The highlights (why choose this tour):
* Experience the magical landscapes of the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, at the feet of the great Andean Altiplano, where a millenarian culture still thrives. We´ll visit the famed ruins at Tilcara, go above 12,000 feet at the immense salt flats of Jujuy, and spend two wonderful nights at Purmamarca, a traditional Andean town under the multicolored Cerro de Siete Colores (Hill of Seven Colors).
* Cycle through the lush sub-tropical rainforest below the Altiplano, into the magnificent Salta, or Salta la linda (Salta the beautiful), as it is known in Argentina – part of the colonial Camino Real, this city is full of history and tradition.
* Interact with the locals, their land and traditions at the estancias (Argentina ranches) that we will visit, meeting gauchos, hearing the folk music of the Northwest, sampling goat cheese and regional cuisine, and much more.
* Ride the one-of-a-kind Quebrada de las Conchas, full of incredible geological formations, into the unique town of Cafayate, a colonial outpost now famous for its world-class high-altitude wines, where we´ll visit a winery and spend two great nights.
* The Ruins of Quilmes offer incredible evidence of the culture that once existed here under Incan rule, set in the immense desert landscape near the Andes Range.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Shuttle to Quebrada de Humahuaca.
Highlights: Quebrada de Humahuaca, Tilcara, Pucara' de Tilcara. We'll offer a shuttle from the Salta International Airport at 2:30 pm or from the center of Salta at 2 pm and drive north to the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a UNESCO World Heritage site and our home for the next few nights. We stay in colorful and delightful Tilcara, one of the most famous towns in the Jujuy province which merges indigenous cultures with modern times. We'll plan to fit bikes and suggest a ride north up the canyon, toward Humahuaca and Bolivia (about 240 km away). We'll enjoy a welcome dinner together tonight. Mileage: Your choice for a short ride.
Day 2: Ride to Purmamarca.
Highlights: Ruins of Tilcara, Cerro de Siete Colores, small indigenous towns, Purmamarca. After a safety talk this morning, we encourage you to either visit the Pucará de Tilcara if you have not already done so, or ride north in the canyon to see its colorful walls. The Pucará de Tilcara is a restored Incan fortress that overlooks the modern town of Tilcara; you can see the strategic position the Incas chose to build their fortress! When ready, glide down the canyon; none of the tourists traveling by bus have the opportunity to stop at the small villages along the way, so be sure to take time to explore places like Huacalera and Maimará on your way. Delight in the vibrant walls of the Quebrada, made up of a variety of mineral deposits that merge to create a rainbow of rocks. We'll see this very well in Purmamarca, which is famous for the Cerro de Siete Colores, the mountain of seven colors. Mileage: 28 km (18 miles) to Purmamarca; as much additional mileage as you want north.
Day 3: Purmamarca.
Highlights: Rest day, bike up to 13,000 feet, Cerro de Siete Colores, walk or bike the surrounding hills, salt flats at 12,000 feet. We have a rest day today in the town famous for its "Cerro de Siete Colores." Walk or bike the 4 km gravel path around the colorful mountain, or head off for some other hiking in these sedimentary rock hills. Anybody wanting a challenge can bike up the 25+ hairpin turns to reach 4170 meters (13,681 feet). Or, we'll help arrange a visit to the salt flats high above to see the incredible expanse of white, bordered by dominating mountains. Or, relax and wander the village, visiting the church and shopping in the main square where street vendors sell traditional crafts as well as woolen goods from nearby Bolivia. Dinner is on your own. Mileage: Optional; approximately 40 km (25 miles) up to Abra de Porterillos at 4170 meters.
Day 4: San Salvador de Jujuy.
Highlights: A 3000 foot descent, optional ride to thermal spas, Capital of the Jujuy Province. We fly downhill today to the capital of Jujuy province, San Salvador de Jujuy. Stop along the way at the villages of Tumbaya and Volcan or bike an extra ride up to thermal pools. Our landscape changes as we lose the sandy, rocky colors of the desert and enter a more urban area. San Salvador de Jujuy is a well-preserved colonial town and is home to a lovely cathedral, built in 1750, surrounding Plaza Belgrano. If the Indian market is open be sure to visit; most vendors dress in traditional costumes selling food, indigenous crafts and textiles. Mileage: About 60 km (37 miles).
Day 5: Salta.
Highlights: Cloudforest, Salta, our first climb. Today is our first day with some physical effort as we climb out of the Jujuy valley to enter the Salta basin through a cloudforest. We spend tonight in the city of Salta, the capital of the Salta province, known to Argentineans as "Salta la linda," or "Salta the beautiful." Take time to visit the famous archaeological museums and the important sites of the city. Dinner is on your own. Mileage: 91 km (56 miles).
Day 6: Coronel Moldes.
Highlights: Lush green valleys and quiet countryside. We leave the city for the quiet countryside and green valleys south of Salta: as we ride we'll see many whitewashed colonial farm houses amid fields of one of the finest types of tobacco in Argentina. Our destination is the small village of Coronel Moldes; you can relax or take an extra ride into the verdant hills around the lake resort area of Dique Cabra Corral. In the late afternoon we'll visit a finca, a typical tobacco farm and we'll learn about the gauchos and their work in the field. We'll enjoy dinner together at the finca, where the owner will cook us a delicious asado. Mileage: 61 km with optional 8-20 km available (37-49 miles).
Day 7: Cafayate.
Highlights: spectacular scenery, Quebrada de las Conchas, Cafayate.
We'll start our day with a shuttle to a goat farm, where you can buy some cheese, or maybe some "dulce de leche" made with goat milk! Today's ride could easily be labeled "the most beautiful ride ever." We'll pedal through the Quebrada de las Conchas, riding by geological formations eroded into forms such as the "Devil's Throat," the "Frog," the "Amphitheater," the "Monk," and more. Take your time through the canyon as the late afternoon light creates an explosion of colors over the last 30 km. We arrive in the colonial town of Cafayate tonight, famous for its wines and a base for adventure travel in the area. Take a stroll through town before enjoying dinner together. Mileage: 88-130 km (54-81 miles).
Day 8: Day off in Cafayate.
Highlights: Quebrada de Las Flechas, San Carlos. Enjoy a rest day in Cafayate today - we'll recommend a ride to the nearby town of San Carlos, or, for those interested, we'll help arrange a visit to the Quebrada de Las Flechas, a stunning expanse of rock formations jutting up perpendicularly from the ground, or back to the Quebrada de Las Conchas for a sunset walk. Dinner is on your own tonight; opportunities abound to sample local wines and specialties. Mileage: your choice, 28 km possible on paved roads (0-17 miles).
Day 9: Quilmes and Amaichá del Valle.
Highlights: Wine country, famous ruins of Quilmes, Pachamama ("Mother Earth") museum complex. Our ride from Cafayate takes us by several of the vineyards that make this area's wine famous. We are riding along the valley toward the most famous ruins in Argentina-Quilmes. The indigenous community here resisted the Spanish occupation until 1667 when they were finally conquered; the Spaniards forced the population to evacuate the village and march toward Buenos Aires. Nobody survived the trek, and the town of Quilmes fell into ruin. Wander through the partially restored ruins for a stunning view of the entire valley and visit the museum. Continue for another 14 km to arrive to the small town of Amaichá, famous for its museum complex dedicated to Mother Earth. We'll eat together in the hotel tonight. Mileage: 68 km (43 miles).
Day 10: Tafí del Valle.
Highlights: biking over the "Infernillo" pass, through cactus and mountainous landscape. We leave the Quilmes valley to ride or shuttle up and over 1000 meters (3300 feet) to enter the valley of Tafí del Valle. Set in a fertile valley this famous town acts as the local resort for the people of the nearby city of San Miguel de Tucuman. We'll climb just under 1000 meters (3200 feet) through a desert environment with cactus covered mountains to the summit - the Spanish conquistadores used this pass to enter Argentina as they traveled East from Peru. You'll notice a dramatic difference in the landscape as soon as we begin our descent to the valley; the vegetation suddenly becomes lush and green. Dinner together tonight. Mileage: 35-61 km (22-39 miles).
Day 11: Downhill rides to San Miguel de Tucuman.
Highlights: Tropical forest, San Miguel de Tucuman. We have a screaming downhill through a luscious tropical forest, the yungas, a stark contrast from the Alpine meadow valley area of Tafi and the desert like environment of the previous days. We finish our tour in the city of San Miguel de Tucuman, the largest city in northwestern Argentina. This provincial capital is where delegates declared the country's independence from Spain on July 9, 1816. Mileage: 100 km, of which 60 are downhill.
Day 12: Journey's End.
Highlights: San Miguel de Tucuman
Our tour ends today. Whether you're off to Buenos Aires or heading back home, buen viaje!
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Use of a quality 24-27 speed bicycle;
- Shuttle from the Salta airport, 11 nights accommodation, 11 breakfasts, 3 packed lunches, 7 dinners with wine, including a special "finca" visit.
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Argentina
Bicycle Touring
Cultural Journey
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