Ride the Sacred Valley’s backroads to two of Peru’s most photographed Inca sites
🔲 QUICK FACTS BOX
| ⏱️ Duration | Half day, ~6 hours |
| 📍 Departs from | Cusco (hotel pickup, ~7:00–7:30 AM) |
| 🏔️ Max altitude | ~3,385 m / 11,105 ft (moderate — no acclimatization concerns for most travelers) |
| 🚗 ATV ride time | ~1–2 hours round trip |
| 💪 Difficulty | Moderate — no ATV experience required |
| 👥 Group size | Shared group (up to ~15) or private |
| 🔞 Min. age | 16 to drive (younger as passenger, with adult) — [confirm your policy] |
| 💵 Price from | $XX per person — [insert real pricing] |
| ✅ Includes | Hotel pickup, transport, ATV, guide, safety gear, practice session |
| ❗ Not included | Moray & Salt Mines entrance fees, lunch |
Why This Is One of Our Most Popular Half-Day Tours
Maras and Moray pack an enormous amount of “wow” into half a day. You get Inca agricultural engineering that still puzzles archaeologists (Moray’s circular terraces), a surreal, almost lunar landscape of over 3,000 hand-dug salt pools that have been worked the same way for centuries (the Salineras de Maras), and — in between — some of the best off-road ATV terrain in the Sacred Valley: dirt roads, open farmland, and mountain viewpoints most van tours never get close to.
Unlike our Rainbow Mountain tour, altitude isn’t a serious concern here — Moray sits around 3,385 m, similar to Cusco itself, so this is a great option even on your first or second day in the region, before you’re fully acclimatized for higher-altitude adventures.
This tour is a great fit if you:
- Want an active, off-road alternative to the standard Sacred Valley van tour
- Have limited time but still want to see Moray and the Salt Mines properly
- Are early in your Cusco trip and not yet acclimatized for higher-altitude tours
- Enjoy photography — this route is full of it
Consider our full-day Sacred Valley ATV tour instead if:
- You also want to visit Chinchero or Ollantaytambo the same day
- You’d rather not rush between two of the Sacred Valley’s biggest sites
Tour Highlights
- Ride your own ATV (or share one) through rural roads and farmland in the Sacred Valley
- Explore Moray’s circular Inca terraces, believed to have functioned as an ancient agricultural laboratory
- Visit the Maras Salt Mines — thousands of salt pools fed by a natural underground spring, still harvested by local families
- Photo stop at a mountain viewpoint along the route (often called the “5 Snow Peaks” viewpoint, conditions permitting)
- Small-group or private departures available
- Safety briefing and ATV practice session — no experience required
- Round-trip hotel pickup included
Itinerary — Hour by Hour
| Time | Activity |
| 7:00–7:30 AM | Hotel pickup in Cusco |
| ~8:00–8:45 AM | Arrival at the ATV base in Cruzpata; safety briefing & practice session |
| ~8:45–9:30 AM | ATV ride through Sacred Valley backroads toward Moray |
| ~9:30–10:00 AM | Guided visit to the Moray terraces |
| ~10:00–10:45 AM | ATV ride toward the Maras Salt Mines |
| ~10:45–11:30 AM | Guided visit to the Salineras de Maras |
| ~11:30 AM–12:15 PM | Return ride to the Cruzpata base |
| ~12:15–1:30 PM | Drive back to Cusco, drop-off at your hotel |
Times are approximate and vary by group size, weather, and starting point.
What’s Included / What’s Not
✅ Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cusco
- Round-trip tourist transportation
- ATV rental and fuel
- Safety briefing, helmet, and gloves
- Bilingual guide (English/Spanish) — [confirm your language options]
❌ Not Included
- Moray entrance fee — covered by the Boleto Turístico (Partial or General Tourist Ticket), ~S/70 partial / S/130 general, cash
- Maras Salt Mines entrance fee, ~S/15–20, cash, paid on-site
- Lunch and snacks
- Travel/accident insurance (recommended)
- Tips for guide and driver
⚠️ Many competitors bury the tourist ticket requirement in the fine print. State it clearly here — it’s one of the most common sources of traveler frustration on this specific route, and getting ahead of it builds trust.
Pricing
| Option | Price per person | Best for |
| Shared group tour | $XX | Solo travelers, couples, small groups |
| Private tour (2 people) | $XX | Couples wanting a flexible schedule |
| Private tour (3+ people) | $XX | Families, friend groups |
ATV Tour vs. Standard Van Tour: What’s the Difference?
| ATV Tour | Standard Van/Bus Tour | |
| How you travel between sites | Drive your own ATV off-road | Ride in a van on paved roads |
| Physical involvement | Active — you’re driving | Passive — just sightseeing |
| Access | Backroads and viewpoints vans can’t reach | Main roads and parking areas only |
| Typical price | $30–$50 | $15–$30 |
| Best for | Adventure-seekers, photographers, active travelers | Travelers who prefer a relaxed, guided sightseeing pace |
Altitude & Safety
Good news: at roughly 3,385 m, Moray sits close to Cusco’s own altitude, so this tour is generally comfortable even for travelers who haven’t fully acclimatized yet. That said, a few basics still apply:
- Stay hydrated and avoid alcohol the morning of the tour
- Wear closed-toe shoes with good grip — the terrain includes loose dirt and gravel
- Sun exposure at this altitude is stronger than it feels — sunscreen and a hat matter even on cool mornings
- No ATV experience is required; every tour includes a supervised briefing and practice run before you’re on the actual route
Not recommended for pregnant travelers or anyone with mobility limitations that prevent safely operating or riding an ATV.
👉 Read Article: “Altitude Sickness and ATV Tours: What First-Timers Should Know“
Best Time to Go
- Dry season (May–October): Firmer trails, dust rather than mud, and the clearest views of the salt pools’ geometric patterns.
- Rainy season (November–April): Occasional muddy sections and afternoon showers, but the surrounding farmland is at its greenest — a different, arguably more colorful backdrop for photos.
This tour runs comfortably year-round; unlike Rainbow Mountain, weather-related cancellations here are rare.
👉 Read Article: “Best Time to Visit Cusco: A Month-by-Month Guide“
What to Bring
- Comfortable closed-toe shoes (sneakers or light hiking shoes)
- Layers — mornings are cool, midday sun is strong
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat
- Cash in soles for entrance fees (tourist ticket + salt mines)
- Small backpack, water bottle, camera
- Passport or ID
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the ATV tour to Maras and Moray cost?
Typical pricing in Cusco ranges from $30–$50 USD per person for a shared group departure, with private options priced separately. Entrance fees to Moray and the Salt Mines are paid separately, in cash.
Is the ATV tour to Maras Moray safe for beginners?
Yes. No prior ATV experience is needed — every tour starts with a safety briefing and a supervised practice session before the real route.
Do I need the tourist ticket (Boleto Turístico) for this tour?
Yes, to enter Moray you’ll need either the Partial or General Tourist Ticket, purchased separately. The Maras Salt Mines have their own, separate entrance fee.
How long is the ATV Maras Moray tour?
About 6 hours total, including hotel pickup, the ATV ride, both site visits, and the return to Cusco.
Can I combine this with other Sacred Valley sites?
Yes — ask about our full-day Sacred Valley ATV tour, which adds stops like Chinchero, or combine this tour with an afternoon departure to Huaypo Lagoon.
Is this tour suitable if I just arrived in Cusco and haven’t acclimatized yet?
Generally yes — Moray’s altitude is similar to Cusco’s, making this a good early-trip option before attempting higher-altitude tours like Rainbow Mountain.