Salinas de Maras
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About
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Why go
- The staggered rows of about 4,500 salt wells along the mountain slope
Opening hours
Today06:00 – 18:00Show all
Don't miss
- Saline springThe saline spring at the top of the slope feeds the irrigation channel that supplies the wells.Top of the mountain slope, above the wells On the map
- Main irrigation channelThe main irrigation channel carries spring water down the slope to the wells.Runs down the slope to the wells On the map
Shorts
Interesting facts4
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Prehispanic salt works, among the largest salt extraction centers in Cusco.
Salt Mines of Maras - Wikipedia -
Each well is about five square meters in area and thirty centimeters deep, with stone and clay walls.
Salt Mines of Maras - Wikipedia -
Salt is harvested in layers, and the top layer is meant for kitchen salt.
Salt Mines of Maras - Wikipedia -
400 families
Around 400 families own the wells today, and ownership stays in families across generations.
Salt Mines of Maras - Wikipedia
History
- Early Horizon periodThe salt works date back to this period and are used through Inca, Colonial and later eras.
- Early Intermediate PeriodArchaeologists found Chanapata ceramics in the Pakallamoqo sector.
- 16th centuryDescendants of Inca nobility were recorded as owners of the wells.
- 1591A Royal Decree started land assessments that documented ownership.
- 1969The Peruvian state took control of salt extraction and sales.
Show all
- 1980Local communities regained control through the company Marasal S.A.
- 2019The Peruvian government nominated the site for UNESCO World Heritage status.
Tips for your visit
- Salt sales are managed by Marasal, the company that runs them today.
Best time to visit
- May to October is the dry season, when the best-quality salt is made.
- High season brings more than 1,500 tourists a day.
Know before you go
- Open every day, 06:00 to 18:00.
Sources: Salt Mines of Maras - Wikipedia · checked 18 Oct 2026
Plan from here: Evening walk →
Questions and answers
What are the opening hours of Salinas de Maras?
Salinas de Maras is open every day, Monday to Sunday, from 06:00 to 18:00.
How many tourists visit Salinas de Maras in high season?
More than 1,500 tourists visit each day during the high season.
Where is Salinas de Maras and how high is it?
Salinas de Maras sits in Urubamba Province, southeast Peru, at about 3,200 m above sea level. Its address is Carreta a Maras.
Who owns and sells the salt from Salinas de Maras?
Around 400 families own the wells, and the company Marasal manages salt sales today.
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