Perched on a mountainside in Peru’s Sacred Valley, the Maras Salt Mines offer a delicate yet striking spectacle. Thousands of white and ochre pools cascade down the hillside, forming a unique mineral mosaic against the backdrop of the Andes.

Used since pre-Inca times, the salt mines still operate today using a traditional and ingenious system. Naturally salty water flows into the shallow ponds, where sun and wind slowly evaporate the water, leaving behind crystallized salt. Depending on the light and season, the colors shift from bright white to warm golden tones, creating an almost surreal landscape.

Visitors walk along paths overlooking the terraces, where the contrast between white salt, red earth, and green mountains makes the site especially photogenic. It may not be monumental in scale, but it stands out for its balance, texture, and authenticity.

The Maras Salt Mines reflect a living ancestral tradition. It is a simple yet captivating place, revealing a different side of the Andean Peru — deeply connected to nature and local heritage.