Maras Salt Mines: Everything You Wish To Know

Found fair an hour absent from Cusco covered up within the Sacrosanct Valley, lie these dreamlike salt lakes, known as Maras Salt Mines, or locally as Salineras de Maras.

Over 3,000 lakes, locally possessed by 600 neighborhood families, make up the beautiful Maras, all associated through an amazing underground arrange of canals that fill these pools with salt water. Over time, the strongly sun will gradually vanish the water leaving behind the salt that’s afterward extricated through hereditary strategies by nearby family individuals.

History of Maras Salt Mines

Very small is known by students of history almost these pre-Inca salt lakes. Prove to some degree proposes that the salt mines were built some place between 500 to 1100 Advertisement by the Wari civilization. When the Inca picked up control of the region, they saw extraordinary opportunity within the mines and started supervising generation. In any case, the possession and organization of the lakes were given to different families that lived within the adjacent community, which still have full control of their lakes having been passed on to current generations.

Salt was an imperative mineral for the Inca domain. All that was extricated from the salt mines were utilized for human utilization, animals and were too given other employments such as for nourishment capacity and indeed human mummifications.

Production of the salt

To at the moment the manufacturing of the salt hasn’t changed and stays exactly as it become 500 years ago. each pond measures more or less 14 square feet and plenty of range in form. while the ponds are full with salt water, the movement is closed. once the water evaporates, the crystalized salt that’s left behind is cautiously extracted with shovels and timber rakes by nearby circle of relatives individuals. while all is extracted, the streams are opened, the ponds are packed with salt water and the manner is repeated once more.

How to get to Maras Salt Mines

Located roughly 32 miles from Cusco, there are several ways to get to the Maras Salt Mines:

With a tour

The most popular way is with a tour. Most options conveniently pick you up directly from your hotel/hostel in a private mini-van and usually also combine the tour with a Moray ruins visit. In the Maras tour, you’ll enjoy a visit to the salt mines with a local expert guide who will teach you all there is to know about Maras. Once you’ve taken breathtaking pictures and maybe buying some of the different salts as souvenirs from the local shop, you’ll be taken back to your hotel/hostel back in Cusco.

If looking to spice things up, there are fantastic ATV Quad Bike Tours to Maras & Moray! You’ll have a more adventurous experience riding through the Sacred Valley until finally reaching the salt mines for your guided tour.

Local transport

If looking to just go on your own, as the locals would, there are a few more steps to take. Starting from Cusco, take a colectivo (shared taxi) to Urubamba but let the driver know you’re getting off at Maras. Even though colectivos “set” destination points, you can sometimes ask the driver to let you off in between. Once there, take a 15-minute taxi ride to the salt mines.

Private taxi

Lastly, there’s the option of hiring a private taxi driver that takes you to the site, waits for you while you explore the salt ponds and then takes you back to your starting destination. Although it has the benefit of going at your own pace, it is the least popular way as it’s more costly.

Summary

The Maras Salt Mines are a must-visit in Cusco. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, and we’re sure you’ll be leaving with more than 1 bag of salt!