Moray, Maras Salt Mines, and Ollantaytambo
Moray, Maras Salt Mines, and Ollantaytambo
Activity Type
Physical Grading
Service Level
Group Size
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Moray Maras Salt Mines and Ollantaytambo with A Private Guide
Moray Maras Salt Mines and Ollantaytambo day tour-Get immersed in the amazing vistas, mingle & laugh with local people, and explore the stunning Incan sites perched along the Sacred Valley with a private local guide on this 1-day tour from Cusco city or Cusco airport.
This Sacred Valley (Moray Maras Salt Mines and Ollantaytambo) uniquely designed by Peru Summit Adventures allows you to explore the highlights of the Valley, a bucket list for everyone, hence it is perfect for those who are arriving in Cusco city in the morning and want to take advantage of to visit the Incan sites and other places en route while being transferred to Ollantaytambo town or Urubamba as well as it’s perfect for those are staying in Cusco and want to move to Ollantaytambo town/train station or Urubamba. Besides this tour is perfect, if you are staying in Ollantaytambo town before your trip continues to Machu Picchu or just taking the train in the evening, so we make sure to drop you off at the train station on time to continue your journey to the wonder of the world–Machu Picchu.
As named popularly Sacred Valley of the Incas or Urubamba valley as an official name, it is a relaxed and incomparably beautiful and tucked under the tawny skirts of formidable foothills of the Urubamba mountain range, long the home of attractive colonial towns, isolated weaving villages, the Rio (river) Urubamba, massive Incan agricultural terraces, ancient Incan temples, perfect to explore on this day tour with a Peru Summit Adventures private guide at your side. The Incas built several of the empire’s greatest estates, temples, and royal palaces between the sacred centers of Cusco and Machu Picchu positioned like great bookends at the south and north ends of the valley. This Sacred Valley Tour from Cusco is a perfect one to visit these historical sites that all locals are proud of them. This is a great way to explore the Sacred Valley while learning about the Incan stuff like history, agriculture, nourishment, religion, and so on.
The Sacred Valley, also known as Urubamba Valley, was considered a very important region for the Inca civilization in Peru. It was called “Sacred” because of its fertile soil, abundance of water, and the sacred river (Urubamba river) that runs through it, which the Inca believed to have special powers.
The Incan Empire built many of its most impressive structures and citadels in the Sacred Valley, including the Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray, and Chinchero. The valley was also an important agricultural center for the Incan people, as they used the fertile soil and terraces to grow crops such as maize, potatoes, quinoa, and fruits, reason of that they built thousands of agricultural terraces along the valley.
The Incans also had a strong connection to nature (mother nature – Pachamama), and they believed that the mountains and rivers of the Sacred Valley were inhabited by powerful spirits and deities. Many of the sites in the Sacred Valley, including Machu Picchu, were considered sacred and used for religious and ceremonial purposes. The Sacred Valley played a significant role in Incan culture and remains an important cultural and historical site in modern-day Peru.
Places to Visit on this Moray Maras Salt Mines and Ollantaytambo
Chinchero Inca ruins & colonial church
Moray Incan farming testing center
Maras salt ponds
Ollantaytambo Incan ruins & Ollantaytambo town
Pisac ruins and market
Stop offs en route
Think Green, Think Global for a Better Place for Everyone
Traveling with us you are making a big difference in favor of the environment, our trips are rated as eco-friendly trips to ensure that fragile ecosystems are protected and maintained for future human generations, also maintain ecosystem and environment integrity through considering a sustainable and ethical business model. Making genuine and sustainable itineraries often translates to real costs, with a host of responsible travel practices that underpin our prices.
Trip Details
Service Level
Upgraded Comfort
UPGRADED COMFORT: Premium or Comfort trips are led by Peru Summit Adventures experts, an experienced crew at your side, or top trip leaders/guides, and tap into private local experts' resources to allow for in-depth exploration and special access to unique sites that only the local leaders/guides know. Itineraries are carefully crafted and fully planned, with plenty of free time to roam. Camping gears are high-end and accommodations are high-end or best available. Ground transportation and most meals (especially in hikes) and activities are included in the trip price.
Physical Grading
EASY - MODERATE: Designed for everyone. Hotel nights and/or lodge nights, day tours, nature walks, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking, horseback riding.
Activities
Archaeology & Cultural Adventures
Important Note
While we expect the tour will run as the itinerary describes to Moray, Maras Salt Mines, and Ollantaytambo. Participants should accept that there is the possibility of changes, being necessary liable to local conditions, eg, strikes, natural disasters, these changes might be at the discretion of your travel company.
Group Size
Min 2 ppl, Max 8 ppl
Minimum of 02 people is needed to depart. Family groups, couple travelers, friends, or even if you’re a SOLO traveler, you are welcome to our trips. Price is per person, which is based on two people who might share a room/tent. The itinerary is described and based on shared services as well as semi-private service; however, if you are looking for a private service, that would be upon request.
Limited Spaces
No, the number of people to visit these places are not limited yet, the entrance ticket can be purchased at one of the sites in the Sacred Valley (the entrance ticket is included); thus you could book this day tour even with a couple of days in advance.
Why experience the Moray, Maras Salt Mines, and Ollantaytambo
Since 2014 and since the very first day of our operation, Peru Summit Adventures has been blazing new ways of experiencing in Moray Salt Mines and Ollantaytambo. Our trailblazing is just one reason we are a uniquely qualified local company to ensure you have a trip of a lifetime.
Peru Summit Adventures™ Advantages
- A new way of experiencing the Sacred Valley of the Incas visiting the iconic places in a day with a Peru Summit Adventures private guide at your side.
- Embark on this private guided tour, enjoying insider-access opportunities and staying longer, made possible by Peru Summit Adventures’ small-private group, and explore the places that others don’t go.
- If your journey continues to Machu Picchu in the evening, you will be dropped off at the train station, or if coming back from Machu Picchu, you will be picked up from the train station.
- Very flexible crafted itineraries that no one else offers, if want to stay longer at a specific place, we do that!
- Includes all entrance tickets to ruins to all visited places, no hidden fees.
- Local tour operator, you book with us, you travel with us, no middleman!
Trip Itinerary
The following “à-la-carte” tours are explored in 1 day starting in Cusco City or Cusco airport and finishing in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba
Sacred Valley also called as Urubamba valley is a vast valley that covers over 100 km/ 63 miles of distance, where the Incan civilization took all the valley as they were conquering to the jungle side of Cusco, this valley offered them a great climate to develop the agriculture, reason of that today the farming terraces are still laying along the valley or adorning any mountain as a patch, as well as, the climate was the main factor to start their palaces and temples along the valley and today those places are the must-see ones while your trip to Cusco and Machu Picchu.
On this tour you will explore the following Historical Sites:
The Quaint Town of Chinchero and its Ancient Site
Visit unchanging large farming terraces that are extended outside of the demolished ancient buildings; they remain from a glorious period of the Incas surrounded by scenic views. Also visit a lovely church dating from the 16th century, this small and a little dark church is a jewel of colonial art, the walls and the ceiling are entirely painted; the big wooden door is finely sculpted with an important quantity of biblical scenes. The altar is extremely covered with gold and religious representations. In Chinchero town, the locals still dress in their traditional clothes; even more on market days but more authentic. There is a liveliness that crosses the entire village and its calm lifestyle.
Maras Salt Ponds
Maras salt ponds is an astonishing place located in a harsh valley, since the Inca period, thousands of wells have been dug, new ones every year, to extract a precious element–salt. The salt comes from a spring, loaded with minerals, which flows from a little higher up. To collect it, a technique developed relies on terraces: they retain the water which, as it evaporates, deposits its salt load, ready to be collected. The landscape is breathtaking: the colors contrast; the white of the salt, the green/brown of the grass, the different terraces ranging from ochre to brown, and the high Andean mountains. Nowadays, the locals still farm the salt by hand as the Incas did centuries ago, and most likely this is what you will see during your visit.
Rounded Shape Terraces of Moray
The archaeological site of Moray is unprecedented in the region. Here, you will see Incas terraces but in circumscribed circles that are getting in the ground, reaching until 1.20 m/4 ft high for each circle into two different basins. All perspective is incredible by watching from the top or below. It might have been a kind of agricultural testing center “laboratory” where experiments were made in function of the micro-climates corresponding to each terrace level. It is very impressive and impossible to miss. Today, because of this place Peru has over 3000 varieties of potatoes, over 20 varieties of quinoa, over 100 types of corn, and many more types of farming products.
The Great Ollantaytambo
The Inca archaeological site of Ollantaytambo has been the place of the Inca’s great victories against Spanish invaders. It was a fortress, a ceremonial center, an administrative center, and a site for agriculture. The most important part is the Temple of the Sun whose stone boulders were brought from a quarry at 5 km, these stone blocks are so impressive that just to imagine how they could put them at such height above the Valley is an epic story. Just beside this archaeological site is located the town of the same name, this town was built on the Urubamba River (sacred river); the urbanization layout and the organization of the building are directly from the Incan time. The foundations are intact and original from over 500 years ago. This is the well-preserved urban organization in all of Peru. Its sinuous small paved streets open a range of houses (called canchas) that are organized around small patios and unique entrances with tall gates. In the inside court, the small animals (Guinea pigs, chickens, pigs, etc.) are cheerfully frisking. This is a must-see place in the Sacred Valley.
The Impressive Pisac
It is nestled on the sidewall of the mountain, bordered by two steep cliffs. This complex, exceptionally well preserved, is made of stairs, terraces, temples, houses, a ceremonial center, water channels, etc. The conservation of the constructions is absolutely amazing; especially the Intihuatana neighborhood, which is the most important part of Pisac, they are all in perfect shape as well as the crop terraces. On the other side along the cliff, there are many holes that were tombs and unfortunately were sacked by the Spaniards in order to look for more gold. This site is uncontestably unmissable in the Sacred Valley, and the walk between terraces and almost entire edifices will leave an unforgettable memory.
You can also visit the colorful lively market where locals showcase their textiles, jewelry, pottery, etc, all made here in the village. Once in the village, you can also get to one of the local “panaderias” bakery-type places with an oven to try the tasty empanadas (snacks filled with meat and vegetables) the empanadas are cooked in a colonial traditional wood-fired oven; this is a true attraction and the taste of these empanadas are probably one of the most authentic you can try in Peru.
Itineraries to select starting from Cusco City/Airport: Choose the best itinerary you are interested in, the beginning schedule may vary as well as the price, the visit to local markets is optional, you can deice at the moment. For further details please contact us.
Option 1. Maras Salt Ponds, Moray, and Ollantaytambo from $135.00 USD per person.
Option 2. Chinchero Town & Inca Site, Maras Salt Ponds, Moray, and Ollantaytambo from $140.00 USD per person.
Option 3. Pisac, Llama Farm, and Ollantaytambo from $140.00 USD per person.
Option 4. Llama Farm, Pisac, Maras Salt Ponds, Moray, and Ollantaytambo from $150.00 USD per person.
Note on Itinerary
Although we do our very best possible to adhere to the schedule above, this itinerary is subject to change for several reasons beyond our control, including strikes, weather, natural disasters, and terrain conditions. On some occasions, these conditions may demand us to deviate from our original schedule, in which case we will provide the best available alternative options. And we’ll make a great experience of it!
Inclusions
Included on the Moray, Maras Salt Mines, and Ollantaytambo
- Private transportation with a professional driver.
- All transfer service to pick up from your hotel and drop you off at your hotel/ train station, or another place. Just let us know.
- Professional tour guide.
- Entrance ticket to visit the described Incan sites according to selected options.
Not Included on the Moray, Maras Salt Mines, and Ollantaytambo
- Lunch.
- Extra expenses.
- Tipping (expected but not compulsory. your own appreciation).
- PayPal or wire transfer fees,
Prices & Dates
| Number of participants | Price per person | Total ($ USD) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Participant | We have special rates for SOLO travelers. Get started by filling out the inquiry form. | Enquire Now | |
| 2 Participants | $ 210.00 | $ 420.00 | Enquire Now |
| 3 Participants | $ 200.00 | $ 600.00 | Enquire Now |
| 4 Participants | $ 190.00 | $ 760.00 | Enquire Now |
| 5 Participants | $ 180.00 | $ 900.00 | Enquire Now |
| 6+ Participants | We have special rates for groups, which are over 6ppl. Get started by filling out the inquiry form. | Enquire Now | |
| # | |
|---|---|
| 1 person (We have special rates for SOLO travelers. Get started by filling out the inquiry form.) | Enquire Now |
| 2 people $ 210.00 | Enquire Now |
| 3 people $ 200.00 | Enquire Now |
| 4 people $ 190.00 | Enquire Now |
| 5 people $ 180.00 | Enquire Now |
| 6+ people (We have special rates for groups, which are over 6ppl. Get started by filling out the inquiry form.) | Enquire Now |
- Flexibility on dates: Choose your own dates, you decide when to start your journey.
- Perfect for families, group of mates (friends), honeymoon: Make this trip for you and your loved ones or someone special.
- Totally customizable: Travel the way you want; so you can travel exactly how you want. Book this trip as is or customize it to be as active or relaxed, rustic or luxurious as you wish to go. Perfect for multi-generational families and to celebrate a special anniversary or milestone birthday.
- Go at your own pace: Walk or explore on your own rhythm, forget to stay or keep up with the large groups. It's your own journey.
Note on Prices
Prices are quoted in US Dollars and all payments must be made in US Dollars. Prices are per person based on SEMI-PRIVATE service; we depart with 2 ppl as a minimum, 8 ppl as maximum, and an average of 4 ppl in a group.
Trip Payment Schedule
- At time of reservation: 30% of the total balance.
- 60 days prior to departure: Balance should be paid fully, or once upon your arrival in Cusco the other 70% of final balance must be paid fully.
Cancellation and Transfer Fee Schedule
- Minimum fee (tour permit fee): $25 per person
- 61-90 days prior to departure: 30% of trip cost
- 46-60 days prior to departure: 50% of trip cost
- 45 days or less: 100% of trip cost
What Makes Us Different!… Here’s, Why You Should Book With Us!
Making a choice of your right travel company/ tour operator is the most important decision you will make as you make your plans for a long-anticipated dreamed adventure. At first glance, some companies may seem cheaper. However, when you research a little deeper, you will see why traveling with Peru Summit Adventures assures that you will have the most memorable travel experience possible. In fact, we guarantee it, our TripAdvisor reviews say that.
Making genuine and sustainable itineraries often translate to real costs, with a host of responsible travel practices that underpin our prices, here are the reasons why you should go with us!
1. We Focus on Details
2. Our Safety Record is Flawless
3. Knowledge and Expertise
4. The Smallest Groups en Route “Moray Maras Salt Mines Ollantaytambo Chinchero” – Averaging Just 4 Travelers
Besides, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu offer one of the world’s most spellbinding travel experiences. But it’s also a world-renowned destination, and touring the site in a big group with multitudes of tourists shoving for photos, and competing to hear the guide, your once in a lifetime visit to this World Heritage Site may lose its magic. Our Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley Trips are scheduled with an average of just four travelers or juts your own group, allowing for a deeper exploration of the lost city of the Incas, with our Local Experts / Tour Leaders.
5. We Deliver on Our Promises
We are very confident the quality of our Moray Maras Salt Mines Ollantaytambo Chinchero will get your expectations and that you will savor the best possible of cultural travel experience, nature travel experience, and adventure travel experience if you are dissatisfied, we’ll happily give you credit for an extra trip or for a future journey. It’s, to our knowledge, the best guarantee in the travel business.
6. The Best Fare For The Best Trip
7. You Book, You Go…Don’t Worry… We Won’t Cancel
8. We are Local Entrepreneurs, A Family Enterprise (we are not a gringo company)
Probably you will see that most of the tour operators mention it on their websites that are local tour companies, however, if you research a little deeper you will find out that’s not true, they might be although half of the operation is done from here and another half abroad, they even have NorthAmerican phone number or European phone numbers, which is a clue to find out, we are not against the foreigner companies or half foreign companies, what we are against is that they lie.
In Cusco exist just few truly local tour operators. If you did not know, foreign companies come to Peru to get rich without paying a General Sales Tax or Tax Contribution to our country. If you did not know that, according to the United Nations, for every US $100 spent on a tour in a developing country or foreign travel companies, only $5 stays in the local economy. Normally, almost all of the money flows back to large companies operating outside the destination countries. As we are a local family enterprise, we guarantee that your travel expenditures will support the local economy, and improve the lives of Peruvians through contributing to general sales tax.
9. Responsible Travel
Be a responsible traveller! Let’s make this world a better place for everyone and for everyone that lives in it! The natural environments that we travel to are fragile and abundant with beautiful culture and traditions that are often reliant on tourism. We have a responsibility as travelers to minimize the impact of our presence, protect what is delicate, and leave a positive influence everywhere we can.
As a locally owned and based Peruvian tour company, we integrate these practices into our in-country operations we are aiming for a style of travel that makes the world a better place for everyone, and for everyone that lives in it. Since our very first days as a tour operator, responsible business has been at the heart of what we do. Peru Summit Adventures is committed not just to treading lightly, but to making a real difference by helping and investing in local communities, education initiatives, environmental conservation projects. These values are not more than just words, they are ingrained in the culture and philosophy of our crew, daily operations of Peru Summit Adventures trips, and at our office too.
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- Backpack to carry your things.
- Camera
- Rain gear (especially if traveling in the wet season, from October to March).
- Sunblock and sunglasses.
- Water bottle or canteen.
- Hands sanitizer
- Masks
- American dollars and Peruvian soles in cash.
- Sun hat.
- Credit or debit card.
Whats the Trip Like
Meeting location
Pick up schedule
Drop off schedule
Group Size
Service Type
Experience – Difficulty
- Designed for everyone (kids, teens, adults)
- Small elevation changes along the way
- Some walks on uneven trails (it might have some Incan stairways)
Note on the entrance tickets
To visit the historical sites in the Sacred Valley, it is important to purchase an admission partial ticket (Boleto Turistico Parcial) whose cost is PEN 70 Peruvian soles (USD 25 per ticket) which allows you to access four historical sites like Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray, and Chinchero (in other words, it is used only for Sacred Valley). This ticket is valid for 2 days. Therefore, in our quotation, this entrance ticket is included. If you take one of the day treks, in which, the historical sites are not part of the itinerary, so the admission ticket will be excluded from the quotation.
If you get planned to visit other historical sites out of Sacred Valley, like the ones located in Cusco, our recommendation is that you need to purchase the general admission ticket (Boleto Turistico General) whose cost is PEN 130 Peruvian Soles (USD 45 per ticket), this ticket allows you to visit 14 historical sites, which are located in Cusco, Southern part of Cusco, Sacred Valley, and some museums in Cusco city. The ticket is valid for 10 days. The Maras salt ponds ticket is not part of the boleto turistico parcial or boleto turistico general (partial or general ticket), this ticket should be purchased at the entrance of the same place, whose cost is PEN 10 Peruvian soles (about USD 4 per ticket).
Trip Leaders
Local Private Tour Guides Are Part of the Core of Peru Summit Adventures and Your Perfect Local Companion
The perfect custom-made private tours, adventure tours, or expeditions don’t just happen. It takes a team of talented, knowledgeable, passionate, and experienced professionals to bring it all together and possible. Our team of Peru Summit Adventures Leaders is comprised of local trip veterans, seasoned tour veterans with rich backgrounds on history, archaeology, culture, cuisine, geology, biology, and more.
With the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the travel industry, our Trip Leaders safely deliver your trip-of-a-lifetime to maximize your Peru journeys and adventures every step of the way. Our Tour/Trek Leaders have worked extensively in the Peru isolated mountains, archaeological sites, hiking the Inca Trail (at least 150 times), Amazon jungle, and being at Machu Picchu for over 400 times at least, this guarantees your trip a unique and memorable experience.
Extend your Experience
Suggested Reading List
We have created a custom comprehensive listing of Moray, Maras Salt Mines, and Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu and Peru, Machu Picchu, and Peru travel books for this trip. Our reading list Peru is custom-designed to complement specific Peru Summit destinations. We feature a handpicked selection of travel guides, maps, literature, books on art, cuisine, nature, and culture, designed to help you get more out of your travels to Machu Picchu & Peru.
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