Exploring Salt Pans: Trekking Cusco's Unique Landscape

The Maras Salt Mines, also known as the Salineras de Maras, are located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, about 40 kilometres north of Cusco, in the Cusco Region of Peru. The town is well known for its salt evaporation ponds, which have been in use since Inca times. The best way to get to the Maras Salt Mines is by taking a bus, combi (shared public shuttle van), or colectivo (shared public taxi) toward Urubamba and getting off at Maras. From there, you can either walk for an hour to the salt mines or take a 10-minute taxi ride.

The Maras Salt Mines are located 40-50km from Cusco

There are several ways to get to the Maras Salt Mines. The most popular way is to join a tour, which will pick you up directly from your hotel/hostel in a private minivan. Most tours will also include a visit to the Moray ruins. You will be dropped back at your Cusco hotel or your Sacred Valley hotel.

If you would prefer to make your own way there, you can take public transport. First, take a bus, combi (shared public shuttle van), or colectivo (shared public taxi) towards Urubamba. Tell the driver that you want to get off at Maras. Once you arrive in Maras, you can either walk for an hour to the salt pans or take a 10-minute taxi ride.

The best time to visit is during the dry season (May-October)

The best time to visit the Maras Salt Mines is during the dry season, which lasts from May to October. During this period, you can take advantage of the pleasant weather and abundant sunshine. The dry season offers the ideal conditions for various activities, such as horseback riding, ATV rides, and hiking around the site.

The dry season is also the perfect time to witness the salt evaporation process in action. Visitors can observe how water evaporates, gradually revealing the snowy colour of the salt wells. This process is faster during the dry season, leading to increased salt production and improved quality. The salt produced during this time is known for its characteristic white or pink colour.

In addition to the benefits for salt production and outdoor activities, the dry season is also the recommended time to visit Machu Picchu and the Cusco region in general. The weather is more predictable, and you can expect nicer weather and prettier colours across the landscape.

If you plan to visit the Maras Salt Mines, keep in mind that the salt ponds are located about 45 minutes to an hour away from Cusco by car. You can either join a guided tour or opt for public transportation to reach the site independently.

The salt pans were created by the Incas 2,000 years ago

The Maras Salt Mines, also known as the Salineras de Maras, are located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, 40 kilometres north of Cusco, in the Cusco Region of Peru. The town of Maras is well known for its salt evaporation ponds, which have been in use since Inca times. The salt evaporation ponds are four kilometres north of the town, down a canyon that descends to the Rio Vilcanota (the upper Urubamba River) and the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

The Maras Salt Mines are believed to have been constructed by the Wari civilization, which predates the Inca. However, the Incas saw the economic potential in harvesting salt from Maras and expanded the salt pans further up the mountainside. The salt pans were created by the Incas 2,000 years ago and have been in use ever since.

The salt pans are strategically dug into the mountainside, with thousands of shallow pools filled with saltwater. Over time, the water evaporates, leaving behind crystallised salt. This process has been practised for more than 500 years and is still carried out by local families today. The salt is carefully scraped from the sides of the pools, and the pans are refilled with saltwater once all the crystals have been removed.

The local community has exclusive mining rights to the salt pans near Maras. There are over 6,000 salt pans in the area, each owned and mined by a local family. The salt is collected and sold in local shops or nearby towns, and it is also a popular souvenir for tourists visiting the Sacred Valley.

The salt production process is strictly communal and involves filling the wells with saltwater from a local spring, allowing it to evaporate, and then scraping and collecting the salt. This process is typically repeated for about a month to build up a sufficient amount of salt. The salt is then sold and the profits are distributed among the owners according to the number of wells they own.

The salt is mined through a process of evaporation

The Maras Salt Mines, also known as the Salineras de Maras, are located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, about 40 kilometres north of Cusco, Peru. The town of Maras is accessible by a paved road from Cusco, and the salt evaporation ponds are about four kilometres north of the town centre.

As the water evaporates under the sun, the water becomes supersaturated, and salt precipitates as crystals of varying sizes onto the inner walls and floors of the ponds. This process is repeated for about a month, with the keeper of the pond scraping the dry salt from the sides and bottom in layers. The first layer is usually pink or white and is used as table salt, the second layer is bulk salt, and the third layer is brown industrial salt.

The Maras Salt Mines have been in operation for over 500 years, with the process predating the Incas. Today, the salt ponds are owned and mined by local families of the Maras community, who sell the salt in local shops or nearby towns.

You can take a bus, combi or colectivo to Urubamba and then walk or take a taxi to the salt mines

The Maras Salt Mines are located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, about 40 kilometres north of Cusco, in the Cusco Region of Peru. The town is well known for its salt evaporation ponds, which have been in use since Inca times.

To get to the Maras Salt Mines, you can take a bus, combi (shared public shuttle van), or colectivo (shared public taxi) to Urubamba. Inform the driver that you intend to get off at Maras, as many transportation companies operate the Cusco to Urubamba route, passing through Maras. Once you arrive in Maras, you have a couple of options to get to the salt mines. You can choose to walk for about an hour to the salt mines or take a taxi for a quicker 10-minute ride.

The Maras area is accessible by a paved road, which leads from the main road through the Sacred Valley between Cuzco and the surrounding towns. The salt evaporation ponds are four kilometres north of the town centre, down a canyon that descends to the Rio Vilcanota (also known as the upper Urubamba River). There are over 5,000 salt ponds, some owned by families and others unused. These shallow pools are strategically located on the side of a mountain, filled with salt water, and left to evaporate, producing crystallised salt.

The Maras Salt Mines are a popular attraction, and many travellers choose to take a tour to get there. The Sacred Valley tour usually includes visiting sites such as Chincheros, Moray Inca ruins, and the Maras Salt Mines. Half-day excursions are also available, combining a visit to the Maras Salt Mines with the Moray ruins.

Frequently asked questions