HIGH PUNA IN 4x4
1 day trip
Following the way of "El Tren de Las Nubes" by the gorge of
"Toro", admiring the views of the snake-like railway , we reach to the ruins of Tastil where we observe the remains of an old native , indian settlement. Afterwards we go
on up to San Antonio de Los Cobres, former capital city of the territory in the times of
the Spanish Empire.
From there, we head towards Salinas Grandes (salt flat) in the province of Jujuy, where we can see the llamas herds from a short distance. Them, we go up on a mountain road reaching 4.170 mts above sea level, and after an imponent descent we arrive to the town of the Purmamarca known for its hill of seven colours. We go back to Salta city by night.- It´s a long trip of 12 hours but it´s the only way to know those amazing landscapes in only one day.
Duration : 1 day
Distance: 520 kms.-
HIGH PUNA IN 4X4 WITH HUMAHUACA & IRUYA
3 days 2 nights
Day 1
It`s
the same day like the first program of High Puna in 1 day but with the different that:
after arriving San Antonio de Los Cobres for lunch, we continue to Salinas
Grandes, the great salt flat and at the end of the day we finish in Tilcara after visit on the way the famous village of Purmamarca
and it's 7 colors hill.
We will spend a night in Tilcara in a hotel suggested.
Day 2
In the morning time, we will visit Tilcara down town and then, we will go to walk around the Indian ruins of Pucará de Tilcara. Then we continue our trip along Humahuaca gorge arriving at noon to the city of the same
name where we will be able visit the historic down town.
After lunch we will, keep going over an amazing mountain road climbing up to 4.000 mts. above sea level and descending to Iruya village , Iruya is a small village buildt in the middle of the mountain area as you can see in the picture above, and is situated in Salta province. Overnight at Hosteria de Iruya.
Day 3
On
the last day,, after leaving Iruya we will return over the same way to Humahuaca
city, and then to Tilcara village where we will stop to visit the archeological ruins
and the museum in the down town. Then we will return to Salta along route 9 where we will be able to see part of the rain forest area on the way, which has a strong
contrast after many days of seeing deserts and salt flat.
This trip is full of contrast because on the first day we will see mountains up to 6.000 mts. snow caped, on the second day we will see historical villages into a great gorges, nad canyons and finally on the last day a road over a part of the sub tropical rain forest.- Unforgettable experience!
TRIP TO THE VALLEY OF THE DREAMS
3 days 2 nights in hotel
In this case I planed to start the trip on the Valles Calchaquíes region because is better to sleep the first night at lower altitude than the one prevalling on the Puna region.
Day 1
The first journey is stars at Salta at 07:00, driving to the west along
route Nº 33 and after 3 hs of ascending a mountain road we stop at the Enchanted Valley
where we will be able to see condors flying (if the weather it´s good), After
our walk, we´ll continue to another valle named "Tonco Valley" where we will see
coloured mountains and then we continue our way to Cachi where we will spend the nigh at
hotel, Hostería de Cachi.
Day 2
After leaving Cachi, we will take the National Route 40 to La Poma village and
then we start to ascend the road until we reach the highest altitude of any
national roads in América: 16.300 ft. (4895 mts.). This is the exact beguining
of the Puna region, where we will see a unique landscape , consequence of volcanic activity
during millons of years.
The first village we get to is San Antonio de Los Cobres where we`ll have lunch and after visiting the famous bridge of Train to The clouds named "La Polvorilla" we will continue drive a few hours and then arrive to Estación Salar de Pocitos -Pocitos's Salt Flat Station- continuing into a red earth ravine that finishes in the Valley of Dreams... From there we shall finish our tour at Tolar Grande town, were, in the surroundings, we may still see bovines dried by the salt of the Arizaro salt flat -Argentina's biggest- as mute witnesses of the Spanish colonial times when cattle was taken by foot towards Chile after a fattening diet on the argentine grasslands. We will sleep in the new Refuge franco-argentino very confortable /two big rooms with 20 beds each and private bath for ladies).
Day 3
Next
day we will return to Estación Salar de Pocitos through the Valleys of the Dreams
again but with a completelly changed from the day before due to the day light , then , we go onto
another road, arriving to a town called Santa Rosa de Los Pastos Grandes
-Saint Rose of the Tall Grass- at the foot of the Quevar volcano, 20.600 ft.
high, an important Inca sanctuary in the height.
After that, we will get San Antonio de los Cobres again and then to Salta city
along Quebrada del Toro, following the way of the Train to The Clouds.
Expedition 4x4 over Puna region and Valles Caclahquíes 6 days 5 night