16 Day itinerary in Argentina, South America
The North has always been a magical region of Argentina. Nothing compares to the outstanding colors of Purmamarca Hill and the humble hearts of the local Northerners. During this 16-day adventure vacation to South America, you’ll discover the northern region of Argentina, as well as the best of Boli... Read More
Buenos Aires
Salta
San Pedro de Atacama
Uyuni
Buenos Aires
Salta
San Pedro de Atacama
Uyuni
Standard ($)
Accommodation Categories
Transfer from Ezeiza airport to hotel
Guide: Included for the day
City tour and tango dinner
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Transfer to airport- Next destination: Salta
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
From Salta to Cafayate
In the morning, we wil pick you up at your hotel in Salta to leave behind the fertile Lerma Valley, ascend along the Quebrada de Escoipe and then continue along the impressive Cuesta del Obispo and the Encantado Valley, surrounded by mountains.
Then, we will go to Piedra del Molino (3,400 meters above sea level), through Los Cardones National Park, which occupies 65,000 hectares in the middle of hills and dry ravines of around 2,700 and 5,000 m.u.s.l. The area is covered by thick vegetation, mainly cacti that measure almost 3 meters high once they turn 250 or 300 years old.
The magical Cachi, the highest area of the valleys, is a village at the foot of the snowy mountain (6,320 m.a.s.l.) that bears the same name. The town stands out for its old colonial-style houses that are located on the edge of narrow cobbled streets, its church dating from the 18th century and is known for its floor, ceiling and cactus wood furniture and its adobe walls. In addition, the town has an important Anthropological Museum, where the history of indigenous civilizations is exhibited in almost 5,000 pieces.
Then, we will continue along the national route N° 40, finding other attractions on the way: the town of Seclantás, also known as the "cradle of the Salteño poncho" is the home of tissue experts. Molinos, irregularly, stands out for its Church (declared a National Monument) built in 1639, where the mummified remains of the last realistic governor Nicolas Isasmendi are preserved. Angastaco: from where the Quebrada de las Flechas begins, named for its capricious forms carved by rain and wind erosion. San Carlos, an old town that originated when the Jesuits established the so-called "Mission of San Carlos". Nearby, visitors will find the only stone mill to operate using the millenary system. Animaná, a town famous for its production of artisanal wine.
Finally, we will arrive at Cafayate, a town known for its colonial-style, baroque, single-story houses from the late 19th century. Its church is one of the few temples in the country that has 5 ships.
Overnight in Cafayate.
Type of service: Semi private
Duration: 10/11 hours
Included: Transportation mentioned above, driver-guide
Not included: Meals
Note: For this exploration, we recommend to leave your luggage in your hotel in Salta, and just to take a day pack on the excursion.
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
Visit to a Winery in Cafayate and return to Salta
At the agreed time in the morning, we will visit the wine center of the province, particularly famous for the "Torrontés" wine variety. We will visit a winery where you will learn about the wine production process (wine tasting not included).
After lunch, we return to the city of Salta, driving along the Quebrada de las Conchas that originated in the Tertiary Age, 70 million years ago and divides the Lerma Valley and the Calchaqui Valley. Wind erosion has formed a succession of capricious natural phenomena such as Los Castillos, El Obelisco, El Fraile, El Sapo, El Amphitheater (with excellent acoustics) and Garganta del Diablo (The Devil's Throat), a deep and narrow canyon.
We will take you back to your hotel in Salta. We highly recommend visiting Peña and mix with the locals while eating empanadas and dancing Folklore.
Type of service: Semi private
Duration: 6/7 hours
Included: Transportation mentioned above, water and snack, driver guide, visit to a winery.
Not included: Meals, wine tasting, entrance fees to museums, ruins, national or provincial Parks.
Note: In case of force majeure the itineraries can be modified without previous notice. Ask about luggage allowance.
Optional, with extra cost: Cachi Museum, Tasting in Wineries, Visit to Quilmes Ruins, Visit to Colomé.
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
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
Purmamarca
Today you will have a free day in Purmamarca to relax and enjoy the beauty of this region.
Meals: Breakfast
Bus ticket from Purmamarca to San Pedro de Atacama
Today, you will make your own way to the bus terminal to take a public bus to San Pedro de Atacama.
During the journey, you will cross the Andes Range thorough the "Paso de Jama", one of the highest international border crossings in the world. The bus trip takes about 12 hours during which you will be able to observe the stunning Altiplano scenery.
**It is important to point out that today you are leaving Argentina and crossing an international border. Please, keep your passport handy and bear in mind that it is not allowed to bring any fresh food, plants, seeds, etc. into Chile.
**They are very strict, and fines can be high. If you are not sure if something is allowed or not, please declare it (they will provide you with a form) and they will inform you whether you can carry it or not.
Upon arrival at the bus station in San Pedro, you will make your way to your hotel on your own.
San Pedro de Atacama is a small town in the driest desert of the world. It has little adobe houses and cozy restaurants and it's the perfect base to explore one of Chile’s most spectacular sceneries.
Type of service: Shared
Bus duration: roughly 8 hours
*IMPORTANT: Don't forget your passport! To enter Chile, all passengers -without exception- must complete the “DIGITAL AFFIDAVIT” on their cell phone. This will be requested from each passenger at the time of border crossing, along with the ticket and passport. This must be completed within 48 hours prior to crossing. To complete it, go to www.ingresoachile.cl
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
Salar de Uyuni (04D/03N)
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 2: 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
San Pedro De Atacama / Santiago De Chile
Meals: Breakfast
Transfer Santiago de Chile Hotel / Santiago de Chile Airport
At the appropriate time, you will be transferred from your hotel to the international airport to take your flight. ¡Buen Viaje!
Type of service: Private
Included: Transportation mentioned above
Meals: Breakfast
Meals
Not Included
TEAM LEAD
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.
Travel that Makes a Difference
By choosing to travel with us, you support local communities, wildlife, and the environment. We are dedicated to positively impacting the world through every journey we offer.
Let’s regenerate the planet together
We overcompensate your entire journey’s carbon footprint including flights - for free.
$4,840.00 USD