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About this trip
Maras Moray and Chinchero tour is a fantastic half-day tour to explore and enjoy different landscapes around Cusco as you prepare for the long trip to Machu Picchu. We start visiting the Circular terraces at Moray, visit the picturesque town of Maras, count the thousands of salt pools at salinas, and visit Chinchero for a Textile demonstration and visit the Archeological site.
Highlights of Maras Moray and Chinchero Tour
- Visit important Inca sites of Chinchero and Moray
- Explore the Salineras and see the more than 3,000 salt pools
- Learn the techniques on Andean weavers, women descendants of the Incas
- Visit the city of the Portraits, Maras, former salt producers
Included in Maras Moray Tour
- Hotel Pick up and drop off
- Private comfortable transportation (round trip)
- Professional Tour Guide
- Entrance ticket to all the places we visit (Moray, Salineras, Chinchero)
Not Included in Maras Moray Tour
- Meals not Included
- Tips to your staff
Places to Visit in this tour:
CHINCHERO (Land of great weavers). located at 3760 masl, the town is famous because of its local market, colonial church, and farming terraces. The Inhabitants are dedicated to agriculture, farming mainly potatoes and textile, the weavers of produce the best textiles in the region using Andean designs, natural colors, and using ancient traditional tools.
MORAY (Greenhouses). Located at 3,500 masl, This stunning archeological site is compound by 4 Roman amphitheater-like circular terraces, located in enormous holes in the ground, the deepest one is 30 meters. Although the purpose of these terraces is unknown, it is believed that the terraces were used for agricultural experimentation, an adaptation of different crops.
SALT MINES (Salineras). Located near Maras town, with over 3000 salt ponds, Salineras have been in this place since pre-Inca times. The villagers of Maras harvest the salt using the evaporation system irrigating the ponds every day for up to a month, once the slat gets thick enough, about 10 cm, they will harvest treat and deliver to the Local markets, each member of Maras village owns a certain number of ponds and all together they make a Local company called MARASAL.
What you need to take
- Extra Money for souvenirs
- Rain gear, warm clothes
- Suncream, Insect repellent
- Water, snack
- Camera
Important to know before booking
- 2 people minimum need to start a tour
- Shopping available, take some cash with you
- Half-day tour only
Itinerary
After being collected from your hotel in Cusco at 8:00 am, you’ll drive to Moray meandering through the lush fields of potato, wheat, and high Andean villages. Moray is Located at (3,450m/11,318ft), where we can find 4 unusual Inca ruins, with beautiful terraced circular depressions used as an agricultural laboratory by the Incas. Next, you’ll stop by the town of Maras, a colonial town built during the Spanish invasion to exploit the Salt mines located near the town, in the town you can see the ancient ways and a beautiful church built-in 1650.
When you finish exploring Maras, you’ll continue driving for 20 more minutes to Salineras and explore the over 3000 salt ponds where the villager of Maras are harvesting salt for centuries even before the Incas, The harvesting process is through evaporation and cloud take over a month. Later continue our journey to Chinchero; a small rustic town dedicated to agriculture, textiles, and famous for the colorful market were women will show you how they wash, dye, spin, and weave their traditional costume. After visiting the Market, shopping, you’ll drive back to Cusco arriving just for Lunch around 13.pm.