North Authentic

The road between Salta and Molinos is one of the most spectacular routes in the Argentine Northwest. It crosses four different ecosystems, going from a green jungle zone (the Yungas) to a semi-desert zone that characterizes the Calchaquíes Valleys.

33 km. of mountain road will bring us closer to the sky and to Paso de Piedra del Molino at 3,457 meters above sea level.

During the trip, you can see condors flying over the blue sky of the mountain, guanacos and wild donkeys among thousands of cardones, the local species of giant cactus.

We will have time for a walk in the Los Colorados, a small red desert rarely visited, and in the Los Cardones National Park.

Then we will visit the colonial town of Cachi, where the sun shines almost all year round and where El Nevado de Cachi stands out, which is more than 6000 meters high. We will have time to relax under the shade of a cozy Molle in the middle of the town.

Then we will continue to Molinos.

We will spend the night in Estancia Colomé.

NATURALEZA | CULTURA | RELAX

From Colomé to Cafayate the road is all gravel and crosses small towns populated by local winemakers and farmers.

We will drive across the Quebrada de las Flechas, a desert of quartz dust mixed with the silt of an ancient lake, eroded by the Andes wind that gave rise to geometric shapes similar to arrowheads.

After this we will arrive at Cafayate, the Capital of the Wine Region. It is the second wine-producing town in Argentina, but the first in the world due to the height of its vineyards that flourish at 3,000 m.

At sunset we will explore the first part of the Quebrada de las Conchas.

Night in Cafayate.

HISTORIA | NATURALEZA | CULTURA | SABORES

In the morning we will visit the pre-Inca ruins of Quilmes, which are considered the best preserved in Argentina. These native peoples have a very particular history, given that the Quilmes fought against the Spanish and were later deported to the south, where the city of Quilmes is today.

On the way to Salta we pass through the Quebrada de las Conchas, also declared a Natural Heritage of Humanity. It is a 65km canyon of sedimentary rock formations from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras (90-60 million years old). The characteristic red color derives from the presence of ferric oxide in its mineral deposits. The name of Las Conchas, derives from the abundant amount of colonial fossils of seashells, fish and molluscs, testimony to the humid tropical climate that dominated the area in remote times.

​Accommodation at Finca Valentina.

​HISTORY | NATURE | CULTURE | RELAX

We will start the tour through the Quebrada del Toro, the same one where the route of the Train of the
Clouds.

We will visit the mining town of San Antonio de los Cobres, which is the gateway to the Puna: the desert plateau that lies in the heart of the Andes.

Lunch is in San Antonio and we will visit Salinas Grandes, a white desert at 3650 meters, where the blue sky stands out against the immaculate white of the Salinas. 100 km long on a salt plain, with a depth of hundreds of meters.

At sunset we will descend to the eastern mountain range through the Lipán Pass, traveling a 33 km slope of curves towards Purmamarca where we will spend the night.

Lodging in Purmamarca.

HISTORY | NATURE | CULTURE

The Quebrada de Humahuaca is an extensive valley of more than 160 km, declared a World Heritage Site for its nature, its history and its anthropological importance.

La Quebrada is known for its small and old colonial towns, a semi-desert nature rich in Cardones (indigenous cacti), several pre-Inca archaeological sites, and the Cerro de los 7 Colores, heart of a huge archaeological site.
sedimentary surface that emerged after the elevation of the Andes Mountains and is famous for its almost infinite series of red and brown strata, produced by the oxidation of the abundant mineral deposits in the area.

We will have time to visit the Serranía de Hornocal, a special place to take the best photographs of one of the most colorful mountains in the world (known as the hill of 14 colors).

After Humahuaca, almost on the border with Bolivia, we continue along a gravel road until we reach the Paso de Cóndor at 4,000 meters, which has spectacular views of the Cordillera Oriental.

Finally we arrive at the small and almost lost town of Iruya in the middle of the Andes.

​Overnight in Iruya.

​HISTORY | NATURE | CULTURE

In the morning we will visit the town of Iruya and then the eastern part of the Iruya valley with its
small towns, under the beautiful Cerro Morado.

Back in the Quebrada de Humahuaca, we will have time to visit Uquía and its Quebrada de las Señoritas. La Quebrada is almost 3,000 meters high, just off the Tropic of Capricorn.

It is a valley that, even today, is used by the local population to carry out ritual ceremonies. It’s amazing because the wind and water sculpted a Clay Mountain creating thousands of little statues that look like young ladies.

Further on, we will come across Volcán, known for its unique craft market.

Lastly, Route 9, a mountain route, will take us back to Salta crossing the mountain jungle known locally as “Yungas”.

​HISTORY | NATURE | CULTURE