Super Northwest Argentina

DAY 1: BUENOS AIRES
Arrival at Ezeiza International Airport and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon you will enjoy a private excursion of this cosmopolitan city visiting the neighborhoods of Recoleta, Palermo, La Boca and San Telmo. Evening at leisure. Lodging at Hotel Intersur Recoleta or similar for two nights. (B)

DAY 2: BUENOS AIRES
Day at leisure to explore the city on your own or take optional excursions. Lodging. (B)

DAY 3: BUENOS AIRES / SALTA – CAFAYATE
Transfer to the airport and flight to Salta. Arrival, meeting at the airport and transfer to Cafayate. You will drive through the colorful “Quebrada de las Conchas” (or “Las Conchas Gorge”) enjoying the view of curious geological formations such as “Garganta del Diablo”, the “Monk’s Statue” and “Anfiteatro”.
Afterwards, you will go to your hotel: Cafayate Wine Resort that is located in the outskirts of town and at the foot of San Isidro Mount, surrounded by vineyards. Lodging. (B)

DAY 4: CAFAYATE / QUILMES RUINS
Breakfast. Cafayate has become the most important site in the Calchaquí Valleys. Located at 1,660 m above sea level, it is well known because of its famous Torrontes wine, product of the unique combination of temperature and humidity that provides the ideal environment for the growth of this sweet and deep fruity flavored vine, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah and Chardonnay.
Today you will visit some of the famous wineries of Cafayate.
You will also visit the Quilmes ruins, one of Argentina’s most important archaeological treasures. These ancient ruins tell the story of the Quilmes people, one of the country’s most remarkable Indigenous civilizations. Return in the evening to Viñas de Cafayate Wine Resort. Lodging. (B)

DAY 5: CAFAYATE / CACHI
You will drive northwards following the Calchaquí River Valley. During the trip, you will be able to enjoy amazing landscapes and small towns which preserve their colonial heritage as if time had stopped.
San Carlos is a town with colonial houses and narrow streets. Since its foundation it was destroyed many times by the Indians. The Jesuits settled here and founded the “San Carlos Mission”, giving origin to the actual town.
Then you will start traveling along the impressive “Quebrada de las Flechas” (or “Arrows Gorge”), with its extraordinary geological formations produced by erosion on the colorful sedimentation of sandstone over the past 60 million years.
Molinos was founded in the middle of the XVII century. The plan of the town is completely irregular, with adobe houses and clay roofs.
The road continues northwards until Cachi, a beautiful town with white buildings, adobe houses, stone-paved streets and impressive constructions. Cachi means “salt” in quechua due to the fact that natives mistook the top of “El Nevado” with a salt mine.
Visit of the town, its church and museum. In the evening, transfer to your hotel. In the evening, transfer to your hotel. Picnic lunch during the excursion. Lodging at Hotel La Merced del Alto or similar. (B,L)

DAY 6: CACHI / SALTA
Departing from Cachi, the trip continues along the Calchaquí Valleys to the city of Salta. While traveling through Recta de Tin Tin you will pass Los Cardones National Park marked by the peculiar tall cacti at both sides of the road. After The Enchanted Valley, you will start a spectacular descent through Cuesta del Obispo, a landmark that gives a wonderful panoramic view of the surroundings.
Finally, you will reach Salta, also known as “La Linda”. Salta was Founded in the Lerma Valley in 1582 and it still maintains many of its beautiful colonial buildings such as the San Francisco Church. Transfer to your hotel. Lodging at Hotel Design Suites or similar for two nights.
(B)

DAY 7: SALTA
Breakfast. Salta, also known as “La Linda,” was founded in the Lerma Valley in 1582 and still preserves many of its beautiful colonial buildings. In the morning, you’ll enjoy a private city tour, visiting The Cabildo (Town Hall), the Archbishop’s Palace, and the Cathedral around the main square (Plaza 9 de Julio). You’ll also see San Francisco’s Church, San Bernardo’s Church and Convent, and the Crafts Market. A 10-minute drive from the city center into the surrounding hills will take you to a spectacular lookout point with panoramic views of the town, nestled beneath Cerro San Bernardo (San Bernardo Mount). From there, you’ll enjoy a ride on the aerial tramway (Teleférico). Later you’ll visit the Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña (Museum of High Altitude Archaeology) www.maam.org.ar. Opened in 2004, the museum features exhibitions on Inca culture and heritage. A key highlight is the High Mountain Sanctuary, discovered in 1999 on the Llullaillaco Volcano (6,939 m / 22,000 ft) in the Andes. It houses the remarkably well-preserved frozen bodies of the ‘Maiden,’ the ‘Boy,’ and the ‘Girl of Lightning,’ three Incan children entombed on a bleak and frigid mountaintop 500 years ago as a religious sacrifice. Lodging. (B)

DAY 8: SALTA / SALINAS GRANDES/ PURMAMARCA/ TILCARA
Breakfast. Today you’ll head through the Puna (high Andean plateau) towards the massive salt deposits of Salinas Grandes! This is a great place to observe the quarrying of salt, which still goes on to this day. Picnic Lunch. Afterward, you’ll wind down the Cuesta de Lipan Road and continue onwards to the charming colonial village of Purmamarca.
Purmamarca is a small town of prehispanic origin settled at the foot of the polychromatic “Cerro de los Siete Colores” (Seven Colors Hill), where purple, reddish, green, ocher, brown, yellow and white rocks illustrate various geological ages. The village, with adobe buildings of cardon roofs and mud tiles, was designed around the Main Church, built between 1648 and 1779 in front of an “algarrobo”, characteristic tree of the region, more than 500 years old. As in many churches of this area, you will notice they are built with cactus wood and house paintings and outstanding sculptures brought from Cuzco.
A crafts fair takes place in the square, with regional products such as pottery, handmade tapestry, ponchos, musical instruments and typical clothes from the Quebrada.
Departing northwards, today you will start to discover the magnificent Humahuaca Gorge until reaching Tilcara. This town is located at 2.465 m.a.s.l. on the verge of Grande River. Surrounded by an incredible scenery of multicolored hills and gorgeous panoramic views, its colonial heritage can be seen in low adobe buildings and narrow streets everywhere. Lodging at Hotel Las Marias in Tilcara for two nights. (B)

DAY 9: TILCARA / QUEBRADA DE HUMAHUACA 

Breakfast. Today you’ll continue on your private expedition enjoying the multicolored landscape of the Humahuaca Canyon and the Serrania de Hornocal. The gorge once served as a route for the Incas, a required passage for expedition parties and settlers, and an important commercial route in the vice regal period.
We’ll discover peaceful villages, historic chapels, vibrant local markets, and small museums showcasing archaeological artifacts. Most small towns of this region conserve their religious beliefs, rituals, ceremonies, art, music and agricultural techniques, and it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2003 for its outstanding cultural and historical significance. You’ll visit Humahuaca town that is a picturesque village of narrow, shaded streets and small houses. You’ll see the local church and the Town Hall, famous for its clock tower where a mechanised San Francisco Solano offers a daily blessing at noon. It is worth walking its narrow stone-paved streets with streetlamps and adobe houses that made it one of the most important trade centers of Alto Perú until the end of the XIX century.
Within walking distance from the town of Tilarca later in the trip, you’ll find the Pucará, a restored pre-Columbian fort, with its location offering spectacular views of the valley. Lodging in Tilcara. (B)

DAY 10: TILCARA/ SALTA / BUENOS AIRES
Private transfer to Salta airport to board your flight to Buenos Aires. Arrival, meeting at the airport and private transfer to your hotel. In the evening, you will enjoy a tango show and dinner at the traditional Esquina Homero Manzi. Lodging at Hotel Intersur Recoleta or similar. (B,D)

DAY 11: BUENOS AIRES
Morning at leisure. In the evening, transfer to Ezeiza International Airport to take your flight back to USA or other destination. (B)