Andean Altiplano
Andean Altiplano
From Salta: Quebrada de las Conchas, Cafayate (1,660 meters of altitude), "bodegas" (wineries), Calchaquí Valley via the "Ruta 40", Quebrada de Flechas, Cachi (2,200 meters), Twin volcanoes, Devil's Bridge, La Poma (3,000 meters), Abra El Acay (4,890 meters), San Antonio de los Cobres (3,600 meters), La Polvorilla rail bridge ("Tren a las Nubes"), Tuzgle volcano, Susques, Salinas Grandes, Laguna de Guayatayoc, Quebrada de Humahuaca (World Heritage, UNESCO), Humahuaca (2,900 meters), Iruya (2,780 meters), Tilcara, "Pucará de Tilcara", Purmamarca (2,200 meters), "Cerro de los Siete Colores", "Paseo los Colorados", Salta via the cornice road.
Included: Lodging in Hotel Salta
After our transfer from the airport to the hotel, we hold a briefing session, where we will discuss the most important aspects of our trip. During the remaining part of the day we will do a city tour: we will visit the San Bernardo hill, the monument to Güemes, and walk around the city center (Plaza 9 de Julio). Next morning, after breakfast, our adventure trip begins.
Distance traveled: 200 km in 5 hours
Included: Lunch, Lodging in Hotel Killa Cafayate
From Salta, we will drive to Cafayate via the Quebrada de las Conchas, with its splendid rock formations, a gift from nature. Arriving in Cafayate, at 1,660 meters of altitude, we can visit "bodegas", view handicrafts or explore the town and its surroundings.
Distance traveled: 120 km in 4 hours
Included: Breakfast, Lodging in Hotel Killa Cafayate
In the morning we will visit the Quebrada de las Conchas, exploring its valleys surrounded by sedimentary rocks in the most amazing shapes and colors. The afternoon is free, and we recommend visiting some "bodegas", or hiking up the Divisadero river valley. It is possible to rent bicycles or go horseback riding.
Wines from the Calchaquí valley, spirits and tobacco
Wide variety of handicrafts in metal
Distance traveled: 180 km in 5 hours
Included: Breakfast, Lodging in Hotel El Cortijo
The morning is free. We suggest browsing the handicrafts in llama and sheep wool, silverware, ceramics. At the end of the morning we will ascend the gorgeous Calchaquí valley up to Cachi. In this valley, nature left the rocks in the most fantastic positions, as in the Quebrada de Flechas. We will visit the picturesque "pueblos" of Molinos and Seclantas. In Cachi we can enjoy the tranquility, colonial architecture, the archaeological museum.
Distance traveled: 270 km in 8 hours
Included: Breakfast, Lodging in Hotel El Cortijo
The morning is free. We recommend walking around town and visiting the Pío Pablo Díaz Archaeological Museum. After lunch, we will explore Cachi's surroundings: the Los Cardones National Park, the Tin Tin Stretch, the Piedra del Molino and Enchanted valley, passing by the Calchaquí "pueblo" of Seclantas.
A good opportunity to see the area's history
Distance traveled: 100 km in 6 hours
Included: Breakfast,Lunch, Lodging in Hosteria La Poma
From Cachi we will climb the Calchaquí valley to La Poma (3,000 meters of altitude). We will visit the Twin Volcanoes, the Devil's bridge, as well as enjoy the incredible landscapes of the Calchaquí valley.
Distance traveled: 160 km in 8 hours
Included: Breakfast,Lunch, Lodging in Hosteria de las Nubes
From La Poma we continue climbing the Calchaquí valley until its origin, in the Abra El Acay, at 4,890 meters of altitude. On the way we will view camelids (llamas, vicuñas and guanacos), foxes, hares and condors. On the Abra El Acay, which divides the Calchaquí valley from the Altiplano, the landscape will change from a large valley to a range of volcanoes, and the Salinas Grandes salt flat on the horizon. We descend to the Altiplanic "pueblo" of San Antonio de los Cobres (3,700 meters), where we stop for lunch. We proceed to the La Polvorilla (Tren a las Nubes, 4,600 meters) rail bridge.
Distance traveled: 150 km in 4 hours
Included: Breakfast,Lunch, Lodging in Hosteria Pastos Chicos
We will drive to the Altiplanic town of Susques, at 3,600 meters of altitude. On the way we will pass under the La Polvorilla rail bridge ("Tren a las Nubes", 4,200 meters), besides the Tuzgle volcano, through Altiplanic "pueblos", see a field of rocks known as "volcanic bombs" (they do not explode!), fauna, mountains and fabulous rock formations.
Distance traveled: 220 km in 5 hours
Included: Breakfast,Lunch, Lodging in Hosteria Solar de la Quebrada
From Susques we visit the Salinas Grandes salt flat. We then proceed north to the Guayatayoc Lagoon, spotting camelids, foxes, donkeys, birds and other fauna. We continue north until we intercept the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a World Heritage site (UNESCO). We drive down the Quebrada to the town of Humahuaca, at 3,000 meters of altitude.
Distance traveled: 200 km in 5 hours
Included: Breakfast,Lunch, Lodging in Hosteria de Iruya
We drive to the "pueblo" of Iruya, at 2,780 meters of altitude. The road we take winds down a valley, and, in the end, lies Iruya, as if it were lost in the Cordillera.
Distance traveled: 50 km in 8 hours
Included: Breakfast, Lodging in Hosteria de Iruya
The morning is free, and we recommend walking around the "pueblo", with its steep streets paved with stone. In the afternoon we will hike to San Isidro, in Iruya's surroundings.
Distance traveled: 300 km in 9 hours
Included: Breakfast, Lodging in Hotel Los Colorados
We will climb the valley from Iruya via the winding road, arriving at the Quebrada de Humahuaca, when we will turn south. We will visit the towns of Humahuaca, Tilcara, which offers us the "Pucará", pre-Inca ruins, and Purmamarca.
Distance traveled: 50 km in 6 hours
Included: Breakfast, Lodging in Hotel Los Colorados
In the morning, when the light is at a better angle, we will hike the town's surrounding hills, known as the "Paseo los Colorados". The colors of the rocks, reflecting their mineralogy, are hard to believe. In the afternoon, we suggest browsing the wide variety of handicrafts in town. A tour on horseback can be arranged.
Distance traveled: 220 km in 4 hours
Included: Breakfast,Lunch
From Purmamarca we will travel to Salta via La Caldera, the more scenic route.
Included: Lodging in Hotel Salta
We drop off the group in the hotel and the rest of the day is free. The following morning, with adequate time, we transfer the group to the airport and our services end.