Salinas Lagoon

Laguna de Salinas is one of those places that surprise first-time visitors to Arequipa. Just a couple of hours from the city, high on a plateau near 4,300 metres, a pale salt lake lies surrounded by volcanoes and open grassland, with flocks of flamingos wading in shallow water. The mix of altitude, birdlife, volcanic backdrop and stark white salt is photogenic, and the trip is easy, with no hiking required. It suits travellers who want a taste of the altiplano without the long hours of a Colca tour, and it is often combined with other stops in the same area for a full day out.

The route leaves Arequipa on a road that climbs steadily through the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve, passing high pastures where alpacas, llamas and the wild vicuna graze. Along the way you may stop at viewpoints with a clear view of Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu, and at small settlements where herders still live much as their ancestors did.

The lake itself is a pale, shallow basin with a crust of salt, and the water attracts Andean and Chilean flamingos at certain times of year, particularly in the rainy season when feeding is richer. Even without the flamingos, the setting is dramatic.

Many tours include a short stop at a natural hot spring or thermal bath on the way back, which makes for a relaxing end to a cold day, and some also include a visit to a viewpoint above a rock forest or a small village with a colonial church. The tour linked here includes llamas, flamingos and hot springs in one excursion, and it works well as a gentle introduction to high altitude.

Because the lake sits so high, you may feel breathless even without exercise, so walk slowly and drink water. The air is thin and the sun intense, so a hat, sunglasses and sun cream are essential.

Practical planning is simple. Half-day and full-day versions exist, with hotel pickup and a short walk at the lake, and prices tend to be modest compared to multi-day tours. For birdwatchers, the wet season from about January to March can be the most productive, though rain and cloud affect visibility, while the dry months offer clear skies and sharp views of the volcanoes.

Bring layers because temperatures fall quickly at altitude, and a small amount of cash for entry fees and snacks. It also makes a good acclimatisation outing before a bigger trip, such as a Colca tour, because it lets you spend time above 4,000 metres without strenuous activity.

If birdwatching is a priority, bring binoculars and a field guide, and ask the driver to give you extra time at the water edge. Besides flamingos, the area can offer Andean geese, ducks and other waterbirds, and early morning is the best time for activity and calm light. The surrounding grasslands are also good for spotting vicunas, wild relatives of the llama and alpaca that are protected in the reserve, and the landscape gives a very tangible sense of the high Andean plateau that few city tours provide.

Choose a tour with a driver who is happy to stop for wildlife, because many of the best moments come from unplanned halts.