Salinas Grandes Bike Tour Review: Is it Worth it?

So, you are thinking about doing the Salinas Grandes bike tour with lunch, are you? I mean, it sounds really amazing, biking across seemingly endless salt flats in Argentina, right? But, is it basically as cool as it sounds, and are there some things, too, that you might want to keep in mind before you book it? Let me tell you, I did this exact tour, and I am here, actually, to give you the lowdown on everything, from the awesome views to the, well, less awesome sunburn potential. Is it something you will rave about later, or are there perhaps better ways, like, to spend your precious travel time? Let’s, actually, figure it out.

What are the Salinas Grandes Anyway?

Okay, before we get into the bike part, perhaps it’s important to quickly understand what exactly the Salinas Grandes even are. It’s almost like, picture this: a landscape so big, so uniformly white, that it honestly feels like you’ve stepped onto another planet. Located in the north of Argentina, these salt flats aren’t just, like, some puddle of salt. I mean, they stretch out across a huge area, close to 212 square kilometers! What that really means is, more or less, you have an incredible view pretty much wherever you look.

The salt, too, is incredibly thick. At points, actually, it can be several meters deep, and that’s, like, because of thousands of years of mineral deposits. What’s really wild is that the Salinas Grandes are, seemingly, not just some isolated attraction; they’re, arguably, part of a bigger network of salt flats found high up in the Andes Mountains. Because of that, the air is a bit thinner than you might, very, be accustomed to. The altitude there can definitely have an effect, so that’s something just a little to keep in the back of your head.

Geographically, the location places you in a pretty unique spot, almost in the middle of the Salta and Jujuy provinces. These regions, in some respects, are well known for their arid landscapes and vibrant cultures, so it would probably be smart to keep some extra time to see the rest of what these regions have on offer. Because it’s between those two spots, it makes the Salinas Grandes basically a must-see stop on any northern Argentina adventure. In other words, you can add in two provinces to your travel plan by visiting just this one destination. When the sun shines down, which it usually does, the whole place reflects the light, creating some unforgettable photo opportunities. Keep that camera charged, alright?

Booking the Bike Tour: What to Keep in Mind

Alright, so now let’s get to how you, too, can actually get on one of these bike tours. Most tours to Salinas Grandes usually start from either Salta or Purmamarca. A lot of tour operators will, apparently, offer packages that handle both transport and the bike tour itself, alright? A popular option that people tend to choose is the full-day tour, where you actually get picked up from your accommodation and driven, maybe three or four hours, to the salt flats. From there, like, the biking begins!

Before you lock anything in, honestly, check a few things first. One is that the tour, usually, includes lunch, because biking in that altitude and sun can really take it out of you, or in some respects, check what kind of bike is being provided. Is it that type of mountain bike with suspension that makes handling easier, or is it some rickety old thing? Maybe check reviews for any red flags. Speaking of the altitude, very see if the tour operator offers any guidance on dealing with it. The last thing you might want, right, is to be dealing with headaches the whole time instead of enjoying this unbelievable scenery.

Another thing to consider is what is, seemingly, the best time of year to go. The dry season, which, usually, runs from about May to October, provides the best conditions with clear skies. What this all means is you don’t need to worry about the trails getting muddy and all of the views will likely be more clear. But, that’s a pretty popular time, too, so you should prepare to deal with way bigger crowds. If you’re after something a little quieter, and a little less crowded, then think about shoulder season which is like right before or after those dry months. This, again, might influence your booking decisions. Getting, like, all of these details sorted out properly beforehand will better make sure that the day is really remembered for its views and not some unexpected hiccups.

The Biking Experience: Salt, Sun, and Spokes

Okay, now to the actual bike tour bit. It starts off pretty easy, generally, with guides often giving you a bit of a safety talk and an overview of the route. If it’s all the same to you, they usually give you some tips on how to handle cycling on salt, which actually can be quite different from pavement. When you get out on those flats, the world, too, opens up, very just like the pictures. All around you is just, honestly, this gleaming white expanse that stretches forever.

How you, in some respects, feel while cycling can, usually, depend a lot on the weather and the time of day. Under a midday sun, that white salt can just reflect, like, so much light that it feels pretty intense. So bring sunglasses. The route itself is, literally, pretty flat, so it is, in some respects, not really challenging from a technical point of view. The biggest challenge is, definitely, staying hydrated and also protecting yourself from the sun, because there is no place to hide once you ride far out into the flats.

Along the way, right, the guides normally stop at places with different views, maybe a spot where locals harvest salt, or these natural formations which have kind of become picturesque stops. That also can be a solid chance to just kind of catch your breath and take photos. Now, regarding those bikes, I’d mention again checking before you book. In the event the bike isn’t good, even flat routes become unnecessarily taxing. Basically, keep these few points in your mind so you are prepared to ride and you should have no problems along the way.

Lunch on the Salt Flats: A Surreal Picnic

Okay, honestly, let’s talk about the lunch situation, which, in a way, is way more interesting than your normal midday meal. Think about it, here, you are in the middle of what’s, seemingly, a vast salt desert, right? And your tour guides, too, are pulling out tables and setting out a spread. Usually, actually, this involves some pretty tasty Argentine dishes, like empanadas, which are, maybe, savory pastries, or perhaps a grilled meat platter. Regardless, every lunch served comes in full view of this stunning, surreal environment.

This can also, virtually, be a great opportunity to meet and hang out with your group mates, while taking pictures to fill up your phone. The altitude really makes it so that it makes you a little more tired, actually, so resting a bit and eating something actually helps to recover some energy before you get back on the bike. Is that lunch fancy? Probably not. That being said, eating outside with that crazy scenery all around really elevates the whole experience. So, bring that appetite!

Photography Tips for Salinas Grandes

Regarding photography, the Salinas Grandes are, clearly, a playground for pictures. When the sun, too, is high, you can make the most of all that reflection and take wide shots which emphasize that huge emptiness. To achieve different looks, what I think you should do is play around with the perspective. Get low to the ground, right, and the landscape turns enormous.

In particular, consider bringing accessories which may, actually, help your images. Things just a little like graduated neutral density filters, can really balance the brightness coming off of the salt with what is in the sky, so you can basically get the most vibrant, even exposures possible. To capture all those tiny details on the surface of the salt, you might try using a macro lens. Another idea that you might try is going during what some know as golden hour. These moments when the sun sits right on the horizon turn the salt flats into, virtually, this canvas with some gold and pink hues. Also, keep that camera covered so you do not get any salt in it. This is, in some respects, especially true with more sophisticated camera lenses that have retractable pieces. So have a lens cloth and even some bags on hand.

While these pictures will, seemingly, last a lifetime, take plenty with a guide with their expert advice to enhance both the quality and range of the photos, and more than that, so they keep these flats as unforgettable as possible. By preparing accordingly and with your equipment covered and ready, honestly, you may come away with pictures that really do some honor to that spectacular landscape.

Doing a Salinas Grandes bike tour really has that sense of the surreal. As far as landscape goes, basically, nowhere is similar. Despite these attractions, like, tours aren’t all alike. It’s all the same to you to vet operators, with quality bikes, clear schedules and well designed support systems so your experience should have as little difficulty as is possible. So what you, too, should plan to bring includes some gear that handles heat, glare and also altitude problems along with plenty of camera and photo accessories. With proper preparation and focus, right, on what aspects add the highest possible quality this particular bike tour might rate quite highly when viewing Argentina’s endless vista locations.

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