Maras & Moray from Cusco: Salt Pools & Inca Terraces

Two Inca Experiments in One Morning: Salt and Crop Labs Above the Urubamba

You visit two archaeological sites in the Sacred Valley above Cusco: the Maras salt pools, where families still harvest salt using pre-Incan methods, and the Moray terraces, an Inca agricultural laboratory with three circular depressions that create different microclimates. Private transport and entrance fees are included, and the half-day format gets you back to Cusco by early afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Maras Salt Pools2h · entry included
2. Moray Agricultural Terraces2h · entry included

Visit Maras salt mines and Moray ruins

• Explore Maras salt mines
• Travel to Moray ruins
• Visit Moray agricultural terraces

The experience

Your guide will probably ask you to look down before you even step out of the car. The Maras salt pools sit on a hillside above the Urubamba Valley, and from a distance they look like someone spilled a thousand shallow paint trays across the slope: pale pink, white, cream, rust. A natural salt water stream runs underground here, and for centuries, long before the Spanish arrived, people have been channeling that water into these rectangular evaporation ponds. You walk down between them, and the salt crust crunches under your shoes. The air tastes different. Your guide will explain how the water gets diverted, how the sun does the work, how families still own and harvest individual pools the way their ancestors did. It's not a ruin exactly. It's a working landscape, which is stranger and more real than most tourist sites.

From Maras, it's a short drive to Moray, and the moment you see it, you understand why the Incas chose this place for experiments. Three enormous circular depressions cut into the earth, each one ringed with concentric terraces that drop down like a Roman amphitheater turned inside out. The largest pit is about 30 meters deep. Stand at the rim and you feel the temperature shift: the Incas noticed that the depth and the way the sun and wind move across the circles creates a temperature difference of up to 15 degrees Celsius between the top and the bottom. They used these terraces as an open-air laboratory, testing different crops at different elevations and microclimates. Potatoes, quinoa, maize: whatever grew at the top might fail at the bottom, or vice versa. It's agricultural research carved into stone, and once you see it, you can't unsee how deliberate it was.

The tour includes private transportation from your hotel in Cusco and entrance fees to both sites, so you're not negotiating with vendors or figuring out how to get back. The drive itself takes you through the Sacred Valley, and the landscape shifts as you climb. You'll see villages, terraced fields still in use, and the valley opening up below you. Most people do this as a half-day trip, which means you're back in Cusco by early afternoon. If you're interested in how the Incas thought about agriculture and engineering, or if you just want to see something that doesn't feel like every other ruin, this one sticks with you.

What’s included

Your day includes private transportation from your Cusco hotel to both Maras and Moray, entrance fees to each site, and a half-day itinerary that returns you to the city by early afternoon. Infants can travel on an adult's lap, and specialized infant seats are available upon request.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Under 10: 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 if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Dream Adventure Life

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see how the Incas approached agriculture and resource management without spending a full day away from Cusco: the private transport and included fees mean you skip the logistics and just show up.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

How long is the Maras Moray tour from Cusco?

It's a half-day trip, typically 4–5 hours including transport and time at both sites.

What's included in the price?

Private transportation from your hotel in Cusco and entrance fees to both Maras and Moray are included.

Can I do this tour if I'm not very fit?

The tour involves walking on uneven terrain and some elevation, so it's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. The sites themselves are accessible, but the terrain is natural and can be steep in places.

Can I bring infants?

Yes. Infants can sit on an adult's lap, and specialized infant seats are available if needed.

What's the difference between Maras and Moray?

Maras is a working salt mine where water from an underground stream is evaporated in shallow pools. Moray is an Inca archaeological site with three circular terraced depressions thought to have been used as an agricultural testing ground.

How high is the elevation?

Both sites are in the Sacred Valley above Cusco, at roughly 3,000–3,500 meters (9,800–11,500 feet). Altitude can affect some travelers, so acclimatize in Cusco first if possible.

What should I bring?

Sunscreen, a hat, and water are essential. The sites are exposed, and the sun reflects off the salt at Maras. Wear comfortable walking shoes for uneven ground.