Half-day trek to Moray and Chinchero from Cusco

Highlights

• Moray ruins
• Beautiful views of the surrounding nature
• Salt pools of Maras village
• Chinchero village and its Catholic Roman church

All about the trip

This is a fantastic half-day tour to explore part of the Sacred Valley. You will see amazing views of the Urubamba mountain range, the Veronica mountain and the green valleys. On this half-day trip, you will be able to learn about agriculture, textiles, and the history of the Incas.

We will pick you up from your hotel around 8:00 and head to the farming laboratory in Moray. This beautiful drive is about one hour and 20 minutes. On your drive, you will see the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, lush yellow fields of wheat, and some villages. Finally, you will arrive at the fascinating display of terraces in Moray. Moray boasts three amphitheater-like terraces, made by the Incas. These terraces, which are carved deep into the earth, in the shape of a bowl, were thought to be used to determine the optimal conditions for growing crops.

When you are done exploring Moray, you will head about two miles away, to the salt mines of Maras. This village is known as a former salt-producing center and is thought to date back all the way to pre-Incan times. There are over 3,000 salt pools carved into the mountain side, that are filled daily by a stream of water. This spectacular area is perfect for you if you wish to see something different than the ruins.

Chinchero is a small Andean, Indian village located at 3,762 meters high, on the windswept plains of Anta, about 30 km from Cusco. There are beautiful views overlooking the Sacred Valley of the Incas, with the Cordillera Vilcabamba and the snow-capped peak of Salkantay dominating the western horizon. Chinchero is believed to be the mythical birthplace of the rainbow. Its major claim to tourism is its colorful Sunday market, which is much less tourist-orientated than the market at Pisac. This market is held every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday but if your trip isn’t on one of these days, they have a smaller textile center open daily. There, you can watch a demonstration on how to make beautiful, natural sweaters from Alpaca wool. Finally, you will get to visit the famous catholic roman church, which was built over the Inca palace.

Once you are done with the visit, you will head back to the city in time to enjoy some lunch on your own.

What is included in the price

• Professional guide
• Pick-up and drop-off from hotels in Cusco

What is not included in the price

• Entrance fees (see Instructions)
• Meals
• Personal insurance

Instructions

You must have the tourist ticket to enter Moray. The tourist ticket is currently 70 soles for a one day ticket or 130 soles for a 10-day ticket. This one ticket will give you access to many other locations in the Sacred Valley, as well as some museums and places of interest in Cusco. Maras is a separate ticket of 10 soles.