Sacred Valley Tour with Moray and Salt Mines Included!

DAY 1: SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS (Pisac + Moray + Maras + Salt mines + Ollantaytambo) 

Our relaxed tour through the Sacred Valley begins at 7:30am. We will pick-up up from your hotel lobby, we recommend having breakfast beforehand, our next meal is only later in the day. We begin our scenic drive through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, stopping along the way at a camelid farm just outside of Cusco . This amazing farm keeps about 7 different species of the camelid family. The four main species of Peru include the Llama, Alpaca, Guanacos and the Vicuna which is the National Animal of Peru.

Inside the farm, you get to pet, feed and take pictures with these weird and wonderful animals.  Going through the center, you can watch the ladies in their traditional garments weaving different garments, using the wool from the camelids. You also get to experience the natural way in which they dye the wool, using roots and indigenous plants. At the exit, there is a museum with a souvenir shop where you can purchase authentic alpaca garments and if your budget allows, the more luxurious and protected Vicuna creations.  The Vicuna has super soft material and feels lush and luxurious. Because Vicunas are protected animals, all garments made from their wool have to be sold with a certification of trade and authentication.

Mirador of Toray and Pisac Archeological site

Our first stop in the valley is the stunning Mirador of Taray, where we get to enjoy magnificent panoramic views of the valley. Pisac is regarded as the gateway to the valley and the view from this outlook is a glimpse into what you have to look forward to for the rest of the day. As you look down you can see every inch of the valley carpeted with modern farming terraces. The peaceful Urubamba River flows below, majestic snow-capped mountain peaks like the Ausangate mountain (6 384m/20 945ft) make their presence felt and straight ahead is the Pisac Archeological site in full view.

Next, we drive to the top entrance of the archeological site, that sits perched at the top of the mountain side. The view from the top accents the Urubamba Valley and the surrounding mountain ranges. The Sacred Valley was agriculturally important to the Incas and still plays a major role in the sustenance of the Cusco region. You can find evidence to support the theory of agricultural practices at the top of the hill, which is laden with many food warehouses that were used by the Incas to store food at top where the temperature is much cooler compared to the bottom of the valley. You also come across the biggest Inca cemetery with over 2000 tombs decorating the mountain side. It is said that if you visit these tombs, you can still find human skeletal remains.

Town of Coya, Calca and Urubamba

We drive through the small indigenous towns of Coya and Calca before stopping at the foot of Urubamba for a delectable buffet lunch. The restaurant has an impressive spread of different foods and is vegan and vegetarian friendly. There is a variety of fresh vegetables, salads, protein dishes, desserts, a selection of teas and coffee. (Lunch is not included)

Maras and Moray Salt Mines

After lunch, we continue our journey to the colonial town of Maras, walking downhill to the Pre-Inca Salt Mines. The locals use over a thousand salt pans to collect water from the salt stream at the top of the hill. They extract the salt by allowing the water to evaporate naturally until only salt remains in the pool and is than collected for distribution. This technique stems back Pre Inca, the Incas also used the same technique and the locals now maintain this ancient technique. This is Peru´s main salt supply, supplying over 90% of the country with the salt. 

This a rich custom and tradition and the saltpans have been passed down from one generation to the next. This is the community´s main source of income and they have exclusive rights to these mines. Salineras is one of the very few salt mines left in the world to have not switched to more modern salt extraction techniques. The communal company of Maras (cooperative) packages and distributes the salt and splits the profits with the families according to the number of saltpans they own.

Later, we visit Moray, which was an experimental farming site built in the form of an amphitheater with different temperature at each level which grows different types of crops. These levels of terraces were carved before the Incas took control of the Sacred Valley. Then the Incas used it for their experimental farming, to research optimal growing conditions for their crops. The Incas brought in different soil samples from other regions, in order to optimize their research. The locals were still using it for growing their crops, until the Peruvian government decided to preserve and protect it for tourism in the 1970s .

Archeological site in Ollantaytambo

Finally, we drive to Ollantaytambo to explore this quaint Inca village and the amazing Inca Ruins on the hilltop hovering above the town. These ruins are where the Incas fought their last battle with the Spanish conquerors, before they had to retreat and flee into the dense jungle. Most of the structures were unfortunately incomplete or destroyed by the intense battle. There is a section with a number of boulders that were carved, but didn’t make it to their destination. We stop here to learn the fascinating history of the final days of the Inca Empire. Also, settle down and watch the sun set over the valley.

To end the day, we drive back in our private van to Cusco, arriving at your hotel at around 6:30pm.

• Please Note: Its possible to end the tour in Ollantaytambo and the price will be the same.