Distance traveled: 300 km in 8 hours

Included: Dinner, Lodging in Hosteria La Poma

From Salta, we will climb the Cuesta del Obispo, a winding road that will take us to the Piedra del Molino, at 3,300 meters of altitude. We descend through the Los Cardones National Park, a fine opportunity to photograph the "cardones": the upright, noble cacti of the Trichocereus genus. These often host birds (telephoto), and, in spring, many flowers sprout (macro). In the Park we will also be able to photograph wild camelids (vicuña and guanaco), foxes, hares, condors, birds of prey (telephoto). We descend to the Calchaquí valley via the Tin Tin Stretch. The Nevado de Cachi (6,380 meters) will be right in front of us. In Cachi (2,200 meters) we stop for lunch and will be able to visit the Archaeological Museum, amongst others. We will ascend the Calchaquí valley by the famous "Ruta 40", towards La Poma, at 3,000 meters. On the way we will view incredible rock formations and a spectacular mountain landscape. We will photograph the Puente del Diablo, the result of recent volcanic activity. At night we will go out to photograph the valley and the stars.

Distance traveled: 250 km in 8 hours

Included: Breakfast, Lodging in Hosteria Pastos Chicos

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 see 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 Susques (3,600 meters) by the "Ruta 40", which will lead us to the La Polvorilla (Tren a las Nubes) rail bridge. We ascend the Altiplano towards the Tuzgle volcano (5,560 meters), passing by basaltic flows, huge lava blocks, and other rock formations, as well as the fauna. We will come across two Altiplanic "pueblos", which produce handicrafts and raise animals (llamas, sheep and goats). We arrive at the volcanic bombs field near Susques. These rocks are pieces of lava ejected still warm from a volcano, which were shaped by aerodynamic resistance.

Distance traveled: 300 km in 9 hours

Included: Breakfast,Lunch, Lodging in Hotel Viento Norte

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, declared a World Heritage site (UNESCO). We drive down the Quebrada to the town of Humahuaca, at 3,000 meters of altitude. We end the day in Tilcara.

Distance traveled: 240 km in 7 hours

Included: Breakfast

In the morning we will visit the "Pucará" - pre-Inca ruins, and explore the town. We descend the Quebrada de Humahuaca towards Salta. We stop for lunch in Purmamarca (2,192 meters), after hiking the "Paseo Los Colorados" and visiting the "Cerro de los Siete Colores".