Moray

Moray, just outside the town of Moras, is a fabulous but lesser visited Inca Site. Circular terracing, which at first glance looks like a huge amphitheatre, forms a giant bowl. There are actually two such bowls at Moray, one of which is much larger and more restored than the other.

Stone stairs built into the terrace walls allow visitors to walk down to the very bottom level.

Picture - View over the ruins of Moray with a moutain in behind.

Picture - Workers in the salt mines at Salinas.

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From here the upward view is of all encompassing, surrounding stone walls and the sky above.

The different levels of terracing each have their own microclimate which the Incas used to their advantage. They were thought to have used Moray as an area for testing the optimal growing conditions for their crops. With this information the Incas could determine which areas were best for growing crops and ultimately where they should settle.

Moray is not part of the usual Sacred Valley circuit but makes a good half-day trip from Urubamba. Due to its proximity to the Salinas these two sites are best visited together.

Opening hours: 7:30am-3:30pm

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Salinas

Salinas is just a short distance from Moray, making the two sites easy to visit in one day.

Salinas are salt mines which have been in use since the time of the Incas. 5,740 small pools (pocitos) line the mountainside, each of which can yield 150 kilos of salt per month. The pools are fed by a salt water hot spring which has been diverted into the salt pans. As the water evaporates the salt crystallizes and is harvested.

Visitors can reach Salinas by either hiking up to it or approaching it by car from the top. The road in from the top is a narrow dirt road which winds its way down the mountain side. There are a few areas to stop along the way with great views out over the thousands of salt pools, giving some perspective on how huge this site is.