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The tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas is an essential part of its exploration for what was the territory of the Incas in Peru. In fact, while touring the valley, you will enjoy breathtaking views and find many archaeological sites; Although it is not a tourist route, you can not miss the visit to the fascinating and ancient salt mines, known as the Salineras de Maras; there are thousands of small pools dug into the side of a mountain; These are filled with water salad that evaporates leaving salt behind. In the distance and at the time of day, the thousands of white terraces of the Salineras de Maras, show tonalities that have been captured by the best lenses of photography lovers from around the world.



Where are Salineras de Maras located?

The thousands of shallow pools filled with water salad, are dug into the slope of the Qaqawiñay Mountain at 3,380 m. high, 46 km from the City of Cusco, in the Urubamba Valley. The 3,000 pools are fed by a hypersaline underground spring that originated 110 million years ago during the formation of the mountains of the Andes Mountains (Orogenia Andina).



The salt mines (salt mines) of Maras

No doubt it is very good sport to go there and buy SOME sales with flavor and Other memories (too expensive), ALTHOUGH I arrive home and go bag to the supermarket For a AFTER that French sea salt Sin even aim at the price. In Salinas de Maras you can buy "pink natural salt"; this season its beautiful color of the natural elements of spring water, magnesium, calcium, potassium and silicon; and if you do not know, there are 4 places in the world where you can extract pink salt and Maras is one of them. Another interesting thing about Salinas de Maras, is that you can pick up your own handful of salt or buy a bag, jar the can in the Maras gift shop.



How do Maras Salineras work?

That the thousands of shallow pools are filled with salt water (hot) from the subsoil, the manant is blocked for a few days; the intense sun causes the water to evaporate, leaving crystals of pure salt that are harvested with a piece of wood with which the salt is scraped, which is placed in small baskets to eliminate excess water. After a few days, the water passage reopens and the process repeats itself.



Is it paid to enter the salt pans of Maras?

You can enter the Salinas de Maras paying S / 7 soles (US $ 2); The site does not need any tickets like many other archaeological sites in Cusco. Please note that in Maras you can not pay with your credit card, US dollars, euros or any other currency.

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