GENERAL INFORMATION
Duration: Half-day tour (from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm)
Starting point: Cusco City
End point: Cusco City
Tour Category: Archaeological and Culturall.
Level of difficulty: Easy
Group size: Max. 15 to 20 people
Tour Rating: The Moray Ruins and Maras Salt Mines tour is one of the best ways to discover how ancient local people lived.
Altitudes: 3,400 m.a.s.l to 3,700 m.a.s.l. (highest).
Tour availability: Daily departures.
Map to Classic Tour to Moray + Maras – 1/2 Day
TOUR DETAILS
Information
INTRODUCTION
Moray, exhibition of agricultural terraces. This place has amphitheater-shaped terraces made by Inca masons.
These terraces, which are carved deep into the earth in a bowl shape, were thought to be used to determine optimal growing conditions for crops. There you will have a visit with the interesting explanations of our Tour Guide.
After Moray, we will take our transport for approximately 30 minutes, going to the Maras Salt Mines; this village is known as an ancient salt producing center, believed to date back to pre-Inca times. You can see the sprouting of the Salt water source from the high altitude mountains and fall down the mountainside into individual evaporation chambers, which have been completely worked by the local population for hundreds of years. There are more than 4,000 salt pools carved into the mountainside. Here is the chance to get the salt for yourself with your own hands… Try it!
HIGHLIGHTS
- Discover the charm and magic of the magnificent archaeological site of Moray and the impressive salt mines of Maras.
- Visit interesting places and learn about the mysteries of the ancient Inca Civilization.
- Ideal for couples, groups of friends, nature lovers and the whole family.
- Informative tour led by a friendly and knowledgeable local guide.
- All tickets are included.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
- The Moray archaeological site has exquisite architectural feats where Inca crops were developed by specialized farmers, using variable altitudes in a system of terraces with circular shapes and different sizes.
- The Maras Salt Mines, where you can see the source of salt water gushing out of these high altitude mountains and falling down the mountainside into individual evaporation chambers, which have been fully worked for the local population since pre-Inca times. There are more than 4,000 salt pools carved into the mountainside.
- If you want to see something really different from the ruins, this is the Tour! The area is incredible and the landscape is beautiful. Throughout the journey, you will discover the magic and charm of these great sites, learn about the Inca Civilization, have the opportunity to learn how local people still work in the salt mine. Don’t miss the opportunity to get salt with your own hands!
Itinerary
DAY 1: CUSCO CITY-MORAY-MARAS SALT MINES-CUSCO CITY.
Our itinerary begins with our pick-up at 8:00am at the fountain in Cusco City’s Main Square, the meeting point for all our tourists. Once we are all gathered we will board our transport, heading north towards the Sacred Valley for approximately 1 hour, until reaching the Archaeological site of MORAY; these are gigantic agricultural terraces in a circular shape similar to holes, with their respective water channels that serve for irrigation; these terraces served as an agricultural experimental center for a variety of crops. Once the tour with your guide is over, we will board our transport for 30 minutes and then head towards the MARAS Salt Mines and see a white landscape up close. These are platforms of white ponds, made up of more than 4,000 pools of salt water that are filled with a spring and undergo the evaporation process and after, it is ready to be used by humans.
Once the visit to the Maras Salt Mines is over, we will board our transport back to Cusco City, on the way we will visit the textile center of Chincheros, where the residents will kindly demonstrate their dyeing and weaving. There you can take the chance to buy handicrafts and souvenirs.
Arrival time in Cusco City 1:30pm
Tour duration: Half day.
Hike Difficulty: Easy.
Climate: Warm and/or Humid.
Altitudes of the Hike: Cusco at 2,900 meters above sea level. Maras and Moray at 3,400 meters above sea level.
Included services
THIS TOUR INCLUDES
- Pick up from the Plaza de Armas (Main Square).
- Tourist transport.
- Professional English-speaking guide.
- All entrance tickets to the archaeological sites.
What should you bring
LIST OF PERSONAL ITEMS TO BRING
Many people assume that the weather is warm in South America, but in the higher altitude area of the Andes, temperature can be quite cold, especially at night. So we give you the complete list to organize your backpack in advance. Please check out this list and remember that everything is very important for the success of your Tour.
Documents
- Original passport.
- Valid student card, if you are a student.
- Travel Coupon or Voucher issued by our Company.
Essentials
- Small backpack.
- Some snacks such as: cookies, candies, chocolates, cereals, fruits, among others.
- Extra cash, if you want to buy some souvenirs from the Tour.
Clothes and shoes
- Waterproof clothing: rain jacket and/or poncho.
- Hat to cover yourself from the Sun.
- Hiking boots or Comfortable Sneakers.
Pharmaceutical products
- Personal medications.
- Insect repellent.
- Sunscreen.
- Lip cream.
Other items
- Sunglasses.
- Photo camera.
- Rubber-tipped walking sticks (optional).
* If you have any Questions or Queries about the Items you should take to this Tour, please contact us at WhatsApp: +51 984 525 006 / +51 984 683 047 or write to: info@incredibleperutours.com
Frequent questions
FREQUENT QUESTIONS
Here you will find the Most Frequently Asked Questions from our Clients. Before asking anything, we invite you to carefully read these questions and answers, as well as all our links about this Tour. This will help you obtain valuable information in a simple, fast and practical way.
1. HOW DO I BOOK THIS TOUR?
Booking this Tour with Us will really be very safe, easy and practical, you will also enjoy Payment Facilities such as Paying for your Excursion up to 1 day before the Tour and in 2 Parts:
- You can pay the First Installment online from the comfort of your house by making a Prepayment with any Credit or Debit Card (cost of the tour + 5% Visa commission) our safe and reliable money transfer system. (Click on the Reserve link). If you cannot pay online, please request your online payment link to WhatsApp: +51 984 525 006
1. Fill out the Reservation Form: It is in the Reserve link.
2. Print your Travel Coupon (Voucher): We will send it to you immediately after you have made your Payment.
2. ARE THERE DISCOUNTS FOR CHILDREN AND STUDENTS?
Yes, for this Tour we offer discounts and special rates for infants, children and students.
- Infants under 2 years old in the company of their parents travel for free.
- Children between 3 and 8 years old have a discount of USD$8.00 only by sending a scanned copy of the Passport at the time of the Reservation.
- Students also have a discount of USD$8.00 in the following cases:
→ School and College Students – For young people between 9 and 17 years old, only by sending a scanned copy of the Passport at the time of Reservation.
→ University Students – For young people up to 25 years old, only by sending a scanned copy of the Valid University Card. We accept all University Cards from all Universities in the World (Students aged 26 and over are considered adults).
3. HOW MUCH SHOULD I TIP THE GUIDE?
Tips are not mandatory, there is no exact amount. Only if you wish, at the end of the tour you can give tips for the tour guides, cooks and porters. As you can see, this is something additional and totally voluntary, really what you consider will be greatly appreciated by our Staff.
4. DO I NEED TO BRING ADDITIONAL MONEY TO THE TOUR?
Yes, if you want to buy snacks such as cookies, dried fruit, chocolates, etc. or an additional drink such as soda or an energy beverage, for it is possible to purchase these products in small stores. Additionally, you can buy handicrafts and souvenirs..
5. IF I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS, CAN I CONTACT INCREDIBLE PERU TOURS?
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
You can contact us anytime, we are available 24/7. We will be very happy to assist, call us at Cell: +51 984 525 006 / WhatsApp: +51 984 683 047 or send us an email to: info@incredibleperutours.com. You can also check the Contact Us link on this website.
6. WHY SHOULD I BOOK MY TOUR WITH INCREDIBLE PERU TOURS?
There are very good reasons to Book your Excursion with Us, let’s look at some:
- Very good location of Our Travel Office that allows better coordination at any time. We are located in Cusco City’s Historic Downtown, just 1 block from the Main Square (Plaza de Armas).
- Excursion organized by an Authorized Peruvian Tourism Agency. We are 100% local workers. We are very proud to be Peruvian and have the great opportunity to share our Culture with you, with more than 15 years of experience organizing the best tours to the most incredible tourist destinations in our region. We have all our documentation updated and in order, complying with all procedures and formalities before the Local Government, thus being a Travel Agency recognized as an Authorized Operator of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, this provides you with support and safety. It also guarantees our seriousness and commitment to your satisfaction, which will be achieved with great responsibility and enormous pleasure.
- The Best Price for your trip and without hidden charges. Getting the best price is great and getting the best value is even better. We provide an All Inclusive Service trip at an affordable price, offering you the best Deals. We save you searching time with our Low Price Guarantee. How do we achieve this?… Simply because we are the Direct Tour Operator, managing the costs of the business at a local level and employing local people who will conduct your tour and without any intermediaries.
- Travel with Experts: The best Tour Guides, Cooks and Porters in the region. Our Support Staff, locally known as “The Steel Team” is highly trained to assist all types of groups, families, friends, couples and all those who love outdoor activities.
- High Quality Equipment for your Tour. From a simple trekking pillow to the most sophisticated walking stick, through the most comfortable sleeping tents and the best quality sleeping bags that guarantee a good rest. We buy new equipment every year, with a 2-year rotation, constantly looking for the best brands that are the most comfortable and safe for your trip.
- Excellent meals – All included. You don’t have to worry about food, because we include all meals during the entire Trek. Our chef will impress you with the quality of the food prepared in a small tent and small kitchen. All meals are prepared with fresh ingredients, we do not use canned or dehydrated foods. In addition, there is the possibility of preparing vegetarian or special diets according to your needs, free of extra charge.
- Safe and guaranteed departures. We are the only Tour Operator that guarantees all departures, since we operate 100% of our treks. Other agencies hope to have enough clients to start an Excursion. Even if we only have a single traveler for a Travel Date, this trip will be operated by us at the prices listed on this website and without surcharge. Normally our groups are small, and average 4 to 8 people.
- We treat our travel staff in the best way and are committed to social projects in our region. We practice good treatment for our workers. That is why we provide Inca Trail tickets, accommodation, transportation, uniforms and good food for all our staff. The cooks and porters have paid Health Insurance and all of them have reasonable salaries according to the work they do. We are also committed to social program projects that bring benefits for children in local communities in Health and Education, which helps to improve their living conditions.
- We practice Sustainable and Responsible Tourism. We are an eco-friendly company, committed to the environment and the sustainable use of ecological resources, which must have a minimal impact from Tourism activities. An important measure is that our kitchen staff uses biodegradable dishwasher detergents. We also constantly take part in Cleaning Campaigns for the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
Personalized Service and Support. When you ask a question, we will always respond. We are here to help provide personalized care and support. Call or email our contact center from anywhere, anytime.
Availability and prices
GROUP PRICE (15 to 20 people)
USD$40.00 per adult (17 years or older)
USD$35.00 per child or student (5-17 years old)
USD$0.00 per infant (0-5 years) – Free, traveling with his parents.
If you want a PRIVATE SERVICE, please request a quote via WhatsApp: +51 984 525 006
TO CONSIDER:
Please take into consideration the following points:
- Prices are shown in American dollars (USD$) and are per person.
- If you are thinking of traveling alone, please contact us to offer you a place in an organized group.
- Please note that this tour requires a minimum of 2 adults.
- Our passion is group travel, so if you are coming with friends, family or children, please get in touch to offer you our promotions.
- Our company also has promotions and discounts for student groups. Please contact us to receive our offers.
- For your peace of mind and comfort, our tours do not have any hidden charges or expenses.
- If you are interested in doing this route and want to reserve, or would like more information, please contact us:
- Cell: +51 984 525 006
- WhatsApp: +51 984 683 047
