Immersed in the stunning Andean beauty of the Sacred Valley, Maras offer a new look at the amazing Inca ingenuity and skill.
Maras is a town in the Sacred Valley, where an ancient custom still practiced: the use of salt preincaicas pools. These amazing constructions continue to provide the city and our country its pink salt, which has been recommended by experts as a healthy choice for flavoring foods because of its healing properties. In addition to their nutritional value, Maras are often visited for its spectacular scenery. Here you will find everything you need to know about this historical wonder hidden in the Andes.
The salt mines are approx. 3000 where salt water coming from the mountain “Qaqawiñay” during the dry season between June and October stored Wells small wells are filled with water every three days, the sun evaporates the water is salt. Community people collect salt and stored for later sale.
The amazing story of Maras
The first shallow ponds Maras salt may have been built by the Wari civilization between 500 and 1100 d. C. Most of these pools, built along the steep mountainside Qoripujio, had more than 15 square feet (5 square meters) and 30 feet deep.
But where does the salt mines of Maras?
Salt from an underground flow of saltwater bubbling from the source of the Qoripujio mountain, near an upper section of the valley. Therefore, an intricate network of narrow channels was built to direct the flow of this saltwater to each pond. When the water evaporates, the crystallized salt that remains is extracted with shovels and wooden rakes.
What is the best time to visit the salt mines?
The high season in the region is during the dry season (April to October), when the sunny blue skies are the norm. This is a very good time for a bike ride or horseback. The dry season is a great time to visit the pools because the constant sunlight (which evaporates the water and, therefore, produce more salt) increases the likelihood that the locals meet their salt.
On the other hand, the rainy season (November to March) is a beautiful time to visit the Sacred Valley. During that time, the landscape, including grassy terraces of Moray, has a bright and colorful green tone.
Do not miss the opportunity to visit this beautiful place in the Sacred Valley with top Andean Peru.
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