An amazing journey from the high Andean Plateaus down to the jungles of Northern Argentina
Salta, Tilcara, Salinas Grandes, Purmamarca, Iruya, San Salvador de Jujuy (Argentina)
This wonderful introduction to the Andean Altiplano, or Puna, as the vast region below the High Andes in Argentina is known, centers around the Quebrada de Humahuaca (Humahuaca Canyon), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the most amazing places of the Altiplano. The southern reaches of the Inca Trail once ran through here, later becoming part of the Spanish Royal Road that stretched from Peru down to Buenos Aires in colonial times. You'll intimately explore towns like Purmamarca and Iruya, with its traditional narrow, cobble-stoned streets and adobe homes, still inhabited by the descendants of the once-mighty Inca. Below the Puna lie the Yungas, a long, thin belt of sub-tropical jungle coming north from Bolivia, fed by the waters of the High Andes. Lush, green rainforests with incredible varieties of plants and amazing birdlife. The contrast from the arid desert landscapes above, add much impact to this beautiful scenery.
The region also provides an incredible setting for mountain biking, a marvelous way to deeply experience this amazing destination. Another opportunity to live our amazing country with great mountain biking, only as MTB Tours knows how to do!

Location:

Salta and Jujuy provinces in the Argentinean northeast region near the Andes Mountains and Bolivia, 1800 km from Buenos Aires.

Duration:

9 days, 8 nights*
* 8 days, 7 nights for guests flying out of Salta or Jujuy at tour end

Flight in: Salta, Argentina
Flight out: Salta or Jujuy, Argentina
*please read about transportation options in detailed itinerary

Activities:

Friday:
Guests starting with us in Buenos Aires will depart in our van on Friday afternoon en route to Salta (flight to, and accommodations in Buenos Aires are not included in tour price). The shuttle from Buenos Aires to Salta takes 20 hours, arriving on Saturday.
If you choose to fly to Salta, we will meet you there on Saturday.

Saturday: Welcome to Salta
The group will rendezvous in Salta this afternoon, transferring to the town of Chicoana, where we'll spend the night at nice hosteria and enjoy a very nice meal, while we explain the next day's program.

Sunday: Down the Bishop's Slope and into the Andean Plateau
After our detailed welcome and safety talk, we'll start our tour with one of the trip's highlights! Leaving on our comfortable van, we'll cross the town of El Carril, and begin climbing the Quebrada de Escoipe, following a canyon sculpted by a river flowing down from the mountains. This beautiful place is surrounded by verdant vegetation and huge mountain chains. We keep climbing the famous Cuesta del Obispo (the Bishop´s Slope), an amazing climb that seems to never finish. We'll reach the Piedra del Molino (The Millstone), which lies at 3,348 ms above seal level (10,980 ft). After being amazed by the views atop, we'll get on our bikes and descend on a wonderful dirt road, with the last 37kms of newly-paved road. Night in Chicoana.
62km of dirt roads (38,52 miles)
Elevation gain: 180 meters (590 Feet) uphill- 2230 meters (7316 Feet) downhill.

Monday: Through a rainforest to the Quebrada de Humahuaca
Getting on our minibus early with the bikes loaded, we'll drive to bordering Jujuy Province on Old Road 9. We'll bike through the exuberant sub-tropical rainforest, a truly amazing setting, and a great contrast to the scenery to come. The narrow, winding road will take us through thick foliage, a true rainforest, where we can spot amazing native birds. We'll stop for lunch at the small town of La Ciénega, where we'll load to the bikes and shuttle to Purmamarca. This enchanting town marks the entrance to the Quebrada de Humahuaca. The town itself is charming, and you'll feel almost like you're taking a step back in time. The locals are descendants of the Incas, whose great empire reached Northwest Argentina. Tonight we'll sleep in a cozy hosteria.
53km of paved roads (33 miles)
Elevation gain: 390 meters (1279 Feet) uphill- 610 meters (2001 Feet) downhill.

Tuesday: The Salt Flats and the high Andean Puna
After a hearty breakfast, we'll drive up towards another trip highlight: the vast, completely white and extremely dry Salinas Grandes (Great Salt Flats), in Jujuy Province. The drive goes over the Cuesta del Lipán, bordering cliffs through a deep canyon, and reaching 4200 ms (13,779 ft), from where we'll have an amazing view of the nearby Quebrada de Humahuaca. We'll see guanacos and vicuñas, the wild relatives of the llama. Once over the Lipan Slope, we'll reach the huge salt flats, and after learning from locals about the salt extraction process, we'll have lunch together. A great downhill ride awaits us, cycling down the Cuesta de Lipán back into Purmamarca. We recommend exploring the picturesque town and visiting the market in the central plaza. Be sure to visit the viewpoint of the truly amazing Hill of Seven Colors, a nearby slope of exposed rock in all imaginable shades of reds and ocres. We return to our hosteria for a night of deserved rest.
40km of dirt roads (24,9 miles)
Elevation gain: 310 meters (1017 Feet) uphill- 2000 meters (6562 Feet) downhill.

Wednesday: Into the Quebrada de Humahuaca
This morning we'll begin driving from Purmamarca through the wonderful Quebrada de Humahuaca, passing through the towns of Tilcara, Tumbaya and Humahuaca. We'll have plenty of time to take in the amazing scenery that will surround us. At Humahuaca, we will detour to Iruya, driving through a dirt road taking us up to 3,900 ms of elevation, and passing through small towns like Iturbe and Chaupe Rodeo. Once reaching the highest point, at the famous Abra del Condor (the Condor´s Pass), we'll get on our bikes and begin another great downhill ride, following a zigzagging, narrow dirt road, crossing small farms and settlements, with ancient terraces built into the slopes. The natural scenery does not cease to amaze here - arid landscapes, huge mountains cut by deep canyons, and all imaginable colors exposed in the eroded slopes. The town of Iruya awaits us, another pre-Columbian town of narrow paved streets and adobe homes. The beautiful church in the central plaza is not to be missed here. Tonight we'll be lodged at a local simple inn.
31,5km of dirt roads (19,5 miles)
Elevation gain: 420 meters (1378 Feet) uphill- 1480 meters (4855 Feet) downhill.

Thursday: Hiking in the Altiplano
Today we'll walk from Iruya to the tiny settlement of San Isidro, located 8 km (5 miles) north of Iruya. We'll ascend slowly but steadily, crossing a river several times, through canyons enveloped by the always-amazing mountains of this region. We'll hopefully get a glimpse of the Andean Condor flying high above. Once in San Isidro, we'll stroll this ancient town, and have a chance to shop for wonderful regional handicrafts at the small market. In the afternoon we'll return to Iruya.
16km of singletracks

Friday: Back into the Quebrada and the Pucará ruins
We'll drive out of Iruya on a different road, and once again reach the high pass where we'll get on our mountain bikes, riding towards the Quebrada de Humahuaca. Another awesome zigzagging ride from 3,900 to 3,000 ms. We'll eventually re-route, heading to Humahuaca, where we'll load the bikes, and after relaxing for a bit in this town, we'll drive to nearby Tilcara. We'll sleep in Tilcara, in a very comfortable hotel.
52km of dirt roads (32,5 miles)
Elevation gain: 360 meters (1181 Feet) uphill- 1350 meters (4429 Feet) downhill.

Saturday: back through the jungles, adiós in Salta
We'll drive to Yala at the southern edge of the Quebrada de Humahuaca, leaving the Puna and re-entering the Yungas (subtropical rainforest). We'll soon reach Los Nogales, where we'll set up our bikes and start a challenging ride up the Lagunas de Yala Park, surrounded by a lush, green forest, starkly different from the days past. We'll eventually arrive at a wonderful complex of thermal baths, where we'll have plenty of time to relax and enjoy the week's accomplishments. The riding ends at the incredible Termas de Reyes Hotel and Spa, a fantastic place from which to base further travel for those staying a few days more.
There is a short drive back to Salta Capital (we can also stop in Jujuy en route, from where you can fly home). Those travelling back to Buenos Aires with us will stay overnight in Salta.
28km of dirt roads (17,5 miles)
Elevation gain: 950 meters (3117 Feet) uphill- 610 meters (2001 Feet) downhill.

Sunday:
We'll arrive in Buenos Aires in the afternoon, after driving over paved roads the entire day.