Itinerary
Discover what awaits you in the CHINCHERO TEXTILE TOUR, MARAS AND MORAY – HALF DAY
day 1
Chinchero, Moray, Maras Salt Mines
Textiles, circular terraces and salt pools in half a day.
The living culture of Chinchero, the agricultural laboratory of Moray and the Maras Salt Mines, ideal if you are short on time in Cusco.
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Hotel pickup
By tourist transport, 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. · Cusco → Urubamba Valley
We pick you up at your hotel in Cusco and head for the Urubamba Valley, with views of the imposing Chicón snow peak and the Andean landscapes.
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Chinchero and weaving center
30-minute visit · weaving center 20 minutes · Chinchero
First stop: Chinchero, the legendary weaving village of the Andes. Local families will show you how they spin, dye and weave wool with ancestral techniques that are still alive today.
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Circular terraces of Moray
By tourist transport · 30-minute visit · Chinchero → Moray
We continue to Moray, whose circular terraces show Inca agricultural ingenuity: a true laboratory of microclimates for experimenting with crops.
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Maras Salt Mines Highlight
By tourist transport · 45-minute visit · Moray → Maras
We finish at the amazing Maras Salt Mines, more than 3,000 salt pools descending in white terraces down the hillside. They have been worked since pre-Inca times and remain an emblem of traditional salt production.
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Return to Cusco
By tourist transport, approx. 2:30 p.m. · Maras → Cusco
We return to Cusco and drop you off near the Plaza de Armas.
Day details
- Duration: Approx. 6 hours (8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
- Difficulty: Easy, with short walks
- Altitude: Minimum 3,380 m / 11,089 ft (Maras Salt Mines) · Maximum 3,762 m / 12,343 ft (Chinchero)
- Tour ends: Near the Plaza de Armas in Cusco
Chinchero, Moray and Maras in half a day, at a relaxed pace. Want to add Ollantaytambo, Pisac and lunch? Discover the Super Sacred Valley 1 Day.
Includes
Guide and transport
- Hotel pickup: Hotels in Cusco’s historic center; outside that area we arrange a nearby meeting point.
- Tourist transport: Round trip.
- Professional bilingual guide: Spanish or English.
Not include
Entrance fees
- Tourist ticket (Boleto Turístico): For Chinchero and Moray. Partial 70 soles or General 130 soles (foreign adult).
- Maras Salt Mines entrance: 20 soles, paid at the entrance.
Other
- Meals.
- Travel insurance.
- Personal expenses.
Prices CHINCHERO TEXTILE TOUR, MARAS AND MORAY – HALF DAY
- Documents and money: ID or passport, and cash in soles for entrance fees, shopping or snacks.
- Clothing and footwear: Light clothes for the day, something warm for the morning and comfortable shoes or hiking shoes with good soles.
- Sun protection: Hat or cap, high-factor sunscreen (SPF 50+ recommended) and sunglasses with UV protection.
- Rain protection: Waterproof jacket or rain poncho, from November to March.
- Other: Water bottle, camera or phone with plenty of battery and light snacks (fruit, nuts or energy bars).
Packaging list
- Documents and money: ID or passport, and cash in soles for entrance fees, shopping or snacks.
- Clothing and footwear: Light clothes for the day, something warm for the morning and comfortable shoes or hiking shoes with good soles.
- Sun protection: Hat or cap, high-factor sunscreen (SPF 50+ recommended) and sunglasses with UV protection.
- Rain protection: Waterproof jacket or rain poncho, from November to March.
- Other: Water bottle, camera or phone with plenty of battery and light snacks (fruit, nuts or energy bars).
Recomendations
- Entrance fees not included: For Chinchero and Moray you need the Partial Ticket (70 soles, approx. US$ 21) or the General one (130 soles, approx. US$ 40). The Maras Salt Mines have a separate entrance of 20 soles (approx. US$ 6). You can buy them on the day; if you have time in Cusco, better beforehand.
- Cash in soles: It speeds up paying for the entrance fees. Cards usually carry a surcharge of about 5 % and depend on the signal; dollars are accepted, but change is not always available.
- Students: Bring your original physical university ID (PVC card), with photo, name, university and a date valid for the year of your trip.
- Ideal for acclimatizing: It combines cultural visits and short walks, a good option for your first days in Cusco.
- Food: Meals are not included; bring light snacks and water.
- Alpaca garments: At the Chinchero weaving center you will learn to recognize authentic alpaca and baby alpaca garments.
- Rainy season: The tour runs all year. From November to March, bring a raincoat or rain poncho.
F.A.Qs
How long is the tour?
About 6 hours, including guided visits, time for photos and transfers.
What time does it start?
Hotel pickup is between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m., and the return to Cusco is scheduled for around 2:30 p.m.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, at hotels in Cusco’s historic center. If your hotel is outside that area, we arrange a nearby meeting point. At the end, we drop you off near the Plaza de Armas.
What is the difference between this tour and the VIP Sacred Valley?
This tour is for those who have half a day or prefer something more relaxed: it focuses on the living culture of Chinchero, the agricultural laboratory of Moray and the Maras Salt Mines. Unlike the VIP Sacred Valley, it does not include Pisac, Ollantaytambo or the buffet lunch, so it takes less time and has a calmer pace.
Do I need the tourist ticket?
Yes. It is required to enter Chinchero and Moray. You can buy the Partial Tourist Ticket (BTP) or the General one (BTG):
- Partial ticket (foreign adult): 70 soles, approx. US$ 21.
- General ticket (foreign adult): 130 soles, approx. US$ 40.
How much is the tourist ticket for students and children?
- Foreign student aged 10 to 16: 70 soles, approx. US$ 21, with original passport.
- Foreign student aged 17 to 22: 70 soles, approx. US$ 21.
You must show the original physical university ID (PVC card), with photo, full name, university and an expiry date valid for the year of your trip. Children up to 9 years old do not pay for the tourist ticket.
Is the Maras Salt Mines entrance included?
No. It is paid directly at the entrance: 20 soles, approx. US$ 6.
What if I don’t want to enter the Maras Salt Mines?
You can wait comfortably in the vehicle while the group visits, and then we continue with the itinerary. Even so, we recommend going in: it is one of the most iconic and photographed landscapes in the region.
How are entrance fees paid? Are cards or dollars accepted?
We recommend bringing cash in soles to get in faster. Some points accept credit or debit cards, with a surcharge of about 5 % and if there is internet signal. Dollars are also accepted, but change is not always available right away.
Should I buy the tickets in advance or on the day?
You can buy them on the day, before the visits start. But if you have time in Cusco, we recommend buying them beforehand to save time on the tour.
What are the minimum and maximum altitudes?
The highest point is Chinchero, at 3,762 m (12,343 ft), and the lowest is the Maras Salt Mines, at 3,380 m (11,089 ft).
Is it a good idea for my first day in Cusco?
Yes. It is an excellent option for acclimatizing, as it combines cultural visits and short walks with stunning Andean scenery.
How difficult is it?
It is easy: the walks are short and suitable for most travelers.
Can children and older adults take part?
Yes. It is ideal for families, couples and older adults in good physical condition who can walk on their own, and for children from 5 years old. As it is a shared service, the group follows a general pace; if you want more flexibility and breaks, you can choose the private service.
Do children aged 3 and over pay for a seat?
Yes. For safety reasons and under current transport regulations, passengers aged 3 and over must have their own seat.
What will I learn at the Chinchero weaving center?
You will learn about the ancestral weaving and natural dyeing techniques that Andean women have preserved for generations, and how to recognize authentic alpaca and baby alpaca garments.
Why is Moray considered unique in the world?
Because it was an important Inca center for agricultural experimentation. Its circular terraces created different microclimates to study and adapt crops that were then spread throughout the empire.
How many pools make up the Maras Salt Mines?
More than 3,000 salt pools, fed by a natural spring that local families have used since pre-Inca times.
How long do we spend at each site?
Times may vary slightly depending on the group’s pace and conditions on the day:
- Chinchero: 30 minutes.
- Chinchero weaving center: 20 minutes.
- Moray: 30 minutes.
- Maras Salt Mines: 45 minutes.
At each site the guide gives detailed explanations and leaves time for photos.
What clothes should I bring?
Comfortable shoes with good soles, a waterproof jacket or rain poncho, light clothes for the day and something warm for the morning, a cap or hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and a water bottle.
Does the tour run in the rainy season?
Yes, it runs all year. From November to March we recommend bringing a raincoat or rain poncho.
In which languages is the tour guided?
In Spanish and English. For other languages, such as German, French or Portuguese, a private guide is required and must be arranged in advance.
What if the altitude affects me?
Our guides carry a first aid kit and an oxygen tank for any emergency during the tour.
How does the booking process work?
1. Availability check: Write to us at info@sakuraexpedition.com or on WhatsApp at +51 941 411 418 to check your dates. We will send you a booking form that each participant must complete.
2. Traveler details: To manage the booking we need, exactly as shown in the passport, full name, gender, passport number, date of birth (dd/mm/yyyy) and nationality.
3. Guarantee: We ask for a guarantee per person to secure your space. We recommend booking early, especially on holidays and in high season.
4. Final confirmation: Once the booking is confirmed, you will receive the official invoice and your place will be 100 % guaranteed.
How do I pay the balance?
In cash, in US dollars or soles, in Cusco, one or two days before the tour, according to the conditions given by your sales executive.
Can I cancel or change the date?
Yes, up to 48 hours before departure. In that case an administrative fee applies, which is deducted from the total amount as appropriate.
Do you have more questions?
Message us on WhatsApp at +51 941 411 418 or email info@sakuraexpedition.com.
