Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 15-509-3299;
www.nortetrekking.com
)
Trips to Parque Nacional El Rey, multiday hikes
and mountain-climbing, with some guaranteed departure dates listed on its website. They
also do excellent 4WD excursions into the mountainous western part of the province.
Salta Rafting
RAFTING
( 421-3216;
www.saltarafting.com
; Caseros 177)
Runs two-hour white-water rafting trips on
the Class III Río Juramento, 100km from Salta (AR$330 including a barbecue lunch;
transportation to/from Salta AR$150 extra). At the same location are spectacular 400m
ziplines across a canyon (four-line trip AR$250).
Sayta
HORSEBACK RIDING
( 15-683-6565;
www.sayta.com.ar
;
Chicona)
This
estancia
(ranch) 40km from Salta runs
excellent horseback-riding days, with gaucho culture and optional
asado
(barbecue). You
can stay overnight. A half-day with/without lunch costs AR$420/300, and full-board ac-
commodation for a night is AR$480 (with a day's riding AR$800). Prices include trans-
fers from Salta.
Socompa
TOUR
( 431-5974;
www.socompa.com
;
Balcarce 998)
This professionally run setup runs highly re-
commended tours into the Andean highlands. Its flagship 5-day Puna Experience takes in
the best of the Altiplano (high plain) scenery of Catamarca and Salta provinces using
comfortable accommodations and multilingual guides.
TREN A LAS NUBES
The Tren a las Nubes(Train to the Clouds), Argentina's most famous rail trip, heads
from Salta down the Lerma Valley before ascending multicolored Quebrada del
Toro, continuing past Tastil ruins and San Antonio de los Cobres, before reaching
the trip's highlight - a stunning viaduct spanning a desert canyon at
La Polvorilla
,
4220m above sea level.
The trip is a touristy one, with piped music and Spanish and English comment-
ary. It's a long day - leaving Salta at 7am, and not getting back until nearly mid-
night. You only stop twice, at the viaduct and at San Antonio, and you only get ten
to fifteen minutes in each. If you opt to return by bus (recommended), it's a couple
of hours quicker. Other options combine the train with tours to places such as
Purmamarca and Salinas Grandes.
