Arequipa: Salinas & Aguada Blanca Tour with Chocolate Class

Discover the Salinas and Aguada Blanca Reserve on a full-day tour from Arequipa. See llamas, vicuñas, and alpacas, relax in hot springs, and make your own chocolate bar in a workshop.
Begin your day with a pickup from your meeting point in Arequipa. Head to a volcano viewpoint, where you can see the three main volcanoes of Arequipa: Chachani, Misti, and Pichu Pichu. Continue to the district of Chiguata, where you can explore its church and main square.

Take a break to enjoy breakfast before entering the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve. Admire the local flora and observe camelid species in their natural habitat, including llamas, vicuñas, alpacas, and guanacos.

Next, visit the Salinas Lagoon (4300 m.a.s.l.), which during the rainy season forms impressive water mirrors, an excellent opportunity to take stunning photos and observe the salt flat. You will also have the chance to spot birds such as flamingos and parihuanas.

Continue to the Lojen Hot Springs, where the naturally warm waters are perfect for a relaxing bath. The place also has changing rooms for your comfort. A few steps away, you will find the Mini Volcano Lojen.

Return to Arequipa, stopping at a rural restaurant to enjoy a delicious lunch. Finally, arrive in the city at approximately 5:00 PM.

In the evening, discover the soul of Chuncho cacao in a hands-on sensory workshop that connects flavor, culture, and sustainability. Guided by experts, explore all stages of the journey from tree to bar, starting with fresh cacao fruit and ending with a fine chocolate bar. Along the way, smell, touch, and taste cacao in its many forms: fruit, beans, paste, and chocolate with different percentages.

Take on the role of a chocolatier and learn to temper and make your own chocolate bar. Customize it with a wide variety of ingredients, from uchuva and quinoa to roasted sacha inchi, Mara salt, tarwi, cañihua, kiwicha, and other local fruits and seeds.

This workshop goes beyond flavor. Each bite tells the story of the producing communities of Ivochote, Quillabamba, and Cusco, whose traditions, languages, and agricultural methods are preserved through cacao. By participating, you support sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, and small Peruvian farmers while creating a chocolate bar that is uniquely yours.

To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.

This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.