The Living Tradition of Salt Extraction in Maras: An Andean Heritage Thriving in 2025

1. 🧂 What Makes Maras Special?

The salt terraces of Maras (Las Salineras) are a patchwork of thousands of shallow pools carved into the mountainside, fed by a natural salty spring. Unlike industrial salt production, Maras’s method is artisanal: water is channeled into each pond, evaporates in the sun, and leaves behind crystalline salt that local families harvest by hand.

2. 🏘️ A Living Community Tradition

Each pond belongs to a family or small cooperative. The knowledge of when to open channels, how to manage evaporation, and how to collect salt is passed down through generations. In 2025 this tradition remains central to the identity and economy of local communities — not only as income, but as cultural heritage.

3. ♻️ Sustainable and Low-Impact Production

Maras salt is produced with minimal mechanical intervention and low environmental footprint. Recent efforts by local cooperatives focus on sustainable tourism practices: guiding visitors along marked paths, explaining the process, and selling artisanal salt products that directly benefit families.

4. 📈 Growing Interest from Travelers in 2025

Travelers now seek authentic experiences beyond crowded sites. Maras offers a photogenic landscape and a hands-on cultural encounter: buying artisanal salt, learning about traditional techniques, and supporting small producers. Visitor education and respectful behaviour are essential to protect the terraces.

5. 🧭 Tips for Visitors

If you plan to visit Maras:
— Walk only on designated paths and follow local guides.
— Purchase salt or souvenirs from the onsite cooperatives to support families.
— Combine the visit with nearby Moray or a community experience to maximise cultural insight.
— Avoid touching the pools or stepping onto working terraces.

6. 🎯 Why Maras Matters

Beyond its visual appeal, Maras is a living example of Andean resilience: ancestral techniques sustained across centuries. As Cusco’s tourism continues to diversify in 2025, sites like Maras help distribute benefits to local communities while offering travellers meaningful, low-impact cultural experiences.