Maras, Moray and Salt Pans Tour with Guide in Portuguese

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. The tour starts with pickup at your hotel in Cusco, at the time previously agreed upon with our team. Upon meeting your guide and driver, you will receive a brief presentation about the tour and some information about the places that will be visited throughout the day. An individual snack kit will also be delivered to each passenger. Next, we will begin our journey towards the Sacred Valley of the Incas, enjoying the beautiful Andean landscapes, the agricultural fields, and the mountains that characterize this region.

   15 min

2. Our second stop will be in a traditional textile center in Chinchero, where you will learn more about the ancestral process of Andean weaving. During the visit, alpaca fibers, natural dyeing techniques, and the traditional methods used by local communities in producing their textiles will be presented. You will also learn how this knowledge is preserved and transmitted between generations, in addition to observing up close the fabrics and the artisanal work characteristic of the region.

   30 min

3. We will continue our journey through the impressive Sacred Valley of the Incas, observing along the way the mountains, the agricultural fields, and the Andean communities that are part of the region's landscape. During the journey, your guide will present information about the importance of the Sacred Valley to Inca culture and about the characteristics of the territory that favored the development of agriculture.

   1 h

4. Our next visit will be to the Archaeological Site of Moray, an ancient Inca agricultural complex formed by impressive circular terraces built at different levels. The arrangement of these structures created different temperature and humidity conditions, which is related to theories about their use for agricultural experimentation. During the visit, your guide will explain how the Incas utilized the characteristics of the terrain and variations in altitude and microclimate to develop knowledge related to the cultivation and adaptation of different plant species.

   1 h

5. After visiting Moray, we will go to the village of Maras, a small Andean locality that preserves traces of its Inca heritage and colonial past. During the visit, we will walk through its streets and learn a little more about its history, architecture, and traditions, while your Guide will share information about the community and the importance of Maras throughout different historical periods.

   30 min

6. Next, we will visit the impressive Maras Salt Mines, where there are more than 3,000 small salt extraction pools distributed across the mountain slopes. Production is carried out from a natural source of saltwater, which is conducted by a network of canals to the pools and, with the evaporation caused by the sun, leaves the salt crystals which are subsequently collected. The activity continues to be carried out by local communities and maintains traditional techniques used since pre-Inca times. During the visit, your guide will explain how this process works and its importance for the families in the region.

   1 h

7. After concluding the visit to the Maras Salt Mines, we will begin the return journey towards Cusco. On the way, we will pass through the Chinchero region again, observing the rural landscapes of the Sacred Valley, the agricultural fields, and the mountains that accompany the road. This route will allow us to appreciate a different part of the Andean landscape as we return to the city.

   1 h

8. After concluding the visit to the textile center, we will begin the journey back to Cusco. During the journey, we will continue to appreciate the Andean landscapes, with their mountains, agricultural fields, and traditional communities. Upon arriving in the city, disembarkation will take place at the Plaza de Armas of Cusco, a strategic point so that you can continue enjoying the historic center, explore its surroundings, and have free time to have lunch on your own before continuing with your activities.

   20 min

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Know before you go

How it compares in Cusco

• Its from-price is 70% below the median of the 4460 experiences we list in Cusco.
• It is shorter than most of them.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Cusco

Cusco, the old Inca capital high in the Peruvian Andes, blends massive stone walls with colonial churches and is the gateway to Machu Picchu.

The Plaza de Armas is the heart of the city, framed by the cathedral and the Jesuit church of La Compañía. Inca stonework survives throughout the centre, most famously at the Qorikancha, the sun temple on which the Spanish built a monastery, and in the twelve-angled stone on Hatun Rumiyoc street. San Blas, the artisans' quarter, climbs steeply with workshops and cafés.

Top-ranked sights in Cusco: Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo Ruins.

See all 4460 experiences in Cusco