sacred valley | Blog Magical Cuzco Tours

Places to visit in the Sacred Valley: Ollantaytambo, Maras y Moray

The Sacred Valley of the Incas, in the heart of the Peruvian Andes, is a place full of history, culture, and natural beauty. In this blog, we will explore three of its most fascinating destinations: Ollantaytambo, Maras, and Moray. Each of these places offers a unique experience, connecting visitors with the rich legacy of the Incas and the natural wonders of the region.

Ollantaytambo: The Living Fortress

Ollantaytambo is one of the most important towns in the Sacred Valley and an essential stop for any traveler. Known for its impressive Inca fortress, this historic site served as an important religious, agricultural, and military center during the Inca empire. The ruins of Ollantaytambo offer a window into the past, with perfectly preserved agricultural terraces and massive stone structures that defy the passage of time. Visitors can stroll through the local market, sample traditional food, and enjoy the hospitality of the locals.

Maras: The Millenary Salt Mines

About 40 kilometers from Cusco, Maras is famous for its ancient salt mines. These salt mines have been exploited since pre-Inca times and continue to be a source of salt today. The salt pans of Maras are composed of thousands of small pools staggered on the side of a mountain, creating a unique and spectacular landscape. Visitors can walk among the pools, learn about the salt production process, and buy local salt as a souvenir. The panoramic views from the salt pans are breathtaking, especially during sunset when the sunlight reflects off the pools creating a magical effect.

Moray: The Inca Agricultural Laboratory

Moray is an Inca archaeological site distinguished by its unusual circular terraces. Located about 50 kilometers northwest of Cusco, Moray is considered one of the most striking examples of Inca agricultural engineering. Moray’s concentric terraces resemble an amphitheater and are believed to have been used as an agricultural laboratory to experiment with crops and microclimates. Temperature differences between terrace levels can be as much as 15°C, which allowed the Incas to simulate different climatic conditions and develop crops adapted to various altitudes. Moray offers a unique perspective on the advanced agricultural knowledge of the Incas and their ability to adapt agriculture to the challenging Andean conditions.

Visiting Ollantaytambo, Maras, and Moray is an enriching experience that allows travelers to connect with the history and culture of the Incas while enjoying the breathtaking scenery of the Sacred Valley. These three destinations, each with their magic and mystery, are a sample of the ingenuity and grandeur of one of the most fascinating civilizations in history. What are you waiting for to visit them?

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On 23 mayo, 2024 • By magicalblog

Cusco• Travel Tips• What to do

Five Best Things to do in Cusco

Cusco is a must-seen when traveling to Peru. You should definitely add 3 or 4 days in Cusco when planning your Peru trip. For many travelers visiting Peru without exploring Cusco is like writing a story without a real plot, since you cannot catch the essence of the country. Cusco is a vibrant city, rich in history and culture. Considering that, and being sure that you all have added a stop in Cusco in your Peru’s itinerary, in this article we tried to list top things and activities to do in Cusco area.

Sacsayhuaman: do not forget to pay a visit to this archeological Inca site located on top of the city, where you can enjoy a beautiful view of Cusco. Sacsayhuaman is a mural complex, made of huge stones of approximately 300 pounds each, and reachable on foot from Cusco city. The site is located more than 3500 mts above sea level, so if you suffer from altitude sickness consider taking a taxi.

Historical Centre: do not forget to visit Cusco’s main square, ranked as one of the most important square in the world. There you can visit the magnificent cathedral, and enjoy the vastity of the square. Take a stroll in the little street around the square, where you can find cozy cafes and restaurants. This spot has been considered the real essence of the Inca Empire.

San Blas district: San Blas is the vibrant, boho and creative district of Cusco, where you can find clothes shops, Peruvian artisans’ shops, art galleries and workshops and some of the city’s best restaurants and cafes. Its cobbled streets are fascinating, as well as its colonial architecture.

Rainbow Mountain: this is a popular spot for trekking lovers. You can hike the route by yourself in approximately 2 hours or you can rent a horse to make the experience a bit lighter, in one day you will have an amazing trekking experience and enjoy a stunning view. Once you reach the famous rainbow mountain you will enjoy an amazing and not-ordinary colorful landscape. Do not forget your camera!

San Pedro Market: to catch the essence of Peruvian culture you should visit this huge market, located only 10 minutes from Cusco’s main square. This is a great place to try Peruvian authentic food, do not forget to negotiate prices, that’s the funniest part.

Here are only few things that you can do in Cusco, but Cusco is an amazing city where you can find pretty much everything depending on your preferences and specific needs.

On 30 marzo, 2022 • By magicalblog

Cusco• Machu Picchu• Peru• Peru Destinations• Sacred Valley• Travel Tips

Mara Salt Mines: All you need to know before going there

Mara Salt Mines, known in Spanish language as “Las Salineras de Maras” are one of Peruvian’s main attractions for tourists going to the Sacred Valley. If you decide to head to the Sacred Valley on your way to Machu Picchu or on your way back to Cusco, you usually visit Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Maras and Moray which are in the touristic circuit. You should definitely pay a visit to the famous Maras salt mines, located in the Urubamba province, approximately an hour and half from the popular city of Cusco. The salt mines have been fully operational from the pre-Incan times, it’s believed that they were constructed by the Wari civilization. Actually, we should call them salt pans since mines is not a proper word to describe them. They are thousands of pans filled with salt water which evaporates and leaves the crystallized salt in beautiful shapes. The members of the community in the area carefully scrape the salt crystals from the surface. Once all the crystals are scraped, the pans is once again filled with salt water. There are approximately 6000 pans in the area and they are managed by local families.

As for June 15, 2019 Peruvian MaraSal S.A., which owns the salt mines, has issued a letter to tour operators and Peruvian tourism authorities, about the access restrictions for tourists, that can no longer reach the salty water pools for preservation and health reasons. Contaminants, such as disposable plastic, paper, hair, cigarette stubs have been found in the ponds due to the increasing number of visitors and this could be extremely dangerous since the salt from the mines is consumed and sold in Peru and abroad. So if you are planning to visit this charming site, your tour will end at the viewpoint where you can take beautiful pictures of the mines but you can no longer have a walk through the salty pools.

Apart from the restrictions we can ensure that the visit is one of a kind, you will enjoy a charming scenery, you can stll see the salt ponds from the top and a have the opportunity to take stunning pictures. Before leaving, pay a visit to the souvenir shops where you can by Maras salt and bring it back home as souvenir, perhaps for your foodie friends. This salt is great for cooking, but it also has medical properties, it contains zinc, calcium, iron and magnesium and it is great to treat skin conditions and swelling.

On 15 noviembre, 2019 • By magicalblog