CHINCHERO-MARAS-MORAY (FULL DAY)

Itinerary

In Chinchero we will visit a group of towns that demonstrate the techniques that they use toproduce textiles; recognized worldwide. We will visit the archeological sites and after lunch we will finish the day visiting the Salinas of Maras and Moray.

Chinchero 3160msnm):

Known as the rainbow city, Chinchero is situated 28km North East of Cusco. Its towns contain constructions that remain almost fully intact. It was a center of agricultural production, highlighting its platforms, warehouses and irrigation system. Over the palace of Tupac Yupanqui a catholic church was built (1607), its walls are decorated with works by Diego Quispe Tito; the highest representative of the Cusqueñan school. On Sundays the local people dress in their traditional, colorful clothing and meet in the main plaza to exchange their products. This town has been able to preserve an extraordinary way of living; of value and intangible heritage.

Moray (3500msnm):

Found at 38km North East of Cusco, it was possibly a research centre where they conducted experiments of crops grown at different altitudes. The arrangement of their platforms produces a gradient of microclimates, with the circular terraces being of a higher temperature and gradually decreasing towards the exterior therefore being able to form twenty different microclimates.

Maras (3028 msnm):

Maras is Kachi Raqay in Quechua is situated 48km North East of Cusco. It was an important town during the Virreynato (leading provider of salt in the Southern highlands). The salineras of Maras are mines of salt whose explotacion is as old as Tahuantinsuyo. Located on the slope of the hill, it is formed of five thousand ponds of about five meters each, in forms of terraces or platforms fed by a stream of salt water that flows from the mountain.