Peru/Sacred Valley – Maras & Moray

In every agency in town you can book a half day trip to Maras and Moray. Be careful to check what is included in the price! I found a cheap price (30 soles) but I ended up having to walk 20 min outside of the city center to get to a hue tourist bus with 30 other people. Not that I mind but the whole trip was kind of rushed because the guide seemed more interested in respecting his timing. Agencies can’t fill in a whole bus so operators gather different groups together, which means you have no guaranty choosing one agency over another. Big buses are not allowed in the city center but bus mini vans are so try finding a tour with a smaller group, should be more comfortable.

The tour starts with a quick stop in an artisanal textile production in Chinchero. Local women will show you how they prepare the wool and how they obtain the different colors with natural elements (plant parasites, flowers, corn, etc.). It was actually fun and interesting! And then, of course, you are directed towards the souvenir shop.

Next stop: Moray, the Incan agricultural laboratory that was likely used to cultivate resistant and hearty varieties of plants high in the Andes. You’ll get to see up close how advanced the Incas were in their agricultural techniques, such as the terracing system.

This site is part of the boleto turistico (see boleto turistico article).

There is then a quick bathroom stop at Moras, and you can already buy Maras salt and salted products such as chocolate. It’s a bit cheaper than at the Salineras so it’s actually not a bad idea to buy your souvenirs here!

And then we finally arrive to the Salineras. It’s actually pretty impressive and nice to walk around the ancient salt evaporation ponds which have been in use since the Inca times!

To enter Maras, you’ll have to pay an entrance fee of 10 soles.

As a conclusion, I’d say this tour is interesting and a nice way to spend half a day if you have enough time in Cusco, but I wouldn’t say it’s a must see if you’re on a tight schedule.