Salinas Lagoon and Aguada Blanca
Duration
10
Location
Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve
Group
1-15 People
Description
Full-day tour to Salinas Lagoon, a salty high-Andean lake fed by an endorheic basin, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and volcanoes, with stops at viewpoints, colonial churches, and the chance to bathe in hot springs.
Highlights
Itinerary
- Pickup between 6:00 and 6:30 a.m. from your hotel or the Plaza de Armas.
- Stop at the Chiguata viewpoint (after a 45-minute drive) to admire the volcanoes, the agricultural terraces, and the Espíritu Santo colonial church.
- Stop at the Alto Simbral viewpoint (4,200 masl) to photograph local flora: yareta, tola, and queñual forest.
- Breakfast near the reserve and visit to the lagoon, with about an hour to observe the water mirrors (rainy season Dec.-Mar.) and take photos on the salt flats.
- Observation of South American camelids and birds such as Andean geese, ducks, and flamingos.
- Lunch, followed by a visit to the Lojen mini-volcano (with optional hot spring pools) and the Uzuña Dam, where you can go boating or kayaking (optional).
- Return to Arequipa, arriving around 5:30 p.m.
Equipment included
Not included
What to bring
- Appropriate clothing for hiking
- Warm clothing, as it gets quite cold
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Water for the short hikes
- A hat
Tour details
Optional includes
Bathing in the Lojen mini-volcano hot spring pools and boat or kayak rides at the Uzuña Dam (additional, optional activities).
Departure schedule
Pickup between 6:00 and 6:30 a.m. from your hotel or the Plaza de Armas, returning to Arequipa around 5:30 p.m.
Route distance
About a 45-minute drive to the Chiguata viewpoint, plus another hour to the Alto Simbral viewpoint (4,200 masl).
Difficulty note
Short, accessible walks, though at considerable altitude (the reserve is above 4,000 masl).
Tour route
See the path from the hotel to the meeting point and the tour route.
This tour does not have a configured route yet.
per person
Questions?