Discovering Argentinean Northwest, Uyuni Salt Flat & Atacama (Argentina, Bolivia & Chile)
This discovery trip to the Northern Argentina, Southern Bolivia and Northern Chile takes us to the unparalleled landscape of the Quebrada, the Salt Deserts and the Altiplano, as well as to meet the people inhabiting these zones for centuries and their millenary culture. The balanced amount of excursions and hikes, the selection of places to visit, allow us to enjoy the spectacular landscapes of the Argentine North, Uyuni at Bolivia and Atacama at Chile; but also bringing us closer to the to ancient life styles, traveling the very same trails used by the original inhabitants. This is a very colorful travel, magnificent, flowing through the warm hospitality of the local people.
Book now Ask a questionDAY 1: AIRPORT - SALTA |
Arrival, reception and transfer to hotel. The rest of the day at leisure to discover this unique city. |
DAY 2: SAN ANTONIO DE LOS COBRES and SALINAS GRANDES |
Breakfast. We depart early on our way to Campo Quijano, going thru the Quebrada Del Toro, and the finally arriving to the pre Hispanic city of Rosa de Tastil with its legendary ruins. Our trip continues to San Antonio de los Cobres, a typical town located at 4000 meters high. Later, we will be able to appreciate the “Salinas Grandes”; then descending over the path of the Lipan, we’ll make a stop at the town of Pumamarca and its famous Mount of the “Los Siete Colores”. Later we arrive to our lodge at the picturesque town of Tilcara. |
DAY 3: TREK TO THE DEVIL´S THROAT - TILCARA |
Breakfast. We’ll have the morning free to discover the town and its unique things such as: la plaza grande, la plaza chica, the town church – and the Pucará de Tilcara. In the afternoon we’ll do a small trek to the devil’s throat, walking along the old Kollas paths and watching the amazing view. After 3 or 4 hours we finally go back to Tilcara. Accommodation. |
DAY 4: TILCARA - IRUYA - HUMAHUACA |
Breakfast. Early in the morning we take a local bus and go to a small town located right in between the mountains, Iruya. From it we can have a special view since its right on the end of the valley. After enjoying the town we spend the night at Humahuaca. |
DAY 5: UQUÍA - QUEBRADA DE LAS SEÑORITAS |
After breakfast by bus we leave Humahuaca and alter 10 km we arrive to the small town of Uquía. Once there we visit the church of “San Francisco de Paula” with its altar laminated in gold by the Jesuits in 1691 – year in which it was built – and adorned with the pictures of the brought arcabuceros angels brought from Cuzco. Then box lunch and we do a small trek to the Quebrada de las Señoritas o Yacoraite. The intense red color makes of it a shocking place; also because it’s known for its paleontological deposit where have been rest fossil of the last great mammals that inhabited the Earth, like milodontes and gigantic perezosos. Back in Uquía we visit a place where vicuñas are raised and an old hydraulic mill. At the end of the day we go back to Humahuaca. |
DAY 6: COLORFUL TOWNS and QUEBRADAS |
Breakfast. We leave Humahuaca and we cross “Peña Blanca”, east border of the Quebrada of Humahuaca. Here we begin our adventure of “colorful towns and quebradas”. After a few kilometers we meet the first towns. The overwhelming plains of the Cocataca Valley remind us of one of the main Inca agricultural sites. During the morning we walk this valley and take our lunch once in town. During the afternoon we go hiking for 2 and a half hours to watch the ancient paintings on rocks on Cerro Negro. From here we enjoy spectaculars view over the valley. After getting back in our vehicle we cross by different towns such as Valiaso and Pucará to climb the Serrania of Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara Hills) reaching 4200 mts. above sea level. We end up the day at the viewpoint in Cerro Horconal, with beautiful views over the Abra (huge prairie) de Zenta. We take a typical northwest tea time and get back to our hotel by 7 pm. Accommodation. |
DAY 7: QUEBRADA DE SAPAGUA - HORNADITAS COMMUNITY |
Breakfast. We depart in our mini bus for Humahuaca to the Quebrada de Sapagua, where we’ll take a walk around the area. For there we continue to the small community of the Hornaditas, where we have a box lunch and we will be able to share the life experience of the natural inhabitant of the area, which open the door of their homes. |
DAY 8: HUMAHUACA - LA QUIACA - VILLAZÓN - UYUNI |
After breakfast we take a regular bus from Humahuaca to La Quiaca, crossing the border we reach Villazon and head to the train station to take the service to Uyuni. Finally we arrive at Uyuni to spend the night at our accommodations. |
DAY 9: SALAR DE UYUNI |
Brekfast. We leave Uyuni around 11:00 hs. Heading to Colchani (22 Km. to the north of Uyuni), a little village of built around the exploitation and refinery of salt. We enter the town walking through the piles and attending a demonstration of the extraction of the salt blocks. We can visit the stores, the salt hotels and the Isla Lomo Pescado, appreciating the huge cactus and an outstanding panoramic from the view point. Box lunch at the Island and continue our walk to Chuvica, where we have a dinner and we spend the night in a rustic refuge. |
DAY 10: SALAR DE UYUNI - ALTIPLANIC LAGOONS |
Leaving around 9:00 hs., after breakfast, to visit the altiplanic Lagoons: Cañapa, Hedionda and Ramadita, then continuing through the desert of Siloli to see the Tree of Stone. Box lunch. Visit to Laguna Colorada where we can appreciate the pink Flemings and major Andean fauna such as vicuña, suri or andean ñandú. We have a dinner and we spend the night at another basic refuge. |
DAY 11: ALTIPLANIC LAGOONS - SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA |
The day begins around 5:00 am, when we leave the refuge to be able to see the Geysers (volcanic steam springs) and visit the thermal waters. Breakfast. Continuing our travel we find very curious rock formations produced by countless years of erosion, and finally reach Laguna Verde, a lagoon very particular and famous because of its color shift occurring between 11:00 and 12:00. We also visit Laguna Blanca and then we may take a new transport vehicle and continue to San Pedro de Atacama, arriving past noon. In the afternoon we take a trek to the Valle de la Luna; located at 17 km from San Pedro in the area of the Cordillera de la Sal, it has an especial appeal for its amazing resemblance to the lunar surface. Accommodation. |
DAY 12: SALAR DE ATACAMA - ALTIPLANIC LAGOONS |
Breakfast. This day we will visit the Miscanti and Miñique lagoons; with its wonderful colours are located over 4000 meters over the level of the sea. On our way to them, we stop at a Toconao, an old town made complete of stone, where the art craft is also well known. Another highlight of this is the “Salar de Atacama” which is over 100 km of extension. We will also appreciate some of the bird and fauna that has manage to survive in one the most desert places of the earth. Box lunch. All this will require from us around 6 hours. Accommodation. |
DAY 13: GEYSERS DEL TATIO |
This days starts quite early in the morning. We will depart before sunrise (4 am) in order to go to the TATIO volcano, located 4300 meters over sea level. First thing we’ll do once we arrive is to go to the geothermal field located in the mountain range of Los Andes. Early in the morning this place has an amazing steamy activity because of the high temperatures that are coming up from the craters. The boiling water, the huge columns on steam and the water that runs underneath the surface makes of this, and unforgettable experience. Here will have breakfast, and then we’ll take a walk and those who want to might take a bath in the warm water(between 25ºC and 30ºC) near the geysers. Accommodation. |
DAY 14: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA - SALTA |
Breakfast. We leave San Pedro de Atacama by bus, arriving in Salta during the afternoon. |
DAY 15: SALTA - AIRPORT |
After breakfast, transfer to the airport.
**End of our services** |
The program includes:
• Incoming Services
• Bilingual guide (Spanish – English) during the excursions
• Tour Leader en Uyuni y Atacama
• 12 nights at Hostería on double or single base and breakfast
• 2 nights at Basic Refuge (single common area with private bathroom)
• Included meals: 14 breakfast, 7 box-lunch / lunches, 2 dinners
• Transfer Salta airport – Hotel
• Transfers according to the Itinerary descriptions. Transportations as shown in the itinerary combining private and regular services. Including train from Villazon to Uyuni
Not included:
• Air tickets and taxes
• Medical and life insurance
• Tips
• Drinks and beverages (provided meals are without alcoholic or non alcoholic drinks)
• Optional excursions
• Services not shown or detailed in this program
NOTE: The travel agency holds the right of changing the itinerary or cancel any of the activities when any natural cause (or any other cause of any type) justifies it in order to look after the group safety.
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