Maras and Moray tour from Cusco: Salt ponds and Inca terraces

Two archaeological sites in the Sacred Valley: circular terraces built for climate, salt ponds that fed an empire

A half-day tour from Cusco to the Moray Agricultural Terraces and Maras salt complex in the Sacred Valley, with hotel pickup, a professional guide, and entry to both sites. The tour departs after breakfast and returns by early afternoon, covering the mysterious concentric circular terraces at Moray (thought by some researchers to be an agricultural research center), and the thousands of small salt ponds at Maras that sustained local families and served as an economic center during Inca times. You'll need to purchase your Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC) separately to enter Moray.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Moray and Maras sites

• Depart hotel after breakfast
• Travel to Moray archaeological site
• Explore Moray circular terraces
• Visit Maras salt mining complex
• Return to hotel

The experience

The tour picks you up from your hotel after breakfast and heads toward the Sacred Valley, traveling roughly an hour and a half to reach Moray. The site itself is a series of ever-widening concentric circular terraces cut into the earth: each level sits at a different elevation, which meant each one had its own microclimate. Researchers still debate the terraces' exact purpose. Some argue it was an agricultural research center where the Inca tested crops at different altitudes. The design is precise enough that the temperature and humidity shift noticeably as you descend from one ring to the next.

From Moray, the tour continues to Maras, where thousands of small salt ponds spread across the landscape in a geometric pattern. The ponds are fed by a natural salt spring and have been in use since Inca times, when salt was a valuable trade commodity across the empire. Today, local families still work the ponds, harvesting salt the traditional way. The sight of the ponds (each one a different shade depending on the mineral content and water level) creates the surreal landscape the site is known for. Your guide will explain how the salt deposits functioned as an economic center and how they continue to support the communities around them.

The full tour runs six hours from pickup to drop-off. Your guide speaks English, Spanish, or Portuguese and handles the route and timing. Admission to Maras is included, though you'll need to arrange your Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC) in advance to enter Moray. Your guide can advise on where to purchase it. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for walking on uneven terrain and exposure to sun and wind at altitude.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• admission to Maras.
• professional guide fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
• access to both the Moray Agricultural Terraces and the Maras salt complex.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by LimaTours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see two distinct archaeological sites in a single morning or afternoon without arranging your own transport or guide. The half-day format fits a shorter stay in Cusco or a day when you want the rest of the afternoon free, and the guide handles the route and context so you can focus on the sites themselves.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What exactly is Moray and why are those concentric circles there?

Moray is an archaeological site of mysterious concentric circular terraces, each one wider than the last. Some researchers believe it was an agricultural research center where the Inca tested different crops at different altitudes, since each level has its own microclimate. The exact function remains unknown, but the precision of the design suggests it served an important purpose in the empire.

Are the salt ponds at Maras still in use, or are they just a tourist attraction?

The salt ponds at Maras are still actively worked by local families who harvest salt using traditional methods, just as they have for centuries. The ponds are fed by a natural salt spring, and the families who maintain them depend on the harvest for income and food. During Inca times, salt was a valuable trade commodity. Today it remains an important economic resource for the communities around Maras.

How long does the tour take and when does it start?

The tour is six hours total, including hotel pickup and drop-off. It departs after breakfast from your hotel, so the exact start time depends on when breakfast service ends at your accommodation. Your guide will coordinate the pickup time with you in advance.

Do I need to buy tickets separately, or are they included?

Admission to Maras is included in the tour price. Entry to Moray requires a separate Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC), which you must purchase before the tour. Your guide can direct you to where to buy it or advise on advance purchase options.

What should I bring or wear?

Wear comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for walking on uneven terrain. The sites are at altitude in the Sacred Valley, so bring sun protection and a light layer for wind. The terrain is not strenuous, but good footwear makes a difference on the circular terraces and around the salt ponds.