Northwest Argentina, Chasing the Clouds

Itinerary

Show all details »    Hide all details »

• Day 1 - Buenos Aires / Salta

  Welcome to Argentina! Arrival in Buenos Aires International Airport, and transfer to the local airport for your flight to Salta. Upon your arrival in Salta transfer to your hotel. After check in you will enjoy a city tour.
  More details »

  Upon your arrival in Buenos Aires’ International Airport you will be met by a guide and escorted to the local airport to board the scheduled flight to Salta.
  Welcome to Salta a colonial gem that is probably the most seductive town of the Northwest due both to its setting in the lovely Lerma Valley and the eye catching contrast of old colonial buildings and modern urban architecture.
  You will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. After check-in you will meet your guide for a city tour of Salta. The tour will include the Cathedral San Francisco and visiting San Bernado Hill where you will enjoy a magnificent view of the city. Return to your hotel and enjoy the evening at your leisure.

  Maximum altitude - 1,454 meters (4,798 ft)

• Day 2 - Salta / San Antonio de los Cobres / Tilcara

  Early morning departure to follow the route of the Train to the Clouds, viewing majestic landscapes and admiring this engineering marvel. Visit a pre-Inca settlement and a colorful village. (b)
  More details »

  After breakfast at your hotel you will meet your guide for an early morning departure. We will be following the route of the “Train to the Clouds” towards the Quebrada del Toro (Bull’s River Gorge). Traveling this route we will see impressive engineering masterpieces of viaducts, switch-backs and loops, and marvel at how this is accomplished without the use of cogs even at the steepest parts of the climb. We will pass the Ruins of Santa Rosa de Tastil, an ancient pre-Inca settlement situated 9,842 feet and arrive at the small village of San Antonio de los Cobres. After lunch we will continue crossing the Puna up to Salinas Grandes and start descending through the Cuesta de Lipan to Purmamarca, a typical village at the foot of the Seven Colors hill. Continuing on to Tilcara where you will check into the hotel and enjoy the evening at your leisure. (b)

  Maximum altitude - 4,200 meters (13,776 ft) / Total distance traveled - 316 km (198 miles)

   

• Day 3 - Tilcara / Humahuaca’s Gorge / Salta

  We begin by visiting Humahuaca’s Gorge, a pre-Columbian native fortress, a town founded by aborigines, La Paleta del Pintor (Painter’s Palette) and a city tour of Sal Salvador de Jujuy. (b)
  More details »

  Your guide will meet you for a full day excursion to Humahuaca’s Gorge visiting colorful villages along the way. We will start with Tilcara and visit a partially rebuilt Pucara (a pre-Columbian native fortress) and the province’s historic museum. We continue toward Uquia and visit the local parish church which holds a collection of paintings coming from Cuzco, representing the harquebusier angels. We continue on to Humahuaca, a town founded by aborigines in 1594. Here we will visit the church, the old town hall and the Argentine Indpendence War monument. After you enjoy lunch on your own we will head back to Salta. On the way we will stop at Maimara to admire La Paleta del Pintor (Painter’s Palette). Our next stop will be in Purmamarca to admire the Seven Colors hill displaying a geologic kaleidoscope of colors. The last stop will be in Sal Salvador de Jujuy where we will enjoy a short tour of the main square, the Cathedral, the Town Hall and the Government House. Return to your hotel. (b)

  Maximum altitude - 3,000 meters (9,840 ft) / Total distance traveled - 267 km (167 miles)

• Day 4 - Salta / Cachi

  Travel towards Cachi enjoying the natural beauty of this region stoping at Escoipe River Gorge, Cuesta del Obispo (Bishop’s Slope), Recta de Tin Tin (designed by the local aborigines) and on to los Cardones National Park to walk among the giant cactus. (b)
  More details »

  We will depart for Cachi passing by Cerrillos, El Carril, Chicoana and up the Escoipe River Gorge to enjoy the spectacular scenery of Cuesta del Obispo (Bishop’s Slope). We will continue traveling up to Piedra del Molino (the highest point in the road at about 3,600 meters (11,808 ft) above sea level. From there we will travel the “Recta de Tin Tin (a road originally designed by the local aborigines) where you will experience the strange sensation of going up when in fact you are descending. The road travels westbound along the bleak high plateau towards the terrain of the sleek giant Cardon (candelabra cactus) which are protected within the los Cardones National Park, which was created specifically to preserve the endangered species of big cactus plants and the flora and fauna of this arid-like region. Upon arrival in Cachi we will visit the church and museum. Enjoy the evening at your leisure. (b)

  Maximum altitude - 3,620 meters (11,874 ft) / Total distance traveled 157 km (98 miles)

• Day 5 - Cachi / Cafayate

  You will have a morning of leisure to explore Cachi. In the afternoon depart for Cafayate driving along mountain roads passing quaint villages and Quebrada de las Flechas (Arrow’s Ravine). (b)
  More details »

  After breakfast at your hotel, you will have the morning to explore Cachi at your leisure. In the afternoon we will depart for Cafayate, drving along mountain roads passing by the little towns of Seclantas, Molinas and Angastaco. We will also pass by Quebrada de las Flechas (Arrow’s Ravine). This is a very particular rock ravine formed by 20 meter high (66 ft) rock walls that skirt the winding road. Finally we arrive at Cafayate, a peaceful, colonial style settlement with a vineyard’s that produce renowned wines, including the local white wine varietal of choice, Torrontes, a white wine varietal closely identified with the region. (b)

  Maximum altitude 2,500 meters (8200 ft) / Total distance travelled 192 km (120 miles)

• Day 6 - Cafayate / Salta

  Tour the town of Cafayate and visit a wine cellar. Return to Salta admiring breathtaking views along the way and stopping at Quebrada de las Conchas (Cafayate’s Gorge). (b)
  More details »

  After breakfast we will depart for a tour of the town and visit a wine cellar. You will enjoy lunch on your own and then we will depart for Salta. The panoramic view of the valleys along the route are breathtaking. We will be passing by the awe inspiring Quebrada de las Conchas (Cafayate’s Gorge) with its reddish sandstone walls and curious rock formations that have been masterfully carved by millions of years of erosion from the wind and weather. All of these formations have been baptized by the local people according to their shape, with names such as: Amphitheater, the Devil’s Throat, the Obelisk and the Castles. Continue to Salta and check into your hotel. (b) Maximum altitude 2,000 meters (6,560 ft) / Total distance travelled 192 km (120 miles)

• Day 7 - Salta / Puerto Iguazu

  Depart to the airport for your flight for Puerto Iguazu. Upon arrival you will be met and escorted to your hotel. (b)
  More details »

  Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport to board your scheduled flight to Puerto Iguazu. Upon arrival you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel for check in. (b)

• Day 8 - Iguassu Falls (Puerto Iguazu)

  Visit Iguazu Falls from the Argentinean side and enjoy an amazing view from the Devil’s Throat balcony. In addition there is an optional jungle safari tour along the Macuco Trail offered. (b)
  More details »

  After your breakfast at the hotel you will visit the Argentinean side of Iguazu Falls, located within the Iguazu National Park, one of the first protected areas in South America and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
  We will take the train to Garganta Station and then walk up to the Devil’s Throat balcony to view one of the greatest shows on Earth! The excursion continues along the upper and lower paths where you will have an intimate view of the imposing waterfalls. You may choose to take the optional Great Adventure tour, a brief navigation to reach the San Martin waterfalls for a fascinating jungle safari in a 4WD truck along the Macuco Trail. Evening at your leisure. (b)

• Day 9 - Puerto Iguazu / Buenos Aires

  Experience the Iguazu falls from the Brazilian side then depart for Buenos Aires. (b)
  More details »

  After Breakfast depart your hotel for the Foz do Iguacu National Park, one of the largest vegetation reserves in Brazil. As you walk along the paths on the Brazilian side you will be exposed to a panoramic jaw dropping views. The path ends near Floriano Fall, where you will continue enjoying the majesty of the falls while descending in an elevator to the street level. Return to Puerto Iguazu and transfer to the airport for your scheduled flight to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival in Buenos Aires you will be met by a guide to escort you to your hotel. (b)

• Day 10 - Buenos Aires

  Experience the passion of Buenos Aires with a city tour including the La Boca neighborhood, Palermo and La Recoleta. In the evening you will enjoy one of the best tango shows in Buenos Aires. (b,d)
  More details »

  Enjoy the morning at your leisure. In the afternoon you will enjoy a guided city tour of this fabulous and exciting city. We will visit Plaza de Mayo, the Government House, the Cabildo, the Metropolitan Cathedral, Mayo Avenue, the Colon Theater, La Boca neighborhood, Palermo and La Recoleta where you will take a tour of the cemetery and visit Evita’s grave. Return to your hotel. In the evening you will be escorted to a dinner show where you will enjoy the sensual magnetism of the tango, performed by the best dancers and singers in Buenos Aires and learn about the history of this passionate dance. Return your hotel. (b, d)

• Day 11 - Depart Buenos Aires

  Airport transfer. Depart for your scheduled flight home, or to your next adventure in Argentina! (b)
  More details »

  You will have some time at your leisure before your departure time for the airport to board for your scheduled flight home or to your next adventure in Argentina or other destinations in South America. (b)