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Northern Argentina
10 Days
Salta to Salta
Tour Code: TMNA
10 Days
Salta to Salta
Tour Code: TMNA
From US$ 3,999
Reviews
Tour Overview
Get off the tourist-trail on an adventure in Northern Argentina. Combine premium vineyards with dry desert landscapes and enjoy spectacular hiking opportunities. From the charming colonial town of Salta to the striking cacti plants of Cardones National Park, take the path less travelled in this beautiful corner of the world.
This itinerary is designed so that acclimatisation is easier, allowing you to fully relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery on the way.
Please note: This is a sample itinerary and can be tailored to suit your own personal needs and budget. Click here for more information on our Tailor-made Tours.
About this tour
- Accommodation:4 night(s) in hotels, 5 night(s) in lodges
- Transportation:Private Vehicle,
- Meals:9 Breakfast(s)
- Country:Argentina
Included Activities
- Arrival Transfer
- Salta City Tour
- Cardones National Park
- Visit Isasmendi & Miraluna Wineries
- Visit Tacuil Winery & Colome Vineyard
- Visit the James Turrell Museum
- Vineyard Visit & Wine Tasting
- Visit Quilmes ruins & Pachamama Museum
- Visit the Pumice Field & Laguna Grande
- Excursions in the Puna Atacama region
- Visit Ghost Town of Mina Casualidad
- Visit to the Tastil Ruins
- Departure Transfer
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive Salta
Salta is a lovely colonial town in the Northwest of Argentina with the best-preserved Hispanic architecture in the country, surrounded by the foothills of the Andes and lush green valleys.
When you arrive at Salta airport your guide will meet you for a private transfer to your hotel in the city. After you check-in you will explore Salta on a gentle walking tour to visit some of the main attractions. Firstly you will visit the main square (Plaza 9 de Julio) and view some of the historical colonial buildings around town, such us the main Cathedral, the very photogenic San Francisco Church and the San Bernardo Convent.
You will next visit the MAAM Museum of High Mountain Archeology to enjoy the very interesting items on display. The museum is located on the main square and is famous for the best preserved Inca mummies ever found. A 1999 expedition on the 22,000 ft Llullaillaco Volcano unearthed three child mummies sacrificed and buried in the ice by Inca nobility. Your last stop on this tour will be San Bernardo Hill for some great views over the city before reutrning to your hotel. In the evening there is the chance to enjoy dinner at one of the traditional Peñas in Salta, there are a number to choose from.
Included Excursions
Arrival Transfer,Salta City Tour
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels 
Day 2 - Cardones National Park & Cachi
Travel up the mountains through Salta's agricultural region towards Cachi. Enjoy spectacular scenic views as you travel up the winding roads before crossing a path at 3457 metres above sea level! On the way you will stop to stretch your legs at Cardones National Park, home to huge cacti plants.
Cachi is a charming rustic town on the edge of the Salta wine region. This afternoon enjoy a private tour, visiting two vineyards, Isasmendi and Miraluna. Enjoy a spot of wine tasting and lunch before returning to the town and checking into your hotel for the night.
Included Excursions
Cardones National Park,Visit Isasmendi & Miraluna Wineries
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 3 - Molinos
Travel to the tranquil village of Molinos, known as the capital of high altitude wines. You will visit the Bodega Tacuil, a small family-owned winery that has been established since 1810. The wines grown here are unique, with some of the vines being grown at 3111 metres above sea level.
In the afternoon you will visit Bodega Colome, the highest vineyard in the world. Visit the wine cellar here, sample high-quality wines and experience the James Turrell Museum showcasing a stunning collection of contemporary art pieces.
Included Excursions
Visit Tacuil Winery & Colome Vineyard,Visit the James Turrell Museum
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 4 - Cafayate
Drive to Cafayate, passing tiny villages along the way. You will also drive through the desert of Quebrada de las Flecas, where you can see beautiful rock formations and deep canyons. On arrival in Cafayate you will be taken to a number of vineyards where you can enjoy wine tastings as well as a delicious lunch.
In the evening you will be free the explore the atmospheric main square of Cafayate and depending on timings, even visit the excellent wine museum in town.
Included Excursions
Vineyard Visit & Wine Tasting
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 5 - El Peñon
Get off the beaten track as you travel from Cafayate to the tiny oasis settlement of El Peñon in the spectacular setting of the Argentina Puna. On the way you will stop at the ruins of Quilmes. The ruins of Quilmes were the largest pre-Columbian settlement in Argentina and the Pachamama museum features tapestries, paintings and sculptures depicting the life of the indigenous natives.
After some lunch you will travel down the famous Argentine route 40, a 150 km expanse of grass, lagoons and canyons, before climbing up into the Puna from Hualfin to El Peñon. Watch the landscapes and colours change as you travel through the country.
Included Excursions
Visit Quilmes ruins & Pachamama Museum
Accommodation
1 night(s) in lodges
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 6 - Campo de Piedra Pomez & Laguna Grande
Today will be spent in the El Peñon area visiting two very special sites, The Pumice Fields and the Laguna Grande lake with its thousands of pink flamingos (from December to March).
Laguna Grande is the first stop. You will feel completely at peace as you experience one of the most arid places on the planet, with the stunning landscape looming in the background. Our next stop is the Pumice Fields, a bizarre stone field, formed by volcanic pumice rocks.
Admire giant white dunes in this barren remote landscape of Argentina.. You may see Condors, Rhea, Andean Foxes and perhaps other wildlife also. Make sure your camera is fully charged and memory ready to be filled, you will be taking a lot of photographs as the landscape constantly changes.
Included Excursions
Visit the Pumice Field & Laguna Grande
Accommodation
1 night(s) in lodges
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 7 - Antofagasta de la Sierra
Today we travel further out into the Puna and enjoy more abrupt changes in landscapes, on often very rough roads. There are areas where black volcanic basalt lava has dominated the landscape, other areas of more sandy appearance and always accompanied by volcanoes and salt lakes.
We will see more wildlife along the way, and we will be stopping regularly to stretch your legs and take photos. Close to Antofagasta de la Sierra we will visit the ruins of an ancient village which was built into the actual lava flow.
Included Excursions
Excursions in the Puna Atacama region
Accommodation
1 night(s) in lodges
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 8 - Antofalla Oasis & Calalaste
Travel to Antofalla, a beautiful oasis situated in the middle of the desert. A tiny community of people live here and we will stop for lunch before travelling across the surface of the salt lake. Drive up 4200 metres and be rewarded by spectacular views. You will see Antofalla Volcano and the green fields of Vega Colorada where llamas graze.
You will arrive at the small village of Calalaste to meet the fiercely traditional communities that live here.
Accommodation
1 night(s) in lodges
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 9 - Mina Casualidad, Rio Grande & Tolar Grande
Travel further off the tourist trail to some of the most remote places in Argentina. You will visit the ghost town of Mina Casualidad, an abandoned mining town surrounded by some of the highest volcanoes on the planet. You will see the old railway station, now abandoned but showcasing spectacular views of the Puna desert landscapes. You also have the chance to visit Tolar Grande, a village whose surrounding landscapes are surreal. Discover one of the world's largest salt flats and hike to a hidden sand dune in the middle of the desert. From the top of this dune you can enjoy panoramic views of the Macon mountain and the Llullaillaco Volcano.
Included Excursions
Visit Ghost Town of Mina Casualidad
Accommodation
1 night(s) in lodges
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 10 - Depart Salta
Your adventure of a lifetime comes to an end today. If you have a late flight or have lengthened your stay by adding post tour accommodation you will have more time to explore the sights.
Make the journey back to Salta driving through wild landscapes. You will see the 10 million-year old fossil dune desert, The Labyrinth Desert as well as plunging down towards the lush Lerma Valley. You will visit the Tastil ruins, an archaeological site of the pre-Incas before transferring back to Salta where the adventure comes to an end.
Included Excursions
Visit to the Tastil Ruins,Departure Transfer
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Essential Information
What's Not Included
- Visas and travel insurance
- International flights to/from the start/end of your tour and departure taxes
- Spending money – budget for meals, snacks, drinks, limited souvenirs, laundry, tips and any extras
Enquiry
Prefer to speak to a specialist?
0800 804 8435
Tailor-made Operations Manager
Melita
Why I love this trip
Northern Argentina is often underappreciated, but its rolling copper hills and unusual rock formations are truly stunning. If you want to explore this lesser known region of Argentina then contact me to learn about our personalised tours here.
