Hike Moray to Maras
Hike high above the Sacred Valley
A fascinating insight into rural Peru
A beautiful one day hike with fantastic views throughout. You combine the unique Inca site of Moray with the charming colonial village of Maras before heading on down to the stunning salt pans. With a delicious al fresco picnic lunch and stunning views of the snow-capped Urubamba mountain range all day long, this is one of the best day hikes in the area. And one that very few visitors get to do. This half-day tour can be paired with a Lake Huaypo water adventure, a cooking class, or a traditional Andean Pachamanc lunch.
Highlights
- Visit the mysterious circular ruins of Moray
- Enjoy fantastic views of Sacred Valley snow peaks
- Learn about the centuries-old salt extraction process
We head towards Chinchero before taking a dirt road to the incredible ruins of Moray. These rarely visited circular ruins are thought to have been agricultural experimental stations in the times of the Incas.
After visiting the ruins we follow an ancient mule trail with spectacular views of the snow-capped Cordillera Vilcanota. We will also see examples of the finest Andean farming on our way. We head back across the plains to the interesting town of Maras for lunch.
In the afternoon we descend from Maras to the amazing Salinas, a series of salt pans that have been worked since Inca times. We explore this amazing site then descend to the Urubamba river and our awaiting vehicle, which returns us to your hotel for the night.
Distance: 5 or 12 km (3 ¼ or 7 ½ miles)
Time: 1 or 2 ½ hour
Descent: 485m (1600ft)
Altitude: 2900m – 3385m
Included: transport, lunch, entrance fees to saltpans, English-speaking guide
NB: Moray entrance requires a valid Cusco or Sacred Valley Tourist Ticket. If you do not already have one please add 30 U$ pp
