Moray is a small archaeological site and village in the Sacred Valley of Peru, about 50 km northwest of Cusco, sitting on a high plateau at around 3,500 metres above sea level. It is famous for its extraordinary Inca agricultural terraces — a series of enormous concentric rings carved into natural sinkholes in the hillside. Each level creates a slightly different microclimate, and the Incas are believed to have used them as a kind of open-air laboratory to study the effects of altitude and temperature on different crops.
The Moray Terraces are the main draw, but the area rewards a slower visit. Just a few kilometres east lies the village of Maras and its remarkable Salineras de Maras — thousands of small salt evaporation pools still harvested by local families using pre-Inca methods. The salt is naturally pink, carrying a trace of minerals from the mountain springs. Together, Moray and Maras make a satisfying half-day excursion from Cusco, far quieter than Ollantaytambo or Pisac.
The site gets fewer visitors than the more famous Sacred Valley ruins, which means you can often have the terraces largely to yourself in the early morning. Getting there is straightforward by taxi or guided tour from Cusco or Ollantaytambo.