Maras Salt Mines, a Cheap and Easy Day Trip from Cusco

Las Salineras de Maras are salt mines just an hour outside of Cusco, Peru. They are a common stop for tour companies located in Cusco. But hiring a tour to go to the mines is very unnecessary. All you need to do to get to the mines is head to the colectivo station on Avenida Grau in Cusco. From there, ask which colectivo goes to Urubamba, but make sure that the driver knows that you are getting off at Maras, which is about 45 minutes into the drive, before Urubamba. Colectivos do not leave until every seat is filled, but Urubamba is a common destination for Cusqueños, so it should not take long at all for you to be on your way to Maras!

Once you get off at the Maras stop, all you have to do is get a taxi driver to take you to the mines. The colectivo should cost no more than 7 soles, but the taxi, only a 15 minute drive, will likely be at least 10 soles one way, so it is good to share it with fellow travelers if you have the chance. Just tell the drivers “Las salineras.”

After a 10 minute taxi ride through some very gorgeous countryside covered in shadows cast by nearby snow-capped mountains, you’ll arrive at the park entrance, where you must pay a 10 soles entrance per person to continue on to the salt mines (5 more minutes in the taxi).

Upon entrance to the salt mines, you’ll have the option to visit a few cheesy tourist shops to buy your own Maras salt and other handicrafts. I skipped the fluff and started exploring the mines!

Walking around inside the salt mines is like exploring a different planet. At times you must carefully balance along the salt banks in order to not fall into the water, and other times you must avoid the small streams flowing into the pond-like mines. As I was walking on top of the salt, I couldn’t help but think that it’s a little gross that I’m allowed to be walking around with my dirty boots while just a few mines over there were workers mining the salt. I also had to wonder if I was really supposed to be walking around down there, as most people were just standing around at the viewing areas above taking pictures!

I never saw any signs or got yelled at, so I am pretty sure that it is okay to do your own, more intimate exploration of the mines!

Overall, this was a very cool day trip, and cheap! Well worth the 30 soles that I spent (less than $10). If you have time after the mines, go into the small town of Maras and have lunch in the market. It is a town not often explored by tourists and therefore has a nice, authentic feel to it!