Tour from Cusco
Maras and Moray
A half day from Cusco to the circular terraces of Moray and the salt pans of the Maras salt mines. Pickup between 8:30 and 8:50 a.m., start at 9 a.m., and a free afternoon in the city.
- We assist you in English on WhatsApp
- English-speaking guides
- Local Cusco agency since 2003, registered with MINCETUR
Pickup from your accommodation in Cusco between 8:30 and 8:50 a.m.
Commentary in English, Spanish, or Portuguese throughout the tour
Moray, the Maras salt mines, and the village of Maras
We confirm your booking in under 2 hours
Moray and the Maras salt mines in half a day, with pickup from your hotel in Cusco
The Maras and Moray tour is a half-day outing from Cusco that brings together two of the most unusual places in the Sacred Valley. At Moray, you walk around the concentric circular terraces the Incas used as a farming laboratory: the temperature difference between terraces, 0.5 to 1.5 °C per level, made it possible to recreate up to twenty different microclimates.
Then the visit continues to the Maras salt mines (Salineras de Maras), about 5,000 salt pans fed by an underground saltwater spring, which local families still work with techniques handed down from Inca times, and to the village of Maras. The tour starts at 9 a.m. and ends at noon, so your afternoon is free.
It costs US$ 28 per person and includes pickup and drop-off at your accommodation, a bilingual guide, tourist transportation, and a first aid kit. It is a great option for your first or second day in Cusco while you acclimatize, before the full Sacred Valley. If you would rather do the tour on four wheels, there is an ATV version.
Moray, the Inca farming laboratory
Concentric circular terraces up to 80 meters deep, with temperature differences between levels that recreate different microclimates. About 38 km from Cusco city.
Maras salt mines
Thousands of terraced salt pans on the hillside, fed by a saltwater spring and worked by the families of Maras with techniques handed down from Inca times.
Moderate effort, good for almost everyone
A half-day tour with short walks along trails, terraces, and viewpoints. No special fitness needed, but it is best to be acclimatized to the altitude of Cusco.
Pickup and schedule
We pick you up at your accommodation in Cusco between 8:30 and 8:50 a.m., and the tour starts at 9 a.m. We confirm your booking in under 2 hours.
Itinerary
Your half-day tour, step by step: from Cusco to Moray and the Maras salt mines
- 8:30 – 8:50 a.m. · Pickup from your accommodation in CuscoWe pick you up at your hotel in the city and set off in tourist transportation toward the Sacred Valley.
- 9 a.m. · Tour start and transfer to MorayA drive with views of Andean landscapes to the archaeological complex, about 38 km from Cusco.
- Moray · Guided visit to the Inca farming laboratoryAn explanation of the concentric circular terraces, their microclimates, and their farming purpose.
- Village of MarasA drive through the Andean village of Maras on the way to the salt mines.
- Maras salt mines · Guided visitA walk among the salt pans, still worked by local families with techniques handed down from Inca times.
- Return to CuscoReturn by tourist transportation and transfer to your accommodation.
What's included in your Maras and Moray tour?
No surprises and no fine print: this is exactly what the service covers and what you will pay separately on the day of the tour.
Half day
2,900 m (9,510 ft) above sea level
Daily morning departure, with pickup between 8:30 and 8:50 a.m.
English, Spanish, or Portuguese
Included
- Pickup and drop-off at your accommodation in Cusco
- Bilingual, English-speaking tour guide
- Round-trip tourist transportation
- First aid kit
- Assistance and support from Tari Tours before and during the tour
Not included
- Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico General, BTG)
- Entrance ticket to the Maras salt mines
- Meals and drinks
- Personal expenses and tips
Note: entrance to Moray is covered by the Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico General, BTG), and the Maras salt mines have their own entrance ticket. Both are paid separately, directly at each site, and are not included in the tour price.
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to the most common questions, so you can book with peace of mind.
Do I need to acclimatize before the Maras and Moray tour?
It is a good idea. The tour takes place at about 2,900 m and, although the effort is moderate, ideally you should spend at least one day in Cusco before the outing. Since it is a half-day tour at a relaxed pace, it is usually a good choice for the first days of your trip.
How difficult is the tour?
Easy to moderate. You walk along the trails and viewpoints of Moray and the paths between the salt pans at the Maras salt mines, with a few short ups and downs. There are no long hikes, and the tour suits families and travelers without special fitness.
Which tickets do I need to buy separately?
The Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico General, BTG), which covers entrance to Moray, and the entrance ticket to the Maras salt mines. Neither is included in the tour price; both are bought directly at each site.
What time does it start and how long does it take?
We pick you up at your accommodation in Cusco between 8:30 and 8:50 a.m., and the tour starts at 9 a.m. It is a half-day outing, so your afternoon is free to enjoy Cusco.
What should I bring?
Comfortable clothes and a light jacket, sneakers or hiking shoes, a hat or cap, sunglasses and sunscreen, water, some cash for the entrance tickets, and your passport.
How do booking and payment work?
You can book right on this page by choosing the date and number of travelers. We confirm your booking in under 2 hours and agree on the exact pickup time with you. If you have questions, you can message us on WhatsApp before you book.
What if the weather gets in the way?
The tour runs year-round and rain does not usually stop the visit, but in the rainy season the trails can get slippery. If, due to exceptional conditions, the tour cannot run, we agree with you on a new date or a suitable alternative.
How much does the Maras and Moray tour cost?
The price is US$ 28 per person. It includes pickup and drop-off at your accommodation in Cusco, a bilingual tour guide, round-trip tourist transportation, and a first aid kit. You pay separately for the Cusco Tourist Ticket, which covers entrance to Moray, and the entrance ticket to the Maras salt mines.
What is Moray and what was it used for?
Moray is a set of concentric circular terraces dug into a natural depression, about 38 km from Cusco. The deepest terrace goes down 80 meters, and the temperature difference between them (0.5 to 1.5 °C per level) made it possible to recreate up to twenty microclimates; that is why it is interpreted as an Inca center for farming experiments, used to adapt crops to different altitudes.
How much is the Cusco Tourist Ticket for Moray?
Entrance to Moray is covered by the Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico), bought separately; current rates are published by COSITUC in its official rate table. The Maras salt mines have their own entrance ticket, separate from the Cusco Tourist Ticket, which is also paid on site.
Ready to book or have a question?
Talk to one of our travel advisors in English. We reply Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Peru time, GMT-5).