Hike and Ride in South America

Two of Argentina's best and most biodiverse national parks sit in the rainforest clad hills just east of Salta, El Rey and Calilegua. You will be accompanied with a wildlife guide to both these places, where access is by 4x4 and walking the jungle trails is a real adventure. You'll see a wealth of birds and wildlife, and maybe get a glimpse of the elusive jaguar!

Hike or horseback ride into Humahuaca Canyon, declared by UNESCO as a "World Heritage Site". This is a region rich in history and traditions - it still retains architectural and archaeological sites that are testimony to its long history and a population that keeps ancient customs.

You continue on to the Atacama Desert, one of the driest regions in the world. The desert stretches nearly 1000 km south from the Peruvian border and lies between the Pacific coastal range and the Andes mountains. It is these mountain ranges, in fact, that limit the rainfall in these arid highlands to almost immeasurable levels. Consequently, most bodies of water in this region have long since evaporated away leaving behind a layer of the minerals that were once dissolved in the waters. These areas are known as salt flats. All this evaporation may make the Atacama sound like a hot place, but it is actually relatively cool thanks to its average elevation of 2400 m. Daytime temperatures usually range from 0 to 25 Celsius and, at the higher elevations, one can even find snow.

Itinerary

Days 1 - 3: Salta

Salta the Beautiful, the Argentines call it. An old colonial city, it has sophistication, culture and character in equal measure, and supposedly, the best empanadas in Argentina. You'll have a few days to check out the art galleries, wander round the leafy plazas and even visit a vineyard for a spot of wine tasting.

Days 3 - 4: Calilegua Cloud Forest National Park

Make an overnight 4x4 expedition into the heart of the park, and walk trails where you will have a chance of seeing toucans, macaws and even a jaguar. Elevation in the park ranges from 1200m to 3000m and the views over the valleys, with their mystical cloud inversions, and trees draped in lianas and epiphytes, are otherworldly.

Days 4 - 7: Humahuaca Canyon

A multicoloured canyon stretching all the way to Bolivia, and dotted with timeless villages, this will be your route to Bolivia. On the way, you 'll stay one night in Purmamarca and two in Tilcara - where you can either make a day's horseback ride or trek to the rim of the canyon.

Days 8 - 11: Tupiza, Southern Bolivia

After crossing the border, you'll be driven by landcruiser up to Tupiza, Bolivia's wildwest heartland, where Butch Cassidy and Sundance met their demise.

While the landscape blends seamlessly into the Humahuaca canyon of Argentina, culturally Bolivia is worlds apart. By the time you arrive in the old cowboy town of Tupiza time will have slowed down.

Horse riding in these red canyons is a real treat and you'll make an overnight horse trek to an old indigenous village - Episcaya. You'll also be able to hike or cycle to some spectacular viewpoints.

Days 12 - 16: San Pedro de Atacama/Hosteria Don Rey

Next, embark on a four day 4x4 circuit exploring the inner reaches of the biggest salt flats in the world. Shimmering reflections, pure whiteness, and unending skies make this a surreal and unique place. You'll stop off to bathe in thermal hot springs and visit islands studded with giant catci, before being dropped off under the volcano that marks the limit between the salt flat and the Atacama desert, and, conveniently enough, the border with Chile.

Days 16 - 20: Tupiza, Southern Bolivia

The driest place on the planet. Some parts of the Atacama have registered only 1mm of precipitation in the last hundred years (and that was fog!)

While here, you'll make a jeep tour to some high altitude salt lakes harbouring 3 of the world's 4 species of flamingos. We'll visit some of the biggest volcanoes in the world, including a hike to the rim of the active Volcan Lascar.

One of the highlights, we think, is an evening spent with a French astronomer who has made his home (along with NASA and various universities) in San Pedro's desert - so clear is the sky. You'll see exploding stars, red giants, Saturn's rings, nebulae, and learn how to navigate by the night sky!

Day 21: Return to Salta and on to Buenos Aires

Please note that this is a typical itinerary, and actual activities may vary to take advantage of weather conditions.

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Particulars

Trip Dates

October
November

Trip Size

4-12 Adventurers

Trip Length

21 days (20 nights)

Accommodations

Included

Activity Level

Moderate - Difficult