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We had a "free" day in Cusco, but there were some suggestions of activities that our guide could organise for us. Two other people in the group were interested in seeing the Moray Ruins and the Salt Mines of Maras and we were happy to tag along and make the excursion cheaper.

Moray was the first Inca Plant laboratory we encountered. As noted previously, it wasn't quite clear to us why it earned the status of laboratory.



A view down on circular terraces with, at one side, the terraces moving outward round an additional flat area.
At Moray the terraces end in a circle at the bottom. This has drainage beneath into which the rain soaks.
B. and I standing in front of a wooden railing with the Moray ruins beyond.
A wall with rocks sticking out going up diagonally.
These were the steps up the terraces. It wasn't obvious we could climb these at Moray, but B. climbed similar ones at Sayacmarca.
Another circular set of terraces - these with piles of stone at regular intervals..
There was a second circle at Moray currently under reconstruction/repair.



The Salt Mines are not actually mines, but a salt extraction plant that predates the arrival of the Spanish and which are still worked today. Mineral rich water from the mountains comes in and fills clay lined pools. The water then evaporates and the salt is collected. They are owned by 300 families and there were people working them - flattening the clay lining - when we visited. I bought salt.



A panoramic image of a valley filled with a patchwoork of white, grey and light brown spaces..

Looking down on a set of buildigns and salt pools beyond.

A tiny stream in rocky ground.
This is the channel bringing water into the pools.

Satl pools at various heights and of various white through beige colors. They are edged with rocks and a channel runs between them.
Here you can see the channel taking the water between the pools.

A view down a steep valley full of salt pools at different heights.

people. standing on pools at different heights.
These are the people setting new clay in the pools.

A wall of salt pools.


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