Sacred Valley & Maras Salt Mines in Peru
This day trip takes you to the best spots in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a beautiful region in the Andes of Peru, just north of Cusco. The best way to explore the Sacred Valley is by taking a guided tour.
Start your day in Chinchero
Start your day in Chinchero, a small town where ancient tradition is alive and well. Known for its textile weaving, Chinchero is where you’ll see local artisans weaving vibrant fabrics using Incan techniques passed down through generations. We really loved the demonstration of the young local woman! She explained everything from how the wool is woven to how it’s colored with all natural things. The town also boasts a beautiful colonial church built on top of an Incan structure, so it really is a perfect mix of culture and history.
A 30-minute ride takes you to the next location.
Explore the agricultural terraces of Moray
Next on the list is Moray, known for its Incan agricultural innovation. In Moray you will find multiple circular terraces built along the hillsides, almost as if aliens made them. These terraces were used by the Incas to experiment with different crops at varying altitudes and temperatures. It’s really fascinating to see how advanced the Incas were in maximizing their agricultural output! The terraces are impressive not just for their purpose, but for their unique design and the way they blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings.
Only 20 minutes to one of the highlights of the day!
Admire the Maras salt mines
A short drive from Moray takes you to the Maras Salt Mines, an absolutely stunning sight and our favorite stop of the tour. Here, you’ll find over 5000 salt ponds scattered along the hillside, fed by a salty underground stream. This stream was (and still is being) used to extract salt for preserving food and for other purposes, like exporting. The sight of the sun reflecting off the white salt flats is almost magical, and the peaceful, almost otherworldly setting made it our favorite stop along the way. The area looks and feels like you’re seeing snow in the desert, if that even comes close to describing it!
The next stop is a 1-hour drive away.
Visit Ollantaytambo
After lunch, it’s time to visit Ollantaytambo. Here you can witness one of the most important archaeological sites in the Sacred Valley. Though we want to warn you, there is some climbing involved! To reach the terraced fortress and temple of the sun, you have to conquer 200 steps. We took it nice and slow in the glaring sun, and finally reached the top where the Incas defended their valley from invaders. We really liked the views of the town below when standing on the top, although the surrounding mountains might’ve been even more breathtaking.
The last stop is a long drive (1h30), but we promise you it’s worth it!
End your day in Pisaq
The final stop on your Sacred Valley journey is Pisaq, a town rich in history and local crafts. The archaeological site is perched high on the mountain, and once served as an important Incan religious center. What surprised us more is that the mountains surrounding it were used as tombs! So yes, all the holes you’ll see in the mountains once were burial sites for important Incan leaders and nobles. This place is pretty huge, so we recommend taking a long stroll to explore it all. Our favorite thing here? The cute llamas grazing ;-)