Salinas Travel Guide

Five kilometres west of Urubamba is the village of Tarabamba (Km 77 on the Sacred Valley road), where a bridge crosses the Río Urubamba. If you turn right after the bridge youll come to Pichingoto, a tumbled-down village built under an overhanging cliff. Just over the bridge and before the town to the left of a small, walled cemetery is a salt stream. Follow the footpath beside the stream and youll come to Salinas, a small village below which are a mass of terraced pre-Inca salineras (salt pans) iUS$1.80, payable at whichever point you enter, top or bottom, which are still in production after thousands of years. There are 3200 pools and 480 cooperative members. They only work the pans from May to October, during the dry season. These are now a fixture on the tourist circuit and can become congested with buses. Its a 45-minute walk from Urubamba to the salt pans. The climb up from the bridge, on the right side of the valley, is fairly steep but easy, with great views of Nevado Chicón. The path passes by the cascade of rectangular salt pans, taking up to 1½ hours to the top. From the summit of the cliff above the salt pans, walk to Maras, about 45 minutes. Focus on the white, colonial church iUS$1.50, and visit it when you get there; it has been beautifully renovated. Take water as it can be very hot and dry here.

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