A five-day journey connecting the Calchaquí Valleys with some of the most extraordinary volcanic landscapes in Catamarca and Salta.

The journey begins by crossing the Cuesta del Obispo, Los Cardones National Park and the historic villages along Route 40 on the way to Cafayate. From there, we continue into the Puna de Atacama to explore the Pumice Stone Field, the Galán Volcano caldera, high-altitude lagoons and the vast salt flats of Antofalla and Arizaro.The expedition reaches Tolar Grande before returning to Salta through the red landscapes of the Devil’s Desert, San Antonio de los Cobres and the Quebrada del Toro.

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GENERAL INFORMATION

• Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
• Starting point: guests’ accommodation in Salta
• Finishing point: guests’ accommodation in Salta
• Tour type: private and tailor-made
• Recommended group size: 2 to 4 travellers
• Vehicle: private 4x4
• Guide: professional driver-guide in English or Spanish
• Overnight stays: Cafayate (1), El Peñón (2) and Tolar Grande (1)
• Physical difficulty: low
• Journey demands: long driving days and travel through high-altitude areas
• Maximum altitude: approximately 4,740 metres above sea level, at the rim of the Galán Volcano caldera
• Season: year-round, subject to weather and road conditions

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DAY 1: SALTA – CUESTA DEL OBISPO – SECLANTÁS – MOLINOS – CAFAYATE 

We leave our guests’ accommodation in Salta in the morning and begin the ascent along the Cuesta del Obispo, one of the most iconic mountain roads in the Calchaquí Valleys. If access is open, we visit Valle Encantado. Entry depends on weather conditions and the instructions of the national park authorities. We continue to Piedra del Molino and cross Los Cardones National Park before descending into the Calchaquí Valley. Along the way, we pass through Seclantás, where we can visit its historic church, built in 1833, and its picturesque main square. We do not stop in Cachi, as this would add too much time to an already long day. We then travel south along National Route 40 to Molinos. Here, we visit the village church and the former residence of Nicolás Severo de Isasmendi, the last Spanish governor of Salta, which has now been converted into a hotel. From Molinos, we continue through the Quebrada de las Flechas, one of the most remarkable geological landscapes in the Calchaquí Valleys. We then pass through San Carlos and follow the paved road to Cafayate.

This first day offers a gradual introduction to the Andean environment and allows travellers to begin adapting progressively to the higher altitudes reached over the following days.

• Starting point: Salta
• Finishing point: Cafayate
• Approximate distance: 320 km
• Road conditions: approximately 200 km on paved roads and 120 km on gravel roads
• Estimated duration: 9 hours, including visits and stops
• Maximum altitude: 3,348 m at Piedra del Molino
• Altitude at the end of the day: approximately 1,600 m
• Accommodation: Cafayate, not included
• Meals included: none

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DAY 2: CAFAYATE – QUILMES – SANTA MARÍA – PUMICE STONE FIELD – CARACHI VOLCANO – EL PEÑÓN

At 9:00 a.m., we leave Cafayate in our 4x4 and travel towards Colalao del Valle and Quilmes, in the province of Tucumán. We then enter Catamarca and cross the southern end of the Yocavil Valley, which forms part of the Calchaquí Valleys. We pass through the town of Santa María and several small rural communities before beginning our ascent towards the Puna. We stop for lunch at a local restaurant along the route used by the transport service connecting the remote villages of the Puna. Afterwards, we continue climbing into the arid, volcanic landscapes of the Puna de Atacama.

We leave the main road and follow a rough track for approximately 20 kilometres, where a 4x4 vehicle is essential. This brings us to the Pumice Stone Field, a landscape created by ancient volcanic eruptions and shaped over thousands of years by wind erosion. After exploring the Pumice Stone Field, we continue towards Carachi Volcano and its red-coloured lagoon, where flamingos can often be seen. We then return to the main road and continue towards El Peñón. During the day, we reach an altitude of approximately 4,000 metres above sea level. The landscape changes gradually, revealing immense mountains, vast dune fields formed along wind corridors and volcanic environments inhabited by vicuñas, Andean foxes and suris—the native Andean rhea.

We finally arrive in El Peñón, a small village in the Catamarca Puna situated at approximately 3,400 metres above sea level.

• Starting point: Cafayate
• Finishing point: El Peñón
• Estimated departure time: 9:00 a.m.
• Approximate distance: 385 km
• Maximum altitude: approximately 4,000 m
• Altitude at the end of the day: approximately 3,400 m
• Accommodation: El Peñón, not included
• Meals included: none

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DAY 3: EL PEÑÓN – GALÁN VOLCANO CALDERA – HIGH-ALTITUDE LAGOONS – EL PEÑÓN

We devote this day to exploring the Galán Volcano caldera, an immense volcanic formation approximately 35 kilometres in diameter. We leave El Peñón in the mid-morning and travel towards the heart of the caldera. Along the way, we first pass the small Cavi Lagoon and then reach Laguna Grande. During spring, summer and autumn, Laguna Grande is home to large concentrations of high-altitude birdlife. These include all three species of Andean flamingo, locally known as parinas, as well as Andean geese. Vicuñas and foxes can also be seen in the surrounding area. We continue along a high-altitude mountain track until reaching approximately 4,740 metres above sea level at the rim of the caldera. From this point, we can look down towards Laguna Diamante, located inside the caldera.

We descend to the shores of the lagoon for photographs and then continue to an area of geothermal activity, where small geysers and natural hot springs emerge from the ground. Here, we stop to enjoy our picnic. In the afternoon, we return to El Peñón for a second night.

• Starting and finishing point: El Peñón
• Approximate distance: 50 km
• Maximum altitude: approximately 4,740 m
• Accommodation: El Peñón, not included
• Meals included: none

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DAY 4: EL PEÑÓN – ANTOFALLA – ARIZARO SALT FLAT – CONO DE ARITA – TOLAR GRANDE

After breakfast, we set out towards the province of Salta, crossing two of the Puna’s largest and most impressive salt flats: Antofalla and Arizaro.The road gradually becomes a remote track used mainly by mining vehicles. On the way to the small village of Antofalla, we travel alongside the salt flat of the same name. There are two possible routes for this section of the journey. The final route is selected according to the season, the condition of the tracks and the possible presence of snow during winter. We stop for lunch in Antofalla and then continue towards the Arizaro Salt Flat, travelling across it for approximately 85 kilometres.

At the beginning of the salt-flat crossing, the Cono de Arita rises from the vast plain with its almost perfectly symmetrical shape. As we continue, the surface of the salt flat gradually changes from white to reddish tones due to sediments carried down from the surrounding mountains.At the end of the crossing, we arrive in Tolar Grande, a small village in the Salta Puna inhabited by around fifty families. We stay at the locally available accommodation confirmed at the time of booking and have dinner at a village restaurant.For those interested in night photography, Tolar Grande offers exceptional conditions for observing and photographing the skies above the Puna.

This is a long day of approximately nine hours, but the remarkable variety of landscapes makes every part of the journey an essential part of the experience.

• Starting point: El Peñón
• Finishing point: Tolar Grande
• Estimated departure time: 9:00 a.m.
• Estimated arrival time: 6:00 p.m.
• Approximate distance: 250 km
• Maximum altitude: approximately 4,650 m
• Altitude at the end of the day: 3,400 m
• Accommodation: Tolar Grande, not included
• Meals included: none

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DAY 5: TOLAR GRANDE – OJOS DE MAR – DEVIL’S DESERT – SAN ANTONIO DE LOS COBRES – SALTA

After breakfast, we take a short drive from Tolar Grande to Ojos de Mar, three natural springs emerging from the salt flat. We visit during the early morning, when there is generally less wind and the surrounding mountains may be reflected on the surface of the water. Over the following 50 kilometres, we travel through an extraordinary landscape of red earth, salt flats and quartz and gypsum formations. This area includes the places known as the Devil’s Salt Flat, the Devil’s Desert and the Seven Curves.We continue across the vast expanses of the Puna, passing the Pocitos Salt Flat before arriving in San Antonio de los Cobres shortly after midday. Situated at approximately 3,750 metres above sea level, it is the main town in the Salta Puna.We stop for lunch at a local restaurant and then continue towards Salta on a paved road. From Abra Blanca, at approximately 4,080 metres above sea level, we begin our descent through the Quebrada del Toro, surrounded by its remarkable geological formations and several sections of the historic railway route used by the Train to the Clouds.

We expect to arrive in Salta at around 6:30 p.m., directly at our guests’ accommodation.

• Starting point: Tolar Grande
• Finishing point: Salta
• Approximate distance: 380 km
• Maximum altitude: approximately 4,080 m at Abra Blanca
• Estimated arrival time: 6:30 p.m.
• Accommodation: not applicable; the tour ends in Salta
• Meals included: none

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ALTITUDE

The itinerary has been designed to provide a gradual ascent from the Calchaquí Valleys into the Puna de Atacama. During the final four days, we frequently travel above 3,400 metres. The highest point of the journey is reached at the rim of the Galán Volcano caldera, at approximately 4,740 metres above sea level. Physical activity is minimal and mainly involves getting out of the vehicle to take photographs. Nevertheless, the altitude, extreme temperatures and long driving days require travellers to be in good general health.

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SEASON

The tour can be operated throughout the year, subject to weather and road conditions. Between January and March, rainfall may temporarily affect some sections of the route, particularly in the Calchaquí Valleys. During June and July, snow is possible at the highest mountain passes in the Puna de Atacama. Whenever necessary, the itinerary may be adjusted to ensure the safety of our travellers.