Salineras de Maras, also known as the Maras Salt Mines, are a remarkable complex of salt ponds in Peru's Sacred Valley of the Incas, in the Cusco region near the town of Maras. Thousands of small pools arranged in steps along a steep mountainside create an unusual geometric pattern. White, cream and pinkish salt contrasts with brown stone walls and the green Andes, making these working salt pans one of the region's most recognizable attractions.
The salt ponds have both aesthetic and historical value. They demonstrate a traditional salt-production technique that makes use of the area's natural features and has been preserved by local communities for generations. Unlike many ancient monuments, Salineras de Maras remains part of everyday life in the valley: salt is still harvested here for local markets and food preparation.
Where the Maras salt terraces are located
Salineras de Maras lies in Maras District, Urubamba Province, Cusco Region, in southeastern Peru. The site is approximately 50 kilometres northwest of Cusco, among the mountain slopes of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The complex descends along a hillside toward a narrow gorge crossed by the Salineras stream. The area sits at an altitude of about 3,200 metres above sea level.
The ponds are arranged so that saline water can flow into them through channels by gravity. Small rectangular plots are separated by stone walls, forming thousands of individual evaporation pools. Their layout follows the mountain's contours, so the entire complex resembles a cascade of geometric cells.
How salt is produced at Salineras de Maras
The process begins with a natural source of saline water emerging from underground near Mount Qaqawiñay. The water enters a network of narrow distribution channels that direct brine into individual ponds. Once filled, the pools are left in the open air and sunlight. As the water gradually evaporates, salt crystals form and are collected by hand.
Each pond requires regular maintenance. Workers must control the flow of brine, maintain the channels and stone dividers, and monitor the surfaces where salt settles. Evaporation conditions and water composition affect the appearance and structure of the crystals, so neighbouring ponds can range in colour from almost white to warm pinkish brown.
Descriptions of the site give different counts of the ponds, but official sources and tourism materials refer to several thousand salt pools. This is not a museum reconstruction but a working traditional salt-production system in which old methods are still used today.
History of the salt mines
Salt was extracted in this area long before the Spanish arrived in the Andes. Archaeological finds point to pre-Inca cultures in the region, and the salt-making tradition has deep pre-Hispanic roots. Under the Inca Empire, salt was an important resource for everyday cooking and food preservation. It also had economic value because it could be exchanged for other goods and transported along roads linking Andean settlements.
For centuries, salt production was closely connected with local communities and family households. Knowledge of brine distribution, pond maintenance and crystal harvesting passed from older generations to younger ones. Despite changes in the management of the salt mines during the colonial and republican periods, traditional work continued.
Today, the salt ponds are managed by the communities of Maras and Pichingoto. Residents preserve traditional extraction methods, while production relies on community cooperation and inherited knowledge. In 1998, the archaeological zone of Salineras de Maras was declared part of Peru's national cultural heritage; traditional production practices and technologies received cultural heritage recognition in 2008.
What makes Salineras de Maras special
The complex's main feature is the combination of a natural saline spring with a human-made system of ponds. Industrial evaporation equipment is unnecessary: the sun, dry mountain air and a carefully designed network of channels do the work. The slope allows brine to be distributed among many pools, while stone dividers retain the water and separate individual production plots.
Salineras de Maras is also an example of a living cultural landscape. Its importance lies not only in the age of its structures but also in their continued use. Local families still produce salt, maintain the ponds and preserve the skills associated with the craft. The site is on Peru's Tentative List for possible inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List; this does not mean it is already a World Heritage Site.
What to see during a visit
Viewpoints offer a sweeping panorama of thousands of ponds cascading down the mountainside. From above, the geometric design is especially striking: individual plots form a complex mosaic, and the colour of the water and salt changes with the light and stage of production. On a clear day, sunlight emphasizes the contrast between white crystals, stone walls and the surrounding mountains.
Visitors can see the channels that distribute the brine and ponds at different stages of evaporation. It is important to remember that this is a working place for local residents, not just a tourist attraction. Follow access rules, avoid restricted areas and do not touch the salt or equipment without permission.
Salt from Maras and locally made products are available nearby. The salt is used in cooking and sold as a souvenir. Natural salt may differ in composition and iodine content from commercially iodized salt, so it should not automatically be treated as a complete substitute for iodized salt in the diet.
How to get to Salineras de Maras
Most visits begin in Cusco or towns in the Sacred Valley, such as Urubamba. The Maras area can be reached by tourist transport, car or taxi, followed by a local road to the salt ponds. Some travellers choose to walk from the village of Maras or approach from Pichingoto; check trail conditions and access rules before setting out.
Salineras de Maras is often visited together with the archaeological site of Moray, famous for its circular agricultural terraces. The two sites make a convenient combined excursion, offering different perspectives on Inca life and contemporary Andean communities, from agricultural experimentation to traditional extraction of natural resources.
Best time to visit
Dry, clear days are especially suitable for viewing the complex because sunlight makes the pattern of ponds more vivid. During the rainy season, water and wet surfaces can change the appearance of the pools, while roads and trails may become more difficult to navigate. Since the salt mines are high in the Andes, bring warm clothing, sun protection and comfortable shoes even when the weather is sunny.
Salineras de Maras is more than a scenic attraction in Peru: it is a rare example of a traditional technology that has remained in continuous use. Natural conditions, engineering ingenuity and the work of local communities have created a landscape that retains historical significance and continues to play an important role in the economy of the Cusco region.
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