Salinas and Moray. - (half day)

Duration: From 8:30am to 1pm
Frequency: Daily
Price: Please contact us for pricing information.

Maras: Located to the west of Cusco at an altitude of 3,300m. From here it is possible to appreciate the mountain range of Urubamba and the snowed capped peaks of: "La Veronica" (5682 m.s.n.m) and "El

Chicón" (5530 m.s.n.m).

The importance of this town began when the noble cusqueños of the Incas were stripped of their palaces in Cusco and had to leave to settle in other small towns like Maras. The adobe church in Maras is a typical example of provincial religious architecture, the interior of the church houses linen from la escuela cusqueña (the cusco school).
moray: Approximately 7km to the southwest of Maras this archaeological site is unique in the region. Depressions or gigantic natural holes in the surface of the land were used to construct their agricultural terraces complete with their respective channels of irrigation. A very advanced biological experimental station for it's time, the results it produced allowed modern man to inherit 60% of the vegetable products it consumes today. The Andean man produced and consumed over 1, 500 varieties of potatos, 150 types of corn, and many other types of produce.
Salineras: Or "salt mines", located to the northwest of the town of Maras consist of about 3,000 small ponds with an average area of about 5ms ². They have been in use from the time of the Incas. The ponds are filled with salt water that emanates from a natural spring in the top of the mountain, the water evaporates and the salt contained in each pond gradually solidifies. The salt is then harvested and granulated, iodized, packed and shipped to the markets of the region.

Pichingoto: A Quechua community seated in the base of the basalt mountain of "Qoriq'aqya" with houses whose facades are made of adobe but whose interior is carved into the mountain; these caves are still inhabited today, the occupants have electricity and facilities, are educated , and maintain a small catholic chapel. The name of the town comes from "pichinco" = bird, and "q'oto" = goiter; which is the name of the condition caused by iodine deficiency, which was very common in the settlers as they consumed non-iodized salt of the salineras in the past.

Tour includes:

• Guide meets you at your hotel to begin the tour.
• Professional bilingual guide (English/Spanish).
• Transport by tourist bus.
• Returned to your hotel after the tour.

Recommended Items To Carry:

• Photographic equipment.
• Sunglasses, sunscreen and cap/hat.
• Light clothing and weatherproof jacket.
• Water and snacks.