6 days
Full Day
Independent
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A unique adventure in Salta, blending urban charm with the untouched landscapes of the Puna.
When you arrive at Salta Airport, our shuttle will be waiting to take you to your hotel in the city. Look for the sign with your name on the way out of the airport.
Enjoy the charms of a city rich in history and culture through an unforgettable walking tour. The tour begins at the 9 de Julio square, which is surrounded by the cathedral, the town hall (where the northern historical museum can be visited), the high altitude archaeology museum (MAAM, which showcases the mummies found atop mount Llullaillaco), the Day palace and the America cultural center.
You’ll then visit the colonial style street of Caseros, in which you’ll be able to visit the house-museum of former Argentine president José Evaristo Uriburu, the minor San Francisco basilica (which boasts one of the highest altitude bell towers in South America) and the ancient San Bernardo cloister.
Moving on, the Martín Miguel de Güemes monument makes an appearance, located at the foot of the San Bernardo and 20 de Febrero hills. The excursion continues through the gastronomic district of paseo Güemes, Belgrano square, the notable Güemes museum and the Leguizamón residence. Finally the trip ends at the San Miguel market, a fantastic place to try the local and regional foods and spices.
Overnight in Salta: Hotel Altos de Balcarce, Hotel del Antiguo Convento, Legado Mítico Salta (or similar).
Meals Included: none.
The only one that occupies thousands of square kilometers dotted with a few villages and hamlets. In Salta, the service center for visiting the Puna is Tolar Grande, a town of 200 inhabitants located just under 400 km from the city of Salta.
The unique attractions in the surrounding area are so many that they require three days to discover them. The tour departs from Salta through the Quebrada del Toro to San Antonio de los Cobres, where you have lunch, before heading to the La Polvorilla viaduct, the most notable engineering work on the C-14 branch, located at 4200 meters above sea level and built in the early 1930s.
Later, the route ascends to 4560 meters above sea level in the Alto Chorrillos gorge, and starting from the Pocitos salt flat (center of mining development in the region) it crosses a series of landscapes that leave everyone with their mouths open: the Seven Curves, the Devil's Desert and the Devil's Salt Flats.
Around six in the afternoon you arrive at Tolar Grande, with time to admire the red sunset over the bare hills that frame the town from the east.
Meeting point: Pick up/drop off de Pax inside the macro center of Salta.
Accommodation in houses of the rural tourism.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
The next day we leave early for the Arizaro salt flat, the largest in the country. Near its southern end, just over an hour from Tolar, is the fantastic Arita Cone, a natural formation that rises about 200 meters above the white surface of the salt flat.
We return for lunch in Tolar and in the afternoon we visit El Arenal (a kind of valley completely covered with sand, where you can practice sandboarding) and the Ojos de Mar (three surprising green water lagoons in the middle of a small salt flat).
Accommodation in houses of the rural tourism.
Overnight at local houses.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
On the third day, the return begins along the same route. Lunch is served in San Antonio de los Cobres and at dusk you arrive in the city of Salta
Overnight in Salta.
Meals Included: Breakfast.
Free day in Salta. This beautiful city offers different activities to make your day off beautiful. Salta shines with its beauty and culture.
Among our recommendations, we highlight the MAAM (Museum of High Mountain Archaeology) and the San Bernardo Hill, which you can climb on foot or use the cable car that offers panoramic views of the entire city.
Overnight in Salta.
Meals Included: Breakfast.
At the appropriate time, we will pick you up at the selected hotel to take you to the local airport (private driver only).
Meals Included: Breakfast.
The Tolar Grande tour spans 6 days, beginning in Salta city and taking you through the Puna region to Tolar Grande. It includes accommodation (double-occupancy rooms), breakfasts (and some lunches or dinners depending on the day), transfers and guided excursions as listed in the itinerary.
Highlights include the journey from Salta to Tolar Grande via the Quebrada del Toro and the viaduct of La Polvorilla (at ~4 200 m elevation), the spectacular Salar de Arizaro and the iconic Cono de Arita, the turquoise lagoons at the Ojos de Mar and staying in Tolar Grande itself.
Since much of the tour is at high altitude (3 500 m to over 4 500 m), you should be aware of potential altitude effects. While the tour is designed with gradual acclimatisation, it may not be suitable for travellers with serious altitude-related health issues.
Included: transfers and excursions described in the itinerary, accommodation with breakfast, assistance via WhatsApp in destination. Not included: international or domestic flights, meals not specified in the itinerary, and tips for guides or drivers.
The best time to travel on this route is during the dry season in the Puna (generally May-October) when roads are better and skies clearer. You should pack warm layers (because of cold nights), sun protection (high UV at altitude), sturdy footwear, and something for dust/road-ripio conditions, as many stretches are unpaved.
