DEEP NORTHWEST: COLORFUL GORGE, PUNE’S VOLCANOS & VALLEYS – 9 DAYS 8 NIGHTS

Morning arrival in Salta city and welcome at the airport to take a transfer to the hotel. Afternoon visit its picturesque city, including the interesting High Mountain museum, ascending to San Bernardo hill with charming views and San Lorenzo nearby village. Overnight in Salta.

Morning early departure from the colonial Salta city to the Humahuaca Gorge. The tour includes different villages like Volcán, Tumbaya and Maimara with its “painter’s palette” of colors. In Tilcara we visit an archaeological museum and the “Pucara” (amazing indigenous ruins). We then continue the trip, pass Huacalera and Uquía, and finally arrive to Humahuaca and ancient picturesque village. Walk around the place and free time for lunch. Then, enter to Purmamarca, a famous village for its well known “Seven Colors Hill”, you will have time to visit the handcraft market and to walk around the village once the tour finishes. Enjoy an unforgettable night wondering along its charming streets. Overnight in Purmamarca. (B)

Climb the Lipan slope until you reach the impressive Salinas Grandes, one of the most visited destinations in the Puna de Jujuy region, an incredible place where the white landscape merges with the intense blue sky, there you can observe the process of extracting table salt. Then continue to San Antonio de los Cobres, a typical pune village. Finally the road goes through the so called Labyrinth Desert, a clay, pink dust and gypsum crystals formation. Later almost arriving to Tolar Grande, will appear in front of us the Salar of Arizaro´s inmensity, and inmediatly one of the most amazing views of the Andean range, with Llullaillaco and Socompa volcanoes highlighting. Box lunch on the road arriving to Tolar Grande. Dinner and breakfast are prepared and served at a family house. Offering an excellent service, you can also experience the inhabitants daily routine. Maximum altitude on road: 4.600 m.a.s.l. Tolar Grande: 3650 m.a.s.l. Overnight in Tolar Grande. (B, BXL, D)

Early departure towards La Casualidad mine, crossing over the Salar de Arizaro, the third biggest one in the world. Before that, Caipe Train Station visit. Driving on an asphalt route, we arrive at La Casualidad. This mine was the most important in the mining of sulphur business until it was closed in 1978. It’s located in the Andes Range, near the international border with Chile and Catamarca’s province. We´ll visit abandoned buildings and return to Tolar Grande at afternoon. Option B: Tolar Grande – Ojos de Mar – Hidden Dune – Tolar Grande – Caipe – Puesta de Sol/Sunset at Tolar Grande. Overnight in Tolar Grande. (B, BXL, D)

Breakfast. Early departure through Salar de Arizaro, visit to Cono de Arita (a shocking natural pyramid with volcanic origin). Continuing our trip through Campo Amarillo to cross over the Salar de Antofalla and its town lost in time where there are only 40 people living. This salt flat amazes you for its beautiful landscape. After lunch (Box lunch) the journey continues and you visit Antofagasta de la Sierra, towards El Peñon. This region is known for it´s volcanic activity allowing us to appreciate some of them. It´s also the place with the highest concentration of vicuñas in the country. Overnight in El Peñón. (B, BXL, D)

Tour through pumice field, unique in the world. It is an strange but dazzling landscape carved into the rock that gives birth to its name: pumice and it’s produced from a big volcanic explosion with a number of holes produced by the scape of gas during the cooling period. Back to El Peñon, we visit a young volcano, the Carachi Pampa of an intense black colour produced by basalt spilling. In its base there´s a lagoon where you may find pink flamingos. Overnight in El Peñón. (B, BXL, D)

Breakfast. Departure from El Peñon through the puna in Catamarca, where we’ll have an amazing view of the dunes. Descending in altitude, we´ll start entering to the Calchaqui Valleys by Amaicha town. If the weather allows us, we can do a visit to Quilmes Ruins. Arrival at Cafayate. Overnight in Cafayate. (B, BXL)

Morning visit a local winery with incredible views of its wineyards. You will learn about the wine process in this altitude and taste Cafayate´s most representative grape: the white Torrontés as well as an exquisite lunch. Then, continue your tour to Salta along the colorful and impressive Conchas gorge with its particular formations. We suggest you to enjoy a dinner with local folk music. Overnight in Salta. (B, L)

Farewell transfer from the hotel to Salta airport. Hope you enjoyed this incredible region! (D)