Tour Description
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Duration: 7 hours approx. Tour start: From Cusco Guide language: Spanish / English Difficulty level: Easy – Intermediate Maximum altitude: 3,780 m.a.s.l. (Chinchero)
This cultural tour through the Sacred Valley will take you to discover two of the most fascinating archaeological and historical jewels of the Peruvian Andes. An experience that combines millenary history, ancestral engineering and breathtaking landscapes, perfect for those seeking to connect with the living legacy of the Inca civilization.
We will begin our adventure in Moray, an extraordinary archaeological site that functioned as a sophisticated Inca agricultural laboratory. This complex is formed by concentric circular terraces that descend up to 150 meters deep, creating multiple microclimates with temperature differences of up to 15°C between the upper and lower levels. The Incas used this ingenious infrastructure to experiment with more than 250 plant species, adapting them to different altitudes and climatic conditions before cultivating them throughout the empire. Walking through these terraces is like entering an ancient research center where Andean wisdom reached amazing levels of agricultural knowledge.
We will continue our tour to the spectacular Maras Salt Mines, also known as the "Maras Salt Mines". This impressive ensemble brings together more than 3,000 evaporation pools or ponds that spread like a white mosaic on the mountainside. What is extraordinary about this place is that the salt extracted here is more than 110 million years old, coming from an underground spring of salt water that emerges from the depths of the Qaqawiñay mountain. Local families keep this pre-Hispanic tradition alive from ancestral times, working manually on each pool with techniques transmitted from generation to generation.
The extraction process is completely artisanal: salt water is channeled to shallow pools where, under the Andean sun, it slowly evaporates leaving high-quality pink salt crystals, rich in minerals and valued both nationally and internationally. The visual contrast between the bright white of the salt, the green of the surrounding mountains and the blue of the sky creates one of the most photogenic landscapes in the Sacred Valley.
This tour is much more than a tourist visit: it is an immersion in the ancestral knowledge that allowed the Incas to master agriculture in one of the most diverse territories on the planet, and a living testimony of how Andean communities continue to preserve their millenary traditions. At the end of the tour, we will return to Cusco carrying with us not only memorable photographs, but also a deep connection with the history, culture and nature of the Andes.
Moray: Archaeological complex with circular terraces that functioned as an Inca agricultural laboratory, where more than 250 plant species were experimented with using artificial microclimates with temperature differences of up to 15°C. Maras Salt Mines: Impressive set of more than 3,000 salt pools in continuous exploitation since pre-Hispanic times. The extracted pink salt is 110 million years old and comes from a natural underground spring, being processed artisanally by local families who keep this ancestral tradition alive.
Integrated history and nature: Combines Inca ingenuity with extraordinary natural landscapes in a single cultural tour. Unique places in the world: Ideal for travelers seeking to discover uncommon and less crowded sites. Connection with ancestral knowledge: Brings you closer to the living legacy of Inca wisdom in agriculture and traditional mining. Exceptional photographic experience: Perfect for photography lovers seeking to capture unique landscapes and living culture in action. Authentic culture: Observe how local communities continue to work with millenary techniques transmitted through generations.
This tour is offered in shared and private service depending on the size of your group.
"Check 24 hours before to confirm availability and avoid setbacks".
Urb. Dolorespata, Jr. Paititi F 3ª 270, Santiago-Cusco
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