Group tour in the Argentinean Andes of the North - INTI Tours

Reception at Mendoza International Airport and transfer to your centrally located hotel. Lunch is at your leisure so you can take a stroll through the beautiful city of Mendoza. Mendoza is famous for its excellent climate due to its location directly below the Andes and seems like a huge oasis in the desert. At the welcome dinner together you will get to know your guide and the tour group. And you can enjoy Mendoza's excellent cuisine with the best wine!

A day trip "in the footsteps of wine" to the immediate surroundings of Mendoza is on the programme today. Outside the city, you can experience the fascinating area around Mendoza - the vastness of the desert, the bright colours of the grapevines and, towering above it all, the Cordillera of the snow-capped Andes. The excursion includes visits to three different exclusive wineries, for example Lagarde, Luigi Bosca, Vistalba, Decero or others. In each of these "bodegas" you will receive a classic wine tasting - and at one winery you will be served an exquisite lunch. It is not until the evening that you return to your hotel in Mendoza.

Today's drive takes you in about two and a half hours on the legendary "Ruta 40" from Mendoza to San Juan in the province of the same name. As the "Ruta 40" connects both provincial capitals here, it is the busiest and also most populated section of this otherwise rather lonely road. After checking in at the hotel, you can explore San Juan or visit another winery in the vicinity. Overnight stay in San Juan.

Today the journey continues more solitary on the "Ruta 40" northwards and through the middle of the Cuyo Desert. After about four hours of driving, we reach the entrance to the Ishigualasto Provincial Park - also known as "Valle de la Luna", Moon Valley. We go on a discovery tour in the interesting nature reserve and UNESCO World Natural Heritage Ishigualasto. Geologically, the nature reserve and the Talampaya National Park belong to the so-called Ishigualasto Formation, which is characterised by well-preserved fossils that are about 230 million years old. Among other things, some of the oldest known dinosaur finds come from this formation. With local guides, you will explore the impressive area with many impressive rock formations on the approximately 40 kilometre long circular route.

With private vehicles you will start in the morning from San Agustín del Valle Fértil to the Parque Nacional Talampaya. With local guides you will visit the fabulous gorge with its red sandstone walls up to 150 metres high. Here, erosion over thousands of years has shaped the multi-coloured rock formations into surreal landscapes. There are also several archaeological sites in the area and intact flora and fauna; the entire park is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. After visiting Talampaya, you will continue north to the town of Villa Unión, where you will spend the night.

Today we have a day trip into the fascination of the Andes - a special treat on your itinerary. We start early in an area that is culturally and scenically magnificent. The Diaguitas traditionally live in the foothills and still protect the sacred places of the region. Later, you will reach the Quebrada de Troya, the track leads along the river through an almost surreal landscape created by wind and water erosion. The route climbs more and more into the Andean mountains, becomes more colourful and finally ends in the Quebrada del Peñón. With a bit of luck, vicuñas or guanacos can be spotted, making this scenery the perfect postcard motif. Finally, you will reach the spectacular Laguna Brava, which may be populated by flamingos. Weather permitting, you will have time for a walk. The return journey takes you through the Quebrada del Peñón back to Villa Unión.

The legendary "Ruta 40" leads you today to the Cuesta de Miranda, which is of extraordinary beauty. Enough photo stops are planned! Later, you will reach the picturesquely situated village of Chilecito, where you will have the opportunity to enjoy the village and its incredibly beautiful surroundings from various vantage points. The highest point is the Sierra de Famatina at 6,250 m.a.s.l., one of the highest peaks in Argentina. In the afternoon, we continue to Londres with a visit to the Ruinas del Shincal, an archaeologically important site, as it was an important southern outpost of the Inca Empire. You will spend the next night in the small town of Belén in the province of Catamarca.

Your journey continues northwards through fantastic, lonely countryside on the "Ruta 40" and soon you reach the famous Valles Calchaquíes. After about half the day's journey through a wide valley covered with huge candelabra cacti, you will reach the ruins of the Quilmes Indigénas. These spread out on the mountain flanks of the Andes, a walk through the complex gives you an idea of its true dimensions. Your destination for the day is Cafayate - "place where you bury your sorrows" - surrounded by rivers, dunes and vineyards. The wine-growing areas around tranquil Cafayate stretch up to heights of 3,000 metres above sea level and are considered the highest wine-growing area on earth! It is here that the Torrontés grape thrives better than in any other place, because the soil, the sunny days and the wonderful water from the Andes offer the best conditions. Let yourself be surprised and try the famous Torrontés with a tasty dinner.

Today you will visit the Bodega Piattelli - one of the best and most beautiful wineries in the region. During a guided tour you will learn everything about the development of the local wines, will of course enjoy a professional wine tasting and can roam through the wonderful growing area of the bodega. A delicious typical lunch with the best wine of the Piattelli winery - Malbec y Torrontés - with a wonderful view of the fantastic landscape will conclude your visit. In the afternoon, you can wander through the alleys of Cafayate on your own and also visit the impressive cathedral.

In the morning, we continue north on the lonely "Ruta 40" - and again you are immersed in a scenic orgy of colour. The red rock formations contrast with the grey mountains. In the village of San Carlos, a large part of the population lives from the production of beautifully colourful weavings. A little later, you will feel as if you have been transported to the moon or to a science fiction film; the "Ruta 40" leads through the middle of the Quebrada de las Flechas. In the afternoon you will arrive in Cachi at 2,500 metres above sea level at the foot of the mighty 6,384-metre-high snow-covered mountain. In this peaceful village with narrow cobbled streets, the old church with adobe walls and cactus roof, as well as the prehispanic site and funerary urns are worth seeing. The splendid play of colours of the alfalfa and vegetable plantations as well as the drying places for peppers reward you for the efforts of the journey. You have time to stroll through the alleyways of Cachi.

In the morning, you will explore the surroundings of Cachi and visit viewpoints with a view of the town and the dreamlike region. On the horizon you can also see the Nevado de Cachi, which towers over the Valles Calchaquíes. Later, you will pass through the Parque Nacional los Cardones, where you can marvel at giant candelabra cateas and other plants native to the area. Pass through picturesque landscapes of wild beauty to the Cuesta del Obispo and into the Escoipe Gorge. An impressive zigzag route leads through the Valle de Lerma to Salta - the pretty colonial city of the north. If time still allows, you can end the day with an optional visit to the Cerro San Bernardo and finish the evening with a great view of the city. The archaeological museum "Museo Arqueológico de Alta Montaña" is also worth a visit. In the evening, you can enjoy Salta's nightlife with a delicious meal or at a traditional musical event in a so-called pena with dancing and singing.

Noch einmal verlassen Sie Salta - diesmal auf der berühmten Panamerikana! Ziel ist die Quebrada de Humahuaca, wo sich wie auf einer Perlenschnur hübsche kleine Kolonialorte aneinanderreihen. Die ganze Schlucht wurde zum UNESCO Weltkultruerbe erklärt. Humahuaca bezieht sich auf das Volk der Omaguacas, die etwa vor 900 Jahren in dieser Gegend lebten. Nach etwa vier Stunden Fahrzeit erreichen Sie Humahuaca mit seinem Andenmarkt, dem zentralen Platz, dem Unabhängigkietsdenkmal und der Kathedrale. Ein weiters Tagesziel ist der nette Ort Purmamarca vor dem berühmten Siebenfarbenberg. Zeit zum Bummeln durch die Gassen des pittoresken Dorfes. Im Nachmittagslicht erleben Sie Maimará, ein kleines Dorf mitten in der Quebrada, wo Sie die vielfarbigen Berge der sogenannten Paleta del Pintor bestaunen können. Im Ort Tilcara werden Sie die Nacht verbringen.

Early morning start into the mountain world of the Andes. On a winding road over the "Cuesta de Lipán" you climb altitude metre by altitude metre, reaching 4,100 metres above sea level and enjoying spectacular views. Lonely farmsteads accompany your journey until you finally reach the Salinas Grandes. This is the largest salt lake in Argentina, where table salt is extracted under the Andes sun. You can enjoy the wonderful scenery and also watch how the salt is extracted by the workers in the individual basins. In the afternoon you will reach your overnight stay in Tilcara via the "Cuesta de Lipán". In the afternoon you can visit the archaeological site - the former residential and fortress complex of Tilcara - in the village. In the evening you will have a farewell dinner together.

Return to Salta and directly to the airport. Full of great memories, you will start your journey home.