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Punanorte
Expedition
PUNANORTE EXPEDITION PROGRAM
ITINERARY
Day 1 "Into
the Calchaquies Valleys"
 Departure from Salta . On arrival, our first destination is the Calchaquíes Valleys area, going through a wonderful gorge called "Quebrada del río Las Conchas", colored sandstone formations eroded by wind and rain. After a 120-km-long drive we reach
the valley and Cafayate (10.000 inhabitants) where we will lunch and visit one of the wineries.
Then 54 kms of paved road will take us into the Tucumán Province, to the Quilmes INN (double rooms with private bathroom): after checking in we may visit the local ruins (2.000 m above sea leve) walking around for an hour.
Day 2 "Into
the Puna"
Leaving Quilmes we continue now on a gravel road until the last day of this trip. A few kilometers ahead, we enter the Catamarca Province and pass by a city called Santa María del Valle de Yocavil and a few small villages. The landscape becomes more and more desert-like as we travel. Mountain roads with huge climbing sand dunes are the scenery on the way to the edge of the Puna region: the big mountain plateau at 3.500 m above sea level.
Then the road is a straight line across the desert and the wild life (vicunas and foxes) tells us where we are: right in the middle of nowhere.
After many hours driving we will get to the village Antofagasta de la Sierra, situated among volcanoes. Now the road is an old lava flow of black stones and you will surely believe you have been transported to another planet. A breath-taking experience.
Check in at the Antofagasta de la Sierra Hotel (double rooms with private bathroom).
Day 3 "Archeology
and volcano's trekking "
After breakfast we will visit two important archeological sites near Antofagasta de la Sierra with a local guide. Here we find caves with rupestrian paintings, some 8000-10000 years old, from the period in which nomads groups from the desert areas went searching for new hunting fields. To visit the caves we trek down through a canyon. Then we will return to the vans to get to a place with incredible petroglifs depicting animals, hunters or shields, carved into big red volcanic rocks. Returning to Antofagasta de la Sierra, we can have lunch at the hotel or have a picnic somewhere in the desert on the way to Antofagasta Volcano. Once there, we will trek up to its crater (1 ½ h) to enjoy a great view of the town and surroundings. Taking a different path on the way down, we come to another archeological site next to the Antofagasta Lake in the midst of the unbelievable landscape....
Day 4 "Over
the Salt Lakes "
Leaving Antofagasta de la Sierra, we continue westwards up to Antofalla, our first Salt Lake. This is a flat stretch of land covered by salt: its formation process involves millions of years of rains carrying the natural salt sediments from the mountains down to the flat areas plus the evaporation effect due to strong solar radiation. "Antofalla" is a beautiful example (picture below) where we can also see islands of old lava flow from the ancient Antofalla Volcano (snow-capped in the background). On its side we get to the small village of Antofalla where we will share lunch in a family house. After lunch we go back to Salta Province where we will cross over 85 km of pure salt on the biggest salt lake in Argentina: Salar de Arizaro. The salt is white during the first part of the crossing to then turn red. It´s just like being on the Moon first and then jumping onto Mars, all on the same day and cheaper than a space voyage!
The space trip finishes at Tolar Grande, a small village with a train station. We will spend the night at a new French-Argentine refuge with 2 big rooms with 20 beds each and one bathroom with hot showers for each big room. Between the rooms there is a kitchen and dining-room where we will have breakfast. Dinner will be at a family house.
Day 5"Over
the highest pass of América"
Leaving Tolar Grande, start dreaming: we enter The Valley of the Dreams: red sandstone mountains, strange rock formations and a few salt lakes with striking color contrast.
After the Valley area, there is yet another salt lake called "Pocitos", then we climb up to 4.500 m above sea level and down again to San Antonio de Los Cobres village. After lunch at a restaurant we continue climbing to get to the highest pass of any national road of the Americas: The Abra del Acay Pass, 4.900 m above sea level.
The landscape of the way down is amazing, we are going back to The Calchaquíes Valleys but now over the Northern side. We reach the first small village: La Poma, partly destroyed by an earthquake in 1930, and 2 hours later we get to Cachi City, and the surprise of the swift, smooth drive tells us we are back on a paved road! Check in at Cachi Hotel (double rooms with private bathroom). Another long, glorious day is over.
Day 6 "Back
to civilization"
Today we can wake up late!!!! Breakfast around 9 am, and check out, to walk to the main square to visit the historical church and the archeological museum. After buying "empanadas" (delicious small individual pastry pies filled with ground beef, etc.)) we start back to Salta city. On our way we stop at the Los Cardones National Park (cactus park) for a short hiking and a picnic. We then go down towards the Lerma Valley along a steep mountain road called "Cuesta del Obispo" (in 20 km we go down 1.000 m.). up to Salta city and civilization.
Our 6-day, amazing, exciting and unforgettable trip to the core of one of the most beautiful areas of The Andes Mountains in South America is over.
Day 7
After breakfast, transfer to the local airport and flight to Buenos Aires. End of services.
BOOKING
To book this trip, please fill the 
booking request form or simply contact
us by e-mail
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