Travel Guide Maras

At 10 km from the village of the same name, the salt terraces, already exploited by the Incas, are simply clinging to the mountain, where their spots shimmer between cream and immaculate white according to the season and the exploitation of each basin in the middle of the ochre mountains. The principle is simple: the salt water that rises naturally from the ground is stored in small pools and, under the effect of the sun, evaporation is such that the salt rises to the surface. The salt of Maras is then treated and sold on the markets by the inhabitants of the village (who can still be seen at work in the morning) or exported internationally. Many stands and store on site. Since July 2019 you can no longer walk between the terraces, but observe them from different watchtowers. This protection measure should not apply during the months when the terraces are at rest (rainy period, from December to March). The exploitation did not stop since the Incas. Today, the 700 to 800 families who possess the 3 600 basins are organized in cooperative. The total annual production oscillates between 160 and 200 tons. The tours often combine the visits of Chinchero, Moray and Maras, close to each other