Description
Frederico Norte is an independent tour operator, born and raised in Salta, who runs personalized tours around the region. Frederico was born and raised in Salta, where he lives today with his wife and three daughters. He offers a six day / five night personalized tour of the high deserts of the Andes. You will travel in one (or both, depending on the size of your group) of his Toyota Hilux 4 wheel drive vehicles over one of the most arid, yet colourful, areas of the world: the Puna of Atacama region.

Tour 1: 6 Day Tour of the Northwest Andes
Day 1

"Into the Calchaquies Valleys"

The trip sets off from Salta towards your first destination: the Calchaquies Valleys area. Along the way you will pass the "quebrada del río Las Conchas" a gorge filled with many colourful sandstone formations made by wind and hydro erosion. Next stop is Cafayate where you will lunch and visit a winery. The day finishes with your arrival in the Tucumán Province where you can visit the local ruins.

Day 2

"Into the Puna"

Today’s journey will take you onto dirt roads, which you will be following for the remainder of the trip, into Catamarca Province, crossing Santa María del Valle de Yocavil and a few small villages on your climb through the mountains. The mountain roads are surrounded by huge sand dunes as you make your way to the Puna region at 3,500 meters above sea level. The day’s adventure ends at Antofagasta de la Sierra, surrounded by volcanic landscape.

Day 3

"Archeology and volcano trekking "

After a hearty breakfast, a local guide will show you some nearby archeological sites. A hike through a canyon will reveal some caves with rupestrian paintings. You will also visit some incredible petroglifs representing animals, hunters or shields carved in large volcanic red rocks. After lunch you’ll head to Antofagasta's Volcano, where you’ll trek to see some fantastic views of the town and its surroundings. The decent will take you in a different direction along another archeological site beside Antofagasta's Lagoon with some spectacular landscapes.

Day 4

"Over the Salt Flat"

Departing Antofagasta de la Sierra, you will head west to the salt flats. These incredible natural formations may appear to be fields of snow on first glance, but it is actually entirely covered with salt. Lunch will be hosted by a local family in a nearby village before heading back into Salta Province. Here you will cross the biggest salt flat in Argentina: Salar de Arizaro. The route across the salt flat is 85 km long and will take you through a transformation from white salt to red, giving you the sensation of traveling through space – first to the moon and then to Mars. The space trip will finish in Tolar Grande, a small village where you will sleep in a French-Argentine refuge consisting of 2 big rooms with 20 beds each. Dinner will be enjoyed with a local family in their house

Day 5

"Over the highest pass of América"

Leaving Tolar Grande you will enter a dream: The "Valley of the Dreams". Red mountains of sandstone, strange rock formations and a few salt flats create an unimaginable contrast of colours. The Valley area is followed by another salt flat call "Pocitos", which leads you on a climb up to 4,500 meters above sea level before making the decent to the village of San Antonio de Los Cobres (a famous stop on the ‘Train to the Clouds’. After lunching in a restaurant you will make your way over the highest pass of any national road of the Americas: The Abra del Acay at 4,900 meters above sea level.

The landscape of the way down is amazing as you return to the Calchaquíes Valleys and make your way to Cachi city (and see asfalt again!). The night will be spent at the Cachi Hotel in double rooms with private bath. Another long day is finished.


Day 6

"Back to civilization"

Today you can finally sleep in and enjoy a late breakfast in the hotel. After breakfast you will tour the main square of the village and visit the historic church and the archeological museum. After purchasing some fresh-baked "empanadas" you will start the trip back to Salta city, making a stop along the way at the National Park Los Cardónes (cactus park) for a short hike and a picnic lunch. Relax and enjoy the ride home as you descend towards the Lerma Valley and back to civilization in Salta.

Prices
US$950 per person for a group of 2
US$750 per person for a group of 4
Prices include transportation and accommodations for five nights. Meals and drinks are not included.