Photo gallery
Maras & Moray tour photos
Tour overview
Maras & Moray tour at a glance
Two of the most photographed places in the Sacred Valley in one half-day trip: the giant circular terraces of Moray and the thousands of salt pools of Maras, with a stop in Chinchero to see how Andean textiles are made.
Our Cusco team checks the services, timings and availability for your dates and sends the options in a written quote.
Journey highlights
Highlights of the Maras & Moray tour
- The circular Inca terraces of Moray
- The Maras salt mines, still worked by local families
- A natural-dye and weaving demonstration in Chinchero
- High-plateau views of the snow peaks of the Urubamba range
Detailed itinerary
Maras & Moray tour itinerary
Times and services are indicative. Your final schedule is confirmed in your written quote.
Itinerary
Morning departures run from about 8:00 am to 2:00 pm; afternoon departures from about 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Pickup and the road to Chinchero
We pick you up at your hotel in Cusco and drive up onto the high plain of Chinchero (3,760 m), with views of the snow-capped peaks of the Urubamba range, Chicón and Verónica, on clear days.
Chinchero — Andean weaving
In a family weaving cooperative, local women show how alpaca and sheep wool is washed with a natural root soap, spun by hand and dyed with plants, minerals and cochineal insects, then woven on traditional looms. You have time to ask questions and buy textiles directly from the weavers.
Moray — the Inca circular terraces
Moray is a set of giant circular terraces that descend like an amphitheater into natural hollows in the ground. The temperature changes by several degrees between the top and the bottom terraces, and many researchers believe the Incas used them to adapt crops to different conditions. You walk around the rim of the main circle and see it from several viewpoints.
Maras salt mines
On the side of a ravine, about 3,000 small salt pools step down the mountain, fed by a warm, salty spring. Local families have harvested the salt here since before the Incas, and each family still owns its own pools. You walk along a path above the pools and can buy pink salt and salt products from the local cooperative.
Return to Cusco
The van drives back across the plain to your hotel in Cusco.
What's included
What's included in the Maras & Moray tour
Included
- hotel pickup and drop-off
- transport
- professional guide
- Cusco Tourist Ticket (Chinchero and Moray)
- Maras salt mine entrance
- weaving demonstration
Not included
- meals
- tips
- purchases
Optional extras
Ways to tailor this trip
- ATV (quad bike) version from Cusco's outskirts to Moray and Maras, by quote
- combine with the train to Machu Picchu from Ollantaytambo
Optional services are subject to availability. Mention your preferences in the booking form notes; your quote will list the selected extras and final total.
Plan with confidence
Duration, difficulty and price
Good to know
Good to know before you go
Planning guides
Planning guides
What to bring
What to pack
- Original passport
- Sunscreen and sunglasses (the white salt reflects the sun)
- Light jacket
- Comfortable shoes
- Cash in soles for salt and textiles
Carry the original passport used to book. Check your confirmed ticket and operator instructions for current baggage and site rules.
Frequently asked questions
Maras & Moray tour FAQs
Is Maras & Moray included in the Sacred Valley tour?
Our classic Sacred Valley tour visits Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero. Choose this half-day tour to see Maras and Moray on their own, or the 4-day package that includes them.
Can I buy salt at Maras?
Yes. Local families sell salt, including the pink salt from the mines, at the entrance.
Morning or afternoon?
Mornings are usually clearer; afternoon light is warmer for photos of the salt pools.
What do you visit?
A weaving cooperative in Chinchero, the circular Inca terraces of Moray and the Maras salt mines, in about 6 hours. Hotel pickup, guide and entrance fees are included.
When are the salt mines most beautiful?
In the dry season (May to November), when the pools are at their whitest. In the rainy season some pools fill with rainwater.
Can I do it by ATV?
Yes. There is a quad bike version from the outskirts of Cusco to Moray and Maras, by quote.
Tripadvisor reviews
What travelers say about our team
Reviews of Traveleez Peru SAC, the operator of Machu-Picchu.tours, on our Tripadvisor profile Machu Picchu by Traveleez.
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Incredible experience
“An unforgettable experience. Super punctual, good transportation, and very good treatment.”
Translated from Spanish
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Highly recommended
“This agency is super responsive, unlike others that can take weeks to get back to you.”
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