What were Maras & Moray?

Maras and Moray have been a hub of activity since pre-Inca times. Initially, they functioned as administrative centers and commercial exchange points thanks to the rich salt mines of Maras. Although both places share the name Maras, they are two distinct attractions.

During the Inca and colonial periods, the village of Maras was not only notable in the salt trade through and exchange with neighboring regions. It was a meeting place for descendants of the Incas and Spanish settlers, acting as an administrative link to the Sacred Valley and the jungle.

Moray, on the other hand, is an Inca archaeological site located near the village of Maras. The site is known for its impressive circular terraces that have been used as an inca agricultural experimentation site.

Where are Maras and Moray located?

Maras and Moray are located northwest of Cusco, in Urubamba Province, on the Chinchero Plateau. These sites are accessible via the road connecting Cusco and Urubamba, only 15 minutes from Urubamba and an hour from Cusco by car. The approximate distances are:

• Maras village: 29.8 mi (48 km) from Cusco
• Moray terraces: 4.3 mi (7 km) from Maras village
• Maras Salt Mines: 4.1 mi (6.6 km) from Maras village

The landscape consists of rolling terrain, with elevations ranging from 11,102 ft (3,384 m) above sea level at the highest point to 9,219 ft (2,810 m) near the community of Pichingoto in the lower area.

How to get to Maras and Moray in Peru?

To reach Maras and Moray from Cusco, you have several options:

1. Organized tour:

One of the easiest ways to visit Maras and Moray is by joining an organized tour. Many travel agencies in Cusco offer half-day or full-day tours that include transportation and a tour guide, along with stops at nearby sites such as the Salinera de Maras and Chinchero. 

At TreXperience, the Sacred Valley tour includes visits to Maras and Moray.

2. Public transport and taxi:

A more affordable way is to take a public bus from Cusco to Urubamba and ask the driver to drop you off at the turnoff toward Maras, coordinates: 13.33058, -72.12829. From here, you can hire a local taxi to take you to Maras and Moray.

It is recommended to agree on the round-trip fare with the driver before starting the trip. From the junction, you can catch public transportation back to Cusco or continue to Urubamba.

Keep in mind: There is no transportation available from Maras salt mines and Moray archaeological site.

3. Private car:

Renting a car in Cusco is another option that gives you the flexibility to visit Maras and Moray, as well as other interesting sites in the Sacred Valley, at your own pace.

Entrance Ticket: Maras and Moray

The Maras Salt Mines and Moray terraces require separate admission tickets. Moray is included in the Cusco Tourist Ticket, while the Salt Mines charge an entrance fee set by the local community. Neither ticket includes transportation or a guided tour.

Moray entrance ticket

To visit Moray, you need to purchase the Cusco Tourist Ticket, sold by COSITUC at the site entrance or at its office in Cusco's historic center.

There are two options: the General Ticket, which covers 16 attractions, and the Partial Ticket for Circuit 3, which covers four sites in the Sacred Valley (Moray, Chinchero, Pisac and Ollantaytambo).

Students aged 10 to 25 pay a reduced admission fee. Children under 9 and Cusco residents can enter for free.

Read more | Cusco Tourist Ticket Guide

Maras Salt Mines entrance ticket

The Maras Salt Mines are managed by the traditional community of Maras through the company MARASAL. The entrance fee is:

Maras and Moray Opening Hours

Tours to Maras and Moray usually take place in the morning, before midday, although afternoon visits are also possible. The current opening hours are: 

• Moray: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Maras Salt Mines: 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Please note: If you are visiting on your own, it is best to plan your visit before 2:00 p.m. to avoid difficulties arranging transportation back.

Weather in Maras Moray, Cusco

The weather at the archaeological site of Maras & Moray is generally temperate and dry, with temperatures varying according to the season and featuring two distinctly different periods:

1. Dry season (April to September): During these months, the climate is predominantly arid, with temperatures reaching up to 70°F (21°C).

2. Rainy season (October to March): Precipitation begins sporadically in October and continues until March, with temperatures around 68°F (20°C).

Read more | Rainy season in Cusco.

The best time to visit Maras and Moray, Peru

The best times to visit Maras are during the dry and warm season from May to October and from September to April, when the fields turn green, offering a vibrant landscape in the Andes. These periods are ideal for hiking and camping under clear skies.

Who were the first settlers in Maras Moray?

The first inhabitants of Moray and Maras were the Kuyu Suyus and Anarmakas, ethnic groups organized into lordships and confederations during the formative period of Chanapata-Paqal Moqo and the middle horizon of Wari-Qotakalli. These communities used the site of Aywayro "Cheqoq" as an important religious center.

Maras Salt Mines

Maras is a charming village located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, close to Cusco, Peru, famous for its historic Maras Salt Mines. These salt terraces, dating back to pre-Inca times, consist of over 4,000 ponds where saltwater from an underground spring evaporates, leaving behind salt crystals. This ancient harvesting method remains active, allowing visitors to witness a millennia-old tradition still in use.

In addition to the salt mines, Maras serves as a gateway to Moray, another significant site where the Incas experimented with crops on circular terraces at various altitudes, functioning as an ancient agricultural laboratory.

When has the salt from Maras been traded?

Since pre-Inca times, through the Inca period and the colonial era, salt has been a critical element in trade through bartering among communities in the jungle, the highlands, and possibly the central highlands. Today, it remains a fundamental product in trade transactions between residents and visitors to the area.

Where was salt extracted in Maras?

The tribes of Paga, Guaro, Cachi, and Pichingoto first extracted salt at Apu Q'aqya, using ancient salt farms and enclosures. They established the second extraction site at the infrastructure of Kachi Raqay, which included storage and transportation systems that the Yanaconas exploited through the Mita system.

How does Maras salt originate?

The origin of Maras salt comes from the dissolution of underground rock salt deposits by water currents that carry minerals such as sulfates, calcium (anhydrite, gypsum), carbonates (calcite, siderite), salts (halite, sylvite), and oxides (hematite, limonite). These components produce salt in shades of white, reddish, and yellowish, variations that result from the presence of bituminous or organic substances, as well as calcium, magnesium, and sulfate, and are known for their pleasant taste.

How many salt ponds are there today in Maras?

Currently, 4,200 salt ponds cover an area of 37–49 acres (15 to 20 hectares) on the western slope of the valley. Springs of saltwater emerge here on a 20-degree slope. Workers have constructed the ponds in terraced steps that descend towards the lower part of the valley. They extract salt during the dry season and conduct harvests up to a maximum of once per month.

What is the process of salting in Maras?

The process begins with the collection of water from sources located on the slopes of Cruz Mocco hill, known as Puma-Pucyo (Female Spring) and Sumac-Pucyo (Male Spring). This water flows through the main channel, called "hatun yarka," which leads to the salt Qochas. Here, irrigation (Qarpay) starts, flooding the ponds to a depth of 2-4 inches (5-10 cm).

Then, the water is allowed to rest for three days, during which time the salt begins to emerge, known as tikasca or tikachakusan. This process concludes in five days, transforming the water into crystallized salt at the bottom of the ponds.

What is the process of harvesting or extracting Maras salt?

Salt extraction from the ponds, or Qochas de sal, begins five days later. Workers start the process by gently scraping the first two layers of salt with a small board, focusing on collecting only the cleanest part. They then move the salt to dry under the shade on a flat surface known as ch’aquina, where they drain any remaining water. Finally, they package the salt in various forms before distributing it to the market.

How many varieties of salt does Maras produce?

From each Qocha or salt well, four different varieties are extracted:

1. Pakallo: The first layer is a white table salt intended for human consumption.
2. Takaya: Also a consumption salt, collected as the second layer.
3. Allpa-cachi: The third layer, known as seeding salt, is commonly used for livestock.
4. Salt from the riverbanks: The fourth type, consisting of thicker crystals formed on the edges of the Qochas, is used exclusively for livestock.

Additionally, the Allpa-cachi salt is used in crop fields one week after irrigating them as part of a traditional method performed by the Arariwas.

What materials are used for salt extraction?

For salt extraction, workers use specific tools: eucalyptus boards, known as kisuna or rasponas, measuring between 80 to 50 cm in length and 15 cm in width; metal shovels; and willina baskets, which are essential for handling the salt.

How to get to Salineras de Maras Moray from Ollantaytambo?

The most practical way to reach the Maras Salt Mines from Ollantaytambo is by taxi or on a private tour. A half-day trip may cost around US$58.30 or S/ 200 PEN, although prices can vary, as this route is not commonly offered as a group service.

Moray in Cusco, Peru

Etymologically, the word "Moray" originates from Quechua. Some say it comes from "Aymoray," a term referring to May, the month of corn harvesting and the beginning of potato dehydration, known today as Moraya or Mora. Others believe it derives from "Muyu," meaning round, and "Uray," meaning down or low part, alluding to a sunken territory.

History of Moray

The archaeological site of Moray, built by the Ayarmaca during the 15th and early 16th centuries, served as their Paqarina under the leadership of Sinche Tocay Capac Inga. At its peak, Manco Capac transformed Moray into an agricultural research center that also served political and religious functions.

When the Spanish arrived in Cusco in 1532, they abandoned Moray, and by 1561, they had incorporated these lands into the repartimientos. In 1556, the encomendero Pedro Ortiz de Orue founded the village of San Francisco de Maras, turning it into a key point for travelers and traders.

Today, Maras-Moray attracts both international and local tourists with its iconic doorways, vibrant culture, historic salineras, architectural organization, and terraces, which remain the main attraction of the place.

When and by whom was Moray discovered?

Moray was discovered in 1931 by Americans Robert Shippee and George Johnson, who explored this site during an overflight.

What other places can I visit in Moray?

Once at the site, we can explore the landscape and history that make up this archaeological space through various points of interest:

1. Checoq: South of the current town of Maras Ayllu, this site consists of domestic units, storage areas, terraces, and pens for camelids. These elements provide a clear view of the domestic organization, social hierarchy, and productive activities of the area.

2. Colonial Church: Builders constructed this temple in 1556 over an Inka waka during the colonial era, showcasing it as an example of the extirpation of indigenous idolatries. They reused materials from the Inka waka in its construction, which is notable for containing artwork, including many pieces by the indigenous artist Antonio Sinchi Roca.

3. Tiobamba Sanctuary—Chapel of the Indians: Located 2 kilometers from the town of Maras, this baroque sanctuary from the 16th and 17th centuries features an adobe and lithic block facade.

4. Kuichi Pugio: Situated next to a stream leading to the Maras salt pans, it features small lithic tombs made of evaporites and limestones, bonded with mud mortar.

5. Pichingoto: Positioned on the banks of the Vilcanota River and opposite the Playa Media Luna community, this site contains a dump of ceramic fragments in the Killke style.

6. Kachi Raqay: This site features rectangular enclosures from the Inka period located on a plain.

Maras vs Moray: What Are the Differences?

Although Maras and Moray are often visited together, they offer different experiences. This comparison will help you understand what to expect at each destination.

Where to stay?

In Maras and Moray, located in the Sacred Valley near Cusco, you can find various lodging options ranging from boutique hotels to more rustic accommodations and guesthouses. Here are some popular choices:

1. Boutique hotels: These offer a more luxurious and unique experience, with stunning views of the Andean landscape and high-quality services. A notable example in the area is the Explora Valle Sagrado, which provides comfort as well as tours and activities.

2. Rural lodgings: If you're looking for a more authentic and nature-close experience, rural lodgings or lodges are an excellent option. These places are usually more affordable and offer the chance to interact with the local community.

3. Guesthouses: Guesthouses are a cozy and budget-friendly option, ideal for travelers looking for a comfortable stay without spending a lot. They offer private and shared rooms with basic facilities. 

4. Hostels: For more adventurous travelers or those on a tight budget, hostels in the area provide affordable lodging, with options for shared dormitories and essential services.

5. Airbnb: You can also find various Airbnb options in the area, from complete apartments to private rooms in local homes, allowing for a more personalized experience.

Typical foods of the area

In the Maras and Moray region of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, you can enjoy a variety of traditional dishes that reflect the rich culinary tradition of Peru, especially from the Andean region. Here are some of the local foods you shouldn't miss:

• Quinoa soup
• Mushroom Kapchi
• Manca Chicharrón
• Corn with cheese
• Merienda mareña
• Pachamanca

Practical tips for your visit

Before visiting the archaeological site, make sure to follow these tips:

• Carry your tourist ticket and ID.
• High mountain shoes are essential for safely navigating uneven terrain.
• Wear comfortable clothing suitable for hiking, and remember sunglasses and sunscreen to protect yourself from UV rays and prevent burns.
• A wide-brimmed hat will also be helpful in protecting you from the intense sun.
• Pack a backpack with essential medications for muscle pain, altitude sickness, and headaches.
• Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated.

Gates to the past and marvels of Incan Ingenuity

Maras and Moray are not only witnesses to the architectural and agricultural ingenuity of the Incas but also living gateways to a culture that continues to resonate through the centuries. Visiting these wonders, you not only explore the splendor of ancient civilizations but also connect with nature and tradition in a deeply personal way.

From the intricate terraces of Moray to the glistening salt pans of Maras, each step is a step back in time and a reminder of the enduring relationship between man and earth. So, if you're looking for a place where history meets natural beauty, where every view and every path tells a story, Maras and Moray are waiting to add their magic to your journey.

Maras and Moray Peru FAQs