Laguna de Salinas Day Tour: Flamingos & Andean Wildlife

Trek a remote Andean lake where three flamingo species live side by side

A day tour from Arequipa to Laguna de Salinas, a high-altitude salt lake in the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve, where you hike around the shore to spot three species of flamingos unique to this lagoon, along with vicuñas, vizcachas, Andean geese and hummingbirds. The lake sits at 4,200 meters between three volcanoes (Misti, Ubinas and the snow-covered Pichu Pichu) offering panoramic views of the volcanic landscape.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Salinas Lagoon and wildlife trek

• Travel to Salinas Lagoon
• Trek around the lagoon for 2 hours
• Observe Andean and Chilean flamingos
• Spot vicuñas, vizcachas, and foxes
• Enjoy views of volcanoes Misti, Ubinas, Pichu Pichu

The experience

If you have a free day in Arequipa and want to get high into the Andes without arranging your own transport, this tour handles the drive and the route. You're picked up from your hotel and driven to Laguna de Salinas, a salt lake that sits inside the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve. The lake is the main draw: it's home to three flamingo species (Andean, Chilean and a third species) that live together only here and nowhere else on earth. The reserve also holds Andean geese, avocets, plovers, hummingbirds and the Queñua tree, a high-altitude species that grows nowhere else in Peru.

Once you arrive, you trek around the lake for about two hours at 4,200 meters above sea level. The hike is the way you see the birds and the larger animals: vicuñas, vizcachas (Andean rabbits) and if luck holds, Andean foxes. The real payoff is the setting: the lake sits midway between three volcanoes, so the panorama frames every photo. You'll have picnic time at the lake before the drive back to Arequipa. A guide in English or Spanish walks the route with you and points out the species as you go.

The full day runs seven hours door to door. Children from age 10 are welcome, though the altitude and the two-hour hike mean you need reasonable fitness and cardiovascular health to manage it comfortably. The tour is not suitable for pregnant travelers.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• picnic time at the lake.
• all entry fees and taxes.

Before you book

Lasts 7h, runs every day at 07:00, from US$ 160 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish and as a private tour.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (20 to 70 years) · Youth (10 to 19 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Perou Voyage

Is this one for you?Seven hours door to door leaves room for a morning in Arequipa before pickup or an evening after you return, but not both. Book this if you want a full immersion in the high Andes and can handle the altitude and the two-hour hike. If you prefer a shorter outing or need to stay at lower elevation, a different tour may suit you better.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

2 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 19 years). Children under 10 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What flamingos can I see at Laguna de Salinas that I won't see anywhere else?

Three flamingo species live together at Laguna de Salinas (Andean, Chilean and a third species) a combination found nowhere else in the world. The lake is more biodiverse for flamingos than the famous flamingo lakes in Kenya (Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha), where only two species coexist.

How high is the lake and what animals might I see on the hike?

Laguna de Salinas sits at 4,200 meters above sea level. The two-hour trek around the shore puts you in range of vicuñas, vizcachas (Andean rabbits), Andean geese, avocets, hummingbirds and occasionally Andean foxes if conditions are right.

What volcanoes can I see from the lake?

The lake sits between three volcanoes: Misti, Ubinas and Pichu Pichu, which is snow-covered. The volcanic panorama frames the entire hike and makes the landscape distinctive for photography.

Is there a minimum age for this tour?

Children are welcome from age 10. The tour involves a two-hour hike at high altitude, so younger children need to be comfortable with the elevation and the walking distance.