Day 1: Tour to Moray, Maras and Salineras

The tour to the Salineras de Maras and Moray is for those travelers who love to explore and live unique adventures.

You will leave Cusco at around 08:00 am. The first stop will be the weavers' association house in Chinchero. Here local weavers will show you the most exquisite weavings from all over South America. Next, you will travel to the ancient and important Inca agricultural testing station of Moray. Here the Incas built large circular terraces where the temperature changed depending on the altitude. As one descends the terraces, the temperature increases. The Incas had an extraordinary knowledge of climates and microclimates. Plants from all over their Empire were transported here to be adapted to allow them to grow at different elevations.

After finishing our visit to Moray, we will visit the traditional village of Maras. The houses here display different coats of arms belonging to the Inca nobles, who lived here during the Inca and colonial times. Today, Maras is a very traditional village.

Finally, we will visit the Salineras de Maras. This photo-perfect spot consists of over 5,000 small pits where locals collect their salt. Some of these pits are very old, and it is no surprise to learn that the Incas mined salt from this site and this practice continued during the reign of the Spanish viceroys. These days, local people let the salt water flow into depressions they have dug. The sun then evaporates the water, leaving a salt residue that is then collected and sold at the local market. You will finish the tour by returning to Cusco in the afternoon.