Maras salt ponds, Sacred Valley of the Incas, Peru

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Salt ponds of Maras, Peru

Peru’s beautiful Cuzco region has plenty of Incan wonders waiting to be rediscovered. Take, for example, these ancient salt ponds, stepping their way down the mountainside in Maras, nestled in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. You’ll find more than 6,000 little salt ponds near Maras, many of them owned and mined by local families. Salt is still harvested from the ponds through evaporation, just as it was in the 1400s when the Inca created the pools. Production is seasonal. From May to October, output is greater and of higher quality, and you’ll see crystallised salt with its subtle pink colour. Maras salt is prized for its flavour and rough texture. The salt is sold in markets, and visitors are encouraged to take samples back home with them.