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Northern Argentina is one of the most naturally stunning places on the planet. These highland areas are mountainous, with volcanoes, salt flats, plunging valleys and mind-blowing scenery. Nature has had a field day here with rock formations dating back millions of years and turquoise lagoons which will leave you breathless with their beauty. If you are looking to get off the beaten track, with an element of comfort, then this 13 day tour of the mountains of Northern Argentina may just be the best option for you!
Special features of our 13 day Full Puna tour:
Type of Tourism: Adventure, Culinary, Cultural, Mountains and Nature, Geographical.
Places to Visit: Buenos Aires, Salta, Cafayate, Antofagasta de la sierra.
Duration: 12 Days and 11 Nights.
Type of Service: Private and shared tours.
Accommodation: Boutique and 3 star accommodation at every destination that you will visit. These hotels had been carefully chosen and we can guarantee that you will feel comfortable and your every need catered for!
On your arrival to the Buenos Aires airport, you will be greeted by your driver to take you to your hotel in the City. After some time to rest up a little, your guide will come to the hotel for an afternoon tour of this incredible city.
Buenos Aires is a big city! The cosmopolitan capital is steeped in history, excellent eateries and coffee shops and cultural attractions abound. The centre is the Plaza de Mayo, lined with 19th-century stately buildings including The Casa Rosada, the iconic presidential palace. Oth...
Today is a free day to enjoy the city and its many attractions! We suggest visiting a traditional estate where you will experience the native Gaucho traditions to the full. If you want more experience of the city itself, visit various neighbourhoods and their distinctive characteristics and vibe; from the historic barrios of San Telmo and La Boca to the impressive parks and plazas of Palermo and Recoleta, and the contrasting modern skyscrapers of Puerto Madero. Taste your way through Buenos Aires - from Argentinian pizza,...
Today we will head to the domestic Airport, for your flight to Salta airport. On arrival, you will be met by your local guide who will take you to the hotel. We will then visit the MAAM museum. One of Northern Argentina's best museums, MAAM has a serious and informative exhibition focusing on Inca culture. Exclusive to this museum are the mummies of child sacrifices, found on some of the Andes’ most imposing peaks. The principal attraction is the mummified body of one of three children which are rotated every six months. ...
Today we will visit Purmamarca. Purmamarca is a village in the Jujuy province of northwest Argentina. It is found at the base of a striking, multi-coloured mountain called the Seven Colours Hill. From the village, we will take the “Paseo de Los Colorados” trail, which leads into the surrounding desert landscapes for spectacular views of the mountain. Adobe houses line the streets, and the plaza 9 de Julio, hosts a popular crafts market. Nearby is the Santa Rosa de Lima church, dating back to colonial times.
The af...
In the morning, we will head to Tolar Grande. En route, we will visit the Big Flats. These salt flats are second only to the Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia for pristine beauty. We will then carry on to San Antonio de Los Cobres at 3775 metres elevation, where we can see the copper mountain.
Today, we will visit the abandoned, ex-mining town of La Casualidad, located at 4200 m elevation and then continue on to the Cono de Arita, an incredible volcanic formation, made from black lava, in the form of a pyramid and reaching 122 metres high!
After breakfast, we will head to Antofagasta de la Sierra. On the way, we will explore the "Ojos de Mar" area. These salt flats are surrounded by these 3 transparent, turquoise lagoons, which are four times saltier than the ocean! This unique habitat is the home of bacteria which form the origins of life and the photosynthesis of plants, providing oxygen for animal species, over 35 thousand million years ago!
We will then continue to Antofalla Salt Flats and the Calastre Gorge before we eventually arrive at Antofagasta ...
Today, we will spend the day visiting the Galan Volcano, the largest crater on the Earth, which forms part of the Central Volcanic Zone. In its crater, we can see the Diamond Lagoon, which is world-renowned for its extreme environmental conditions and high arsenic content which provide a feeding ground for migrating flamingos.
During this visit, we will also visit Grande Lagoon, where in summer, it is possible to observe the incredible pink flamingos.
Today we will head to the town of Cafayate, where we will visit The Piedra Ponez Stone Fields, one of the jewels of the area. These gigantic stone formations, made from the black lava of the nearby volcano, are a unique and spectacular sight in this region void of vegetation water and extreme temperatures.
Today is a free day to explore this small, quaint village, surrounded by boutique vineyards.
Today we will head back to the city of Salta for your flight to Buenos Aires. On arrival, your driver will be waiting at the airport to take you to your hotel for your final evening in the capital. We suggest a Tango show and dinner for your last night and an authentic Argentine experience.
We will take you to the airport for your flight back home or onto your next exciting destination!
You can check our safety protocols in the following link: https://inspiratravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/EN-Protocol_Travel-Agencies.pdf
We do not include travel or health insurance and we strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance for any unexpected circumstances. This is not obligatory, however. We recommend a full travel insurance policy that covers cancellations and delays as well as medical insurance.
We suggest that you speak with your doctor to ensure that you are up-to-date with the recommended vaccinations when traveling to the destination. In any case, a negative Coronavirus Molecular Test (PCR) is needed to enter the country.
We suggest that you speak with your doctor to ensure what medications you will need to bring to the destination. Pharmacies and drugstores are common in all cities, however, it is not certain that you will be able to find a specific drug that you can find in your country of origin.
As in any city in the world, there can be pickpockets in crowded places. We suggest being vigilant at all times, but if you are in a group you will always be safer.
We do not include the cost of any domestic or international flight in any of our programs. These services must be booked independently by each guest.
Yes, hotels will charge the cost of a double room as standard, so a single supplement will be charged if you are travelling alone.
VA Expeditions is supported by Valencia Travel, a company with more than 12 years of foundation with a solid financial position. We have insurance from the insurance company La Positiva, that supports us and protects our guests from any eventuality at the destination, covering our guests for more than 5 million US dollars.
Each trip is customizable, but there may be additional restrictions and expenses in each case. We suggest contacting your sales representative for more information.
Yes, in addition to multi-day programs, we offer half-day experiences and excursions without overnight, which you can purchase as additional services. In case you wish to purchase one of these services, you can ask your guide, the transfer representative or your sales representative to provide you with the support you need.
Yes, you can add additional or optional services to your regular tour. We appreciate contacting your sales representative for any changes you wish to make.
Yes, you can travel with children and we have many activities to do as a family, however, depending on your itinerary, some experiences can be a bit demanding for young children. As a recommendation, we suggest that you ask your sales consultant if the tour you wish to book is suitable for children.
We work with a maximum group size of 12 passengers for sustainability reasons and a more personaized experience.
We suggest making your reservations at least one month before your trip in order to reserve the best hotels, transportation and services for your travel dates, however, in last minute cases, we can reserve up to 15 days in advance.
We suggest consulting with your embassy to review any documents, tests or special visa you need for your trip.
The official currency in Argentina is the Argentinian peso (ARS). In large cities there is a good chance that you will find ATMs or ATMs, however, we suggest that you do not rely entirely on this solution, as it may not be enabled to work with your bank.
Yes, we cater for all special dietary requirements. Please let us know at the time of booking if you have any allergies or special dietary needs.
As a sustainable travel company, we are in constant search of how we can improve the sustainability of our operations, that is why we carry out the following activities to generate a fair and sustainable development in our areas of operation: https://inspiratravel.com/en/sustainability/
Tips are not included in the cost of the tour. You should plan to tip 10% in restaurants and for your guided services, however, tipping is never required.
Cultural norms vary within each Latin American country, even within each city within the country, however, we recommend the following measures to have a pleasant visit in each destination: Latin American culture in general tends to be closer and more informal than in others cultures, so there is usually always a friendly approach in all conversations, and going directly to the point could be considered offensive to some people. Personal space can be much shorter as well, but without being interpreted as sexual in nature. In some places, like Argentina, kisses on the cheek are common for greeting, even between men.
The schedules are also usually more relaxed and informal, however, this is not the case of VA EXPEDITIONS, since we will always respect the hours indicated in your itinerary. This may be different for other appointments that you can book on your own at other locations.
This depends on each itinerary, and will be indicated in the detail of the day. However, our itineraries always usually include free times to offer more flexibility to our guests.
For any emergency, we appreciate contacting the following number: 0054-911-2252-6549
At VA Expeditions we believe that every action we take should generate a positive impact on the communities and the environment of our entire production chain, which is why we carry out various activities focused on this objective. An example of sustainable activities you can do in Argentina:
In Iguazu:
Visit to a Guaraní Village: a unique excursion, first crossing the M´Boca-i stream, then traveling a path in the middle of the jungle where you can discover their hunting techniques, the traps used to catch animals and learn about the use of medicinal plants.
In Bariloche
Villa La Angostura:
Forest bath: The novel forest baths, which have recently been carried out in Argentina, help to slow down and awaken the senses.
In Salta / Jujuy:
Jujuy by Bike: This tour proposes a three-day journey through the most outstanding points of the Quebrada de Humahuaca. Your two local guides take you on a different tour to delve into the history and culture of native peoples and their intersection with the Creole heritage.
In Mendoza:
Snowshoe hike in Mendoza: It is a must see in Portezuelo del Viento. The "Snowshoe Walk" is an exit that takes place from Las Cuevas, a small "Authentic Town" located very close to the border with Chile.
In Salta / Jujuy:
Salinas Grandes Jujuy: A chain of luxury camps, with Salinas Grandes as the first of several similar projects in different parts of the country ”, says one of its creators, Nicolás Languasco Basy. The entire luxury camp is 100% equipped with renewable energies beneficial to the environment.
Pristine Camps joined the Cooperativa Cachi del Chincho from the Aguas Blancas community in order to train young locals. The purpose of this alliance is for them to become external collaborators. They will be in charge of bringing local culture closer to visitors so that they can get to know it from the inside.
In estuaries of the Ibera:
The Esteros de Corrientes: Takes us to know the Carlos Pellegrini Colony and to enter an area of estuaries and palm groves; then to spend the night in an inn with the style of an old Corrientes farm to enjoy the typical gastronomy and a panoramic view from the pier of the Iberá Lagoon.
All our guests have 24/7 support for any type of emergency or eventuality. For emergencies you can contact the following number: 0054-911-2252-6549. For general inquiries, you can write to us at the following email: info@valenciatravelcusco.com
This depends on each itinerary, but generally is a ratio of one guide for every nine guests.
This depends on the type of the type of Travel insurance that the passenger has. In Argentina attention in Public hospitals is free, but we recommend that you have a comprehensive travel insurance policy for better care and hospital facilities.
The tours are carried out by an expert team that has determined the optimal times of visits to make the most of our guests' time, without rushing. All our programs are customizable, so if at any time at the destination you want to adjust the pace of the trip, you can ask your guide to reach a consensus with the whole group in case you need to make adjustments to the pace of the trip.
Each trip is customizable, but there may be additional restrictions and expenses in each case. We suggest contacting your sales representative for more information.
Yes, you can safely store any luggage at your hotel.
For city tours, there are public bathrooms available, in remote destinations bathroom facilities are more sparse.
In the mountains and remote places there is no Internet connection. Hotels and public places usually have WIFI available.
In cities and tourist centers you will have good telephone reception. In remote areas, there may be no cell phone reception.
It depends on each itinerary, but for example, in the north of Argentina we can reach more than 5000 meters of altitude.
We suggest that you bring a refillable water bottle or purchase bottled water if necessary. Depending on your destination, at various points on your trip there will be places where you can fill your water bottle.
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