Salinas: Private Day Trip with Salt Flat Picnic & Volcano Views

Private tour to Salinas with salt flat lunch and volcano scenery

You’ll share coffee with locals in Chiguata before climbing through ancient terraces to reach Salinas’ wild salt flats. Walk beside flamingos and lagoons at 4,300m, then settle into a picnic lunch surrounded by volcanoes—a moment you’ll feel more than see. Private guide, transportation, entrance fees, drinks, and vegetarian or vegan options are all included for a quietly unforgettable day.

What’s included

Your day includes private transportation with pickup from Arequipa, entry fees to all sites visited around Salinas Lagoon, bottled water and hot drinks on board (plus WiFi if you want it), an oxygen tank for comfort at altitude, and a picnic-style lunch set right on the salt flats—with traditional dishes as well as vegetarian or vegan options before heading back down through Andean villages.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Salinas National Reserve

• Pass through Chiguata village
• Observe pre Inca terraces and crops
• Drive to Salinas Lagoon via dirt road
• Walk left side of Salinas Lagoon
• Walk right side of Salinas Lagoon
• Enjoy picnic lunch in salt flat

The Experience

It started with a laugh in Chiguata. We’d stopped for coffee—well, more like a thermos refill—when our guide, Javier, waved at an old farmer stacking alfalfa. He tried to explain the difference between quinoa and kiwicha (I still can’t tell them apart), and the farmer just grinned and handed me a tiny potato. Raw. I ate it anyway—earthy, cold from the morning air. That’s how our Salinas day trip from Arequipa began: not grand, just quietly real.

The road up was all dust and sudden green terraces—pre-Inca stuff, Javier said. He pointed out patches of corn and broad beans while we bounced along this dirt track that didn’t look like it went anywhere important. At some point my ears popped; we were already way above 4,000 meters before I noticed the thinness in my breath. The lagoon at Salinas finally appeared—a pale blue mirror edged by white crusts. Flamingos stood around looking unimpressed by us (fair enough). The wind smelled sharp, almost metallic, but then softer when we got closer to the water.

Lunch was… well, surreal is probably the word. A checkered blanket right on the salt flats, volcanoes in every direction—Misti looming behind us like he owned the place. There was quinoa salad (of course), cheese from some nearby village, and hot tea that tasted faintly of coca leaves. I tried to say “gracias” in Quechua; Javier laughed so hard he nearly spilled his mate. It wasn’t fancy but somehow felt huge—just being there with nothing but sky and salt for miles.

I still think about that silence after lunch—the kind you only get high up where even your own voice sounds smaller. We walked along both sides of the lagoon (Salinas Huito first, then Salinas Moche), boots crunching on crystals. My photos don’t really show how bright it all was or how cold my hands got holding that cup of tea. On the way back I kept glancing over my shoulder at those volcanoes until they disappeared in the dust again.

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Salinas private tour?

Yes, private transportation with pickup is included.

What’s included in the picnic lunch at Salinas?

The lunch features local dishes like quinoa salad and cheese; vegetarian and vegan options are available.

How high is Salinas Lagoon during this day trip?

The lagoon sits at about 4,300 meters above sea level.

Are oxygen tanks provided on this tour?

Yes, there’s an oxygen tank on board for safety due to altitude.

Is this tour suitable for people with mobility issues?

The tour is wheelchair accessible and infants can ride in strollers.

Do we visit both sides of Salinas Lagoon?

Yes—you’ll walk along both Salinas Huito (left) and Salinas Moche (right).

Are drinks provided during the tour?

Bottled water and hot drinks are included throughout the day.

Will we see wildlife like flamingos?

You’re likely to spot flamingos around the lagoon depending on season.