Sacred Valley Complete With Salt Mines of Maras and Moray

The Sacred Valley tour provides a unique opportunity to explore the Inca Empire‘s remarkable ingenuity and sustainable practices. Visitors can witness the striking salt terraces of Maras, where locals have harvested salt using traditional methods for centuries, and marvel at the intricate agricultural experimentation site of Moray. This enriching experience offers a glimpse into the cultural significance of the valley, which served as the Inca Empire’s primary food supplier. With a professional guide and a delicious buffet lunch, this tour promises to capture the essence of the region’s remarkable history and natural beauty.

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Key Points

This full-day tour offers visits to the iconic salt mines of Maras and the Inca agricultural site of Moray in the Sacred Valley near Cusco.
The tour includes hotel pickup, transportation, a buffet lunch, a professional guide, and partial entrance fees for $43 per person.
Highlights include exploring the Inca’s agricultural laboratory at Moray, admiring the over 3,000 salt wells in Maras, and visiting Ollantaytambo and Pisac archaeological sites.
The Sacred Valley served as a critical food supplier for the Inca Empire, showcasing the Incas’ mastery of land management and agricultural practices.
The tour is available in English and Spanish, with a positive customer rating, but is not suitable for wheelchair users or visually impaired individuals.

You can check availability for your dates here:

Tour Overview and Pricing

The tour includes visits to the salt mines of Maras and the Inca agricultural site of Moray in the Sacred Valley.

Priced at $43 per person, the tour lasts one day with a free cancellation option up to 24 hours in advance.

Pickup is between 6-7 AM from hotels near or inside Cusco’s historical center, and drop-off is around 6:30-7 PM near the Plaza de Armas.

The tour includes hotel pickup, transportation, a buffet lunch, a professional guide, and partial entrance fees.

Wheelchair users and the visually impaired may have difficulty on this tour, which is available in English and Spanish.

Looking for more options in Chinchero District? We've reviewed plenty of other experiences.

Itinerary and Highlights

After hotel pickup between 6:00 – 7:00 a.m., the tour begins with a brief guided visit to Chinchero.

Next, guests explore Moray, the Inca’s fascinating agricultural laboratory.

Then, they’ll admire over 3,000 salt wells in Maras from a viewpoint.

An Andean buffet lunch in Urubamba follows.

The tour then visits the impressive Ollantaytambo archaeological center, including the Temple of the Sun.

The final stop is the Pisac archaeological site before returning to Cusco around 6:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Cultural Significance

Sacred Valley, located just 35 kilometers from Cusco, was the main food supplier for the Inca Empire.

The valley’s fertile lands and the Urubamba River, known historically as the Vilcanota, were crucial to sustaining the vast Inca civilization.

The Urubamba River and the valley’s fertile lands were essential to sustaining the vast Inca civilization.

Numerous archaeological sites, built by the Incas along the river, showcase the ingenuity and advanced agricultural practices of this ancient culture.

The salt mines of Maras and the agricultural terraces of Moray are prime examples of the Incas’ mastery over their environment, demonstrating their deep understanding of the land and its resources.

Inclusions and Exclusions

The tour includes hotel pickup, tourist transportation to and from the hotel, a buffet lunch, a professional guide, and partial tourist entrance fees (costing $20 for the partial ticket and $5 for Maras).

Food not mentioned in the inclusions is excluded. The tour isn’t suitable for wheelchair users or visually impaired individuals.

Travelers should bring their passport and be prepared for weather conditions that may affect the tour.

The tour is available in English and Spanish, and has received a 5/5 customer rating based on 1 review.

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Important Information

This Sacred Valley tour isn’t suitable for wheelchair users or visually impaired individuals.

Guests should come prepared with their passport. Weather conditions may affect the tour, so appropriate clothing is recommended.

The tour is available in English and Spanish. Based on the 5/5 customer rating, previous travelers have had a positive experience on this tour.

There's plenty more to explore in Chinchero District

Exploring the Salt Mines of Maras

Over 3,000 salt wells dot the picturesque landscape of Maras, a pre-Inca salt-mining town in the heart of Peru’s Sacred Valley.

Visitors can admire the salt mines from a viewpoint, observing the intricate network of evaporation ponds. Locals have sustainably harvested salt from the natural brine springs for centuries, using traditional methods passed down through generations.

Visitors can admire the intricate network of evaporation ponds where locals have sustainably harvested salt for centuries using traditional methods.

The striking white salt terraces contrast beautifully with the surrounding mountains. It’s a unique opportunity to witness an ancient industry and immerse in the region’s rich cultural heritage.

After exploring Maras, the tour continues to the remarkable agricultural site of Moray.

Discovering the Inca Agricultural Laboratory at Moray

After exploring the salt mines of Maras, the Sacred Valley tour takes visitors to the remarkable Inca agricultural laboratory at Moray. This unique site features a series of concentric, terraced circular depressions, believed to have been used for agricultural experimentation. The temperature difference between the top and bottom of the depressions can reach up to 15°C, allowing the Incas to study the optimal conditions for growing a variety of crops.

| Elevation (m) | Temperature (°C) |

|—————|—————–|

| 3,610 | 13 |

| 3,600 | 14 |

| 3,590 | 15 |

| 3,580 | 16 |

| 3,570 | 17 |

Exploring Moray provides a fascinating glimpse into the agricultural ingenuity of the Inca civilization.

Visiting the Ollantaytambo Archaeological Center

The tour proceeds to the Ollantaytambo archaeological center, a remarkable Inca fortress situated along the Urubamba River.

Visitors will explore the Temple of the Sun, a massive stone structure that once served as a temple and fortress. The site features impressive terraces, aqueducts, and storehouses, providing a glimpse into the engineering prowess of the Incas.

Ollantaytambo is considered one of the best-preserved Inca towns, offering visitors a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience the grandeur of the Inca Empire.

The tour then continues to the final stop at the Pisac archaeological site.

Since You Asked

Can Children Participate in This Tour?

Yes, children can participate in this tour. The tour is suitable for all ages and families are welcome. Children under 5 may receive a reduced price or free admission.

Are There Any Physical Limitations for This Tour?

The tour isn’t suitable for wheelchair users or visually impaired individuals. Participants should be able to walk and climb stairs. However, the itinerary can be adjusted to accommodate guests with limited mobility or other special needs.

What Type of Transportation Is Used During the Tour?

The tour includes tourist transportation to and from the hotel. Specifically, the itinerary states that guests are picked up from their hotel and dropped off near Plaza de Armas at the end of the tour.

Can We Bring Our Own Food and Drinks?

Customers can’t bring their own food and drinks. The tour includes a buffet lunch, but any additional food or beverages not mentioned are not covered. Bringing your own snacks or drinks is not permitted.

How Reliable Is the Tour Company’s Punctuality?

The tour company is known for its punctuality. Guests report being picked up on time and returning to their hotels as scheduled. The itinerary is well-organized, allowing travelers to make the most of their day in the Sacred Valley.

The Sum Up

The Sacred Valley tour offers a unique opportunity to explore Inca ingenuity and sustainable practices. Visitors can marvel at the striking salt terraces of Maras, witness ancient agricultural experimentation at Moray, and explore the cultural significance of this legendary region. With professional guidance and a delectable buffet lunch, this enriching experience showcases the Inca Empire’s enduring legacy amidst the breathtaking Andean landscapes.

You can check availability for your dates here: