Your day will start with a hotel pick up at 8am and we'll get ready to our first visit of the day to Moray. The site contains unusual old buildings, mostly consisting of several enormous terraced circular depressions, the largest of which is about 30 meters (98 ft) deep. The purpose of these depressions is uncertain, but their depth and orientation with respect to wind and sun creates a temperature difference of as much as 15 C (27 F) between the top and bottom. This large temperature difference was possibly used by the Inca to study the effects of different climatic conditions on crops.
Moray was perhaps an Inca agricultural experiment station. As many other Inca sites, it also got a sophisticated irrigation system.
Continue our day visiting Maras salt mines. During the pre-Incas time, salt has been obtained in Maras by evaporating of salty water (provided by a nearby subterranean spring) in the sun, leaving the salt behind. The highly salty water has been flowing from this nearby stream for hundreds of years. A main channel flows across the mountain and trickles down to all the pools below. As the salt water becomes supersaturated, salt crystals begin precipitating out of the water. The farmers then scrape the salt to the side and collect it once a sizable amount has been gathered. Some salt is sold at a nearby gift store. The salt mines are available to any person wishing to harvest salt. There are many unused salt pools that are available to be farmed. Any prospective farmer need only find an unoccupied pool to start working. There are more than 3,000 salt-pools; when light is reflected upon the pools, the effect is quite stunning.
Maras Salt Mines And Moray Archeological Site From Cusco
Tour Information
Key Details
- Mobile Voucher Accepted
- Hotel pickup Available
- Free Cancellation
- Duration: 6 Hrs
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Language:
English
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Departure Time :
8:00 AM
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Departure Details :
Centrally located hotel in Cusco
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Return Details :
Concludes at approx. 3pm at the original departure point
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Cancellation Policy : For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.
Know More about this tour
Inclusions
Local guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Transport by air-conditioned minivan
Exclusions
Food and drinks
Gratuities
Boleto Turistico. The sights are divided into three circuits. Each circuit can be purchased separately or all together as a General Ticket. Cost of the general ticket is S/130 soles (or S/70 for students)
Additional Info
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
Traveler Reviews
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The trip was in the rush, we had the feeling, that it was more a shopping trip. The Maras salt mine and Moray terraces were absolutely stunning!