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Gear I Wish I Had Before My Salinas Flamingo Walk in Arequipa
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items Planning a trip to Reserva Nacional Salinas y Aguada Blanca near Arequipa? The altitude hits hard, the sun is relentless, and flamingos don't wait around for you to find your binoculars. I did this walk with the wrong shoes, no sun protection, and a ...
Sections
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High Altitude Sun Protection That Actually Works
Layering for Arequipa's Wild Temperature Swings
Flamingo Spotting Gear Worth Carrying
Altitude Sickness Prevention and Hydration
Daypack and Accessories for the Reserve
High Altitude Sun Protection That Actually Works
At 4,000 meters, the UV index is brutal and you won't feel the burn until it's too late. I came back looking like a lobster with goggle tan lines because I underestimated the Andean sun.
Slather this on thick before you even leave Arequipa. I skipped reapplying once and my nose peeled for two weeks after. Works great at altitude without that greasy film.
Sun Bum Original Moisturizing SPF 50
Grab this if your neck burns faster than your face. The cape in the back saved me from a brutal neckline burn that my regular baseball cap would've missed completely.
Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap | REI Co-op
Pull this up over your nose when the wind kicks dust across the salt flats. Also doubles as a neck gaiter when temps drop. Weighs nothing and dries in minutes.
BUFF® CoolNet UV® Multifunctional Neckwear
Polarized, cheap enough that you won't cry if they fall in the lake, and the flamingo theme feels right. Cuts glare off the water so you can actually spot the birds.
Flamingos On A Booze Cruise Sunglasses - goodr Canada
Your lips will crack at altitude faster than you think. Toss one in every pocket. I borrowed chapstick from a stranger on the trail because mine was in the van. Never again.
Signature SPF 30 Mineral Lip Balm
Your lips will crack at altitude faster than you think. Toss one in every pocket. I borrowed chapstick from a stranger on the trail because mine was in the van. Never again.
Signature SPF 30 Mineral Lip Balm
Layering for Arequipa's Wild Temperature Swings
Morning at the reserve started at 2°C and hit 18°C by noon. I was freezing in the van, then sweating twenty minutes into the walk. Layers are the only answer.
Keep this zipped up for the chilly van ride from Arequipa and stuff it into its own pocket once the sun comes out. Light enough that it doesn't feel like luggage in your daypack.
Patagonia Men's Nano Puff® Packable Insulated Jacket
Wear this under everything. It regulates temperature so well that I forgot I had it on by midday. No stink even after a full day of hiking, which your travel buddy will appreciate.
Women's Classic Thermal Merino Base Layer Crew
Switch to this once the sun gets overhead. Dries ridiculously fast if you sweat through it. For anyone who runs hot but still wants protection from UV.
Women's Capilene® Cool Trail Shirt
Perfect middle layer for that weird 7am temperature where it's not freezing but definitely not warm. Fits under a shell without bulk and breathes better than most fleeces I've tried.
Delta Jacket Men's
Ditch the jeans. These stretch when you're scrambling over rocks near the lagoon and they dry fast if you step in mud. I wore mine four days straight across southern Peru with zero complaints.
Outdoor Research Ferrosi: Pants Review
Flamingo Spotting Gear Worth Carrying
The flamingos at Laguna de Salinas feed far from shore. I squinted for an hour trying to see them clearly with bare eyes before giving up and borrowing someone's binoculars like a tourist cliché.
Use these to watch Andean flamingos filter-feeding without disturbing them. Sharp enough to see individual feathers from 200 meters. Worth the weight in your pack, I promise.
Nikon MONARCH M5 8x42 Binoculars
For anyone who doesn't want to lug a DSLR to 4,000 meters. The 40x zoom pulled in flamingo shots that made my friends think I was way closer than I actually was.
PowerShot SX740 HS
Bring this so you can tell the difference between Andean and Chilean flamingos on the spot. Both species show up at Salinas. I misidentified every bird until someone corrected me at dinner.
The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America
Clip your camera to your pack strap instead of letting it swing around your neck. One stumble on loose volcanic rock and a dangling camera becomes a liability real fast.
Peak Design Capture Camera Clip V3 Black
Jot down species, locations, and timestamps while you're out there. Regular paper turns to mush if the afternoon rain catches you. Great for anyone who likes keeping a trip journal.
Rite in the Rain Weatherproof Notebooks 3x5 Tan 3 Pack
Altitude Sickness Prevention and Hydration
Arequipa sits at 2,300 meters but the reserve jumps to over 4,000. I felt fine in the city, then got a splitting headache thirty minutes into the walk. Don't make my mistake.
Drop one in your water bottle before you leave the hotel. Altitude dehydrates you faster than you realize. I drank plain water all day and still felt terrible until I added electrolytes the next morning.
Nuun Sport Electrolyte Tablets Mixed Flavors
Fill this with hot coca tea for the early morning drive, then refill with cold water at the reserve. Keeps drinks at temperature for hours. The wide mouth makes it easy to add ice or Nuun tabs.
32 oz Wide Mouth Bottle
Talk to your doctor before the trip and get this filled. Start taking it 24 hours before going above 3,500 meters. Saved me on day two after a rough first day of headaches and nausea.
Acetazolamide (Diamox): Uses & Side Effects
Toss a few packets in your bag for the drive back to Arequipa. Tastes way better than plain electrolyte water and you'll feel the difference by evening. For anyone who gets altitude headaches easily.
Liquid I.V. Sugar Free Hydration Electrolytes
Rub a little on your temples when altitude nausea hits. Not a cure, but it took the edge off while I waited for the Diamox to kick in. Small enough to fit in any pocket.
Lavender Peppermint Essential Oil Rollerball
Daypack and Accessories for the Reserve
There are no shops at Laguna de Salinas. No bathrooms, no shade structures, no snack bars. Whatever you need, you carry in. I learned this when I ran out of water two hours from the van.
Fits all your layers, water, binoculars, and snacks without feeling overpacked. The hip belt actually distributes weight so your shoulders aren't screaming by the end of the walk.
Talon 22 - Men's Ventilated, Lightweight Multi- ...
Throw five or six in your pack because lunch is whatever you brought with you. Easy calories at altitude when your appetite disappears but your body still needs fuel.
CLIF BAR Mixed Flavors Variety Pack, 36 Bars
For anyone without a Y chromosome, there are zero facilities at the reserve. This snaps onto your pack and dries in the sun. Way better than packing out used toilet paper.
Kula Cloth Reusable Antimicrobial Pee Cloth | REI Co-op
Keep your phone and notebook in this when afternoon clouds roll in fast. Rain at the salt flats comes sideways with wind. I watched someone's phone die from water damage on my trip.
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Bag | REI Co-op
Bring this fully charged because cold temperatures drain phone batteries absurdly fast. I lost 40% battery in an hour just from the cold. You'll want juice for photos when the flamingos finally appear.
Anker Power Bank, 10000mAh Portable Charger