Moray & Maras Salt Mines Group Tour from Cusco

Summary

Guided Day Trip: Moray Terraces & Maras Salt Pools Experience

If you want to see how ancient farming and salt-making really worked in Peru, this tour’s for you. You’ll walk among Inca terraces at Moray and watch salt being harvested by hand at Maras—all with a local guide who knows every shortcut and story.

What’s the experience like?

The morning air in Cusco still held a bit of chill when our guide picked us up right from the hotel. As we drove out of the city, the landscape changed fast—patches of green fields, distant snow on the peaks, and the occasional llama grazing by the roadside. Our first stop was Moray, about two hours away along the Chinchero route. I’d seen photos before, but standing above those huge circular terraces—each ring dropping lower into the earth—felt different. Our guide explained how the Incas used these for crop experiments, playing with temperature and sunlight. If you listen closely, you can hear the wind whistling through the stone rings. There’s something oddly peaceful about it.

Next up: Maras. The salt pools spill down the hillside like a patchwork of white and brown. There’s this faint mineral smell in the air, and if you’re lucky, you’ll spot locals scraping salt crystals into little piles. Our guide pointed out how families have worked these pools for generations, using water from an underground stream that’s been salty since pre-Inca times. I bought a small bag of pink salt from a woman named Rosa—she let me taste a pinch right there. By early afternoon, we were heading back to Cusco, shoes a little dusty but heads full of new stories.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Moray and Maras Salt Mines Tour

• Start point
• Visit Moray agricultural terraces
• Explore Maras salt pools
• Return to Cusco and finish point

Top questions

How long does the Moray & Maras tour take?

The tour usually lasts about half a day, starting in the morning and returning to Cusco around 2 PM.

Is this group tour suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes, most travelers can join. Just be aware there’s some walking on uneven ground at both sites.

Can I buy salt at Maras?

Absolutely! Local vendors sell bags of salt right at the pools. It makes a great souvenir.

Will someone pick me up at my hotel?

Yes, hotel pickup is included if you’re staying in Cusco’s city center.

What’s included

Your spot on this tour covers hotel pickup in central Cusco, comfy transport with AC, and a friendly local guide who really knows their stuff. All you need is your camera and maybe some soles for snacks or souvenirs.