A Private Off-Road Expedition through the Puna Desert

Spend your time relaxing and exploring this wonderful city. You have our top recommendations for activities, restaurants and shopping so that you can make the most of your time here.
Remember we can always organize you one of our privately-guided tours (history, culture, art...) to more specialist excursions such as personal shopping trips, helicopter tours, wine tasting and tango lessons. Feel free to discuss your options with your travel designer.

Salta - Quebrada de las Conchas - Cafayate

Starting from the city of Salta in the morning you will begin your expedition by heading to the Conchas’ Gorge; a deep ravine formed over the last fifty million years with huge deposits of minerals (clay and sandstone in particular) molded by water and wind that comes from an age when the region was dominated by a humid and warm climate with animals such as turtles and crocodiles. You will explore this unique Gorge with the option of taking a fantastic and easy hike through the colored heart of the Quebrada.
Driving on you will arrive at Cafayate, capital of the world’s highest bodegas and a gourmet lunch with wine at one of the best local bodegas. Check in to your chosen hotel in the region for the night.

On your second day you drive south to explore one of the most deserted regions of Argentina and the pre Incan Quilmes ruins. Ascend to reach the high desert plateau of the Puna taking in the vicunas, giant white sand dunes, volcanos and lagoons, before you reach the oasis of El Peñón; your final destination for the evening.

Enjoy a private tour around the Ruins of Quilmes, an archaeological site that was once was the largest pre-Columbian settlement in the country. The area dates back to around 850 AD and was inhabited by around 5000 Quilmes people at its height. They are renowned for fiercely resisting Inca invasions in the 15th century, and continued to resist the Spaniards for 130 years, until being defeated in 1667.

In the morning: Visit Campo de Piedra Pómez, returning to the Posada for Lunch. In the afternoon, you climb in altitude, visiting the amazing Laguna Grande Reserve. Return to El Peñón for the evening.

Salta - Quebrada de las Conchas - Cafayate

Starting from the city of Salta in the morning you will begin your expedition by heading to the Conchas’ Gorge; a deep ravine formed over the last fifty million years with huge deposits of minerals (clay and sandstone in particular) molded by water and wind that comes from an age when the region was dominated by a humid and warm climate with animals such as turtles and crocodiles. You will explore this unique Gorge with the option of taking a fantastic and easy hike through the colored heart of the Quebrada.
Driving on you will arrive at Cafayate, capital of the world’s highest bodegas and a gourmet lunch with wine at one of the best local bodegas. Check in to your chosen hotel in the region for the night.

Visit Laguna Grande, designated as Wetlands of International Importance (or RAMSAR site). The saline lake sits at an altitude of 4150m (13,615 feet) above sea level and has a path to the crater of the Galan volcano, one of the largest calderas in the world. During winter, the water freezes completely, but when spring arrives, it becomes the largest gathering center for the James's flamingo, also known as the puna flamingo, when some 19,000 birds - around a quarter of the total population - can be found here. In the summer it also attracts the Andean flamingo (Phoenicpterus andinus) and it is a common nesting site of the Southern flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis).

Today you will explore a couple of important oasis' of the region in terms of supporting local inhabitants, shepherds and livestock that still wonder between the Puna and Chile's Atacama desert. These communities live still by the ways they always have, and their resilience is both admirable and eye opening to visitors - you will have lunch at one of their homes to meet them properly. Surrounded by volcanic peaks, lava fields and many more geological wonders you will see the Arita Cone before crossing the Arizaro salt lake.
Spend the night in the town of Tolar Grande.

Visit Laguna Grande, designated as Wetlands of International Importance (or RAMSAR site). The saline lake sits at an altitude of 4150m (13,615 feet) above sea level and has a path to the crater of the Galan volcano, one of the largest calderas in the world. During winter, the water freezes completely, but when spring arrives, it becomes the largest gathering center for the James's flamingo, also known as the puna flamingo, when some 19,000 birds - around a quarter of the total population - can be found here. In the summer it also attracts the Andean flamingo (Phoenicpterus andinus) and it is a common nesting site of the Southern flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis).

Visit Laguna Grande, designated as Wetlands of International Importance (or RAMSAR site). The saline lake sits at an altitude of 4150m (13,615 feet) above sea level and has a path to the crater of the Galan volcano, one of the largest calderas in the world. During winter, the water freezes completely, but when spring arrives, it becomes the largest gathering center for the James's flamingo, also known as the puna flamingo, when some 19,000 birds - around a quarter of the total population - can be found here. In the summer it also attracts the Andean flamingo (Phoenicpterus andinus) and it is a common nesting site of the Southern flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis).

Visit Laguna Grande, designated as Wetlands of International Importance (or RAMSAR site). The saline lake sits at an altitude of 4150m (13,615 feet) above sea level and has a path to the crater of the Galan volcano, one of the largest calderas in the world. During winter, the water freezes completely, but when spring arrives, it becomes the largest gathering center for the James's flamingo, also known as the puna flamingo, when some 19,000 birds - around a quarter of the total population - can be found here. In the summer it also attracts the Andean flamingo (Phoenicpterus andinus) and it is a common nesting site of the Southern flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis).

Visit Laguna Grande, designated as Wetlands of International Importance (or RAMSAR site). The saline lake sits at an altitude of 4150m (13,615 feet) above sea level and has a path to the crater of the Galan volcano, one of the largest calderas in the world. During winter, the water freezes completely, but when spring arrives, it becomes the largest gathering center for the James's flamingo, also known as the puna flamingo, when some 19,000 birds - around a quarter of the total population - can be found here. In the summer it also attracts the Andean flamingo (Phoenicpterus andinus) and it is a common nesting site of the Southern flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis).

From the Tolar Grande, you will be drive into the Labyrinth Desert, a ten million–year-old fossil dune desert formed by clay picks and gypsum crystals. Then it's onto Abra Chorrilos and the capital of the Puna, the town of San Antonio de los Cobres and El Mojon to see how once again these resilient communities survive and their importance to those passing through too. Experience the never ending horizon of the Salinas Grandes finally reaching the highest altitude of your journey with stunning views of the eastern cordillera of the Andes. Just before lunch you will arrive at the Andean village of Purmamarca for the afternoon and evening.

Just outside of Tolar Grande - we drive to the base of the ridge and make a (slow) walk to the top of the ridge for an amazing view

Visit Laguna Grande, designated as Wetlands of International Importance (or RAMSAR site). The saline lake sits at an altitude of 4150m (13,615 feet) above sea level and has a path to the crater of the Galan volcano, one of the largest calderas in the world. During winter, the water freezes completely, but when spring arrives, it becomes the largest gathering center for the James's flamingo, also known as the puna flamingo, when some 19,000 birds - around a quarter of the total population - can be found here. In the summer it also attracts the Andean flamingo (Phoenicpterus andinus) and it is a common nesting site of the Southern flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis).

In the great depression the Eastern Andes and the Western Range, the Salinas Grandes an enormous salt flat covering 6,000 km2 (2,300 sq mi) surrounded by volcanoes, where the horizon seems endless. See the amazing effect and light of this grand expanse of whiteness, keeping an eye out for the guanacos and llamas that roam the altiplano.

Purmamarca - Uquia - Humahuaca - Salta

The final day of your expedition, you will set off from Purmamarca to the Humahuaca Gorge, located in a large valley that ends on the border with Bolivia, located in the province of Jujuy in the far north of Argentina. It is a quite young valley, given that its formation dates from a million years. The Gorge is famous for its colourful mountains, awesome geological formations and historic villages. You will have the option to stop in the only authentic market at Volcan, before your transfer back to Salta.

Choose from our selection of estancias for an authentic and luxury ranch-style stay in the sleepy Pampas plains. Ride out with gauchos, enjoy an afternoon asado (BBQ), fishing or polo lessons.