From Arequipa: Salinas Lagoon Full-Day Trip with Hot Springs

Salinas Lagoon is the star of this long day from Arequipa: a high-salt lake at 4,300 meters, ringed by volcanoes and often marked by bright water mirrors and flamingos. The route also brings you into the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reservation, where the city quickly gives way to open Andean scenery.

I like the mix of stops, especially the chance to pair dramatic volcano views with a soak at Lojen Hot Springs. I also like that the trip includes real local settings, such as Chiguata’s main square and its traditional Holy Spirit church, rather than rushing straight to one photo stop.

The main caution is altitude. You reach 4,200 to 4,300 meters, and one person on the tour developed a bad headache after not expecting such high ground. The lagoon itself also gets only 1 to 1.5 hours, which may feel brief if photography is your main reason for going.

Key points at a glance

• Salinas Lagoon at 4,300 meters: See salt flats, reflective water, volcanoes, and possible flamingos.
• Lojen Hot Springs: Bring swimwear and a towel for an optional warm soak, with entry paid separately.
• Chiguata breakfast stop: Sample a traditional local breakfast in the village, though food is not included.
• High-altitude plant life: At Alto Simbral, look for queñua, areta, tola, and other Andean plants.
• Wildlife and volcano views: Keep watch for llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and the volcanoes Misti, Ubinas, and Pichu Pichu.
• A long, early day: Expect about 12 hours, pickup in central Arequipa, and drop-off near Plaza de Armas rather than at your hotel.

Why Salinas Lagoon makes a good Arequipa day trip

Arequipa has its grand Plaza de Armas, white volcanic-stone buildings, and busy streets. Salinas Lagoon gives you the opposite experience. The day is about open sky, high-altitude plants, salt water, volcanoes, and quiet stretches of protected country.

The lagoon lies inside the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reservation. At 4,300 meters, it is not a casual lowland lake. Its setting is the real attraction: Misti, Ubinas, and Pichu Pichu help frame the views, while water mirrors and salt surfaces create changing photo scenes.

I would choose this trip if you want more than a standard city tour from Arequipa. It gives you a full day outside town, but it is not a gentle outing. You spend many hours in transport, stop at several high points, and finish in the evening.

The route has enough variety to keep the day from becoming one long drive. You see a village, a volcano viewpoint, high Andean plants, the lagoon, wildlife, a mini volcano, and hot springs. That variety is one of the tour’s best features.

The early pickup and road to Chiguata

Pickup is provided from accommodations in central Arequipa. The exact starting time depends on availability, but this is an early departure and a 12-hour outing, so you should plan for a full day away from your room.

After roughly 45 minutes, the first stop is the Mirador de los Volcanes in the Chiguata District. This is a useful opening stop because it gives you a broad view of the volcano country before the route climbs farther into the highlands.

The viewpoint is also a good place to get your camera ready. You can see the area’s representative volcanoes and take wide photographs without waiting until the lagoon. If the sky is clear, the blue above the volcanic peaks is part of the appeal.

The first stop does not require a long walk according to the tour details, but high altitude can make even simple movement feel harder. Take your time getting in and out of the vehicle, drink water, and do not treat the day like a race.

Chiguata church and the optional local breakfast

The route then reaches Chiguata’s main square, where the traditional Holy Spirit church provides a change of mood from the open mountain views. This is a small but worthwhile stop because it places the natural sights in a living local setting.

Breakfast is available here at an additional cost. The meal is not included in the $49 tour price, so bring extra money if you want to try the local food. I like this arrangement for people who prefer an authentic village meal, but it means you should not assume the advertised price covers the whole day.

Food choices and exact costs are not provided, so keep your expectations practical. This is not presented as a restaurant-focused outing. The value is in tasting something associated with the area and taking a break before the higher sections of the route.

A village stop can also help break up the drive. You are not simply being transported from Arequipa to a lake and back. You get a brief look at Chiguata, its square, and its church before continuing uphill.

Alto Simbral at 4,200 meters

About another hour along the route, the group stops at Alto Simbral, at 4,200 meters. This is one of the more unusual parts of the excursion because the focus shifts from grand views to the plants that survive in this severe high-altitude environment.

You may see queñua, areta, tola, and other local plants. The guide can help explain what you are looking at in English or Spanish, which adds meaning to what might otherwise seem like a stretch of bare ground and low vegetation.

This stop is also the clearest warning about altitude. Alto Simbral is already higher than many people expect from a day trip, and the lagoon is higher still. One person on the tour had a bad headache after not being prepared for the elevation.

I would not book this day without taking the height seriously. The information provided does not list medical advice or acclimatization requirements, so you should make your own plans based on your health and previous experience at altitude. At a minimum, bring warm layers, water, and a patient attitude.

Salinas Lagoon, salt, mirrors, and flamingos

The main stop is Salinas Lagoon, where you spend about 1 to 1.5 hours. It is a high-salt Andean lake, not a conventional swimming destination, and its appearance can change with the light and water conditions.

The most striking views come from the contrast between pale salt, reflective water, blue sky, and the surrounding volcanoes. The lagoon is also a place to watch for flamingos. You may see them around the water, along with other wildlife during the drive and at nearby stops.

The route makes several stops around the lagoon rather than treating it as a single roadside photograph. That gives you different angles for pictures and a better chance to notice the water mirrors and the wider Andean setting.

Still, 1 to 1.5 hours is not a great deal of time. One piece of direct feedback specifically wished for more time at the lake. I agree that photographers may find the schedule tight, especially if weather, wildlife, or changing reflections deserve extra patience.

This is a good reason to decide what you want before booking. If you mainly want a strong taste of the area and a collection of memorable views, the time may work well. If you want slow wildlife watching or careful landscape photography, the fixed schedule may leave you wanting more.

Wildlife among the volcanoes

The Salinas area offers more than salt and water. A guide can point out llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas, and these animals add movement to the wide-open views. Sightings are not guaranteed, but the route is well suited to keeping watch.

Bring a camera with a useful zoom if wildlife matters to you. Do not expect close contact or a staged animal encounter. The appeal is seeing Andean animals in the same high country as the volcanoes and salt lake.

The volcanoes also give the day its sense of scale. Misti, Ubinas, and Pichu Pichu surround the lagoon area, and the clear sky can make the peaks appear especially sharp. The guide’s explanations can help you tell the major features apart, rather than leaving you with a series of attractive but unnamed photographs.

One guide named Herbert received especially strong praise for explaining the region, sharing his enthusiasm, and helping with photographs. Guide assignments can vary, so you should not assume he will lead every departure. Still, that description gives you a useful idea of what to value in the guiding: clear explanations, local interest, and practical help with photos.

Lojen Hot Springs and the mini volcano

After the lagoon, the trip continues to Lojen Hot Springs and a nearby mini volcano. This is the day’s most relaxing change of pace. After hours on the road and at high elevation, a warm bath can feel like a small spa break in the middle of the mountains.

Hot spring entry is not included in the tour price. The fee is optional and paid separately, so carry extra cash and confirm the current charge when booking or before departure. Swimwear and a towel are specifically listed as items to bring.

The tour details do not state how long you stay in the water. That means you should see the hot springs as a planned stop, not as an open-ended bathing session. You may have time to relax, but the group must continue to Chiguata for lunch and then return to Arequipa.

The mini volcano adds another point of interest nearby. It helps keep this stop from being only a swim, and it gives the guide another natural feature to explain. The combination of warm water and volcanic ground is one of the more distinctive elements of the day.

If you do not want to use the springs, you can skip the optional entry, but you should understand that this removes one of the tour’s main comforts. Bring a towel even if you are unsure. It takes little space and gives you the choice to join in.

Lunch back in Chiguata

After the hot springs, the route returns to Chiguata for lunch. As with breakfast, the meal is not included, and the price is not provided.

This second village stop gives the day a practical rhythm. You have spent the morning climbing into the reservation, viewing the lagoon, and visiting the springs. Returning to Chiguata for food breaks up the long trip back to Arequipa.

I would budget for both meals and the hot spring entry when judging the real cost. The advertised price is $49 per person and includes central hotel pickup, transport, and an English or Spanish-speaking guide. It does not include the reservation entry fee, breakfast, lunch, or hot spring admission.

At $49, the trip offers reasonable value if you want transport and a guide for a remote full-day route. You would otherwise need to arrange your own vehicle and find your way through several separate stops. The final price is higher than $49 once the optional costs are added, so plan with the complete day in mind.

What the $49 price covers

The included services are straightforward:

• Pickup from accommodation in central Arequipa
• Transportation for the full route
• An English and Spanish-speaking guide
• Drop-off near Plaza de Armas at the end of the day

Hotel drop-off is not included. You are brought back near the Plaza de Armas, so make sure you know how you will get from there to your accommodation after a long day.

The tour has a rating of 4 from 62 reviews, which suggests a generally positive but not flawless experience. The strongest points are the scenery, the guide quality, and the range of stops. The clearest weaknesses are the short lagoon visit, unclear pickup issues on at least one departure, and the lack of advance warning about altitude for some people.

Pickup problems are not described in enough detail to predict what will happen on your departure. I would confirm the pickup point and timing carefully, especially since the service is listed as central hotel pickup but the end of the day is near Plaza de Armas.

The guide is important here. A good guide can turn the plants, volcanoes, and wildlife into a coherent story. A weak guide would leave you with long stretches of road and a set of photo stops. The positive experience associated with Herbert suggests that guiding can be a major strength, though the actual person may differ.

Who should book this day trip

I would recommend this tour to you if you want to see the high country around Arequipa without arranging independent transport. It suits people who like varied day trips, big volcano views, wildlife, village stops, and a warm soak.

It is also a good match if you want plenty of photo chances. You can photograph the volcano viewpoint, Chiguata, high-altitude plants, the salt lagoon, flamingos, wildlife, and the springs.

I would be more cautious if you dislike long vehicle days or are sensitive to altitude. The day lasts 12 hours, reaches 4,300 meters, and includes several stops rather than one relaxed destination. The water at Lojen is warm, but the rest of the day is not a soft spa outing.

You should also think twice if your main goal is extended time at Salinas Lagoon. The scheduled 1 to 1.5 hours may be enough for general sightseeing, but it is less generous for slow observation and photography.

The tour is less suitable if you need every meal and admission included in the upfront price. Breakfast, lunch, the reservation fee, and hot spring entry are all extra. That is not unusual for a budget day trip, but you need to carry money and keep track of the added costs.

Practical advice for a smoother day

Bring warm clothing even if Arequipa feels mild when you leave. The tour reaches high elevations, and conditions can feel very different from the city.

Pack:

• Swimwear
• A towel
• Water
• Money for breakfast, lunch, reservation entry, and hot springs
• A camera with spare battery or power
• Layers suitable for changing conditions

Take the altitude seriously from the start. The itinerary reaches 4,200 meters at Alto Simbral and 4,300 meters at Salinas Lagoon. If you begin to feel unwell, tell the guide rather than trying to push through for one more photograph.

Keep your schedule open after the tour. The return to Arequipa is in the evening, and the overall outing lasts about 12 hours. The final drop-off is near Plaza de Armas, not at your hotel.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful if your Arequipa plans may change, but they do not remove the need to check the available starting time and pickup details.

Should you book the Salinas Lagoon and hot springs trip?

Book it if you want a full day of high Andean scenery, volcanoes, wildlife, local villages, and a hot spring stop for $49 before extra fees. The combination is the real value. You see far more than the lagoon alone, and the guide can help connect the plants, animals, volcanoes, and local places.

Skip it if you want a slow, photography-first visit to Salinas Lagoon, if high altitude concerns you, or if you prefer all costs to be included. The schedule is long, the lagoon time is limited, and the extra fees add to the advertised price.

For the right person, this is a memorable break from Arequipa’s city streets. Pack for altitude, bring your towel, budget for meals and entry fees, and treat the journey as part of the experience rather than a simple ride to a lake.

FAQ

How long does the Salinas Lagoon tour last?

The tour lasts 12 hours. Pickup begins in Arequipa and you return in the evening.

Where does pickup and drop-off take place?

Pickup is provided from accommodation in central Arequipa. At the end, you are dropped off near Plaza de Armas, not directly at your hotel.

What languages does the guide speak?

The tour provides a live guide in English and Spanish.

Is food included in the tour price?

No. Breakfast in Chiguata and lunch later in the day are optional and paid separately.

Is admission to Lojen Hot Springs included?

No. Hot spring entry is optional and costs extra.

What should I bring for the hot springs?

Bring swimwear and a towel.

How high is Salinas Lagoon?

Salinas Lagoon is located at about 4,300 meters above sea level. The route also stops at Alto Simbral, which is about 4,200 meters high.