Home » Sacred Valley Tours » Moray & Maras Salt Mines Tour From Ollantaytambo, Perú: Journey to the Heart of the Sacred Valley
Looking for a half-day tour from Ollantaytambo? Join us for a unique experience to Maras and Moray, two of the most unique and fascinating destinations in the Sacred Valley of.Peru This excursion is perfect for travelers short on time or for anyone wishing to explore more of the Sacred Valley without returning to Cusco.
On this journey, you will visit the impressive agricultural terraces of Moray and the famous Salineras de Maras, where thousands of salt ponds have been harvested since pre-Inca times.
Don’t miss this quick adventure from Ollantaytambo, book your spot now and explore Maras & Moray like a local!
If you'd like to customize this trip, our travel specialists will create the perfect tour for you.
Our Maras and Moray tour from Ollantaytambo offers the perfect blend of history, nature, and beautiful landscapes. This tour is ideal for those looking to make the most of their time in the Sacred Valley, allowing you to explore two must-see sites in Peru.
Looking for an unique adventure that combines nature, history and cultural immersion? Look no further than our customized Maras Moray tour from Ollantaytambo! We understand that each traveler has different needs and interests, which is why we offer a tour that can be tailored to your preferences. Let us guide you through an extraordinary adventure that will leave you with unforgettable memories.
MORAY RUINS: During our tour from Ollantaytambo you will visit the impressive ruins of Moray, known for its unique concentric circular terraces. These ancient agricultural terraces were used by the Incas to experiment with crops and adapt plants to different climatic conditions. On our tour we will take a short hike around the site to enjoy panoramic views and better understand the advanced agricultural techniques of the Incas.

Exploring the enicmatic ruins of Moray
THE SALT MINES: Explore the fascinating salt mines of Maras, a network of ancient salt evaporation ponds that are still in use. As you visit this amazing place, you will witness the traditional salt extraction methods dating back to Inca times. During our visit, we will also enjoy a salt demonstration, where you can taste various types of salt and learn about its unique qualities and uses.

View of the Salt Mines of Maras
Learn more in-depth from our local guides with best private Moray and Maras Salt Mines tour from Ollantaytambo.
NOTE: You can begin your journey with a visit to the amazing ruins of Ollantaytambo, just let us know when booking and we extend the tour. If we conclude in Cusco, let yourself be captivated by a visit to an authentic alpaca farm, where you can interact with alpacas and llamas and learn about traditional textile production.
This tour is ideal for visitors who want to escape the crowds of the Classic Sacred Valley tours from Cusco or returning from visiting Machu Picchu.
Discover one of the most stunning Inca heritage sites in the Sacred Valley of Perú with local experts. secure your spot now with the best team.
Enjoy a private Moray and Maras Salt Mines tour from Ollantaytambo or Urubamba in a half day trip. For the Maras Moray tour from Ollantaytambo you pick the places you want to visit or include into the tour when booking:
You choose when you want to start the tour
Experience personalized service for an unforgettable journey.
We offer stop offs en route for pictures
Take your time to take pictures or enjoy the views.
Avoid the 30+ people bilinguial group services.
Avoid the shopping stop tours to the Sacred Valley (We ask first).
Let us design a tailor-made trip that will exceed your expectations and leave you with memories to last a lifetime. Here is the plan for the tour, take a look.
Our Half Day Tour to Maras and Moray ruins from Ollantaytambo starts with a convenient pick-up service at 8:00 am directly from your hotel in the town of Ollantaytambo.
As we embark on our journey from Ollantaytambo to Maras, you will marvel at the breathtaking scenery that displays the natural beauty of the Sacred Valley. The scenic drive will captivate your senses, allowing you to immerse yourself in the breathtaking Andean landscape. Once there, you will be guided by our expert guide, who will provide you with in-depth information about the fascinating process of salt production in this extraordinary place.
During our full exploration of the ruins of Moray, which usually has a duration of an hour, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the mysteries of the site. Accompanied by our expert guide, you will embark on a leisurely walk through the area, allowing you to fully absorb the breathtaking panoramic views and gain an in-depth insight into the cultural and historical significance of Moray.
To enhance our adventure, you will have the unique opportunity to enjoy a tasting of chicha, a fermented corn-based beverage with a historical background as a sacred drink of the Incas. This experience adds a tasty and cultural dimension to your trip, allowing you to savor the traditions associated with this ancient beverage.
If your tour concludes in Cusco, you can visit the Chinchero alpaca farm, a visit not to be missed. Here you will be immersed in the local culture as you interact with members of the community and learn about their textile production processes, steeped in ancient traditions and techniques. This engaging experience offers a unique opportunity to connect with the local way of life and deepen your appreciation for Andean handicrafts.
Our tour ends at approximately 12:30, this is based on what time we start and the places we will visit. You can be dropped off at your hotel or wherever you specify.
This is the detailed schedule of our half day tour from Ollantaytambo, including visits to the Salt Mines of Maras, chicha tasting, and the ruins of Moray, all while making sure to be back by 1:00 PM.
Take a journey through time on a tour to Maras Salt Mines and Moray from Ollantaytambo, Peru. Experience the traditions and customs of this remarkable culture, while exploring some of its most enchanting sites.

Moray Ruins in the Sacred Valley of Peru
This is a wonderful half-day tour to explore part of the Sacred Valley. You will see incredible views of the Urubamba Mountains, and the Andes mountain range. On this half-day trip, you will be taught about agriculture, textiles, and the history of the Incas.
The Maras Salt Mine and Moray tour begins with a pick up at 8:00 a.m. sharp. You will be picked up at the hotel lobby in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba, by your guide. You will be taken on a road that winds around the mountains north of the Sacred Valley. On the way, we will stop at a lookout point. From there, we will be able to see the Urubamba Valley and gain some insight into Inca culture.
You’ll then be taken to Moray ruins, where a mysterious Inca archaeological site is located. A fascinating and unique ruin, a fabulous green house, composed of circular agricultural terraces that was used as an agricultural experimental laboratory site by the Incas. Here they produced new varieties of their crops at different elevations.
When you have finished exploring Moray, you will head about 2.5 miles away to the Salt Mines of Maras. Believe it or not there are over 6,000 salt pans carved into the mountain side, that are filled daily by a stream of water.
Note: (According to the regulations established by the Maras community, it will no longer be possible to enter the Salt Pond area due to contamination. It will only be observed through a lookout poitn).
At the end of the tour if you wish to return to your hotel in Ollantaytambo we will drop you off there but if you wish to be dropped off in Cusco then we will visit a local family on our way to Cusco, there, you will see a demonstration of how to make beautiful natural alpaca wool sweaters. (Optional).
Our tour ends at 12:30 pm at your hotel in Ollantaytambo and at 1:00 pm if you wish to be dropped off in Cusco.
Easy / Beginner
5 Hours
Yes, (before 72 hours of the activity)
We want you to enjoy this tour to the fullest, that’s why we want to provide you with as much information as possible so that you don’t have to worry about anything. Note that in Cusco 2 seasons exist throughout the year, the wet season and the dry season.
The price for our Moray Salt Mines tour from Ollantaytambo is in private service, only for you and your party.
The tour of Moray and Salt Mines from Ollantaytambo is not a very common tour, as all day tours to the Sacred Valley depart from Cusco, not from Ollantaytambo. That is why this tour is only offered on a private tour.
Important: Note that this is a “half day” tour NOT a full day. Our tour does not include the visit to Ollantaytambo ruins, if you want to include it to the tour pay 5 USD extra per person.
Book our private Maras Salt Mines and Moray tour for 40 US dollars and pay the rest the day of the activity. Once you have made the deposit you will receive a confirmation email for the tour that you made a deposit. The total balance must be paid in cash at your hotel before the start of your trip.
If this is a last minute reservation, you can pay in full on the day of the tour.
Free Cancellation: For a full refund, you must cancel at least 48 hours before the tour.
Will was our guide and he was wonderful! The tour was everything we hoped for. The day was filled with so much and Will made sure we were having the best time we could. Ask for Will- he was wonderful!
My sister and I were referred to Come See Peru from a friend, and we are so grateful for the referral. We did the Sacred Valley Cultural Experience. Carlos (our guide) and Michael (our driver) were knowledgeable, flexible, and fun!
Here are a few specific aspects that I would like to mention:
1. Flexible. We really appreciated the flexibility that we were afforded. We did our half day Sacred Valley trip in between accommodation switches. So we were picked up in Ollantaytambo and dropped off in Cusco. Additionally, we had to be picked up a bit later than the original start time, and Carlos and Michael were happy to accommodate.
2. Informative. Carlos expertly led us around the three sites we visited (Ollantaytambo ruins, The Salt Mines, The ruins of Moray). He actually took us in an order that allowed for there to be less tourists when we were present, which was really nice. He provided us with historical context and answered all of our questions.
3. Patient. Carlos and Michael gave us time to sit in the beauty that is these amazing locations. Carlos is a wonderful photographer as well and offered to take our picture at some really neat places in each location. When we did the Chicha tasting and salt demonstration, they waited while we shopped. We never felt rushed, which we appreciated.
4. Fun! Overall, we had a really good time with Carlos and Michael. We chatted and laughed about all sorts of things. We appreciated the private tour aspect so we could really go at our own flow and connect and just enjoy.
Thank you Carlos and Michael for a lovely exploration of the Sacred Valley! You will be at the top of our list when we return to see Pisac and Chinchero!
Wow! I booked a customizable 2-day tour to include all of the main Sacred Valley sights because I wanted to start the first day in Cusco and end in Ollantaytambo and use the tour as transportation as well. Come See Peru was so easy to work with, communicating extremely quickly via WhatsApp to design my perfect itinerary. They also suggested some stops that I did not know about.
Our guide Ruben was positively incredible and really made this tour amazing. He presented the history, culture, geography, & food information in such a compelling way! We learned SO MUCH because he is an incredible storyteller. None of the main sites (moray, maras, ollantaytambo, etc) have much signage and we wouldn’t have been able to appreciate them half as well without Ruben. He was also an amazing photographer, always choosing the best locations to take photos of my husband and I.
The vehicle was a comfortable van, which was private, and we had a driver who dropped off and picked up whenever we needed and also stayed with our luggage the day that it was in the car.
Overall, the price was fair for the value received and I would definitely recommend reaching out to Come See Peru to build a customized tour for your trip to the Sacred Valley!
My wife, and I actually took three tours in three dayswith Come See Peru. This were for Machu Picchu, Pisac / Llama farm and the half-day tour on the outskirts of Cusco. The company provided excellent tour guides and took care of every detail, so that our tours were totally stressed free.
When booking a tour with Come See Peru, you agree to all our terms and conditions.
Come See Peru is a Local Operator based in Cusco city, located in Av. San Sebastian, Calle Independencia – B-4 Peru. Please email us at info@comeseeperutours.com or call our team at +9696760991
Legal name: COMESEEPERUTOURS E.I.R.L
RUC: 20608161156
Your reservation is confirmed and a contract exists when we have issued a written confirmation upon receipt of the corresponding deposit amount. Please check your confirmation carefully and inform us immediately of any incorrect or incomplete information.
We use PayPal as the most secure payment method for our customers. We need a minimum of 40 US dollars to secure your reservation. The cost of the tour does not include the PalPal commission which must be paid by the buyer. (PayPal charges a 7% feet).
The confirmation we will send you will contain details of the final payment required for any reservation. Payment of the balance of the price of any tour booked must be paid in CASH 1 day prior to the departure date or on the day of the activity on which you are picked up.
You can cancel up to 48 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. After this time, or in case you do not show up, no refunds will be given. For more information please contact us at info@comeseeperutours.com
We know you have questions about our tour, here we have some common questions from our customers, if you do not find your question contact us.
The main highlights of the Maras Moray tour from Ollantaytambo include visits to the Maras Salt Mines and the archaeological site of Moray with a Chicha tasting in Maras.
The Maras Moray tour from Ollantaytambo usually lasts for about half a day, however you can extend it to full day as you add more places to see into the itinerary.
At Moray, visitors can expect to see a series of concentric agricultural terraces believed to have been used by the Incas for agricultural experimentation.
Yes, Our tour includes an additional stop at a local alpaca farm in Chinchero, offering visitors the chance to interact with the animals and learn about traditional textile production.
Considering your stay in Ollantaytambo, the probability of suffering from altitude sickness is minimal. However, we recommend staying well hydrated during the entire tour by drinking plenty of water.
The weather in the Sacred Valley area tends to be temperate, dry and warm for most of the year. However, the best time to visit Maras Moray is during the dry season, which runs from May to September. At this time, the skies are clear and temperatures are pleasant.
Our Maras and Moray day trip from Ollantaytambo does not cover entrance fees; they must be purchased on the day of the activity.
Ollantaytambo and the sites of Maras and Moray are must-see destinations if you are staying in Ollantaytambo, rich in history and breathtaking scenery. This guide provides essential information for travelers wishing to explore these incredible places from Ollantaytambo.
Ollantaytambo, located in Peru’s Sacred Valley, is an enchanting town that offers a captivating glimpse into the region’s rich cultural heritage. It is famous for its impressive Inca ruins, including the magnificent Ollantaytambo fortress, which features intricate stone masonry and terracing. The town has attractive cobblestone streets, traditional adobe houses and a lively local market. Ollantaytambo also acts as a gateway to the world famous Machu Picchu, with train services departing from there.
Ollantaytambo is one of the few places in Peru that preserves its original Inca urbanism, more than 50% of the buildings are still original from the Inca period. The city was an important military, agricultural and religious center during the Inca Empire and houses impressive archaeological ruins, if you are wondering if it is worth visiting Ollantaytambo and its surroundings then of course it is.
Travelers can explore cobblestone streets, traditional adobe houses and the ruins that dominate the city. The fortress has enormous stone terraces, elaborate temples and breathtaking views of the Sacred Valley.
Distance from Cusco: Approximately 72 km (45 miles)
Altitude: Ollantaytambo is about 2,792 meters above sea level or (9,157 feet).
The best time to visit Ollantaytambo is the dry season, from May to September. However, if you want to avoid the high tourist season, we recommend visiting Ollantaytambo in September and October. During these months, the skies are still clear and temperatures are mild, making it ideal for hiking and exploring the area.
The salt mines of Maras are a unique spectacle made up of thousands of salt evaporation ponds, dating back to pre – Inca times. Here the locals still extract salt using traditional methods which are still practiced today.
Moray is an archaeological site known for its circular terraces, according to studies Moray could have been an Inca agricultural laboratory. The different microclimates of each level allowed different plants to adapt to higher altitudes, which makes it a fascinating place for history and agriculture lovers.
Distance from Ollantaytambo to Maras: Approximately 10 km (6 miles)
Distance from Maras to Moray: Approximately 7 km (4.3 miles)
Elevation: Moray is about 3,500 meters above sea level, while Maras is about 3,300 meters.
Adaptation to altitude: If you visit Maras and Moray from Ollantaytambo no prior acclimatization is necessary as Ollantaytambo is at a lower altitude than Cusco. We recommend staying hydrated at all times during your exploration.
Transportation: Hire a local guide or join a tour for easier access to Maras and Moray. Public transportation options are available, but may be less convenient. We recommend taking a private tour from Ollantaytambo.
Cash: Carry cash to buy entrance tickets to Moray and the Salt Mines.
Dress comfortably: Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress in layers, as temperatures can vary throughout the day.
Come See Peru has earned TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for consistently receiving 5-star reviews of our tours in Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tours. This recognition highlights our exceptional service and dedicated attention to our clients.
Posted on Heather RVerified Stunning Sacred Valley We had an outstanding time in our private tour with Carlos and Michael. Better than expected. Beautiful county and they took great care of us! Sacred Valley is a must!Posted on Teri GVerified Sacred Valley Lovely Day Will was our guide and he was wonderful! The tour was everything we hoped for. The day was filled with so much and Will made sure we were having the best time we could. Ask for Will- he was wonderful!Posted on Jaydina BVerified Been on many tours, would have to say this tour was one of best tours that we’ve been on for the last 25 years This company was quick to respond on setting up our tour to sacred valley from Ollantaytambo. The expert guide Carlos who accompanied us was outstanding informative, and entertaining. He knew his history and answered all of our questions on the ruins we visited. He brought us to the perfect spots for taking pictures and making our videos. The itinerary was very well thought out. Their attention to detail is second to none. I would highly recommend this company to anyone wanting an educational and fun tour. they will deliver! I would also like to add that I forgot my camera in the tours car. They found it and returned it back to me at my hotel.Posted on Marcelo CVerified Great Day Tour of Sacred Valley Scheduling the tour on-line was very easy. Communication from tour coordinator was excellent, he helped us plan an extended tour for the day out of Cusco. Our driver and tour guide were great. We had a wonderful day touring around, seeing the sites, learning the history of the area and stopping to get a local drink and purchase some nice souvenirs. I will recommend this tour group to my friends and family.Posted on Ginette PVerified Wonderful half-day tour from Ollantaytambo! Our half-day tour of the Moray Ruins & Salt Flats was amazing. From the time of booking to the completion of our tour, the communication was great. We were picked up at our hotel punctually as discussed (and dropped off afterwards within the timeframe). From there, Carlos our guide provided us with a lot of interesting information and was always willing to take pictures of us or even make extra stops so that we can capture the beautiful landscapes around us. Enough time was allowed at every stop which was much appreciated. Our driver Christobal also assured that we were safe with his great driving skills. But the thing we appreciated the most was that the tour was available from Ollantaytambo (shorter drive than from Cusco) and that we were able to only have our small family group of 4 people for the tour. We would definitely recommend this tour to others.GinettePosted on Sun-Woong KVerified Get Carlos and Rene! Great experience Carlos was an exceptional tour guide with great insight, great English, and very accommodating. Also gave us tips for our other destinations. Tour was informative, not intense walk, and facts were fun. He recommended a great restaurant too which we all enjoyed. Would definitely recommend. Rene was the driver, ride was smooth, efficient, and he was very helpful with luggage.Posted on DubaigatewaysVerified Excellent Pisac guide and tour. A very entertaining and comprehensive tour ( from Cusco to Pisac to Ollantaytambo) excellently delivered by our guide Carlos. A fabulous day, and we cannot recommend him more highly!Posted on Judy HVerified Outstanding tour. Don't miss learning more about Sacred Valley with a pro guide/driver This was our second half-day tour with our guide Carlos and his sidekick (driver) Rene, who was an expert navigator through some very narrow roadways and along mountain trails. On this day we visited the ruins of Olantaytambo, Pisac, and the Pisac market. As we were passing through Calca, the town famous for cuy, Carlos allowed us to detour so that we could taste it in the most local restaurants where it is made traditionally. We were so grateful to have this experience, which for sure you would miss on a group tour. We are staying in Ollantaytambo, and while we could possibly have visited these ruins on our own, we would have missed so many nuances and history that only a seasoned guide like Carlos could give us. We were thrilled for everything we learned and saw here. I almost felt like nothing could have been better, but the Pisac ruins also are outstanding. Carlos taught us about the architecture and is a great storyteller about so many things we would have glossed over. He pointed out so much valuable information to us that we would have lost with a group tour or self-exploration. Also, you have to do a bit of climbing, and it was helpful to have Carlos's steady hand a time or two during the descent. HIGHLY recommend Come See Peru Tours if you really want to understand about these historic places, the culture of the people, and so much more. We are so glad we added these stops in Sacred Valley to our itinerary. We know they will enhance our time when we get to Machu Picchu.Posted on Judy HVerified Do this tour with Come See Peru Tours! Such a worthwhile experience! Our tour was from Ollantaytambo, not Urubamba, but Carlos (guide) and Rene (driver) provided an outstanding experience. We highly recommend you spend a few days acclimating in Sacred Valley and include the Moray ruins and salt flats on your itinerary. Carlos's English was impeccable and his knowledge of the ruins, the salt flats, and all the areas we were driving through—and more—is vast. We had two smaller stops throughout the day including for some local chocolate and vanilla bread, which was very delicious and also a visit to sample chicha and also learn all about how it is made, we tasted some delicious Peruvian chocolates that were enhanced with salt from Maras along with a few other salted seasoning mixes, which was actually a fun and interesting experience. There is so much more to Peru than Machu Picchu (although we certainly are including that in our trip). But understanding Sacred Valley really is enhancing our trip, and visiting from Ollantaytambo also means that we also were the first to arrive at the salt mines before all the visitors arriving from Cusco, which made our picture taking experience much better! We highly recommend Come See Peru if you are looking for an excellent and rich experience.Posted on Jason SVerified Exceeded Expectations The entire team exceeded our expectations from start to finish. Julio, Renee, Rose, and Rebecca are the best. Detail orientedFriendlyAccommodating ProfessionalThere are many controls in place to keep Machu Picchu special. This team navigated us through them with ease. The tour itself was amazing, and we learned a lot about the Inca civilization. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience. Thank you team. -Jason Sheffey-United StatesVerified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
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