Descubre el asombroso mundo de los dinosaurios

Discover the fascinating northwest area of Argentina
together with the amazing world of the dinosaurs!
Visit the Argentine northwest:
14 DAYS /12 NIGHTS
Buenos Aires (3 nights) & Iguazú (2 nights) & La Rioja (2 nights) & Tucumán (2 nights)
& Salta (3 nights)
Buenos Aires –Iguazú- La Rioja – Tucumán - Salta
Quebrada de Humahuaca
Abaut the Argentine Northwest: The Northern provinces exhibit mixed pre-Columbus vestiges, ruins
of fortresses and Indian villages, as well as constructions from the age of the conquer and
colonization. It is a region full of contrasts, where the visitor goes deep in the historical roots of the
Latin-American civilization and culture. Its geography is made of the Calchaquies Valleys, the
“Altiplano de la Puna” (High Plains of the Puna 1 ) and the “Quebrada of Humauaca” 2 , which has
been declared as Patrimony of Humanity. It is just in these lands where the population still keeps
the practices and customs of its ancestors, staying among other popular events, which contribute
with the veneration of the Mother Earth and the celebration of the carnival.
1
2
Puna refers to elevated plateau regions in the Andes, with cold desert climate.
Quebrada refers to Canyon or ravine
Day 1 - Buenos Aires. After the welcome at the International Airport of Ezeiza, the trip to the
selected hotel will take place. During the afternoon, we will make a city tour over the Buenos Aires
city, showing its different districts, communities and architectural styles. Return to hotel.
Accommodation.
Day 2 - Buenos Aires/ Iguazú Falls. We will travel to the local airport, to head Puerto Iguazú.
Arrival; welcome. During the afternoon: Half-day tour to admire the waterfalls from the
Brazilian side. Accommodation.
Day 3 - Iguazú. We will make the tour to the waterfalls, covering them from the Argentine side.
After entering the National Park Iguazú, we will make a long walk along the lowest part of the
waterfalls, to later visit the upper part of the footbridges. Accommodation.
Day 4- Iguazú / Buenos Aires. Transfer to the local airport, to fly back to Buenos Aires. At
arrival, assistance and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.
Day 5 - Buenos Aires/La Rioja/Talampaya/Villa Unión. Transfer to the local airport; fly to La
Rioja city. Arrive and continue to Talampaya National Park: it is surrounded by huge reddish
walls of almost 150 metres high can be covered using specialized vehicles, adapted for the area.
The erosion of thousand years has been sculpting amazing shapes over the walls that surround the
canyon, generating a ghostly sense of immensity which is impossible to describe.
The park has an extremely important archaeological patrimony: the Petroglyph – engraved on
stone- (made by the pre – Columbian cultures). They expose, over a dark background, millennial
drawings and geometrical figures (spirals, moulds of human foot with six toes, flames, men and
even curious beings with wings). We would see in the part some animals of the region (gray foxes,
the Andean condor; Guanacos and maras can be easily observed too). Afternoon continue to the
small town of Villa Union. Arrive and Accommodation.
Day 06 - Villa Unión - National Park Ischigualasto. The tour start early in the morning from
Villa Unión, to Ischigualasto National Park. This provincial park, better known as Valle de la
Luna (Moon Valley), is one of the most important palaeontology beds of the world. Along the route,
some remains of vertebrates that inhabited the place 180 million years ago, during the Mesozoic
age, can be observed. In addition, one can find footprints tracks of saurians, fern drafts and trunks
of petrified Cook Pines, which are highly outstanding because of their scientific importance and
relevance in a world level. Thus, the visitors will be able to know more about the 45 million years of
geological evolution in the whole Ischigualasto basin, including the visits to the places of fossils
extraction, accompanied by specialized guides.
Million years ago this region – today a desert -was a lake with plentiful vegetation, favourable for
the life of different species of vertebrates.
Arrive to Rioja city douring the evening, to catch a local bus to travel to Tucuman city. Night on
bord (the trip would take arround 7:30hr – 600km).
Day 7 - Tucumán. After the early arrival in Tucumán, transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day at
leisure to enjoy this nice city. Accommodation. (IMPORTANT: arrival in Tucuman City should be
MONDAYS)
Day 8 - Tucumán/Tafi del Valle.
After breakfast we will do a half day city tour
arroundTucumán city: capital of the smallest Argentine province and known as "the Garden of the
Republic" because of the richness of its flora, San Miguel de Tucumán preserves intact traces of its
colonial history. After crossing green sugar cane fields, the road leads into the Quebrada de los
Sosas and we reach Tafí del Valle at the foot of the impressive Sierra del Aconquija. Arrive and
accommodation.
Day 9 - Tafi del Valle / Cafayate / Salta. In the morning we are going to do a visit arround Tafi
del Valle and after that we would continue the trip to the north. On the way to Cafayate, the
Ruins of Quilmes may be seen. This is a fortified citadel built by the Quilmes Indians. Once in
Cafayate, great areas of vineyards can be observed. The region is worldly well-known since apart
from its natural beauties, here the famous “torrontés wine” is manufactured – it is a white and fruit
wine, very typical of the Salta Province. We will visit its colonial houses and the Church of the
nineteenth century. We would get Salta City through a peculiar route, with a geography sculpt by
the winds and sun. Arrive and accommodation.
Day 10 - Salta – Quebrada de Humahuaca- Salta. It starts early in the morning to enjoy the
Quebrada de Humahuaca (Humanity Patrimony since 2003). Multiple picturesque and colourful
landscapes frame a group of towns, with adobe brick houses, historical chapels and prehispanic
ruins where time seems to be stopped. Our first stop: Purmamarca. Here we visit the Seven
Colours Hill, its town and craft markets. We follow the road to Tilcara, village with fortress, built by
the omaguacas Indians during the pre-Columbus times. We will visit the Pucará Ruins and the
museum. Following the route, we reach Humahuaca, the most important town of the ravine,
where the monument to the Independence, the adobe brick tower of the old church and the craft
markets can be appreciated. Going back to Salta and on the same route, we will make a short visit
to the Uquia church with it famous painting from the Cuzco area “The Arcabuceros angels” can be
appreciated. Return trip to Salta. Accommodation.
Day 11 – Salta. Morning at leisure. Afternoon we would do a half day tour in this beautiful
capital city of the province, which still keeps its colonial aspect, with profusion of constructions from
the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Return to the hotel and accommodation.
Day 12 - Salta / Buenos Aires. Transfer to the local airport, to fly back to Buenos Aires. At
arrival, assistance and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.
Day 13 - Buenos Aires/End of Trip. Transfer to the international airport to fly back home. End
of our services.