Landscapes of the North & Falls

• Full-day Safari to the Clouds and Great Salt Flats – Night in Jujuy

Today you’ll travel to the clouds—no exaggeration! We’ll pick you up at your hotel to start a two-day trip to Purmamarca and the Great Salt Flats, a solid ocean of white, 13,100 feet above sea level!

During this 10-hour trip in a 4WD vehicle, we’ll travel along the same route as the famous ‘Train to the Clouds,’ zig-zagging on lonely roads between the blue sky and the high desert plains. On our way, we will visit historic ruins and small scattered villages.

Our first destination is the small town of Campo Quijano, best known as the Gateway to the Puna. Later, we will visit the impressive Quebrada del Toro, a natural wonder where human-sized cacti stand amongst a backdrop of eroded mountain peaks that emerge from the golden sand like giant fingers. Here, we’ll stop for a refreshing coffee break.

We’ll keep on traveling to Santa Rosa de Tastil, a pre-Incan city of the XIII century, and right after, to San Antonio de los Cobres, the headquarters of the Pachamama (Mother Earth) Celebration. The cherry on top will be the surreal landscape of the Great Salt Flats. The natural light and reflections provide the perfect opportunity for endless photo fun. Test your creativity! And be careful where you step; there are artificial water pools around the area.

At the end of your adventure in the Great Salt Flats we’ll take you to your hotel in Purmamarca, located at the base of Jujuy’s famed Seven Color Hill.

Say Hueque Tips

• What to bring to this tour and what to do in Purmamarca:

For this 2-day trip we recommend that you leave your luggage in your hotel in Salta, and just take a day pack on the excursion. For your free evening in Purmamarca, we recommend that you take a walk around the main plaza and visit the ancient Santa Rosa de Lima Church.

• Full-day visit to Humahuaca Gorge  – Night in Salta

We’ll pick you up early in the morning to begin your 13-hour trip exploring the Humahuaca Gorge, declared a UNESCO Heritage Site and one of the highlights of your travel itinerary to Northern Argentina. Humahuaca Gorge is home to a bunch of amazing natural monuments like the Seven Color Hill, the Pucará de Tilcara (a ramshackle yet well-restored fortress), and the Paleta del Pintor (Painter Palette) in Maimará village, an impressive multi-colored mountain range. 

Our adventurous path will then lead us through the Yungas (the green-tinted jungle of the North), past breathtaking natural monuments until ultimately reaching the picturesque town of Humahuaca. Wander amongst colonial houses and streets, get a feel for the old-world serenity that still survives in this setting, and grab some lunch (not included) in one of the typical taverns; the humita (a traditional corn-based dish) is something you definitely must try! 

In the afternoon, we’ll keep on traveling until we get to the little Uquía Church, where you’ll see some peculiar paintings from the colonial period, called Pinturas Cuzqueñas. For the potential astrologists, we’ll pass by the famous Tropic of Capricorn milestone and finally arrive in the city of San Salvador de Jujuy, the second biggest capital of the Argentine North region, after Salta. We’ll visit the cathedral, the main square, and the presidential house of Jujuy, nicknamed Tacita de Plata (silver cup) after the wealthy city, Cadiz, in Spain.

At the end of the day, we’ll drive you back to your hotel in Salta. If you feel like having a particularly nice evening, walk Balcarce Street and choose the bar or peña that suits you the most!

• Full-day Calchaquí Valley excursion – Night in Salta

On this Calchaquí Valley adventure, you’ll immerse yourself directly into the forbidding universe of  Las Conchas Gorge, where erosion has carved mysterious red shapes into the rocks.

Get prepared to visit this Natural Reserve for about 5 hours, to enjoy the views of its colorful hills while you go down its red-tinted promontories and discover the most particular rocky highlights: the Frog, the Obelisk, and the Castles.

The highlight of the day will be the Amphitheater and the famous Devil’s Throat. The Amphitheater is a natural semicircular formation (65 feet high) and is home to intimate concerts performed by local artists. Get inside and check out the amazing acoustics by singing your favorite tune! Nearby, the Devil’s Throat awaits, right at the end of Las Conchas Gorge. Going down this particular rocky formation, you’ll feel like you’re right in the belly of a giant!

At the end of the day, we’ll drive you back to Salta. Enjoy the evening going to a peña to mingle with locals and eat the empanada salteña, a special variation of this popular Northern Argentina dish.

• Transfer from your hotel to Salta airport

say goodbye to the awe-inspiring landscapes of this region of Northern Argentina and get ready to continue your journey. In the morning, we’ll pick you up and drive you to the local airport to take your flight to Puerto Iguazú.

• Transfer from the airport to your hotel in Puerto Iguazú – Day at leisure

Upon arrival, we will meet you at the airport and drive you to your hotel in Puerto Iguazú. The small border town of Puerto Iguazú is the gateway to visit the impressive Iguazú Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage site, making it a must-see destination for any traveler visiting Argentina. 

Say Hueque Tips

Our recommended activities to spend your day in Puerto Iguazú:

• You can visit “Hito tres fronteras”, a viewpoint west of the town center that stands high above the turbulent reddish-brown junction of the Iguazú and Paraná rivers, which also form the Triple Frontera, or Triple Border between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. There is also a craft market!

• Or you may visit Güirá Oga (the house of birds in the native Guaraní language), the sanctuary for animals hurt by illegal hunting and trapping.

• If you feel adventurous, take a bike tour through the rainforest with a specialized guide, and discover the flora and fauna, the sounds of the jungle, the trail of little native mammals, and the traditions of the Guaranies.

• Wander Iguazú Falls National Park and meet The Devil’s Throat

Today our driver and bilingual guide will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the National Park, on the Argentinian side. Enjoy a 7-hour tour wandering through the rainforest!

The falls are surrounded by a humid subtropical forest where the exuberant vegetation is home to many different animals and birds. Our guide will help you spot some of them: antbirds, toucans, manakins, parrots, and coatis, just to name a few of the most common birds. Lower and upper walkways weave in and around falls permitting up close and personal experiences with this magnificent spectacle of nature. 

The Argentine side of the falls is filled with a myriad of paths walkways and stairways which allow you to have an experience from many different perspectives. You will have the chance to meet “The Devil’s Throat”: the largest of the falls and for many the most spellbinding. To get to the “Devil’s throat” you take the ecological train and then walk out along boardwalks. After walking and taking pictures of animals and plants, you will have some free time to eat lunch in this amazing environment. At the end of the experience, we will drive you back to your hotel.

Say Hueque Tips

• Would you love to have a “Great Adventure”?

The “Great Adventure” (gran aventura) is an optional tour you can add on this day. You will take an open-air jeep through the rainforest and then a zodiac open-airboat ride up the river to the base of the falls (there is a 100% chance that you will get soaking wet on this boat trip, so be sure to take some extra clothes!).

•  Visit the Brazilian side of Iguazú National Park

After breakfast, enjoy a 4-hour excursion to the Brazilian side of Iguazú Falls. Don’t forget your passport! While Argentina has 80% of the falls on its side, Brazil has the best panoramic view.

On the Argentine side you will have the sensation of being right inside the falls, but only by visiting the Brazilian side will you fully appreciate the immensity of Iguazú Falls. Take your time to enjoy it and feel it, to stroll the different walkways and feel the spray of water on your face.

Take the boardwalk over the Salto Santa María; it feels like walking on the water. Get closer to the “Devil’s Throat” and experience the power of water! We are sure this is a day you will never forget.

Say Hueque Tips

• What should I bring to the Iguazú Falls Brazilian tour?

For the tour to the Brazilian side of the Iguazú Falls, don’t forget your passport! You will be crossing the border. If you are required to have a visa to enter Brazil, take it with you during the excursion. A good repellent and sun-blocking is always a must when you visit the rainforest. 

• Transfer from your hotel to Puerto Iguazú airport/Transfer from Buenos Aires airport to your hotel

This is the end of your journey through Northern Argentina, but the. At the appropriate time, we’ll pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the airport to take your flight back to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival, we’ll meet at the airport and drive you to your hotel.

Say Hueque Tips

How would you like to spend your day in Buenos Aires? Here are some ideas:

• You can explore the cobblestone, tree-lined streets of Palermo Soho in search of some one-of-a-kind Porteño fashion stores or discover the graffiti circuit. 

• You may stop by one of our historic cafés (named “cafés notables”) located all over the city and have a “cortado”, the most popular Argentine coffee choice.
• If it’s a Saturday or Sunday, you may have the chance to visit one of the city markets, only open during weekends. 

• Optional tours – Full-day visit to a traditional ranch in La Pampa

On your free day in Buenos Aires, you can discover the secrets of La Pampa and Argentina’s rural culture. Argentina is world-famous for its fútbol (soccer) players, but also for the vastness of its green-tinted fields, best known as ‘La Pampa’. That endless land at the edge of the horizon is still home to the descendants of the first gauchos (Argentine cowboys), who still care for and work the land as their ancestors taught them to.

There are still some estancias (ranches) that preserve the gaucho traditions, located in picturesque towns within Buenos Aires’ province. One of the most alluring estancias is El Ombú de Areco, a colonial-style working ranch built in 1880 that is located in the town of San Antonio de Areco, where gaucho traditions are ever-present.

Today, we’ll pick you up at your hotel to begin a 9-hour visit to this time-honored ranch. Learn about the gaucho culture and traditions, strolling around the beautiful old streets, museums, and ancient pulperías (grocery stores) in San Antonio de Areco before heading to El Ombú.

Once you’re in the estancia, enjoy a typical asado (barbecue) before either a horseback ride in nature or a relaxing bike ride. For those who like to take things slow while on vacation, there is a peaceful swimming pool (only available in summer) and many sunny relaxation areas where you can take la siesta (an afternoon nap). At the end of the day, we’ll take you back to your hotel in Buenos Aires.

• Transfer from your hotel to Buenos Aires airport

It’s the last day of your journey to Northern Argentina… we hope to see you back here soon! At the appropriate time, we’ll pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the international airport to take your flight back home. 

Did you know that Patagonia is just 3 hours away by plane from Buenos Aires? If you want to discover these southern natural wonders, we have some trip ideas so you can keep on exploring Argentina.