Downhill Mountain Biking Tour From The Dry Lagoon To Arequipa
La Laguna de Salinas is located on the back side of Misti volcano and Pichu Pichu Mountain – From Arequipa is possible to get there by paved road toward Baños de Jesus and Chiguata (3000M) and then uphill following a dirt and bumpy road on Pichu Pichu slopes passing a peculiar Andean forest as known as Queñuales and of La Llareta (Azorella compacta) – The distance from Arequipa to Salinas salt lagoon are 68KM and driving takes around 3 hours thanks to the not good condition of the road – The road pass through Misti volcano and Pichu Pichu Mountain.
Salinas salt lake is part of the national reserve of Salinas and Aguada Blanca – The 60% of the lake is located in the territory of Arequipa region and the other 40% is part of Moquegua region – The Salinas salt lake is home of many kind of birds especially during and after the raining season till June – Easily the bird watcher lover can recognize Puna, Andean and Chilean flamingos, Andean goose, Andean avocet, Tamarugo Conebill, Puna plover, Canasteros, eagle and if you are lucky is possible to see some Andean Condors flying around – Within the bosque de Queñuas or Quiwiña (Polylepis) sometime is possible to see different of sizes of hummingbirds as known as Picaflor Andino – Also are present the Andean foxes, Viscacha (Lagidium peruanum), lizard, falcons, deer, Vicuña, Llamas, Alpaca and sometimes Huanacos and Andean Puma.
This mountain bike trip around Salinas salt lagoon is recommend for costumers looking and interesting to capture nice photos of fauna and flora and combine a nice downhill biking from one the most interesting places located in Arequipa - According our mountain bike tour guides this trip is nicer and better than Chachani or Misti Volcano especially if you really like to do something different and recognize part of the Andes of Peru in one day trip.
SALINAS SALT LAKE BIKE TOUR ITINERARY
At 8AM the tour begins from our office of Arequipa (Calle Rivero 509 - Downtown), and them ground transportation for approximately 2H30min to Salinas Lake (gravel road). On the way we will go through Chiguata, located between Misti volcano and Pichu Pichu mountain. During the trip we will enjoy the Misti geological faults, the pre-Inca terraces of Chiguata and Cachamarca sector, Queñuales forest trees and fauna. We will then cross the Simbral tunnel and enter the Reserva Nacional de Aguada Blanca y Salinas. We take in views from the back of Misti volcano, Chachani and Pichu Pichu Mountain, stopping to see the Salinas Salt Lake, Llamas, Alpacas, Vicuñas, Flamingos, etc.
At 10:30AM arrival to Salinas Salt Lak, this dry salt lake is over 4300M high. You will be given an explanation of the flora and fauna of this area, a safety orientation regarding the gears and brakes of our bikes, the protective gear, and a description of the route.
FIRST PART
We begin by cycling on the side of the lagoon, on a firm road or within the lagoon on totally dry and sand covered in borate. Both courses are possible. The biking trip around the salt lake takes around 2 hours with many chances to see pink flamingos in season (January - August) and other type of birds and group of Vicuñas grazzing next of the road.
SECOND PART
We'll descend 1600m from El Simbral Cross to Chiguata village on an abandoned road with a variety of flora and fauna, biking among Chiguata's terraces and Cachamarca, finishing at Infiernillo Bridge - The wildness landscape offer terrific views of the Pichu Picchu and Misti volcano making unforgettable mountain bike trip – The terrain offer great opportunity to practice some single tracks for beginners and experienced riders.
The beginners easily can follow the gravel and dusty road till to the asphalt road supported by the driver and our supporting vehicle – The experienced biker looking for single tracks can follow the tour guide to get more adventure/fun under their own responsibility in case occur some accident with the bike and himself – The single track is very narrow, steep and slippery demanding all participants to have enough experience to do all the way down.
At Puente Infiernillo you can decide to continue uphill and then downhill biking on paved road to enter Arequipa – This ride takes around 40min more and then we put the bikes in our supporting vehicle and drop-off at your hotel in Arequipa, and end of the service around 5PM.
BEST TIME FOR CYCLING AROUND SALINAS SALT LAKE
Dry season, on the rain season same days are with good weather (blue sky) permiting to cycle this zone. Before to book your tour please see the weather report.
