Travel destinations Peru – History

Salt production in Maras

Salt is still mined near Maras using the same technique as hundreds of years ago. The saline water coming from a nearby spring is channeled into basins where the water evaporates and the crystallized salt settles. There are around 3000 of these 5 m² pools carved into the mountain. When the salt reaches a height of about 10 cm, it is packed in sacks and sold. The highly valued salt is not white as usual, but pink. Besides sodium chloride, it also contains other minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and copper.

Geographical location

41 km west of Cusco.

Altitude

3300 m.

Climate

Average temperature

January: 12 °C, February: 12 °C, March: 11,9 °C, April: 11,8 °C, May: 10,6 °C, June: 9,5 °C, July: 9,2 °C, August: 10,2 °C, September: 11,4 °C, October: 12,7 °C, November: 12,8 °C, December: 12,3 °C.

Average high and low temperature

January: 18,5 °C / 5,6 °C, February: 18,2 °C / 5,8 °C, March: 18,4 °C / 5,5 °C, April: 19,2 °C / 4,4 °C, May: 19,0 °C / 2,3 °C, June: 18,8 °C / 0,2 °C, July: 18,4 °C / 0,1 °C, August: 19,6 °C / 0,9 °C, September: 19,4 °C / 3,5 °C, October: 20,6 °C / 4,9 °C, November: 20,3 °C / 5,3 °C, December: 19,0 °C / 5,6 °C.

Average rainfall

January: 149 mm, February: 106 mm, March: 92 mm, April: 42 mm, May: 4 mm, June: 2 mm, July: 4 mm, August: 11 mm, September: 26 mm, October: 49 mm, November: 86 mm, December: 109 mm.

Source of statistical data:es.climate-data.org.

Photo: ANDINA. 

Travel programs:

		PTW-CUS003 Maras – Moray – Chincheros Whole day Maras: salt is extracted from saline spring water in a terraced system by evaporation. Moray: Inca agricultural laboratory in the form of a circular terrace that deepens towards the centre.