Maras Moray and Chinchero Half-Day Tour

Tour Description

The Maras, Moray, and Chinchero tour is a fantastic half-day experience to explore different landscapes around Cusco as you prepare for the long trip to Machu Picchu. We start visiting the circular terraces at Moray, explore the picturesque town of Maras, count the thousands of salt pools at the Salineras, and visit Chinchero for a textile demonstration and its archaeological site.

Highlights of Maras, Moray & Chinchero Tour

• Book with Confidence and Flexibility
• Visit important Inca sites in Chinchero and Moray.
• Explore the Salineras and see more than 3,000 salt pools.
• Learn traditional techniques from Andean weavers, women descendants of the Incas.
• Visit Maras, the “city of portraits” and former major salt producer.

Full Description of the Tour

After being collected from your hotel in Cusco at 8:00 am, you’ll drive to Moray, meandering through lush fields of potato, wheat, and high Andean villages. Moray is located at 3,450 m / 11,318 ft, where we find impressive Inca remains with beautiful circular terraced depressions used as an agricultural laboratory by the Incas.

Next, you’ll stop in the town of Maras, a colonial settlement built during the Spanish invasion to exploit the nearby salt mines. In town you can see traditional architecture and a beautiful church built around 1650.

When you finish exploring Maras, you’ll continue driving for about 20 more minutes to the Salineras and explore more than 3,000 salt ponds where the villagers of Maras have harvested salt for centuries, even before the Incas. The harvesting process is through evaporation and takes up to a month.

Later, continue to Chinchero, a small rustic town dedicated to agriculture and textiles and famous for its colorful market. Local women will show you how they wash, dye, spin, and weave their traditional garments using ancient techniques. After visiting the market and having time for shopping, you’ll drive back to Cusco, arriving just in time for lunch around 1:00 pm.

What’s Included

• Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Cusco.
• Private, comfortable transportation (round trip).
• Professional tour guide.
• Entrance tickets to all the places we visit (Moray, Salineras, Chinchero).

Not Included

• Meals (not included).
• Tips for your staff.

Places We Visit on This Tour

Chinchero (Land of great weavers). Located at 3,760 m, Chinchero is famous for its local market, colonial church, and agricultural terraces. The inhabitants are dedicated to farming (mainly potatoes) and textiles, producing some of the best fabrics in the region using Andean designs, natural dyes, and traditional tools.

Moray (Greenhouses). Located at about 3,500 m, this stunning archaeological site is composed of four circular terraces that look like Roman amphitheaters, built into huge natural depressions. The deepest one is about 30 meters. Although the exact purpose is unknown, it is believed the terraces were used for agricultural experimentation and crop adaptation.

Salt Mines (Salineras of Maras). Located near the town of Maras, with over 3,000 salt ponds. The Salineras have been in use since pre-Inca times. The villagers of Maras harvest salt using an evaporation system, irrigating the ponds every day for up to a month. Once the salt layer is thick enough (about 10 cm), they harvest and take it to local markets. Each family owns a certain number of ponds, and together they form a local company called
MARASAL.

What You Need to Take

• Extra money for souvenirs.
• Rain gear and warm clothes.
• Sunscreen and insect repellent.
• Water and a small snack.
• Camera.

Important to Know Before Booking

• A minimum of two people is required to start the tour.
• Shopping opportunities are available—bring some cash if you plan to buy textiles or souvenirs.
• This is a half-day tour only.

Cancellation policy:
You can cancel this tour up to 48 hours before departure and receive a full refund.

Covid-19 Measures to Keep You Safe

• Temperature checks for all travelers may be required according to local regulations.
• Face masks required for travelers and staff in public areas when mandated.
• Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff at all times.
• High-traffic areas and equipment sanitized regularly between uses.
• Maximum eight people per group to reduce crowds; larger groups are split into smaller teams.
• Transportation and some touristic sites may operate at reduced capacity.
• Printed material such as maps or vouchers will be avoided where possible.
• 100% online payments with no booking fees.
• Flexible bookings during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Price & Booking

Price

Price per person: 110 USD

How to Book

To book the Maras Moray & Chinchero Tour, you need to make an initial payment of 50 USD per person. The remaining balance can be paid online, in installments, or in Cusco with any credit card, with no booking fees at all.