We will begin the tour picking you up from your hotel at 08:30 a.m. heading for Maras; it is a district of the province of Urubamba, we can get there by an asphalted road; it is located 50 Km from Cusco, Chinchero, Urubamba and Moray an archaeological center of farming experimentation, it has huge natural surfaces that Inka used as farming platforms. It’s amazing the difference between the weather in the summit and in the hillside that has an average of 15ºC (59ºF). Moray was an important center of domestication, acclimatizing of many wild species because of its weather and other characteristics.

Maras - Moray - Tour Operator Cusco, Travel Agency Cusco, Travel Agency Peru

This is why it was a greenhouse prototype, very advanced, which helps the ancient American human to consume the 60% of the vegetables species and three thousand kinds of potatoes, corn and other species. One thing that is mysterious in how the water flows by the aqueducts inside the land. It is said that there are underground beds build in the deepest area. It is build over a rock formation which allows the water filtration inside the land. In the northeast area there are the “trabajos de sal” of Maras and some people called it “Salt mines”, approximately 3000 pools are part of it with an area of 5 m² (53.8 ft²).

The people fill during the dry season every 3 days with salt water which emanate from a natural rebirth located in the summit of the complex and when the water evaporates it gets dry and the salt remains. This process takes a month to be completed and to get the right volume (10 centimeters or 4 inches). The salt is grinded and then is pocket; the salt is taken to the markets of the region; the salt is treated with iodine and this is why it is a healthy product.

Pichingoto is located in the northeast area: It is a quechua community located in the hillside of the Qoriq’aqya Mountain, the facades are made of adobe (bricks made of mud), are a kind of cave and even nowadays inhabited. Nowadays its inhabitants have a good education level so they have a small catholic chapel. Some authoresses say that the name comes from “pichingoto” (bird) and “q’oto” (goiter). We will end the trip at the Hotel Cusco.

Trip lenght: 06 hours approx.     

It includes :

• Tourism bus
• Tourism professional guide
• Entrance fees

Useful advices :

• Film / Photographic Camera
• Light clothing
• Comfortable shoes