Crossing the Puna on a Northern Argentina Tour

Crossing the Puna in Northern Argentina

$2699

per person

With a variety of landscapes, this high altitude escape inspires passion within all who visit. In Northern Argentina, you will explore the history of ancient times and the modern culture of local inhabitants. The area is blessed with vast deserts, lagoons, and volcanoes, and you can admire wildlife, geography and geology of incredible grandeur. It is a perfect experience for photography lovers due to immense and amazing nature. If you are still wanting for more, Northern Argentina is celebrated for its gastronomy, and is full of vineyards and wineries that you can discover along your journey.

Highlights of Crossing the Northern Argentina tour:

Enjoy a Northern Argentina Tour .Stand at the top of extraordinary hills and enjoy panoramic views of the cities below.

Experience traditional life in villages where local culture can be found everywhere.

Be amazed by the fantastic colorful rock formations that surround you during your adventure.

Admire the crystalline salt flats and set your eyes on enchanting high altitude lagoons as you explore the valleys and gorges.

Itinerary Overview:

Click through to “Tour Plan” to see the full itinerary for the Crossing the Puna in Northern Argentina Tour.

Day 1 | Salta:

Explore the Colonial past of Salta and enjoy a delicious dinner at Peña Folklórica.

Day 2 | Salta to Tolar Grande:

Venture towards the charming village of Tolar Grande, passing through Alfarcito, San Antonio de los Cobres, The Viaducto la Polvorilla, Salar de Pocitos, Los Colorados, the desert of The Devil and Siete Cruces along the way.

Day 3| Tolar Grande:

Cross the immense Salar de Arizaro en route to La Casualidad and Julia Mine. Visit Ojos de Mar for it’s tremendous stromatolites before returning to Tolar Grande for the night.

Day 4 | Tolar Grande to Antofagasta de la Sierra:

Say good-bye to Tolar Grande to see the spectacular Cono de Arita and Antofallita Oasis before spending the night at Antofagasta de la Sierra.

Day 5 | Antofagasta de la Sierra:

Travel to the stunning Piedra Pómez desert where you’ll sample local foods and visit Laguna Grande and El Peñon before returning to Antofagasta de la Sierra for the night.

Day 6 | Antofagasta de la Sierra to Cafayate:

Depart the Puna for a wine tasting and bodega tour in Cafayate – one of the world’s premier wine regions.

Day 7 | Cafayate to Salta:

On the final day of your Northern Argentina tour, you will cross the Quebradas de las Conchas Gorge and traditional villages en route to the Salta airport.

Important Information:

We recommend you book this tour at least 1 month in advance.

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Travel voucher & contact details:

You will receive an electronic voucher via e-mail once your booking is confirmed.

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Simply pay an initial deposit per person and pay the rest later.

You must pay the balance no less than 45 days before the departure date. If booking less than 45 days before departure, you must pay in full at the time of booking.

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7 days

Adventure trips

Amazing Experiences

Argentina Trips

Off the beaten path trips

Responsible travel trips

Tailor made trips

Departure

Salta / Salta
Include

Activities described in the itinerary

Meals

Tour guide

Accommodation

Entries
Not Included

Tips

Travel Insurance

Transport

Domestic flights

Day One : Explore Salta La Linda

Northern Argentina Tour- Exploring the city on a Salta Tour

Arrive in the city of Salta. Airport –hotel transfer. In the evening, you will have a City Tour of the most important attractions: Basílica Cathedral, Cultural Center of the Americas, and the Historical Museum of the North (Cabildo), Basílica Menor de San Francisco, San Bernardo Monastery, Güemes Monument. You will ascend to Cerro San Bernardo hill and admire the panoramic view of the city and San Lorenzo’s Village with its subtropical microclimate. Then you will visit the handicraft market where handicrafts are displayed and include a guarantee of origin throughout the province. Enjoy your delicious dinner at “Peña Folklórica” (Transfer to “Peña Folklórica not included) A night in Salta.

Day Two: Set your eyes on colorful scenery

Explore Tolar grande in Northern Argentina

Canyon of a Devil, Tolar Grande, Salta, Argentina

After breakfast, you will start your trip to Tolar Grande. On your way to Del Toro Gorge, you will travel across RN 51, which goes along part of the routes of the famous Train to the Clouds. During your tour, you will make a stop at a place called Alfarcito to admire the wonderful landscapes and the work of the Chifri Priest as well as welcoming town people who are proud of their culture. Your next stop will be at the Tastil's Ruins then continue towards San Antonio de los Cobres at 3775 m.a.s.l. After your lunch in San Antonio de los Cobres, your adventure continues to Tolar Grande, where you will cross the first part of The Viaducto la Polvorilla (60 meters high and 223.5 meters long). You will continue to the highest point of your travel, Chorrilos's Bay with 4600 m.a.s.l. Then, you will descend to cross the Salar de Pocitos, Los Colorados, the desert of The Devil and Siete Cruces, a typical place for its colorful landscapes and incredible formations. In the late afternoon, you will arrive in the village of Tolar Grande. Finally, you will have dinner at a local restaurant. A night in Tolar Grande. Distance: 376 km Time - travelled: 10hs Maximum height: 4600m.a.s.l.

Day Three: Be a guest in the amazing mines

trips to solar grande in northern Argentina

Mountain Plateau La Puna, Northern Argentina

Your day starts with a beautiful blue sky that invites to be photographed. We depart to La Casualidad Mine and Julia Mine crossing the immense Salar de Arizaro. You will also visit the railway station Caipe. After a delightful lunch box, you will return to Tolar Grande. At some time during the morning, you will visit the biological reservation Ojos de Mar to enjoy its beauty and to get to know the stromatolites, cellular structures of 3500 million years old. Your dinner will be at a local restaurant. A night in Tolar Grande. Distance: 320 km Time-travelled: 8hs Maximum height: 5200 m.a.s.l.

Day Four: Be mesmerized by the beautiful scenery every corner you go

Visit Cono de Arita in our Argentina trips

Cono de Arita, Salta, Argentina

Say good-bye to the magical village of Tolar Grande to get to Antofagasta de la Sierra. In this part of your trip, you will cross through 240 km from The Salar de Arizaro and then visit an icon of the beauty of the Puna: El Cono de Arita, an enchanting place where your mind can be tricked by the fantastic view. You continue travelling to Catamarca where the unbelievable scenery will surprise you in every kilometer driven. You will cross Campo Amarillo and Antofallita Oasis where lunch will be served at Antofalla. After lunch, you will continue travelling for Salar de Antofalla, Vega Colorada and Quebrada de Calalaste where a rich wild life awaits you. Before arriving in Antofagasta, you will visit Real Grande where you can find petroglyphs in the Inca Trail. Dinner at local a restaurant. A night in Antofagasta de la Sierra. Distance: 240 km Time- Travelled: 7 hrs Maximum height: 4650 m.a.s.l.

Day Five : Enjoy the amazing high altitude lagoons

Piedra pómez desert at northern Argentina trips

Campo de Piedra Pomez, Catamarca, Argentina

After breakfast, you will start travelling to the stunning Piedra Pómez desert. There, your adventure begins with an amazing trek that will make you experience a bit more of the magnificent landscapes. After enjoying the morning, you will taste some appetizers in a natural environment with local products. In the evening, you will visit Laguna Grande, located 45km from El Peñón. In this inspiring place, you will have the chance to appreciate the wildlife and landscape of the high altitude lagoons. Your dinner will be at a local restaurant. A night in Antofagasta de la Sierra Distance: 265 km Time- travelled: 7 hrs. Maximum height: 3340m.a.s.l.

Day Six: Admire green villages and gorges

Merlot Grapes on Vine in Vineyard

Say good-bye to The Puna to get into the valleys and gorges as you travel to the land of the Sun and Wine, Cafayate. You will cross the villages of Barraca Larga, Vile Villa, and Hualfin: You will be surprised by the Rondolfo's slope with the highest yellow dunes. After the midday, you will arrive at Cafayate, where your delicious lunch awaits you as well as a local warehouse visit. Later on, you will have dinner in a local restaurant. A night in Cafayate Distance: 430km Time-travelled: 6hrs. Maximum height: 4100m.a.s.l.

Day Seven: Spine - tingling gorges filled with beauty and charm

Quebrada de cafayate in Salta , Argentina

Quebrada de Cafayate, Salta, Argentina

On your last day, you will set a schedule to return to the city across the Quebradas de las Conchas Gorge. Along the gorge, you will be able to see the perfect formations created by the wind and the water across millions of years (Garganta del Diablo, Anfiteatro, Los Castillos, Casas de los Loros, El Fraile, Las Ventanas, El Sapo, El Obelisco, the Toad, and the Dunes). After crossing the villages of La Viña, Coronel Moldes, El Carril, Las Merced and Cerrillos, you will arrive at the Airport of Salta or to your corresponding accommodation. Distance: 200km Time- Travelled: 3.5hrs. Maximum height: 1700 m.a.s.l.

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Crossing the Puna in Northern Argentina

$2699