Magical Andes: From Salta to the Northern Salt Flats

9 Days - 8 Nights

Day 1 - Discovering Salta, La Linda

Reception and transfer from Salta Airport to the hotel.

We will start our tour along the city from the nice 9 de Julio Square, so eye-catching because of its decorated coloured quarries and its fruited trees which leave a nice fragrance in the salteño air. From the square we will be able to have a first vision of its history and colonial past, as we will be surrounded by old buildings such as the Cabildo, the Cathedral, the Church of San Francisco, the Convent of San Bernardo de las Monjas Carmelitas, one of the oldest buildings in the city which was the entrance door to the convent and it is made of carob wood that was carved by the natives in 1762; its old houses complete the historical quarter, which are today very important monuments.

Then, we will go to the impressive and most recognised hill in the salteña city: Cerro San Bernardo. Before getting to it, we will tour along the streets, getting to Güemes monument, an argentinian general who is known because of its ideals of freedom, dispise to materialism and his love to his Motherland. We will get to San Martín Park where we will find the cable railway station, our means of transport to get to the hill so we can have an amazing panoramic of the city and its surroundings, with the hills at the background.

After the ascent, we will continue to a really charming place, which is chosen by many tourists because of its wonderful natural attractions and the different activities to do: the summer village of San Lorenzo, where we will find the Quebrada, an ideal place to spend the day at the edge of the river, listening its relaxing sounds. We will enjoy our way to it, as we will go through flowered Gardens, mansions and castles which are surrounded by small hills and where we can do (horse) riding, trekking and pic-nic. We will go back to the city, going through the Handmade Market (Mercado Artesanal) first, where we will be able to get some souvenirs from this beautiful city, such as silver and pottery pieces, rustic fabric of llama wool, craftwork in leather, among others.

Day 2 - Quebrada de Humahuaca

Breakfast at the hotel. Today a full day of history and landscapes will be waiting for us, as we will do the circuit to Quebrada de Humahuaca, where we will visit its prehispanic villages which date from hundred years ago and some are so well kept that they shows us its original buildings and houses, so we can visit and tour closer around them.

In first place, the Quebrada de Humahuaca was declared a Natural and Cultural Heritage Mankind in 2003.

We will start by crossing the Siancas Valley through Gral. Güemes town to tour a sugar cane, tobacco, cotton farming area, among others and we will get to the bordering province of Jujuy and its capital in a valley of 155 kilometres extense, which is surrounded of multicoloured mountains and hills, an arid vegetation area and río Grande. We will get into an area of an amazing variety of brown, green, ocres and reddish tonalities. We will continue to Yala, a summer village which is located in the middle of the mountains, rivers and lagoons, with guest houses and weekend houses, there is also the Potrero de Yala Provincial Park which preserves the Lagunas de Yala (Yala Lagoons) where some birds´ species can be watched. We will start ascending the quebrada, going through villages which are kept like the ancient years and they make an unforgettable postal through the landscapes.

We now arrive at Purmamarca, a picturesque town located at the foot of the impressive and unic Cerro de los Siete Colores, which surprise us with its amazing ranges that mixes with the environment tranquility, its vegetation and the blue sky, apart from the hundred ruins of the first villages in the region. We will continue to Maimará, a town which is exactly in the centre of the quebrada, there we will be able to appreciate la Paleta del Pintor (Painter´s Palette), with is multicoloured hills which honours its name; Posta de Hornillos where we will find a museum to live and be witnesses of the prehispanic life; we will go to Tilcara, a famous village because of its caves and its small church, which is one of the oldest ones in the area. We will enjoy some regional and exquisite dishes and then, we can do a tour where the craftsmen are so we can buy some native souvenirs, rustic fabrics made of llama and vicuña, with the company of those kind and thankful people.

Day 3 - La Quiaca, Abra Pampa, Yavi & Villazón - Tupiza (Bolivia)

Breakfast in the hotel. We visit the city and after go Yavi, known for its historic chapel. La Quiaca is on the Bolivian border with its sister Bolivian town of Villazón and they are connected by an international bridge. At the beginning of the 20th century a railroad was built from La Puna to La Quiaca and here it crosses the river Quiaca by a viaduct of three arches.

La Quiaca has developed over time and became important from the middle of the last century. There is an incessant transfer of people from the Altiplano Andino, typified by their puneña clothing. We also visit the Yavi, another important north eastern town due to its historical routes and then cross the bridge to get to know the Bolivian town of Villazón. We will return to San Salvador de Jujuy. If you want to see other excursion options in Jujuy, click here: Tours in Jujuy.

In the afternoon, we will meet at the Quiaca-Villazón International Bridge at the agreed time to continue the journey to the town of Tupiza, approximately 90 km from Villazón. We will spend the night in Tupiza.

Day 4 - Tupiza, Uyuni, Colchani, Salar de Uyuni & Isla Incahuasi

We will depart from Tupiza around 7:00 in the morning heading to Uyuni, on a route that will allow us to start discovering the first high‑plateau landscapes. Just 10 minutes before arriving to Uyuni, we will make our first stop at the Train Cemetery, a place laden with history where old locomotives and abandoned wagons stand—vestiges of the railway boom that the region experienced in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A site full of vintage railroad machines that takes us back many years, when the splendor of mining flooded Bolivia with railways. Indeed, the first railway was Uyuni – Antofagasta in the late 19th century. It carried silver from the mines of Huanchaca. That was the start of the route that today runs from Oruro to Villazón. When this precious material was exhausted, it left behind localities like Atocha or Tupiza, which depended on the train’s passage.

Then we will head to the small town of Colchani, on the edge of the salt flat, where the inhabitants process salt by hand. Here we can also visit workshops and purchase crafts made with salt, in addition to textile products from llama or alpaca wool. Colchani, which is a small village on the periphery of the salt flat, is the gateway to it. Although Colchani is not a tourist city, it is an important part of the area, with its abandoned houses and ruins from the era when trains ran. After venturing about 20 minutes into the Uyuni Salt Flat, we will stop at the Salt Stairs, a symbolic installation built with salt blocks. Very close are the famous Salt Mounds and the Eyes of the Salt Flat, small natural springs where underground water emerges to the surface, showing that underneath the crust of the salt flat life still flows. Around 13:00 hours we will reach the first salt hotel, now turned into a museum, located in the heart of the salt flat. There we will enjoy lunch in a unique and unforgettable setting. Later, we will take advantage of daylight to take fun and creative perspective photos in the salt flat, a very typical and entertaining experience. We will spend approximately one hour exploring angles and playing with the immensity of the white landscape.

The Uyuni Salt Flat lies in the high plateau plains where the horizon seems to reach infinity. It is the largest salt flat on Earth, an incredible sea of salt in a natural context never before imagined. It feels like being on an endless frozen lake that goes on to infinity, a great white desert with an unimaginable surface that reminds us it was once a vast sea. At nightfall the stars shine in a deep sky, leaving their reflection in the plain. Time stops to hear the sound of the icy wind. Many say that in the Uyuni Salt Flat, the sky with its stars merges with planet Earth, producing an indescribable mix of sensations. The Uyuni Salt Flat covers an area of more than 10,000 km², located at 3,660 m above sea level. Annual temperatures range from ‑25 °C at night to 20 °C during the day, creating a high altitude climate, dry, cold, with scarce rains and strong solar radiation.

Later in the afternoon, we will visit the impressive Incahuasi Island, a rocky island situated in the middle of the salt flat, covered by giant cacti that can exceed 10 meters in height. From the top one obtains a 360° panoramic view of the salt flat. This island can only be visited during the dry season. Incahuasi Island, which in Quechua means “House of the Inca,” lies right in the center of the salt flat. Incahuasi Island is steep and has a significant number of large cacti that climb up to 10 meters high. The restaurant tables are made of salt. By mistake it is known as Fish Island, but it is actually a nearby island. At the end of the day, we will head to the edge of the salt flat to witness one of the most magical moments of the journey: sunset over the Uyuni Salt Flat, when the sky’s colors reflect on the salt, creating a unique natural spectacle. Finally, we will head to our salt lodging, where we will spend the night.

Day 5 - Altiplano Lagoons, Siloli Desert & Laguna Colorada

We will leave the accommodation around 7:30 in the morning, heading north. Along the way, we will cross small and picturesque highland villages such as Julaca and Alota, known for their tranquility and typical regional landscapes. Our first destination will be Laguna Turquiri (also known as Laguna Negra), a beautiful lagoon nestled among volcanic rock formations, where it is possible to observe a wide variety of Andean birds, especially black Andean ducks, in a peaceful and almost silent environment. We will continue the journey towards Lagunas Kara and Kachi, two beautiful bodies of water located over 4,000 meters above sea level. These lagoons, surrounded by mountains, reflect the highland sky and are home to various bird species, including flamingos during certain times of the year. Their remote location away from the busiest routes allows for a more intimate experience with nature.

Later, we will enter the spectacular Siloli Desert, famous for its arid and colorful landscapes, with mountains displaying an impressive range of ochre, red, and golden tones due to the mineral composition of the soil. This place is a gateway to the Atacama Desert and one of the highest deserts in the world. In the middle of this setting stands one of the most emblematic rock formations of the high plateau: the Stone Tree, a large rock eroded by the wind that has taken the shape of a solitary tree in the middle of the desert. Around the Stone Tree, you can see other curious rock formations that spark the imagination.

At around 3:00 or 4:00 pm, we will arrive at the impressive Laguna Colorada, one of the jewels of the Bolivian altiplano. This lagoon is notable for its intense red waters, caused by the presence of algae and mineral-rich sediments. Thousands of Andean, Chilean, and James flamingos inhabit this place, offering an unforgettable natural spectacle. We will have time to walk around the lagoon, take photographs, and observe the local fauna and flora up close. At the end of the day, we will stay overnight in the community of Huayllajara, located just a few minutes from the lagoon, where we will spend the night surrounded by the silence and vastness of the altiplano.

Day 6 - Geysers, Sol de Mañana, Salvador Dali Desert, Polques Hot Springs, Laguna Verde

Very early in the morning, before dawn, we will depart for the geothermal field known as "Sol de Mañana", where we can observe active geysers, steaming fumaroles, and boiling mud pools at over 4,900 meters altitude. This site offers a unique natural spectacle, with steam violently rising from the ground amidst an arid and desolate environment that seems otherworldly. It is one of the coldest places on the altiplano, so it is recommended to dress warmly. Sol de Mañana is located south of Laguna Colorada on the route to Salar de Chalviri, at an altitude close to 5,000 meters above sea level. This region has significant volcanic activity, with geysers present; in the craters, you can see lava boiling, and fumaroles release vapors composed of water and steam, sometimes exceeding 20 meters high. This landscape takes us back to the Earth's earliest formation periods.

After sunrise, we will continue the journey to Polques, where the hot springs are located. These are pools of thermal waters situated within the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve. Although the place is ideal for a relaxing bath, this time it will not be possible to enter the water as we need to continue our route and be at the Chilean border between 8:30 and 9:00 am.

Then, we will travel about 15 minutes by vehicle to reach the impressive Dalí Desert, a place known for its surreal colored mountains, with hues ranging from red to violet and yellow, and for its petrified lava rock formations. The landscape evokes the paintings of Salvador Dalí, which is why it was named as such. Its dreamlike and silent atmosphere makes it one of the most photogenic spots on the trip. Continuing the tour, we will arrive at the famous Laguna Verde (at 4,250 meters above sea level), located at the foot of Licancabur Volcano (5,868 m). This lagoon, with an intense emerald green color, owes its particular hue to the high concentration of minerals like arsenic and magnesium. Besides its visual beauty, the site marks the natural border between Bolivia and Chile, with the imposing volcano as a backdrop.

Finally, we will head to the Hito Cajón border crossing, where we must be punctual to take the shared transfer to San Pedro de Atacama. The minivan ride lasts approximately 1 hour, although it is important to consider that migration procedures in Chile can take between 1 and 2 hours depending on traveler flow. We expect to arrive in San Pedro around noon.

Day 7 - Altiplano Lagoons, Red Rocks & Laguna Chaxa

We are going to visit the Altiplanic Lagoons, Piedras Rojas and Laguna Chaxa, exploring the most remote and awe‑inspiring landscapes of the Chilean Altiplano, where nature expresses itself in intense colors and surprising contrasts. Departing from San Pedro de Atacama, we venture into the Atacama Desert, the driest in the world, to discover unique ecosystems and geological formations that seem from another planet. The journey begins with a visit to the Altiplanic Lagoons, located over 4,000 meters above sea level, where water reflects the sky in turquoise tones and the wind caresses the surface in deep silence. These lagoons, surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, are habitat of Andean flamingos and other species adapted to the extreme conditions of the Altiplano.

Continuing the journey, we arrive at Piedras Rojas, a place of impressive natural beauty characterized by intense red rock formations that contrast with the blue of the sky and the white of the salt. This surreal landscape, shaped by volcanic activity and erosion, offers a perfect setting for photography and contemplation. Finally, the tour culminates at Laguna Chaxa, located in the Salar de Atacama, where saline waters host a large population of flamingos and other migratory birds. The landscape, with its changing colors and tranquil atmosphere, invites reflection and awe at the majesty of nature. This tour includes transportation to and from the hotel, a bilingual guide and entrance fees to the national parks, allowing travelers to immerse themselves in the beauty and serenity of the Chilean Altiplano.

Day 8 - Geysers del Tatio

The tour to the Tatio Geysers from San Pedro de Atacama offers a unique experience in the heart of the driest desert in the world, where the earth expresses itself through steam and heat. Just 90 km from San Pedro de Atacama, the geothermal field of the Tatio Geysers, located at 4,320 meters above sea level, surprises with more than 80 active geysers that shoot columns of steam at dawn — a natural spectacle especially impressive between 6:00 and 7:00 am, when the combination of extreme cold and hot steam creates a magical atmosphere. The excursion begins very early with hotel pickup, allowing arrival in time to witness the show. Upon arrival, visitors can walk among the geysers and observe fumaroles, boiling mud pools, and unique geothermal formations while receiving explanations from a bilingual guide about the geology and history of the site. Afterwards, breakfast is enjoyed in the park area to recharge before continuing the adventure to Machuca, a small and picturesque Andean village with traditional architecture and a privileged natural environment. Finally, the tour concludes with the return to San Pedro de Atacama, carrying with them the excitement of having witnessed one of the most impressive geothermal phenomena in the world. The tour includes transportation to and from the hotel, a bilingual guide, and breakfast, while the entrance to the geothermal park is not included. It is recommended to bring warm clothing, comfortable trekking shoes, a hat, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen, and water to fully enjoy this unforgettable experience.

Day 9 - San Pedro de Atacama - Salta

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the bus terminal in San Pedro de Atacama. Reception at the bus terminal in Salta.