Moray, Peru Travel Guide: Inca Terraces of the Sacred Valley

High on a windswept plateau above Peru’s Sacred Valley, about 50 km northwest of Cusco and close to the village of Maras, lies one of the most intriguing sites the Incas left behind. Moray is a set of enormous circular terraces sunk into natural depressions in the land, the largest dropping roughly 30 metres from rim to floor in tiers so even they look as if they were drawn with a compass. At around 3,500 metres above sea level, with the snowcapped peaks of the Urubamba range on the horizon, the setting alone is worth the trip.

What makes Moray special is its purpose. Most archaeologists believe it served as an agricultural laboratory: because each ring sits at a different depth and catches sun and wind differently, the temperature between the top and bottom terraces can vary by several degrees. The Incas are thought to have used these microclimates to test and acclimatise crops such as maize, potatoes and quinoa, knowledge that helped feed an empire stretching along the Andes. Underground channels still drain the bowls after heavy rain, a reminder of the engineering skill behind the design. Today Moray is an easy and rewarding half-day from Cusco or Urubamba, and a natural companion to a Sacred Valley rail journey toward Machu Picchu.

What to see in Moray

• The main circular terraces (Muyu) – The largest and best-preserved amphitheatre of concentric rings. Walk the rim path for the classic overhead view, then study the stone stairways jutting out of the terrace walls.
• The smaller secondary depressions – Several more sets of terraces lie a short walk away, some partly restored and some still half-wild, giving a sense of how the site looked before excavation.
• Salineras de Maras (Maras salt pans) – A few kilometres away, thousands of small salt pools cascade down a hillside, fed by a warm saline spring and worked by local families since before the Incas. The pink-and-white patchwork is one of the most photographed sights in Peru.
• The village of Maras – A quiet colonial-era village of adobe houses, stone doorways carved with family crests and a simple church, on the road between Moray and the salt pans.
• Chinchero – A highland town known for its Inca terraces, its colonial church built over Inca foundations and its weaving cooperatives, where you can watch wool being spun, dyed with plants and woven by hand.
• Ollantaytambo – Further down the valley, a living Inca town with original street grids and a dramatic fortress-temple climbing the hillside; also a main departure point for trains toward Machu Picchu.
• The Urubamba valley viewpoints – The plateau roads around Moray and Maras open onto sweeping views of farmland, the river valley and the Urubamba peaks, especially beautiful in late-afternoon light.

What to eat in Moray

The Sacred Valley is the breadbasket of the old Inca heartland, so food here is rooted in what the land grows. Look for giant-kernel Andean corn served as choclo con queso with fresh farmer’s cheese, hearty sopa de quinua, and dozens of varieties of native potatoes, often roasted in a pachamanca, an earth oven of hot stones. Fresh trucha (trout) from the Urubamba river is a valley staple, and for the adventurous, roasted cuy is the traditional festive dish.

To drink, try chicha morada, a sweet purple-corn drink spiced with cinnamon and clove, or the village-brewed corn beer chicha de jora, often signalled by a red flag over a doorway. Mate de coca helps with the altitude, and for something sweet, look for alfajores filled with manjar blanco. Don’t leave Maras without a bag of its pink salt, used by chefs across Peru.

Shopping & crafts

The salt pans sell Maras salt in many forms, from plain flakes to blends with local herbs and chili, plus bath salts and small souvenirs. In nearby Chinchero, weaving cooperatives sell textiles made with alpaca and sheep wool coloured with natural dyes such as cochineal, indigo plants and local flowers; buying here supports the families who keep the Inca weaving traditions alive.

Best time to visit

The dry season, roughly May to September, brings clear blue skies and the sharpest views of the terraces and mountains, though nights at this altitude are cold. The shoulder months of April and October are greener and quieter. The rainy season, from about December to March, turns the terraces lush, but afternoon showers are frequent and dirt roads can be muddy. Visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon for softer light and fewer people.

Good to know

• Moray sits at about 3,500 metres. Spend a day or two acclimatising in the lower Sacred Valley before visiting, walk slowly and drink plenty of water.
• Entry to Moray is included in the Cusco tourist ticket (Boleto Turistico); the Maras salt pans charge a separate entrance fee, so carry some Peruvian soles in cash.
• Paths into the terraces can be uneven and steep in places. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a hat, sunscreen and a warm layer, as the high-altitude sun is strong and the wind can be chilly.
• Most visitors combine Moray and the Maras salt pans in one outing from Cusco, Urubamba or Ollantaytambo, often with Chinchero on the same route.
• Moray pairs beautifully with a luxury rail journey to Machu Picchu. Talk to Palace Tours about building it into your Sacred Valley itinerary.