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Explore Chinchero, Maras and Moray

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See three highlights of the Incas' fertile heartlands: the traditional village of Chinchero, the glittering Maras salt pans and the distinctive terraces of Moray.

While Cusco was the Inca capital, the Sacred Valley below was the agricultural and commercial engine driving the ancient empire. Whether on a walking, horseriding or cycling tour or exploring by road, you’ll see the culture left behind by the Incas as well as the continuing use of ancient methods of farming and extracting salt.

Visit Chinchero, a colourful indigenous village which hosts a lively Sunday market. Not far away is the colonial village Maras, where a cascade of salt pans covers the hillside, spectacularly reflecting the strong Andean sun in a multitude of watery mirrors. A short walk, bike or drive away is the fascinating Inca site of Moray, where the ancients experimented with farming techniques that still seem innovative to this day. The site resembles an amphitheatre of terraced levels of farmland, each providing its own microclimate and soil system to suit different crops.

Holidays Explore Chinchero, Maras and Moray

From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays.

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Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Hannah
    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

  • Kathryn
    Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Expert

    Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.

  • Maggie
    Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

    Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

  • Finn Clennett
    Finn Clennett - Travel Expert

  • Paul Winrow Giffin
    Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert

    After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.

  • Rosie profile
    Rosie Kay - Travel Expert

    During a career break, Rosie embarked on an unforgettable year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. Now back in the UK, she is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others, helping them discover her favourite place in the world.

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