Argentina - Encounters – Accompanied – 15 days / 14 nights
Highlights:
• Authentic encounters with local population ;
• Enjoy the Kolla culture ;
• 2 and a half day trekking from the Altiplano desert to the subtropical forest ;
Nature : 
- Culture :
Encounters :
Starting from $ 2699 USD*
A perfect compromise between culture, outdoor activities and breath-taking landscapes. A human adventure to discover the Kolla culture. Participate directly in agricultural tasks, cooking traditional meals or handcraft work. An outstanding diversity of landscapes across three different ecosystems:
The Humahuaca Valley and its coloured mountains, speckled with giant cacti and small quaint villages, declared World Heritage (UNESCO, 2002).
The Puna, a dry high plateau in the Andes, a land of salt lakes where only few animals like vicunas, lamas or chinchillas can survive.
Finally, the Yungas, high subtropical forest, protected as a Biosphere reserve (UNESCO), home to an exceptional biodiversity.
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ITINERARY
Day 1 – BUENOS AIRES, THE CITY THAT LOOKS AND FEELS EUROPEAN
Arrival by international flight
After landing in Buenos Aires, our driver will take you to your hotel, located in the city centre. You will have a guided visit of the most picturesque areas: El Caminito and San Telmo, at the origins of Tango, then the ancient harbour, heart of the city. At night, take a walk in Puerto Madero area, an old harbour that has been reconverted into a business area.
- Transport : private transfer - 45 min + public transport
- Accommodation: hotel**
- Included meals: none
- English speaking tour leader
Day 2 – SALTA LA LINDA
Flight Buenos Aires > Salta
Transfer to the National Airport Aeroparque for your flight to Salta. You are met there by your guide and transferred to your hotel. After lunch, a guided tour of this marvellous city nicknamed La Linda, meaning the Beautiful. Salta boasts well preserved colonial architecture and two colourful churches, the pink Cathedral and the red and gold San Francisco Church. Another fascinating attraction is the Museum of High Altitude Archaeology which houses the well preserved mummies of three children found on the summit of Volcano Llullaillaco. The museum will offer you an insight into the pre-columbine culture of the Andes.
The rest of the day is yours.
- Transport : private transfer - 1h
- Accommodation: hotel**
- Included meals : breakfast, lunch
- Entrance to the museum included
- English speaking tour leader
Day 3 – CAFAYATE, WINERIES AND TRADITIONS (1600m)
Start the day discovering the Lerma Valley and its fields of tobacco before entering the Seashell's Valley, where you will see rocks that wind and water erosion shaped into peculiar figures. Stop at Cafayate to have lunch and visit a famous local winery. El Cafayate is a touristic village famous for its high-altitude vineyards. Finally, join your host families, small farmers in the area. These people decided to join together into cooperatives to share and promote local products.
- Transport : private van - 2h30
- Accommodation: host family
- Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- English speaking tour leader
Day 4 – CACHI, FIRST STEP INTO THE ANDES (2300m)
Continue your acclimatization with a visit of the small village of Cachi. From Cafayate the road is extremely scenic, especially in the Arrows Valley, where the wind shaped the mountains into spiky arrows. Once you reach Cachi at midday, we recommend you to visit its peaceful square and its white church made of cactus wood. In the afternoon, discover the National Park of Cardones and take a walk among thousands of these unusually large native cacti. Then, from 11 880ft (3620m) you will descend the “Cuesta del Obispo” to reach the fertile valley just south of Salta, where you will arrive at the end of the afternoon.
- Transport : private van - 6h
- Accommodation: hotel**
- Included meals: breakfast, lunch.
- English speaking tour leader
Day 5 – TOLAR GRANDE, A JOURNEY TO THE CLOUDS (3600m)
Going up along the Valle del Toro, follow the rails of the Train to the Clouds. On the road, visit the ruins of Santa Rosa de Tastil before reaching San Antonio de los Cobres. After lunch ascend all the way up to the Alto Chorrillo pass (14960ft - 4560 m) before descending across an incredible landscape of volcanoes and salt lakes. The Devil's Desert is certainly the most breath-taking part, with its colour and geological madness. In Tolar Grande, you are met by your host family.
- Transport : van + 4x4 - 5h
- Accommodation: host family
- Included meals : breakfast, lunch and dinner
- English speaking tour leader
Day 6 – ARIZARO SALT FLATS (3600m)
After breakfast, drive to the lakes of Ojos de Mar, then el Arenal and finally the Salar de Arizaro, considered the biggest salt lake in Argentina. Get up close to the Arita cone, an impressive volcanic formation right in the middle of the salt lake. Its ascent is prohibited as it is considered a holy place for the local populations.
Short visit to the mine before going back to Tolar Grande with your host family.
- Transport : van + 4x4 - 4h
- Accommodation: host family
- Included meals : breakfast, lunch and dinner
- English speaking tour leader
Day 7 – SALINAS GRANDES - BARRANCAS (3400m)
Starting early in the morning, lunch in San Antonio de los Cobres and then continue on the high plateau to Salinas Grandes; a scenic 200 km² salt lake 3400m high, where polygons of salt align endlessly. Then, driving on dusty roads, you will arrive at the small village of Barrancas protected by massive cliffs.
- Transport : private van - 6h00
- Accommodation: host family (basic comfort)
- Included meals : breakfast, lunch and dinner
- English speaking tour leader
Day 8 - THE KOLLA CULTURE (3400m)
You are met by our local guide and taken through some petroglyphs hidden on the cliffs. These pictures from the past tell us the history of local agriculture and Incas invasion. A small walk between the hills, will be a perfect time to learn about local flora. In the afternoon, drive to another village called Alfarcito, where local artisans will teach you to traditionally colour and weave the lama wool.
- Transport : private van - 3h
- Accommodation: host family (basic comfort)
- Included meals : breakfast, lunch and dinner
- English speaking tour leader
Day 9 - HORNADITAS, RUSTIC AND WELCOMING! (3200m)
Early start to drive across the high plateau of the Altiplano, where some rare animals as vicuñas, lamas or suri can be spotted. Arrive in Hornaditas at mid-day where you are met by Hector, Clara and their two daughters Gaby and Carolina. Visit the village and participate in typical tasks, such as making bread or goat cheese.
- Transport : private van - 4h
- Accommodation: host family (basic comfort)
- Included meals : breakfast, lunch and dinner
- English speaking tour leader
Day 10 – HUMAHUACA VALLEY (2936m)
Spend the morning doing some rural activities as leading the goat to graze, then transfer to your hotel in the village of Humahuaca. In the afternoon visit other villages and beautiful treasures, as the 7 colours valley in Purmamarca or the handcraft workshops in Tilcara. The end of the afternoon is free.
- Transport : local bus - 2h30
- Accommodation: hotel***
- Included meals : breakfast and lunch
- English speaking tour leader
Day 11 – SANTA ANA – INTO THE DEEP FOREST (2500m)
Leave early in the morning to go to Santa Ana, departure of the Inca trail to the subtropical forest. From Santa Ana, with its dry and mineral landscape, climb down and admire this progressively changing environment, guarded by condors. To finish the day, spend the night at Martina’s house in the village of Valle Colorado.
- Transport : private 4x4 - 4h
- Accommodation: host family (basic comfort)
- Included meals : breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Trekking: 4 - 5h downhill
- English speaking tour leader
Day 12 – VALLE COLORADO – CONDORS AND COLOURS (1400 m)
Easy hike between Valle Colorado and Valle Grande to reach the local bus that will take us to San Francisco. The impressive road curving into the forest displays breath-taking views. Arrive in the afternoon and set up for the night in the community hotel.
- Transport : local bus - 2h
- Accommodation: community hotel (basic comfort)
- Included meals : breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Trekking: 2 - 3h easy hike.
- English speaking tour leader
Day 13 – SECRETS OF THE YUNGAS FOREST! (1210m)
After breakfast, walk into the Yungas forest to the bottom of the valley to see the river. The toughest of the group may try to reach a natural thermal spring and will be rewarded by the beauty of the place and the warm water coming from deep down the centre of the earth. Leave San Francisco in the afternoon to go to Ledesma where you take a regular bus to Salta.
- Transport : local bus - 5h30
- Accommodation: hotel**
- Included meals : breakfast and lunch
- Trekking: 6 - 7h.
- English speaking tour leader
Day 14 – BACK TO BUENOS AIRES
Flight Salta > Buenos Aires
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires, where our driver will take you to your hotel. Free time for you to explore the capital city.
- Transport : private transfer - 1h
- Accommodation: hotel**
- Included meals : breakfast
Day 15 – FINAL DAY IN ARGENTINA
Departure of your international flight
Enjoy more free time in Buenos Aires. Three hours before your international flight, a transfer vehicle will pick you up at your hotel to take you to the airport.
- Transport : private transfer - 45min
- Included meals : breakfast
End of your adventure in Argentina's northwest…
This program is only given as an indication. Transhumans reserve the right, directly or through its local partners, to replace transportation, accommodation, itinerary, as well as dates and departure times, without the participants being able to claim any compensation.
