Adventure Across Northwest Argentina

Duration 12 days
Price guide
From
  PP
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Hiking among cacti in Los Cardones National Park in Salta, Argentina
The San Telmo neighbourhood, the oldest neighbourhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Embark on a 12-day adventure across the beautiful landscapes of Northwest Argentina, visiting salt flats, villages, colourful mountains and vineyards along the way

Trip highlights

  • Try your hand at making Argentina’s most famous street food, the empanada
  • Explore the unique salt formations of Salinas Grandes
  • Marvel at the colourful Humahuaca Gorge at the border with Bolivia
  • Visit the Quilmes Ruins, a pre-Inca archeological site with a dramatic story
  • See hundreds of flamingos at Carachi Pampa basin
  • Discover the enigmatic Los Ojos de Mar natural pools

Bespoke trips with Jacada

We design one-of-a-kind journeys incorporating luxury in all its forms. Our bespoke trips include:

  • Luxury accommodation throughout
  • Privately guided tours
  • Private transfers
  • Meticulously selected experiences
  • Expertise and support from your Jacada Concierge
Black and white illustration of two guides pointing to a building in the distance
  • Days 1–3 Buenos Aires
  • Days 3–5 Salta
  • Days 5–7 North Jujuy
  • Days 7–10 The Puna
  • Days 10–12 Cafayate
Adventure Across Northwest Argentina
Price guide
  PP
  • Days 1–3 Buenos Aires
  • Days 3–5 Salta
  • Days 5–7 North Jujuy
  • Days 7–10 The Puna
  • Days 10–12 Cafayate

Itinerary in detail

Every Jacada trip is tailored to your personal preferences and interests. Below you’ll find a sample itinerary to inspire your own custom-designed journey.

Days 1–3

Welcome to Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest cities and an important destination on many of our Argentina tours. Centre of the world’s fifth largest economy at the turn of the 20th century, the city features an abundance of classical architecture and tree-lined boulevards reminiscent of its European counterparts. There is also a resurgence of modern redevelopment and more cutting-edge culture, making Buenos Aires, like any great city, enjoyable on many different levels.

Buenos Aires

Empanada workshop

Try your hand at making Argentina’s most famous street food, the empanada. You’ll learn about the different types of fillings, and perfect your crimping skills too. This cookery class is perfect for families and groups of friends.

Days 3–5

Beautiful Salta

Salta is a gateway city in the northwest of Argentina. Nicknamed ‘La Linda’ (the beautiful) it was founded in the foothills of the Andes in colonial times, intended as staging point between Lima and Buenos Aires. Today, it serves as a convenient and interesting stop on many of our Argentina tours. Beautiful Spanish buildings are found in the heart of the old town, but the real reason most visit Salta during one of our Argentina tours is a means of exploring the rest of this grand province and beyond.

Make it mine

Explore on foot

Into the mountains

Private walking tour of Salta

An expert guide will take you on a walking tour to the centre of the city, including the cathedral and main square, the impressive MAAM Museum (High Altitude Archeology Museum) and the most remarkable local colonial buildings. You will also visit the main textile producers, silver handcraft makers and designer shops.

Humahuaca Gorge and beyond

The Humahuaca Gorge is a large valley that ends at the border with Bolivia and is located in the province of Jujuy in the far north of Argentina. The Gorge is famous for its colourful mountains, its geological formations and its historical villages. Visit the best places in the region including; the Humahuaca Market, Colorado’s Gorge, the sacred garden of the Cardones (cactus species) at 3200 metres, and the impressive 14 coloured mountains of Hornocal and the Pucara of Tilcara – a pre-Inca fortress. You will also visit the villages of Tilcara, Humahuaca and Purmamarca, with their artisanal markets.

Days 5–7

Village life in North Jujuy

Travel just to the north of Salta Province and you’ll encounter the timeless and rugged beauty of Jujuy. Set at some altitude, Jujuy is home to a number of natural wonders including the salt flats of Salinas Grandes, the Quebrada Humahuaca with its multicoloured hills and the ancient towns of Tilcara and Purmamarca where life has remained much the same for centuries. Close to Bolivia, the people of Jujuy have a strong sense of their indigenous routes, and one feels that life hasn’t changed much here for generations.

jujuy-cactus

Make it mine

Valleys and flats

Feast for the senses

Purmamarca to Antonio de los Cobres

Embark on an exhilarating day of travel starting from the picturesque town of Purmamarca. Drive along the breathtaking Cuesta de Lipan, a winding mountain road offering panoramic views. As you ascend, marvel at the changing scenery, from colourful rock formations to vast valleys. Your next destination is Salinas Grandes, a vast salt flat. Explore the unique salt formations, capturing the otherworldly beauty of this natural wonder. The road then leads to Susques, and next  the iconic Viaducto la Polvorilla, a remarkable piece of engineering perched amidst the high-altitude landscapes. Your day concludes in San Antonio de los Cobres, a town steeped in Andean culture. Explore the charming streets and savour a delightful meal.

San Antonio de los Cobres to Tolar Grande

Take an extraordinary journey from San Antonio de los Cobres to Tolar Grande, venturing through a tapestry of diverse landscapes. Be captivated by the multicoloured palette of the Pocitos Salt Lake, where vibrant hues reflect the beauty of the surroundings. The odyssey continues through the Labyrinth Desert, a mesmerising expanse adorned with hundreds of red rocky domes. Here you’ll discover the enigmatic Los Ojos de Mar – serene natural pools cradling stromatolites, ancient bacteria that played a pivotal role in the production of oxygen on Earth. Finally, head for Tolar Grande, a charming mining town nestled at the feet of the Arizaro Salt Flat.

Days 7–10

Crossing the Puna

The stark beauty of Argentina’s north-western Altiplano, the Puna, is quite something to behold. Between Salta to the west and the borders of Chile and Bolivia this elevated (4,500m) plateau of wildly striking and desolate landscapes is filled with the rare sights of salt flats, flamingos, ancient Incan trails, desert labyrinths, herds of llamas and vicuñas, the turquoise ponds of Ojos del Mar, the oasis of Antofajita and clay-brick pueblos (towns).

The arid mountainous landscape in the Puna Desert, Argentina

Make it mine

Ancient journey

Birds of a feather

Dramatic tales

Puna in Argentina

Crossing the Arizaro Salted dry lake

The crossing of the Arizaro Salted dry lake resembles the ancient journey of the Arrieros (shepherds guiding caravans of animals to Chile). You’ll see Antofalla, a spectacular example of a Puna oasis full of poplar, molle and willow trees. Antofalla, together with Antofagasta and Santa Rosa, were important stations for Llama caravans connecting this part of the Andes with the Oasis of Atacama.  Antofalla is still inhabited by a small community of  shepherds. You will stop for lunch, and then travel across the coloured mirror of the salt lake. The valley of Calalaste  is the best spot to find wild camelids. Antofagasta de la Sierra is a big village with more than 2,000 people who maintain their ancient traditions and culture.

Natural Reserve Campo de Piedra Pómez

Today the adventure starts at the edge of Campo de Piedra Pómez, as you reach the Carachi Pampa basin. In its margins there is a volcano of the same name, surrounded by black lava fields and a lagoon, where the Andean flamingo and the James (or puna) flamingo can be found. During the dry season a small salt lake is formed around the lagoon. Later, the journey will continue into the Natural Reserve Campo de Piedra Pómez, a stunning landscape carved into the rock that gives rise to its name: The Pumice. Of purely igneous origin, it was produced from a massive explosion of the volcanic stratum.

Final leg to Cafayate

After days of intense travel on the High Desert Plateau, the North West still has plenty of surprises. The paved road from El Peñón that meets Route 40 is the 150 kilometre long yellow field of Paja Brava, as well as white lagoons and a deserted narrow canyon filled with rich vegetation. You will visit the Quilmes Ruins, a Pre Inca Archeological site with a dramatic story that gave an end to an ancient population. You will then arrive in the charming town of Cafayate and its green vineyards.

Days 10–12

Into wine country

Set in the North Eastern Province of Salta, Cafayate is the Mendoza Wine Region’s lesser known cousin. This area of the the country produces some fantastic wines and with more of a rural feel then Mendoza, stays here can give one the sense of being wonderfully carefree. Fast becoming known as the Tuscany of Argentina, Cafayate is the perfect destination if you are looking to experience a more relaxed way of life. The higher altitude, dry climate and rugged landscape make a picture post-card setting from which to enjoy a fine glass of the local torrentes (the grape for which this region is famed).

Make it mine

On the vine

Back in time

Wine tour and lunch

Spend a day exploring the Cafayate region, visiting wineries and enjoying a delicious lunch along the way. Often referred to as Argentina’s Tuscany, this is the country’s lesser known wine region where the pace is slow, its Cabernet Sauvignons are sweetly perfumed, and its boutique wineries are rustic and known for their Torrontes and Tannat.

Quebrada de las Conchas

En route back to Salta, explore the canyon of Quebrada de las Conchas, a Natural Heritage Site formed by sediments from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic Eras (90 to 60 million years). The intense red colour is present due to the ferric oxide contained in its mineral basins. The name of the gorge – ‘conchas’ meaning shell – comes from the many marine fossils found here.