Arrival in Salta. Transfer to hostel or hotel if WITH booked transfers choice. Check in at selected accommodation. Free day
Free day in Salta to visit this colonial city of ancient heritage. At night try a dinner at a local "Peña"
Try a local "Peña"
Breakfast. At 7.00 am. Salt Flats + Purmamarca Day Tour:
Argentina’s wild northwest is home to some of the country’s most spectacular landscapes, and this full-day small-group tour from Salta checks off all the most photo-worthy sights. Marvel at the UNESCO-listed Humahuaca gorge and the ‘Hill of Seven Colors; pose for photos on the startling white salt flats of Salinas Grandes; and shop for handicrafts at the legendary Purmamarca market.
Your full-day adventure begins from your Salta hotel. Admire the scenery as you drive north, winding along the Rio Grande, and climbing through the foothills of the Andes Mountains. Get a glimpse of local life as you pass through the sleepy villages of Yala, Volcan, and Tumbaya, and enjoy plenty of stops to take in the views and snap photos. Arrive in the lively village of Purmamarca, famous for its daily handicrafts market and its spectacular backdrop, in the shadows of the Cerro de los Siete Colores (Hill of Seven Colors). Stand in awe before the multi-hued peaks, then journey on through the Humahuaca gorge, driving along the dramatic mountain passes of Cuesta del Lipan, Cuesta del Saladillo, and Abra del Potrerillo. Jump out to take photos as you climb to a height of 13,615 feet (4,150 meters), marvel at the mountain vistas, and look out for llamas and vicuñas grazing on the hillsides. After an unforgettable drive, arrive at the day’s star attraction – the Salinas Grandes, an awe-inspiring expanse of gleaming white salt flats. You’ll have free time to explore the salt flats, leaving plenty of time to experience the unique landscapes and pose for the ubiquitous forced perspective photos. Head back to Purmamarca and time to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Browse the market stalls for handcrafted souvenirs, before the return journey to your accommodation.
You will overnight in Purmamarca, a village suspended in time.
*Note: Please leave your main luggage in the luggage storage of your accommodation in Salta. You'll spend the night in Purmamarca and you should only take one backpack with you because of the van space and you will also feel more comfortable. Please travel light in order to take these two tours. You will return to the same accommodation the day after and you will have all your luggage to continue your trip.
Breakfast. Humahuaca Full Day Tour:
The Humahuaca Gorge is a long narrow and arid valley surrounded by beautiful and colorful mountains. In addition to its natural beauty, this gorge follows the line of a major cultural route, the Camino Inca, offering substantial evidence of its use as a major trade route over the past 10,000 years. It features visible traces of prehistoric hunter-gatherer communities, of the Inca Empire (15th to 16th centuries) and of the fight for independence in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Towns and relics of ancient cultures, superb mountains and the feeling of being in timeless places are the exquisite elements of this trip through the Humahuaca Gorge.
You will leave Purmamarca at about 9:00 am and head north to the province of Jujuy. The small towns of Tumbaya, Purmamarca, Maimará and Tilcara open their ancient charm to your captivated eyes. In Purmamarca, you will stop to see the famous Seven-color hill, in Tilcara, you visit the Pucará (fortress) and the Archeological Museum, while in Uquía you stop to admire the local church. But it’s in Humahuaca where you enjoy in the extremely peaceful atmosphere, the typical colonial architecture and the charming people. In your way back you will also visit San Salvador de Jujuy to get to know its monuments and intriguing legends. Let the history behind the walls and stones of these places take you on a ride to the Argentinean past!
Arrival to Salta at 7 – 8 pm. Check in and rest.
Breakfast, check out and transfer to Airport if WITH transfer option chosen. End of trip
