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Salta ToursThe area around Salta represents the 10% of Argentina but encompasses half of the history of the country. From the Incas, and other local cultures - which are characterized by the excellent adaptation to the highlands-; to the Spanish domain (this region holds the most ancient traces of Spanish heritage) and Independence days - which had a strong imprint on the culture and lifestyle of the people living in the area.
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One of the most fascinating aspects of a visit to the Northwest area is the chance to mingle with the native population, some of the friendliest people on Earth. Since the rigorous climate up the mountains has discouraged permanent settlements, the local inhabitants preserve practically intact their ancient customs and traditions. Their polychromatic dresses, their expressive artwork and handicrafts, their music, their colorful markets and street fairs and delicious gastronomy are eloquent expressions of the soul of these people and their love for PACHAMAMA (Mother Earth). Some of the most spectacular geological formations on Earth are to be found in the impressive landscapes, which encompass the northwestern Argentine provinces. Not only we include this gorgeous formations but also most of the most amazing deserts and high altitude lakes (comparable - and sometimes superior to some extent- to Atacama and Uyuni).
Here are some sample itineraries to entice you, though we can customize something to suit your interests:
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Salta Area With Group Day Tours
Here is a sample itinerary, using group day tours. We can make it shorter if you don't want to do all of the tours. If you want private tours, we can overnight in some of the small towns so you don't have to go back to Salta each night. DAY 01. SALTA Arrival in Salta. Meet and greet at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Optional afternoon group walking tour at extra cost of US$49 per person, with minimum of 2 people DAY 02 - Full Day CACHI 285 km Southwest drive through the spectacular Cuesta del Obispo, climbing to more than 3000 m. and the Recta del Tin Tin, with the unforgettable landscape of giant cardon cacti and the snow-capped Andes. Visit the ancient town of Cachi, with its old chapel and archaeology museum - one of the best of its kind in Argentina. We head south from Salta city skirting the rust-colored tobacco fields at the city's edge before heading west on RP 33 the gravel road that journeys through the parched Quebrada de Escoipe (Escoipe canyon). At the canyon's end the landscape changes abruptly as the Cuesta del Obispo (Obispo Pas) and the Valle Encantado (Enchanted valley) both huge, verdantly green valleys come into view. As the road climbs the mountains that overlook the valleys, condors can be easily seen gliding overhead. Doubling back and forth as it ascends, the road eventually climbs to about 12,000 feet. The terrain is stark. The mountainsides are mostly a dry baked brown. Cattle, sheep and llama graze for what little vegetation they can find on the lower and middle slopes. Eagles and condors soar above the peaks. At 3620 m (11874 ft) above sea level, the trail levels off at La Piedra del Molino, and we find the access to the beautiful PN Los Cardones, a national park populated by thousands of huge cardon cacti. The park is also crisscrossed by myriad stone trails constructed by colonizing Inca forces in the 15th century. The small village of Cachi (2300m / 7544 ft) is located within a short distance form the park western border and is the area's main attraction. It is tiny, but a good place to rest. Cachi's restored colonial church is a national historic monument. The museum of local archeology has a collection of native artifacts of the Andean region. DAY 03 - Full Day CAFAYATE 368 km Home of the Wines in Salta Full day expedition to Cafayate, home to the only true native varietal Argentine wine - the Torrontes - of fruity and sweet flavor. Visit to the wineries with opportunities to sample the exquisite and unique local wines. The drive to Cafayate passes by some impressive geological formations produced by erosion on the colorful sedimentation of sandstone over the past 60 million years. The first 30 miles or so go along a tree-lined two-lane road, passing through tranquil villages with buildings of deep red earth. Then the trees start to be scarce and the mountains can be seen in the distance. In the Quebrada de Cafayate (Cafayate Ravine), the cliffs and crags come in every color: brick red, pale orange, yellow, white, green, slate blue and rich purple. Cafayate is the most important city in the Calchaqui valleys, but it is also a tiny paradise for wine lovers looking for a tranquil hideaway. It is also home to some of the world's highest vineyards (1750m / 5740 ft) featuring grape varieties such as Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon and the local's specialty - The Torrontes. This Spanish grape, white wine of fruity but dry and distinctive flavor, has found its perfect terroir which makes this wine absolutely unique. The first Torrontes wines were planted in 1850 on the La Florida vineyard which was owned by the Etchart Bodega. Nowadays it has passed into the hands of Pernod Ricard, the famous wine and Spirit Company. Another wineries to be visited are El Esteco, host of the amazing Patios de Cafayate Hotel and the winery Finca Las Nubes, home to the Jose Luis Munier wines. This is an idyllic hillside spot 5 km from Cafayate. The winery is framed by a backdrop of steep, rising mountains covered in cacti that stand like sentinels on the hillside. DAY 04 - Full Day HUMAHUACA CANYON 380 km Full day expedition enjoying the multicolored landscape of the Humahuaca canyon, the peaceful villages, old chapels, native markets, small museums, and the remains of an ancient pre-Inca fortified town. Humahuaca, Uquia, Tilcara, Maimara and Purmamarca will be some of the fascinating stops during our day. The Quebrada de Humahuaca, an Andean gorge of rust-colored mountains and ancient settlements is one of Argentina's most distinctively South American Natural experiences. Purmamarca, is the base town from where to explore the amazing Cerro de los Siete Colores. This polychromatic mountain (considered an artist's palette of colors) is best seen from a hill on the edge of the village, and is a backdrop of this enchanted village where you will be able to enjoy the most interesting purchases in the local market. The red streets and easy access makes Tilcara the favorite of all visitors. Within walking distance (a short trek outside town) is the Pucará, a restored pre-Columbian fort which offers spectacular views. The access fee (to be paid locally) includes the access to the Museo Arqueologico which houses an excellent and diverse collection of artifacts as well as offering insight into native cultural beliefs. Humahuaca with its narrow shaded streets of adobe houses is a picturesque village worth of visiting. Visits to the local church and the Town Hall famous for its clock tower where a mechanical San Francisco Solano gives a daily blessing at noon. A visit to the Museo Arqueologico should not be missed. Guided by Don Sixto or his son, the Museo pictures the lives of the "coyas", the local inhabitants, their traditions and celebrations, their everyday life, their houses, in a simple yet interesting way. (Entrance fee to be paid locally). DAY 05. SALTA - depart Transfer to the airport to fly to next destination Sample 2021 price per person in US$ : (with group tours)
Note: can quote with other hotels. 
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Active Salta With Group Day Tours
Here is a sample itinerary, using group day tours. We can make it shorter if you don't want to do all of the tours. We can also quote with private tours.
DAY 01. SALTA Arrival in Salta. Meet and greet at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Day 2 - Half Day MTB Yungas and Selva Montana The city of Salta and its surrounds are the perfect settings for a varied off-road mountain bike ride. This biking adventure takes in a real mix of environments and terrains. Difficulty: Easy/ Moderate SIB/ Shared departure This fun and relatively easy ride will take riders from Salta to San Lorenzo (only 10 min by car) and it is here we start the trail. We will follow streams, cross rivers, cycle into open savanna and the dense Selva Montana cloud forest before making our way back to San Lorenzo. More challenging off-road routes do exist so we can adapt the choice of trails and terrains to suit the level of the riding group. For those fit enough to do it, this is a fun and unique way of exploring the region and its mix of environments. Notes:
Day 3 - Full Day Rafting Rio Juramento
Level II/ III - Low to Intermediate – Shared departures – Year round except month of June The area surrounding the mighty Juramento River is one of the most striking and beautiful landscapes in the Salta region. A trip down the river through these gentle, low-grade rapids is the perfect way to enjoy the surrounding geology and, of course, the local wildlife in a fun and unique way. We will first head for Rio Juramento base camp, located roughly 1 hour 30 minutes’ drive from the city centre. Here, all rafters will receive an introduction to the river and a safety briefing carried out by qualified local guides. Once all required safety equipment has been issued and fitted (helmet, life jacket, waterproof trousers and so on) the adventure begins! The early stages of the river are blissfully silent. As you roll gently downstream it is the perfect opportunity to take in the surroundings and enjoy the quiet being broken only by the tweeting of indigenous birdlife. The willow-lined banks offer a fitting contrast between the rushing cold waters of the river and the (hopefully) bright blue skies above. After roughly 20 minutes of effortless drifting, you will feel the pace of the water quicken. There are 10 rapids class III plus 5 class II, make up this 12 kilometre stretch of the Rio Juramento, all offering a punch of adrenaline as an antidote to the serenity of the surrounding scenery. As we travel, the local guide will point out indigenous plant species, local birdlife and petrified plants desperately clinging to the rocks, culminating in the locally admired 65million-year-old sand bay. Incredibly, this bay still boasts prehistoric fossilized dinosaur footprints. Finally, the rafts will ease to a halt as this section of the river becomes too shallow to navigate, and a waiting 4 x 4 vehicle will take the group back to base camp for a well-earned lunch! Essentials: Includes: one guide per raft, safety kayak. Equipment provided: helmet, paddle, lifejacket, neoprene wetsuits and boots, waterproof pants and jackets. Lunch: Provided and will usually consist of barbeque and salads. Special dietary requirements must be confirmed in advance. Departures: minimum of 4 rafters. Climate does not affect this tour and water level is regulated by Cabra Corral Dam thus always stable. Day 4 - full day MTB El Toro
Quebrada El Toro is a myriad of natural causeways which have been used by natives as a means of communication, trade and migration over thousands of years. As a result, the area is littered with fascinating archaeological sites. This mountain bike tour has been specially designed by expert riders to include not only a fantastic bike ride of mixed terrain and plenty of adrenaline but also to take in the immensely beautiful scenery in the area. The circuit begins (arrival by vehicle) at Campo Quijano village, known as The Andes Portal. First we ride along a section of the gorge, passing deep canyons and lush vegetation. We cross a section of the famous ‘Train to the Clouds’, a marvel of 20th-century engineering, passing abandoned stations at Rio Blanco, El Alisal and others. Then the route takes us to the beautiful Chorro Azul, the perfect setting to re-group, re-energise and get ready for the second part of the circuit. From Chorro Azul, it’s an exhilarating 6km ride through mixed terrain back to the waiting support vehicle, and home to Salta. Notes: • The level of difficulty: Moderate. The trails can be adapted to suit the degree of fitness of the group. Please note: Not suitable for people with vertigo, we cycle valleys and bridge nearly 40 metres high • Includes: Transfers, Equipment (Bikes, Helmets, etc.), snacks, mineral water, Bilingual Guide, Insurance DAY 05. SALTA - depart Transfer to the airport to fly to next destination Sample 2021 Price per person in US$: (with group tours)
Both tour packages options include:
Can also substitute this more difficult mtb tour at extra cost:
Full Day Cuesta del Obispo Duration: 8 hours Operates; April to November Medium Difficulty SIB/ shared departure This 25km circuit provides one of the most adrenaline filled routes in the area. We will travel almost entirely downhill, starting at 3,348 meters above sea level. After a winding climb along Cuesta del Obispo, we arrive by car at Piedra del Molino, the highest point on the road to Cachi and our starting point for the ride. Here, we check and prepare the bikes, and the action begins! The trail starts with a fast descent down the steep slopes of the valley. The route will take us through kilometer after kilometer of stunning scenery with abundant wildlife, so there will be several stops along the way to admire the region, search for condors and pick the brain of our knowledgeable local guide. We continue to El Maray, where the paved road starts. This offers a welcome break from the bumpy hills and a smooth, quick ride down to a nearby iron bridge, and the support vehicle. Once everyone has caught their breath and packed up the bikes, we cruise back to the city. Notes: • Difficulty Level: Medium. For people in good physical shape and able to withstand sharp drops while riding • Region: Lerma´s Valley / Cordillera Oriental / Cuesta del Obispo (Bishop Slope) • Includes: Transfers, equipment (including bicycles, helmets, reflective vests, etc.) Lunch, snacks, mineral water, bilingual guide and insurance. |
