11 Day itinerary in Argentina, South America
On this 11-day trip to Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile, visit San Pedro De Atacama, Salta, and the Humahuaca Gorge, and enjoy a tour of Uyuni's jaw-dropping Salt Flats. This trip, created for true thrill-seekers and explorers, will stick with you for many years to come.
By Micaela and Cynthia
Physical Difficulty
Recommended Age
Operated in
GUIDANCE
starting point
trip type
trip attributes
Hiking
Visit markets
Meet local people
Indigenous culture
Meditation
Historic & cultural landmarks
Travel with Purpose
Outdoors & Nature
Food & Drink
Start
Night
End
Salta
San Pedro De Atacama
Uyuni Salt Flats
Nort Argentina & Chile
Salta
San Pedro De Atacama
Uyuni Salt Flats
Nort Argentina & Chile
Standard ($)
Accommodation Categories
Transfer Salta Airport / Salta Hotel
Welcome to Salta!
Upon arrival in Salta you will be transferred to your hotel.
Salta has it all: the geographical diversity (green, red and brown mountains) and the historical richness. Do not forget that, in these lands, one day they fought for the independence of Argentina! It also has exquisite and well-preserved colonial architecture, picturesque and very crowded cafes in the main square (a great place to sit and watch the locals in their daily hustle and bustle!), and the characteristic and fun peñas, places where Salteños sit and listen to their local folklore idols, and then end up dancing (after one or two encouraging glasses of wine) together.
The perfect base to explore the Argentinian Northern area is Salta city
Keep in mind that religion is very important here: religiously speaking, people take a siesta in Salta... so between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. it will be more difficult for you to find the places open, so take advantage of it to take your first northern siesta!
Type of service: Private
Included: Transportation mentioned above
Full-Day Humahuaca
In the morning, we will pick you up at your hotel to visit Humahuaca Gorge, a Natural and Cultural Heritage of Humanity (UNESCO) since 2003.
Along the journey we will discover changing landscapes, vegetation and climate due to the altitude, passing by from tall trees in Jujuy to solitary cardones by the hillsides. Unique villages as Purmamarca with its famous Hill of Seven Colors, visible from the streets and the handcrafted market around the main square. Maimará with its natural colourful slopes of Paleta del Pintor and its suspended cemetery at the top of the hill, visible from the route.
Tilcara stands out for its local festivities (Carnival and Holy Week) and for its Pucará (fortress in height) whose ruins have been partially rebuilt for more understanding of the pre-Hispanic way of life. Further north we will cross the Capricorn Tropic line in Huacalera identified with a white monolith. Uquia shows its chapel, built in the seventeenth century with the oldest altarpiece in the region, worked in laminated gold one of the two existing in Argentina decorated with 'Los Angeles Arcabuceros' from Cusco, a testimony of colonial architecture.
Humahuaca gives its name to the Quebrada and is its largest population, with cobbled streets and iron lanterns in the corners, it is also the highest point of the route, 2,940 m.a.s.l. Main attractions: The Independence Monument, Cathedral Church and Municipal Building.
After enjoying the amazing landscapes and culture, we will return to Salta by the same route and take you back to your hotel.
Type of service: Semiprivate
Duration: 12 hours
Depature: In the morning
Distance: 520 km / 323 mi
Included: Transportation mentioned above, bilingual driver-guide (English/Spanish), a bottle of water.
Not included: Food and beverage, entrance fees to museums, ruins, national or provincial parks (if aplicable), pick up in San Lorenzo, Entrance fee to Pucará de Tilcara.
Restrictions: Tour not recommended for passengers with heart problems due to the high altitude.
Note: It is not possible to take your luggage. In case of force majeure the itineraries can be modified without previous notice.
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
Full-Day Cafayate
In the morning, we will pick you up at your hotel to start a journey to the south through the fertile Lerma Valley along National Route 68.
Passing by several villages such as Cerrillos, La Merced, and El Carril (all allocated to agricultural and livestock activities), we reach the solitary town of Alemania. After an 83 kilometers drive journey we get to Las Conchas Gorge which immediately precedes the Calchaqui Valley. The Wind and rain erosion through million of years are responsible for capricious formations such as the Devil´s Throat, the Amphitheater (a formation with excellent acoustics), El Sapo (The Frog), and El Fraile (The Friar) among others.
The arid landscape gradually morphs into vineyard areas that continue even inside Cafayate, a little colonial town that dates back to the late 19th Century and is one of the most popular regions in the Calchaqui Valley.
After lunchtime, we will return to Salta by the same road and take you back to your hotel.
Type of service: Semiprivate
Duration: 11 hours
Depature: in the morning
Included: Transportation mentioned above, bilingual guide (English/Spanish), water
Not included: Food and drinks, entrance fees to museums, ruins, national or provincial parks (if applicable)
Optional, upon extra cost: Wine tasting, Visit to Quilmes Ruins.
Age restriction: Due to high altitudes, this tour is not recommended for passengers with heart problems - consult a doctor
Note: It is not possible to take your luggage. In case of force majeure, the itineraries can be modified without previous notice. Not all the Wineries offer wine tasting and the visit in English speaking. But they are not guaranteed. If you want this service please add.
Distance: 235 miles
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
Transfer Salta Hotel / Salta Bus Station // Bus ticket Salta / San Pedro de Atacama
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
Half-Day Moon Valley Tour
In the afternoon, you will go on your own to the indicated meeting point to start the visit to the Valley of the Moon.
It is a desert area, a geomorphological marvel. Our ancestors called it Las Salinas, today known worldwide as Valle de la Luna, surrounded by a set of landscapes of incomparable beauty that resemble a fragment of the lunar landscape to which it owes its name. In 1982 it was declared a Nature Sanctuary and is part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve. In this place you can observe a geological spectacle of great interest, especially at sunrise and sunset.
During your visit you can contemplate: Ckari Gorge, the famous natural formation known by our ancestors as Los Tres Vigilantes today called Las Tres Marías, Duna Mayor; majestic body of sand and viewpoints such as; Quebrada Honda where the famous Piedra del Coyote is located.
After the excursion, we will take you to downtown Atacama, and you will have to return to the hotel on your own.
Type of service: Shared
Duration: 4.5 hours
Altitude: 2.400 m.a.s.l approx.
Included: Round-trip transportation mentioned above, bilingual driver-guide (English/Spanish).
Not included: Lunch, box lunch, tips.
Recommendations: Bring closed or trekking shoes, a jacket, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and water.
Restrictions: Children under 7 years old. Pregnant people; people with hypertension, edema, or embolism (only with medical authorization).
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
Half-Day Tatio Geysers
Very early in the morning, we will pick you up at your hotel to visit one of the highest geyser fields in the world.
Located in the Andes Mountains, 61 miles from San Pedro de Atacama and 4,320 meters above sea level, El Tatio (from Kunza "tata-iu") means "The Grandfather Who Cries." It is the largest group of geysers in the southern hemisphere and the third-largest in the world, after Yellowstone (USA) and Dolina Giezerow (Russia).
At dawn, between 06:00 and 07:00, you can see an amazing spectacle, generated by violent steam flows that rise up to 10 meters high with temperatures that reach 85°C.
On the return trip, it is possible to observe fauna such as vicuñas, llamas, rheas, vizcachas, etc. While in the Flora, the Giant Cactus, llaretas, coirón, etc. stand out. In addition, from a viewpoint we will observe the small ancestral town of Machuca, its few inhabitants are mainly dedicated to grazing and cheese production, very close to the place is the Laguna Salada where families of flamingos, ducks and seagulls live with an impressive landscape of beauty.
After the excursion, return to San Pedro de Atacama
Type of service: Shared
Duration: 7/8 h
Altitude: 4.320 .m.a.s.l. approx.
Difficulty: Moderate to hard (due to the altitude), walking on a flat surface
Included: Transportation mentioned above, driver-guide, breakfast
Not included: Lunch, box lunch, tips.
Recommendations: Bring warm clothes (temperature between -5°C and -20°C), closed or trekking shoes, hat, gloves, first layer, sunglasses, sunscreen and water.
Restrictions: Children under 12 years old. Pregnant people; people with hypertension, edema, or embolism (only with medical authorization).
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
Programa Salar de Uyuni (04D/03N)
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
From Villa Mar to Salt Hotel
We will start early in the morning visiting cave paintings and the Valley of the Rocks, where you can see formations such as the lost city of Italy, the World Cup, the Camel, etc. Then we will visit the Black Lagoon, where a large amount of local fauna such as Tawas or Geese lives, and the vegetation is abundant. We will also visit the Catal Lagoon - also called Mysterious - and the Catal Canyon.
After lunch, we will continue to the Agua Dulce Waterfall viewpoint and head into a valley inhabited by many highland communities; which are dedicated to raising Andean animals such as llamas and alpacas.
The day will end with the arrival at the community of Villa Candelaria, where we will have dinner and spend the night at the Salt Hotel.
Type of service: shared
Included: Transportation in a 4x4 jeep. All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and drinks (water and juice) during meals. Spanish/English bilingual guide. Accommodation in a private room.
Not included: Alcoholic beverages. Tips.
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Uyuni Salt Flats and town. Return to Villa Mar
We will start at 5:00 am driving to Incahuasi Island, located in the center of the Uyuni Salt Flats, to watch the sunrise. Then we will visit the Playa Blanca Hotel, totally built with salt blocks. We will continue the route until we reach the Ojos del Salar and the Montones de Sal. We will arrive at the Community of Colchani, where we will be able to observe the traditional process of extracting the salt consumed throughout Bolivia.
After lunch, our last stop will be at the train graveyard for some amazing pictures. We will arrive in the city of Uyuni, Bolivia, at approximately 03:00 pm.
Around 4:00 pm we will begin the return to Villa Mar, where we will have dinner and spend the last night.
Type of service: shared
Included: Transportation. All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and drinks (water and juice) during meals. Spanish/English bilingual guide. Accommodation in a private room.
Not included: Alcoholic beverages. Tips.
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Return to San Pedro de Atacama
We will start the return at 05:00 am, we will have breakfast and we will continue to Hito Cajón. Here we will carry out the immigration procedures and finally we will arrive in San Pedro de Atacama.
Type of Service: shared
Included: Transportation. Spanish/English bilingual guide. Breakfast.
Not included: Tips.
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
Transfer San Pedro Atacama Hotel / Calama Airport
At the appropriate time, you will be driven to Calama Airport to take your flight
Type of service: Shared
Duration: 2 hours
Included: Transportation mentioned above, spanish/english speaking driver
Not included: Guide
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
Meals
Not Included
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Cycling
Hiking
Visit markets
Meet local people
Meditation
Historic & cultural landmarks
Outdoors & Nature
Food & Drink
Beach & Sea
I´ve been working in Tourism for 10 years. Being a coordinator, a local guide, and then a travel agent, I forged my personality through the people and places I met along the way. I had the opportunity to visit several places in Argentina.
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