Maras & Moray Day Trip from Cusco: Salt Mines & Inca Terraces (2026)
Two of the Sacred Valley’s most photogenic sights sit close together and make one easy half-day trip: Maras, a hillside of thousands of shimmering salt pools, and Moray, the Incas’ mysterious circular terraces that worked like an open-air agricultural laboratory. Neither is a hard climb, and together they’re one of the best-value outings near Cusco.
Here’s everything you need to plan it.
Quick Answer
- What: the Maras salt pans (~3,200 m) and Moray’s circular terraces (~3,500 m), in the Sacred Valley.
- How long: about a half day (~6 hours); often combined into a full Sacred Valley tour.
- Price: roughly $35 for the half-day; ~$55+ for a full Sacred Valley day with lunch.
- Effort: easy walking — great for anyone, and gentle on the altitude.
Moray: The Inca Agricultural Laboratory
Moray is a set of vast concentric circular terraces carved into a natural bowl, the deepest dropping about 30 m below the rim. What makes it extraordinary: the temperature difference between the top and bottom rings can reach up to 15 °C, creating distinct microclimates on each level.
Archaeologists believe the Incas used Moray to experiment with crops — testing plants from across their empire at different simulated altitudes and climates. Standing in the middle, the scale and precision are genuinely striking.
Moray sits at about 3,500 m.
Maras: The Salt Pans
A short drive away, the Maras salt mines are a hillside covered in more than 3,000 salt evaporation pools, fed by a natural salty spring and worked exactly as they have been since before the Inca Empire — no machinery, no chemicals, no changes to the original hydraulic design.
Today the pools are still managed by hundreds of local families. The effect, especially in afternoon light, is a mosaic of white, ochre and pink terraces cascading down the slope. You can buy the pink salt on site straight from the source.
Maras sits at about 3,200 m — lower than Cusco.
The Typical Tour
Most tours run like this:
- Hotel pickup in Cusco around 8:00–8:30 AM
- Scenic drive into the Sacred Valley
- Visit Moray’s terraces (guided walk)
- Drive to Maras and walk among the salt pools
- Return to Cusco by early afternoon (half-day), or continue to Chinchero / a Sacred Valley lunch on a full-day tour
Total time is about six hours for the half-day version.
Prices & Tickets (2026)
- Half-day Maras & Moray: from around $35 per person.
- Full Sacred Valley day (adding Chinchero/Ollantaytambo/Pisac + buffet lunch): from around $55.
Note the site entrances: Moray is covered by the Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico), while the Maras salt mines charge a separate small fee (a few soles) not included in the tourist ticket. Carry small cash in soles.
Altitude & What to Bring
Both sites are around Cusco’s elevation or a little lower, and the walking is easy — so this is a gentle, altitude-friendly outing, ideal for early in your trip while you acclimatize (see our altitude sickness in Cusco guide).
Bring: sun protection (the high-altitude sun is strong and the salt pans reflect it), a hat and sunglasses, water, a light layer, small soles for the Maras entrance, and your camera — this is one of the most photogenic stops in the region.
How to Combine It
Maras & Moray pairs naturally with the rest of the Sacred Valley. Many travelers do it as part of, or alongside, the classic Sacred Valley full-day tour (Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero). Because it’s lower and easy, it’s also a smart acclimatization day before Machu Picchu or the high hikes — see how many days to spend in Cusco for sequencing.
How to Book
At Viajes Peru Tour we run Maras & Moray as a relaxed half-day or as part of a full Sacred Valley experience, with hotel pickup, a guide, and the entrance logistics handled. Tell us your dates and whether you want to add lunch and more valley stops.
Check Maras & Moray tour availability →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Maras Moray tour? A half-day trip from Cusco combining Moray’s circular Inca agricultural terraces with the Maras salt mines — thousands of salt pools worked by hand since pre-Inca times. It’s easy walking and highly photogenic.
How much does the Maras & Moray tour cost? Around $35 for the half-day version, or about $55+ for a full Sacred Valley day that includes more stops and lunch. Maras charges a separate small entrance fee in cash.
How high are Maras and Moray? Moray is about 3,500 m and Maras about 3,200 m — around or just below Cusco’s altitude, with easy walking, so it’s a gentle outing.
Do I need the Cusco Tourist Ticket? Moray is included in the Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico). The Maras salt mines charge a separate small fee not covered by that ticket, so bring a little cash in soles.
Is Maras & Moray worth it? Yes — it’s one of the best-value, most scenic outings near Cusco, and easy enough for anyone. It also works well as an early acclimatization day.
Can I combine it with the Sacred Valley? Absolutely. It’s commonly done as part of a full Sacred Valley tour with Chinchero, Ollantaytambo and Pisac.
