The salt pans of Maras, known locally as Salineras, are among the most striking sights in the Sacred Valley. Thousands of shallow terraced pools cascade down a steep hillside, each owned by a local family and filled from a spring of salty water that rises from the mountain. When the water evaporates, workers scrape the crystals to sell as coarse salt and pink salt. Walking the narrow paths between the pans gives you close views of the white stairways against the red earth. This half-day tour covers Maras, Moray and the surrounding countryside with a snack pack, which makes it an easy introduction to the high plateau above the valley and a good way to see the area without arranging your own driver.
The salt pans have been worked for centuries, and the work continues in the same way, with families maintaining their own terraces and channeling the spring water by hand. Visitors can walk along set paths, buy salt and other products from stalls near the entrance and learn from a guide how the pans are filled, dried and harvested. Please stay on the marked paths and do not touch the water or step into the pans, which are a livelihood rather than an exhibit.
The mines are paid separately, so carry soles in cash for the entry fee, and note that the Boleto Turistico does not cover them. Sun and glare are strong, so bring sunglasses and a hat, and wear shoes with grip because the salt paths can be slippery when wet. Dry weather and clear skies show the pans at their whitest, though in the rainy season, from November to March, water dilutes the pans and harvesting slows, and the scene is greener.
The tour usually pairs Maras with Moray and sometimes a weaving stop, giving a satisfying six or seven hour circuit. If you are staying in the valley, you can also reach Maras by quad bike or taxi, and the late afternoon light turns the pans pink and gold.
What to expect
The experience
A half-day guided trip that visits the Maras salt pans, Moray and the plateau in between, with a snack pack on the way.
Best time
Clear dry mornings and late afternoons, when the pans are bright and the light is soft.
How long
About an hour at the pans within a tour of six hours or so.
Tips
Bring soles for the entry fee, wear sunglasses and grippy shoes, and stay on the marked paths.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Anyone who loves photogenic landscapes and a real working place.
- Families
- Children enjoy the white pools and the stalls, but keep them on the paths and away from the water.
- Couples
- Late afternoon light is gorgeous, and a bag of local pink salt makes an easy souvenir.
- Pair with
- Moray terraces on the same tour, or an ATV ride across the plateau.
- Time needed
- Half a day with transport, or about an hour on site.
Good questions
Are the Maras salt mines part of the Boleto Turistico?+
No, they are paid separately at the entrance, so carry soles in cash. Check whether your tour includes the fee.
Can I walk among the salt pans?+
You can walk the marked paths, but please do not touch the water or step into the pools. They belong to local families and are still harvested.
When do the pans look best?+
Dry, clear weather shows them whitest. In the rainy season, from November to March, the water is diluted and harvesting slows, but the hills are green.
What should I buy?+
Coarse and pink salt from the stalls are the classic souvenirs. Carry small notes in soles for easy purchases.
How long does the tour take?+
Allow about six hours with Moray included. Add more if the tour adds a weaving stop.
