Begin your journey with a drive from Arequipa to the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve, passing through the village of Chiguata. Admire the pre-Inca terraces, still used for growing quinoa, alfalfa, corn, potatoes, carrots, and broad beans. Take in views of the colonial church of the Espiritu Santo, made out of ashlar.

Continue your trip into the National Reserve, where you will see the only forest of Queñuas in Arequipa. As soon as you get to the lake, enjoy a spectacular landscape. Salinas Lake is surrounded by volcanoes, including the most active volcano of Peru, the Ubinas volcano, and the backside of Misti, Chachani, and Picchu Picchu volcanoes.

Observe Andean rabbits, deer, birds, and South American camelids such as vicuñas, llamas, and alpacas. Salinas Lake is also the natural habitat of other sorts of Andean birds like guallatas (Andean goose), crested ducks (lophonetta specularioides), yanavico (plegadis ridgway), giant coot – ajoya (Fulica gigantea), and Andean gull - kiulla (larus serranus).

Thousands of flamingos are observed at Salinas, including three species: phoenicopteras chilensis (chilin flamingo), phoenicoparras andinus (large Andean parihuana), and phoenicoparrus jamesi (Andean girl - parihuana).

See borate extraction and artisanal production of salt. After the rainy season (December to March), the salty flat becomes a lake. Walk in the salt flats, which look like a land from another world.

Afterwards, get to a hot spring located near the lake. The water level is not too deep, but you can rest next to the springs and have lunch outdoors with a lovely view of Salinas. Return to Arequipa around 5:00 PM.