Maras solar salterns

城市概覽

Maras isn't much of a destination: the town is dusty and not very tourist friendly. It is useful as a base for exploring Salineras or Moray, two significant Inca sites.

如何抵達

Buses travelling between Urubamba and Chinchero, including many en route to Cusco, usually stop at the turnoff to Maras, a few kilometers outside of Urubamba. Or you can take a cab to the turnoff from Urubamba for a few soles. At the turnoff, there are usually a few cabs waiting for passengers. You can pay them to bring you into the town, or all the way to Moray, some ruins about 13 km outside the town.

當地交通

It is possible to walk or bike to the ruins at Moray, but the most common way is to take a taxi. Rates can be fairly steep, but trying to walk to Moray can be hard because they are easy to miss, as they are all sunken into the ground. It is much easier to walk back — don't be intimidated by the 13-km road-trip — the road is very windy, and you are able to walk back in more or less a straight line in an hour or so. The town is clearly visible on the horizon as there is a large white church. Salineras is best visited by foot. From the center of Maras, follow the road towards the turnoff, a little ways past the church, and keep going straight when the road turns to the right. There will be a dirt path that eventually descends into a canyon, leading to the salt pans. A mountain biking tour or biking tour may be of interest and appears to include a guided tour of the Moray ruins. Inquiring in Cusco with a reputable mountain biking tour operator is likely the best opportunity to book the trip or obtain a reference.

必看景點

The town, while quaint, has little to hold a traveller's attention besides the ruins. It makes sense to visit Moray on the same trip as the Salineras as they are very close together, you have to drive past the turn off for the Salineras to get to Moray. You may as well look at Chinchero on the same trip also as the bus goes through Chinchero on the way.

Salineras 1 Salineras (Bus Av. Grau 525, Cusco - Chinchero - Urubamba). Terraced Inca salt fields in a valley, still in production today. Salt has been harvested from the briny waters of the Salineras spring for thousands of years. There are around 3000 family-owned salt pans nestled in a canyon, which are used to evaporate water to extract the salt. All are filled, dried, and harvested on a rotating basis. They are not mined on Sunday. It is interesting to see the pans being mined by people in traditional garb, but if you go on an off day you are likely to have the whole place to yourself. The top-quality salt, flor de sal, which is much sought-after by chefs, is sold for S/4 per kilo, or S/10 for 3 bags. Admission is S/10, and is not covered by the Cusco boleto tuistico. (updated Mar 2018) Get in: Hike down into the canyon from Maras or up from the road connecting Urubamba to Ollantaytambo. From Maras, walk towards the edge of the valley. Where the road bends to enter the town, there is a path. If you have trouble finding it, ask a local. From Maras it's about a 2-km hike to the site. The path is very easy to follow. To get to the site from the road between Urubamba and Ollantaytambo, stop by Punta Arco de Iris (Rainbow Bridge). If you let the taxi or colectivo driver know where you are going you should be able to get picked up. It is very easy to get picked up by some form of transportation from that bridge, so it is entirely feasible to start at Maras and end up getting a ride back to your destination down in the valley.

Moray

2 Moray. A fabulous depression in which, experts theorize, the Incas b

體驗活動

After climbing down the ruins and back up, climb the hill overlooking the site to obtain the best photo of two of the co-centric circles in the same shot. Also on this hill are the Incan reservoirs used to store water during the year.

美食

There are no restaurants in Maras, although there are several small stores from which you can buy simple supplies. At the ruins there are only walking snack vendors. Crossing back through the town and visiting the Salt Ponds, there are vendors with better snacks such as ice cream and salted nuts and dehydrated bananas. However, bringing your own lunch is recommended. The other option is to eat at Pisac or Urubamba. There are only local joints in Urubamba, while in Pisac Ulrike's Cafe is highly recommended. It has great vegetarian options, good value, filling meals, local experiences such as Chicha Morada, and delicious desserts such as Kahlua cheesecake. The three-plate meal with soup (pumpkin soup recommended), entree (try the vegetable lasagna), and cheesecake is S/17, or with a brownie and ice cream for S/14. Meals can be obtained for S/10 or less depending upon the quantity desired.

住宿

There are no accommodations in Maras, although there are plenty in nearby Urubamba. There are no hostels or campgrounds Maras or in Moray. Sleeping arrangements are best made in Pisac (inquire at Ulrike's Cafe), Ollantaytambo, or Cusco.

順遊推薦

Take a taxi to the highway turnoff and wait for a bus to take you to Urubamba or Chinchero, or pay for them to take you the whole way (though this will be expensive).