaytambo fortress, one of the best-preserved Inca towns. Walk among stone terraces, ceremonial sites, and cobblestone streets that people still live on today for a look at living Inca history.
Return to Cusco or Overnight in Ollantaytambo
After the tour, we’ll take you back to your hotel in Cusco. If you prefer, you can stay overnight in Ollantaytambo, which is a great choice if you plan to visit Machu Picchu or start the Inca Trail the next day.
What’s Included in the Moray & Maras Salt Mines Tour
Expert English-speaking guide: Our guide is professional, knowledgeable, and passionate about Inca history and Andean culture. You’ll get in-depth insights throughout your Sacred Valley tour.
Private transportation: Travel comfortably and safely through the scenic Sacred Valley. We make sure your experience is smooth and stress-free from beginning to end.
All entrance fees included: You’ll have full access to Chinchero, Moray terraces, Maras Salt Mines, and the Ollantaytambo archaeological site. There are no hidden costs.
Buffet lunch in Urubamba: Enjoy a variety of fresh, local Peruvian dishes right in the heart of the Sacred Valley.
Hotel pickup and drop-off: We’ll pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and can drop you off in Ollantaytambo. This is perfect if you’re heading to Machu Picchu or the Inca Trail.
What’s Not Included
❌ Tips for guide and driver: These are optional, but always appreciated as a thank you for great service.
❌ Personal expenses: Any extra snacks, drinks, or personal purchases during the tour are not included.
1. How long is the Moray Maras, Salt Mine & Ollantaytambo tour?
The tour lasts a full day, approximately 8 to 9 hours, including hotel pickup in Cusco, all site visits, lunch in Urubamba, and return or optional drop-off in Ollantaytambo.
2. Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?
Yes. The tour includes some walking at archaeological sites, but it’s suitable for most travelers in good health. No strenuous hiking is required, and the pace is relaxed.
3. What is the elevation of the places we visit?
The sites range between 3,100 and 3,700 meters (10,200 to 12,140 feet) above sea level. It’s recommended to spend at least a day or two in Cusco beforehand to acclimate to the altitude.
4. Can I end the tour in Ollantaytambo instead of returning to Cusco?
Yes! You can choose to stay in Ollantaytambo after the tour, which is perfect if you plan to take the train to Machu Picchu or begin the Inca Trail the next day.
5. Are entrance fees and lunch included in the tour price?
Yes. All entrance fees (Chinchero, Moray, Salt Mines, and Ollantaytambo) and a buffet lunch in Urubamba are included in the tour package.
6. What should I bring on the tour?
Bring comfortable walking shoes, a light jacket, sunscreen, a hat, water, and some cash for personal expenses or souvenirs. A camera is highly recommended!