DAY 1 • Salta – Tilcara
After your arrival into Salta, you will be picked up by your Knowmad guide and driven towards San Salvador de Jujuy, driving along La Cornea, an old colonial commercial road. After a small refreshment of drinks and snacks in Jujuy, continue north to Purmamarca and explore the nearly 400-year-old town’s churches and open air markets, where you can shop for beautifully handmade goods. End your day in Tilcara, a town in the heart of the Quebrada de Humahuaca (a large valley and UNESCO World Heritage Site). Discover the archaeological site of Pukara de Tilcara, a pre-Incan fortification, and learn about the region’s significance going back over 10,000 years while wandering amongst the beautiful cacti forest and bird life.
- L – Las Marias Boutique Hotel
DAY 2 • Tilcara
Today, continue exploring the incredible Pukara de Tilcara, a pre-Incan city where you will learn about the ancient history of the Andes while reveling in the gorgeous nature of the canyon country. Afterwards, discover small nearby towns, including the colorful village of Uquía and the artisanal markets of Humahuca, before heading into the Hornocal Mountains. These mountains rise over 15,000 feet above sea level, and offer amazing views of the Andes and the massive limestone formation called Yacoraite.
- B, L – Las Marias Boutique Hotel
DAY 3 • Tilcara
Following breakfast, drive up the winding road into the mountains towards Puna, the remote high altitude desert of Northwest Argentina. First, discover Salinas Grandes, a vast white desert of salt where small communities have been working the flats for generations. You’ll see how salt is extracted by hand and even get a chance to do it yourself! After a picnic lunch, drive back to the small desert town of Purmamarca and hike in the nearby Los Colorados Mountains, where adobe houses are nestled amongst beautifully colored hillsides.
- B, Picnic L – Las Marias Boutique Hotel
DAY 4 • TILCARA – SALTA
Today, you’ll depart the high altitude desert and return to the lowlands. Drive back through the Quebrada de Humahuaca as you leave the Puna and enter the wooded lowlands on your way to Salta. Founded by the Spaniards in the 16th century, Salta is often regarded as the best-preserved Spanish colonial town in Argentina. Walk through the colonial style houses and churches, with the Andes Mountains always in the background. Explore the historic quarter of the city before visiting the Museum of High Altitude Archaeology, where you can see three mummified bodies from over five hundred years ago. Finish the day with a drink in the town plaza before returning to your hotel.
- B – House of Jasmines
DAY 5 • SALTA – ONWARDS
This morning, after breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the Salta airport to board your flight to Buenos Aires and onward to your next destination.
- B
