Today, we start with a short drive out of the Sacred valley and across the grassy plain to the extraordinary Inca earthworks of Moray. There is no other Inca site quite like Moray, three crater like depressions are lined with a series of concentric circular terraces disappearing down into the earth. Some think that this may have been the site of sophisticated Inca agricultural experiments with each terrace representing an altitude zone. It is thought that the terraces containing walls were filled with fertile earth and watered by complex irrigation systems which enabled the Incas to grow more than 250 plant species.

From here, we then follow an old mule trail the short distance to the ancient town of Maras with its vast church and outstanding colonial Spanish door arches. Maras was formerly famous for its spies, due to its strategic location above the Sacred valley enabling the local inhabitants to keep track of the movement of all travelers in and out of the valley. From Maras we will then walk back down into the Sacred valley, a descent of a couple of hours, through the shimmering terraced salt-pans of salinas where salt has been harvested since pre-Inca times, the salt pans cover the whole hillside and in sunny weather we will be dazzled by the white of the pools, so, we then end our trek in the valley. Our waiting vehicle take us for a short drive onto our hotel. (Hotel in the Sacred valley)

Total hiking distance; 12km-7.5ml. L