Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve is located at 80 kilometers from the city of Arequipa (via Yura). Its extent is nearly 367 thousand hectares, which cover the territory of the provinces of Arequipa, Caylloma and General Sanchez Cerro (Moquegua).
The reserve is located between 2800 and 6075 m.s.n.m and the snows of Chachani and Picchu Picchu.
The most representative species are the vicuña, the guanaco, the Andean puma, the flamingo, the fox, the condor and the vizcacha.
Among its dozens of lagoons stands out the Salinas Lagoon which, during the dry season, leaves an enormous layer of salt at its bottom. Salinas represents an important place for bird and wildlife watching lovers: it is home to huallatas, parihuanas and endemic species.
Climate:
Located in the area, the weather is cold throughout the year, with an average temperature of -2 ºC and 8 ºC from September to May, the hottest months.
What to Visit:
Chiguata:
At 3600 m.s.n.m, this is a perfect place for birding, as it possesses a shrubby and cactus vegetation, in addition to the predominance of queñuales. It is the starting point of the hikes to the Misti volcano and in addition, leads to the Salinas lagoon.
Salinas Lagoon:
It is located in the district of San Juan de Tarucani, at 4300 m.s.n.m. With an extent of 6182 hectares, it is the largest lagoon in the Arequipa region.
This is a must stop for bird watchers because of its abundant wild birdlife.
Among its most important attractions, it highlights the fact that it is the only place where you can observe 3 types of flamingos: Andean, common and James, which visit the lagoon during high humidity to feed on the tiny crustaceans that give it its characteristic colour.
During the months of absence of rains, from May to October, the bottom of the lagoon remains exposed and one can observe the gigantic layer of salt which is collected by the inhabitants for purposes of commercial and industrial exchange.
Pillones Stone Forest:
It is located in the annex of Pillones, about the height of kilometer 147 from the main life towards Imata. It is a rocky area featuring circular columns.
At the site, lithic tools, such as knives, scrapers, among others, are found.
Imata Stone Forest:
It is located 10 km. of the village of Imata, is a rock formation constituted by natural columns which take the appearance of a petrified forest erosion has modeled the rocks with peculiar shapes.
Sumbay Paintings:
They belong to the annex of Sumbay, Yanahuara. Known as the Sumbay caves, they are located 3 Km from the main road leading to Chivay.
Around 500 paintings of felines, South American camelids, mice and human figures were found, dating from 8000 to 5000 BC.
Tocra Interpretation Centre:
Situated on one side of the road leading to Chiva, the interpretation center contains information about the flora and fauna inhabiting the reserve.