Out in Sacred Valley lots of spots draw folks in yet Maras salt ponds catch attention with natural setup and puzzling start about 50 km from Cusco at elevation over 3000 masl this area shows off white terraces that stack down the hill.
Big spread with nearly 3000 small salt wells getting water from underground stream history stretches back over 100 million years now these supply salt across Cusco region plus ship out this basic seasoning to other countries.
Origin Mixing Legend and Facts
Story behind Maras salt ponds still confuses people today like many Andean places Inca stories explain beginnings most popular features four Ayar brothers tasked by dad god Viracocha to seek good land for building Inca rule.
Tale goes on one journey Ayar Cachi hurled rock at mountain with huge power creating deep cut other brothers freaked out locked him inside cave so he wouldn’t lead empire hurt and upset Ayar Cachi wept hard tears pooled up sun baked them into salt beds.
Neat as that sounds ponds come from real process on flanks of Qaqawiñay hill or Qori Pujio close by spring pushes salty flow along creek into wells strong sun hits most days vaporizes liquid salt crystals pile up in tiny basins. Whoa that evaporation hits quick under that intense Andean glare leaving layers you can almost hear crunching underfoot.
From what researchers dug up during Inca period locals handled ponds pulling out mineral storing it they applied it in preserving bodies and sacred events control of this spot shifted to nearby groups passed along families right up to present I guess traditions stick strong here.
Maras Salt Helping Health
What makes Maras salt known beyond Peru ties to its purity and ways it aids body low in sodium chloride so eases blood pressure issues for those with high levels mix teaspoon per liter water soak 30 minutes air dry no towel needed.
Plus holds traits that speed healing on skin problems such as sores swollen veins rashes scaly patches good too for joint pains like arthritis dissolve tablespoon in liter water wet cloth apply to hurt area anti-swelling kicks in fast. Heard some travelers swear by pink variety tinted from iron traces adds extra minerals but not sure if that boosts effects more might just taste better in food.
Getting There
Hit up the Maras salt ponds via a Maras Salt Mines tour outfit or go solo — no straight public ride exists. Groups roll out of Cusco in the mornings, following the path through Urubamba and then Chinchero, heading to the Maras settlement. A side road leads to the ponds, where you buy a ticket for approximately 15 to 20 soles each.
Prime window: dry months from April through October, when clear skies rule. During this stretch, constant sun pulls water off and boosts output; locals hustle, tending wells and scraping salt out. Man, that sight of workers knee-deep in crusty edges gets you pumped after a dusty hike down — but watch your step, the paths get slick sometimes.
