Where are the salt flats in Peru?

On the crest of the Andes lies the jewel of the Bolivian altiplano: the Uyuni Salt Flats. Widely known as the world’s biggest salt flat, Uyuni is home to some of the most surreal sights on earth, from multi-colored lagoons and glorious peaks, to water-covered surfaces of salt that mirror your own reflection.

What is Peruvian salt?

Peruvian Pink Salt is a beautiful hand-harvested salt that comes from Spring Water high up in the Maras region of the Andes mountain range! Milder than regular sea salt, this Spring Salt has a coarse but uneven texture that is perfect for finishing and a mellow taste that will enhance every meal!

Why is Maras salt pink?

The underlying salt formation that feeds the Salinas de Maras pans is particularly rich in potassium (the pink color), magnesium, and calcium, along with numerous other trace minerals and nutrients. Harvesting salt from the pans is safe for the families maintaining them and totally sustainable for the local ecosystem.

What are salt flats?

Natural salt pans or salt flats are flat expanses of ground covered with salt and other minerals, usually shining white under the sun. They are found in deserts and are natural formations (unlike salt evaporation ponds, which are artificial). A salt pan forms by evaporation of a water pool such as a lake or pond.

How did Incas make salt?

Strategically dug into the mountainside, thousands of shallow pools filled with salt water eventually evaporate and leave behind the crystallized salt, a process that has been practiced for more than 500 years. The salt pans of Maras have been used for the past five centuries to mine salt in the Sacred Valley.

How do you use Peruvian pink salt?

The mineral‐rich water that gave birth to Peruvian Pink Salt gives it a more pronounced flavor. Use on steaks, chicken, seafood, vegetables, pasta or anything that can benefit from an exquisite appearance and taste. Cocktails: Instead of regular table salt rimmers, add a flavorful twist to your rimming glasses.

What is Himalayan salt?

Himalayan pink salt is a pink-hued variety of salt that is sourced near the Himalaya mountains of South Asia. Himalayan salt is believed by many to be a healthier alternative to common table salt, or sodium chloride. Though mined like rock salt, Himalayan pink salt is technically a sea salt.

Can you eat the salt from salt flats?

Can You Eat the Salt? Yes! The salt was once mined for use in food. Be prepared for your taste buds to go into overdrive.

Did the Incas use salt?

There are around 5,000 ponds which were used to supply the entire Inca Empire as well as the Viceroyalty of Peru. The salt held great importance for ancient Peruvian cultures as it was not only used for flavoring food, but also for medicinal purposes given that these beautiful pink crystals are 100% natural.

What makes the salt flats in Peru so interesting?

Salt flats are generally, well, flat. What makes this salt pan in Peru so fascinating is its tiered architecture, a cascade of salt ponds that have been around at least as long as the Incas. Today, when the water from the site’s approximately 3,000 pools is evaporated, locals harvest the salt to sell at market.

Where can I find Maras salt in Peru?

The salt source of Maras is a terrific side trip from Cusco. Operating since Inca times, the salt pans are harvested by numerous families and sold on site (and at Trader Joe’s!!).

Where are the salt evaporation ponds in Peru?

Main square of the town of Maras. Maras is a town in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, 40 kilometers north of Cusco, in the Cusco Region of Peru. The town is well known for its salt evaporation ponds, located towards Urubamba from the town center, which have been in use since Inca times.

How many salt pans are there in Peru?

Today there are about 3,000 pools that are still harvested by the community of local families who control the salt pans, the transport roads to the valley, and generally the entire salt production from the site, which remains much the same as as it was when the Inca discovered it over 1,000 years ago. Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member .