Seven Colored Hills in Humahuaca, Jujuy
Northwest Argentina is beckoning! Come hike through the multicolored hills and crimson canyons of Jujuy. Follow llamas across epic salt flats where all perception is lost and land and sky seamlessly mingle. Trek among some of the most ancient Cacti on the South American continent in Los Cardones National Park. Excite the senses in daily markets and taste provincial cheeses and jams at local estancias of Tucuman. Finally, pay a visit to the one-of-a-kind James Turrell Light Museum and soak up the sun while sampling the best whites and reds in the heart of Salta’s high altitude vineyards!
Salinas Grandes, Jujuy
Northwest Argentina has something for everyone. With its unique history and vibrant culture, we are excited to introduce it as a new destination for our guests. Raft, horseback ride, bike and hike through jungle, high desert, massive salt flats, lush rolling hills, or between picturesque vineyards. The region is easily added on as an extension to any trip in Argentina, Chile or (direct flights from Buenos Aires, Iguazu, Mendoza, and Lima to Salta, the heart of this region).
Salta Church, Salta
On our Northwest Argentina: Culture, Food and Mountains Tour, start in the province of Jujuy near Humahuaca. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003, the seven-colored hills in Humahuaca Canyon are home to 10,000 years of human traditions, music, art and religious beliefs that still thrive today throughout the region’s villages. Stay at the base of these rainbow hills and explore the nearby salt flats and llama breeding grounds. Not yet overwhelmed by tourists, this area is majestic and humbling. Continue on to the city of Salta, capitol to the state with the same name. Let the flavorful juices dribble down your chin, as you devour the famous salteña empanadas stuffed with beef and spices and explore the striking red-and-gold baroque San Francisco Church, built in 1625. Meander over to the central Plaza 9 de Julio, lined with cafes, colonial architecture and dominated by the pale pink Salta Cathedral (beautifully lit in the evenings) and the MAAM (Museo de Arqueologia de Alta Montana de Salta); order a café con leche while observing the unique pace of life in this rustic yet urban center.
Los Cardones National Park, Salta
On our Northwest Argentina: Wine and Canyons tour, continue south of Salta and drive through Los Cardones National Park filled with ancient cacti and scenic vistas, visit the quaint town of Cachi, and end in Molinos-the gateway to the Hess’ Colome Vineyard and Estate. Smell the peppered, desert air as you sit in the shade of the ancient pepper tree that accents the main patio of Hacienda de Molinos. Taste the dark sapphire-colored wine produced in the world’s highest vineyards and listen to the wind as it combs through the Andes from the neighboring Atacama Desert. See how tradition, art and elegance collide in this remote haven. Finally, feel yourself brush off initial uncertainty of the mysterious and harsh terrain and succumb to tranquility while settling in among the exquisite vineyards of Cafayate.
Colome Vineyard, Salta
Want to start planning your next adventure to Northwest Argentina? Contact me!
Your friendly Argentina expert,
Gretchen