Uyuni Salt Flats, Northern Argentina & Chile Adventure | 18 Day Trip

We will explore the countryside of Buenos Aires and learn all about the gauchos and ranch life on the Pampas in an exciting full-day tour that includes visits to a historical rural town and a silversmith museum, visits to a ranch, plenty of food and wine, dancing, horseback riding, and a gaucho horse skills display.

We will dive into a completely different world on the way to San Antonio de Areco, a small town dating back to 1730 known as “the cradle of culture and tradition” in Argentina. Once in Areco, we’ll get off the vehicle and visit the Draghi Museum, a family-run institution showcasing some of the best silversmiths in the world.

Upon arrival at El Ombú ranch, we will be greeted joyfully by the gauchos and served welcome drinks alongside some of the best empanadas (local pasties) in the world. We strongly suggest coming to this tour hungry, as lunch will be a true Argentinean meat feast featuring the national dish: asado.

To wrap up this wonderful and authentic Argentine experience, one of the gauchos will delight us with a unique demonstration of horse taming, showcasing the confidence and connection between him and his horse through unconventional horse whispering techniques.

Overnight in Buenos Aires.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.

We will begin our journey along a parallel route to the Cloud Train railway line through the stunning Quebrada del Toro. Along the way, we will visit the pre-Inca city of Santa Rosa de Tastil, one of the most significant archaeological ruins in the region.

From there, we will ascend to an altitude of 4,080 meters above sea level, reaching the town of San Antonio de los Cobres, where we will pause for lunch. Afterward, we will cross Route 40 to arrive at the breathtaking Salinas Grandes, located on the border between Salta and Jujuy. Our descent will take us through the winding Cuesta de Lipán, a spot known for condor sightings, before arriving at the picturesque town of Purmamarca, home to the iconic Hill of the Seven Colors.

Overnight in Purmamarca: Casa de Piedra, La Comarca, Eco Hotel Posta de Purmamarca (or similar).

Meals included: Breakfast.

We will embark on a journey through the Quebrada, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, beginning with a visit to Posta de Hornillos before continuing to the historic town of Tilcara.

From there, we will head to Huacalera, crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, where we will admire the colorful hill known as La Pollera de la Colla. Next, we will visit the Church of Uquía, home to the remarkable Arcabucero Angels paintings, an important relic of the Cuzco school.

Our adventure will continue to Humahuaca, where we will explore its impressive Cathedral and the Monument to Independence (El Indio) by sculptor Soto Avenaño.

Finally, we will pass through the town of Iturbe and ascend the Abra del Cóndor, reaching 3,900 meters above sea level. This path will lead us to a small ravine and the charming town of Iruya, of pre-Hispanic origin, where we will spend the night.

Overnight in Iruya: Hotel Iruya (or similar).

Meals included: Breakfast.

We will enjoy a free day in Iruya to explore at our leisure before returning to the city of Salta in the afternoon and spending the night there.

Overnight in Salta.

Meals included: Breakfast.

We will visit the town of Cafayate, located in the Calchaquí Valleys in the southwest of Salta province, renowned for its exceptional wines. Our journey begins in the Lerma Valley, where we will cross tobacco fields and towns with colonial architecture, such as Alemania, the former endpoint of the Belgrano railway.

We will then enter the Quebrada del Río Las Conchas, where fascinating formations shaped by wind and water—like the dunes, the frog, the bishop, the devil's throat, the castles, and the amphitheater—will captivate us. Continuing along National Route 68, we will reach Cafayate, the youngest city in the Calchaquí Valleys, internationally acclaimed for its wines, particularly Torrontés.

We will have the opportunity to taste these wines during visits to artisanal and industrial wineries. On our return to Salta, we will retrace our route, marveling at how the changing sunlight transforms the ravine's landscape.

In this experience, we will explore the Tatio Geysers, one of the most important geothermal fields in the world. We will visit the town of Machuca, an ideal place to discover Andean cuisine and crafts. Starting from your hotel, we will venture to one of the most remarkable geothermal fields on the planet and immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of a picturesque regional town.

Our first destination is the amazing geothermal field of the “Geysers del Tatio,” located 4,200 meters above sea level. This place is home to the largest group of geysers in the Southern Hemisphere and the third largest in the world. To fully experience this unique destination, we will leave before dawn and head to the Andean highlands. There, we will witness an incredible spectacle: 80 geysers with steam columns, a unique manifestation in the world. We will spend approximately an hour and a half exploring this fascinating landscape.

After recharging, we will continue our return trip, passing through the hills and mountains of the majestic Andes. On this journey, we will have the chance to admire various high-altitude ecosystems, such as the wetlands of Machuca and the Vados de Putana, home to exceptionally rich biodiversity. Our last stop will be in the charming town of Machuca, where we can immerse ourselves in its local culture and traditions before returning to the starting point.

We will overnight in San Pedro de Atacama.

Meals: Breakfast.

We will depart from San Pedro de Atacama by minibus, heading to customs and migration procedures at the Chile-Bolivia border in Hito Cajón.

After completing entry formalities, we will switch to a 4×4 jeep vehicle to continue the adventure. Our journey will take us to Laguna Blanca, Laguna Verde, the Salvador Dalí Desert, the Polques hot springs, the Geysers of Sol de Mañana, and Laguna Colorada.

We will enjoy lunch at either the hot springs or Laguna Colorada before concluding the day with dinner at a hostel in Villa Mar.

Overnight in Villa Mar: shared dorms, shared bathrooms.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

After breakfast, we will visit Valle de Tambo, the World Cup, El Camello, Lost Italy (a rock formation), Laguna Vinto, Laguna Catal (Mysterious), Valley of Rocks, and Anaconda Canyon.

For lunch, we will stop at Bofedal de Sora and the Town of Julaca. We will also visit Tambo Loma Salt Hotel, where we will have the option of double, double, triple, or quadruple rooms with private bathrooms.

We will spend the night in Villa Mar, where we will stay in shared dorms with shared bathrooms. Dinner will be at the hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

We will begin with sunrise observation at the Uyuni Salt Flats, followed by visits to Huasi Inca Island, Cactus Valley, and a hike over the Salar skyline. We will also explore the Salt Museum.

Next, we will visit Colchani Town and the Train Cemetery. For lunch, we will stop and then arrive in Uyuni in the afternoon at 15:00pm. A

fterward, we will return to San Pedro de Atacama.

Overnight in San Pedro de Atacama.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.