Maras Salt Pools Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Maras Salt Pools. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• ATV Tour to Moray Maras and Salt Mines in the Sacred Valley

• Maras, Moray & Salt Mines Tour

• Quad Bike Tour Moray and Maras Salt Mines from Cusco

• Sacred Valley of the Inkas Full Day Tour

• 2-Day Tour from Cusco: Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu by Train

It costs 10 soles to enter the Maras Salt Pools. There are also plenty of sightseeing tours that focus on archeological sites in the Sacred Valley; ATV tours cost upwards of US$33, while day trips from Cusco start at US$120.

Yes, the Maras Salt Pools are worth visiting. The site is a spectacular example of Inca agricultural prowess, and features more than 3,000 salt pools with a backdrop of the Andes Mountains. The pools are thousands of years old, too, making them a must-visit attraction for history buffs.

Per one customer who booked the From Cusco: Moray, Maras Salt Mines & Chinchero Weavers Half-Day tour, "Perfect length day trip. It was an adventure without being too much time on the bus. Our tour guide's ... extensive knowledge of the sites made each place even more magical ... Thank you so much, John and Alfredo!"

On a tour of the Maras Salt Pools, you’ll see more than 6,000 salt pans with a backdrop of the Andes Mountains. Because of their proximity, tours of Maras Salt Pools nearly always visit the Agricultural Terraces of Moray, too. Some tours involve driving an off-road ATV between the archeological sites.

Maras Salt Pools are particularly photogenic on sunny days when the bright light makes them shine pink and white. For the highest chance of sunny days in the Sacred Valley, visit during the winter months and dry season, which starts in May and ends around September.

The Maras Salt Pools are 29 miles (46 kilometers) from the center of Cusco. It takes around 1.5 hours to reach the salt pools from the city. Maras Salt Pools are at an altitude of 11,080 feet (3,380 meters), so make sure you acclimatize before you visit them.

The Agricultural Terraces of Moray are just a 10-minute drive from Maras Salt Pools. This amazing feat of Inca engineering is hailed as a wonder of science. Other nearby attractions include Ollantaytambo Ruins, once the administrative center of the Inca Empire, and Pisac Indian Market, one of the largest indigenous markets of the Cusco region.

The temperature in this high-altitude part of Peru can change quickly, so wear plenty of layers. In the morning and late afternoon, it’s cold, while during the day, the mountain sun is strong—be sure to pack a hat and sunscreen. During the October–April rainy season, waterproof items are a must.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting the Maras Salt Pools. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in and around Cusco:

• Machu Picchu

• Quechua Village

• Aguas Calientes 

• Agricultural Terraces of Moray

• Sacsayhuaman

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Cusco.