The archaeological site of Moray is located 7 km from the district of Maras belonging to the province of Urubamba in the Cusco region, 38 km from the city of Cusco.
Maras Moray is one of the tourist attractions belonging to the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
ETYMOLOGY OF THE NAME MORAY
The name Moray comes from the Quechua language, it is related to the corn harvest that meant Aymoray, also the name of the month of May that also bears the name of Aymoray and is also related to the dehydrated potato that is the moraya or moray.
ACCESS TO THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF MORAY
- Take a tour organized by a travel agency in the Maras – Moray tour or the Sacred Valley of the Incas Sacred Valley + Maras Moray tour.
- Take a private taxi service prices are variable ranging from 100 soles to more.
- Use the collective service in a bus from Urubamba station in Cusco to the Cruze turnoff at the entrance of Maras and then take a taxi to Moray.
- In a private unit take the route Cusco – Chichero – Moray.
Take into account when taking services of collective units, the return bus is a little complicated to find available seats and consider the price of return because it can vary.
THE CLIMATE OF MORAY
Moray is on a plain at an altitude of 3385 meters above sea level, it is surrounded by a chain of mountains of the Vilcabamba mountain range, the climate is temperate and dry suitable for agriculture.
The archaeological site of Moray is located at 3500 meters above sea level, characterized by a diversity of microclimates, which allowed agriculture in the Inca period through microclimates that have each platform in relation to the other. The climate varies according to the seasons of the year, in rainy seasons (October – March) has an average of 20 ° C with a decrease to 7 ° C
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF MORAY
Upon the arrival of the Spaniards to the city of Cusco, the priests knew of the existence of circles that had been used by the Incas for religious ceremonies, according to writings it is estimated that they were built during the XV and XVI centuries of the Inca period and forgotten for more than 400 years after the arrival of the Spanish.
CHARACTERISTICS OF MORAY
- Moray has concentric circles that had agricultural and religious purposes.
- The archaeological site covers an area of 92 hectares.
- Concentric circles ranging from 130 feet to 400 feet.
- They present 2 sectors
MICROCLIMATES OF TERRACES OR PLATFORMS
The microclimates of the terraces or platforms surrounding the larger concentric circle are divided by 4 contiguous levels.
Sector 1 is made up of the lower levels 1,2,3 and 4, each with its own microclimate, which are more humid and soil temperature due to water evapotranspiration.
Sector 2, made up of levels 5, 6, 7 and 8, has an average temperature of 2°C or 3°C.
Sector 3, made up of levels 9, 10, 11 and 12, has a temperature that is higher or lower in relation to the solar variation according to the seasons of the year.
The archaeological site of Moray could have been used in the Inca period for annual production calculations in different parts of the Tahuantinsuyo expansion.
