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Safari of the Clouds + Salinas Grandes, Purmamarca and Humahuaca
The most complete way to get to know Salta and Jujuy in two days
Safari of the Clouds + Salinas Grandes, Purmamarca and Humahuaca tour information
Starts
06.30 am from meeting point in Salta City Center
Ends
8:00 p.m. to the same meeting point
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Do you know the best way to discover Salta and Jujuy in two days?It's this tour! 🙂
The 2-day Safari to the Clouds is the perfect combination with which you can also get to know the towns of the Quebrada de Humahuaca in Jujuy. On the first day, you will follow the Camino a las Nubes by road, discovering the most iconic points along which the Train to the Clouds passes. You will also visit the Salinas Grandes salt flats in Jujuy and the iconic town of Purmamarca, where you will spend the night.
On the second day, departing from Purmamarca, you will travel through the Quebrada de Humahuaca. Where we are expected: Tilcara, the church of Uquía and Humahuaca.
Buckle up: the road is waiting for us!
The 2-day Safari to the Clouds is the perfect combination with which you can also get to know the towns of the Quebrada de Humahuaca in Jujuy. On the first day, you will follow the Camino a las Nubes by road, discovering the most iconic points along which the Train to the Clouds passes. You will also visit the Salinas Grandes salt flats in Jujuy and the iconic town of Purmamarca, where you will spend the night.
On the second day, departing from Purmamarca, you will travel through the Quebrada de Humahuaca. Where we are expected: Tilcara, the church of Uquía and Humahuaca.
Buckle up: the road is waiting for us!
Tour itinerary
todayDay 1: Road to the Clouds, Salinas Grandes & Purmamarca
access_time6 : 30 AM
Beginning of the tour
We leave at 6.30 a.m. from the meeting point. We travel one hour by road until we reach Campo Quijano, where we stop for breakfast.
access_time7 : 30 AM
Campo Quijano
Hotel Las Lomitas awaits you with a buffet breakfast. Yum! You can have tea, coffee or mate cocido. For breakfast, you have at your disposal bread, croissants, cookies and toast. Combine them with butter, jam, and the Argentinean must: dulce de leche. If you wish, you can also try coca leaf tea: a fantastic natural and traditional remedy to avoid altitude sickness.
access_time9 : 00 AM
Quebrada del Toro
We accompany the Train to the Clouds tracks in Quebrada del Toro. Here we go down to see the viaduct, which makes an impressive contrast between the industrial iron and the rural landscape of the mountains.
access_time11 : 00 AM
Santa Rosa de Tastil
Santa Rosa de Tastil was once the largest Pre-Colombian city in Argentina. It existed even before the Incas arrived.
We'll take a short 15-minute walk through the ruins of this ancient place. Can you imagine what life there must have been like 2,000 years ago?
access_time12 : 30 PM
San Antonio de los Cobres
The town of San Antonio de los Cobres awaits us... with a delicious lunch! The chosen place is Hotel de las Nubes. We have an hour and a half to eat and enjoy the authentic gastronomy of the argentinian north.
The meal -included in the price of the tour- is a three-step menu: entrance, main course and dessert. There are the classic options such as pasta or chicken with salad, and also the typical meals of the region. If you're the kind of person who likes to try local flavors, don't miss the delicious llama meat milanesas with andean potatoes.
Are you ready to continue your journey?
access_time2 : 30 PM
Viaducto La Polvorilla
You are not alone on the road. From the window you are accompanied by the cutest animals of the Andes: llamas and vicuñas. You are on your way to Viaducto La Polvorilla, the highest point of the Train to the Clouds, at 4,200 meters above sea level... Feel the sky with your hands!
access_time4 : 00 PM
Salinas Grandes
It's time for the most classic postcard of northern Argentina: Salinas Grandes. This immense salar fascinates its visitors... And it's no wonder! The small mounds of salt and the pools of turquoise water generate spectacular views.
Do you know which is the star activity in this place? You guessed it: photography. This landscape is perfect for you to play with perspective, jumps and strange poses. Instagramers are welcome!
In Salinas Grandes, laughter is guaranteed, and you also have a very tasty surprise that, as you’ll understand, we’ll keep as a secrete ;).
Cuesta de Lipán
One of the most striking phenomena of Mother Nature, is how the type of life changes according to the altitude in which we are. Get ready: the vehicle is going up a zigzagging, steep stretch. At the top of the mountain, you have a view worthy of a great photograph.
But we still have the best part left. On the way back, the height drops about 6500 feet (2000 meters). In a few miles, you’ll be surprised by the change of the desert from the Puna to the fertility of the more humid valleys.
access_time5 : 00 PM
Purmamarca & Hill of Seven Colors
In the afternoon we arrive at the picturesque village of Purmamarca, located at the base of the famous Hill of Seven Colors.
This town is so beautiful, that great artists from Latin America have chosen it for music videos. Among them, Calle 13 and Chano from Tan Biónica.
We make a trip through the center of the town and the house of the artisans. Here, besides being able to buy handicrafts, you see first-hand the ancestral methods the locals still use to create looms and ceramics.
After that, it's time to return to the accommodation in Purmamarca to rest for the next day.
todayDay 2: Quebrada de Humahuaca
access_time10 : 00 AM
Purmamarca
Between 10 and 10:30 a.m. you are picked up depending on your location. If your accommodation is on the highway, you are picked up at the front door. If your accommodation is within the village, you are picked up at the bus station. Don't worry! Purmamarca is a very small village. The maximum distance you'd have to walk to the station is around 400 meters.
If you feel like getting up a little early, we have a tip for you. Before they pick you up, you can do the Paseo de los Colorados. This hour walk gives you a panoramic view of the village. The dimensions, the colors, and the depth of the hills make this place incredible.
access_time11 : 00 AM
Tilcara
The tour continues through Tilcara: another Andean town that obsesses Latin American artists. Groups like Soda Stereo, Intoxicados and Calle 13 have recorded their music videos here.
Are you interested in visiting an old native fortress? If you wish, you can visit the Pucará, which has an entrance fee of 200 Argentine pesos (not included in the tour). This is a reconstruction of the ruins. You see how they lived in the altiplano hundreds of years ago and you discover the secrets of its ancient inhabitants, the Tilcaras.
In the time you have free, you can also visit the Botanical Garden, which has free admission. Here you find the most amazing native species of the Puna: cactus of all sizes, mountain plants, and brightly colored flowers.
Humahuaca
Humahuaca was once the commercial center of the ancient Viceroyalty of Upper Peru. With its narrow, cobbled streets, it maintains the essence of colonial times.
We hope you are hungry: you have two free hours to eat and tour the town. There are many options, and the guides recommend you places according to your tastes. A three-step menu without drinks costs around 300 Argentine pesos (5 dollars). You can try typical northern food, such as empanadas, milanesa de llama or cabrito stew.
access_time3 : 00 PM
Uquía
Full stomach, happy heart: the journey continues in Uquía. Its church treasures one of the most important collections of the Cuzco School's paintings. This genre was very famous in Colonial America for mixing European techniques with the cosmovision of Indian and mestizo painters.
access_time4 : 00 PM
Huacalera
At 4:00 p.m., you arrive in a nice little town. There you find a solar clock that marks the passage of the Tropic of Capricorn through the province.
access_time5 : 30 PM
Maimará
To finish this tour, we have an amazing highlight: Maimará. This is where the hill La Paleta del Pintor (The Paintor's Palette) is located. Its strange shapes and beautiful colors make it the favorite photograph of many travelers.
access_time8 : 00 PM
Return to Salta
At around 6 p.m., you return to the city of Salta. You arrive at approximately 8:00 p.m., ready to rest after two incredible days.
Tour details
Included
- Transportation for the whole journey
- Breakfast; lunch and merienda (snack) on the first day
- Drinks on board (water - soft drinks - coffee - tea)
- Professional bilingual guides for all activities
Not included
- Entrance to Pucará de Tilcara (200 Argentinean pesos)*
- Drinks
- Dinner on the first day
- All meals on the second day
- Accommodation in Purmamarca
The price indicated is per person. Payment is made at destination in local currency.
error_outlineImportant information
Tour departure is subject to weather conditions. In case the tour is not available due to the weather, we will offer you three options: an alternative route for the same day, a change of date or a full refund of the reservation.
Argentina is a country with 50% annual inflation. The prices indicated in Argentinean pesos for meals and entrance fees are only indicative and may vary.
The order of the visits could be altered, but it will not affect the content of the program. The schedules of the tickets and transports could be subject to modifications.
SAFE ADVENTURE – Covid 19
This activity includes the appropriate protection measures to ensure your safety. In addition, our excursions are outdoor and in small groups to reduce the risk of contagion. Remember to follow the instructions of the staff during the development of the excursion.
restoreCancellation policy
Free cancellation! You can cancel this tour and you will receive 100% refund if you cancel more than 48 hours in advance. After this time, or in case you do not show up for the tour, no refunds will be given.
What to bring to Safari of the Clouds + Salinas Grandes, Purmamarca and Humahuaca
The places you will visit, and the north of Argentina in general, have a lot of thermal amplitude. In the morning and evening it can be quite cold and then during midday it can be hot. You also have to consider that in high altitude areas, the wind can be cold. That is why we recommend you dressing in several layers of clothing.
This is what you should bring:
- Passport or ID card
- Warm clothing
- Waterproof jacket and umbrella (between December and March)
- Sunglasses (especially for Salinas Grandes)
- Comfortable footwear (if possible hiking shoes or snickers)
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
- Personal hygiene items (remember that this is a two-day tour)
- Change of clothes for the second day
- Cash (Argentinean pesos) for possible additional expenses such as food; crafts or soft drinks.
- Camera
- Medication against altitude sickness (if deemed necessary).
Safari of the Clouds + Salinas Grandes, Purmamarca and Humahuaca tour reviews with Howlanders
Maartje · February 5, 2020
We booked the longest excursion of the two, which passes through Tastil, San Antonio de los Cobres, Humahuaca, Las Salinas and Cerro de los 7 colores, among others. It was a beautiful experience. The guide, Juan, explained to us everything about the places we went. The driver, Roberto, was the coolest person on the planet. SUPER recommendable!
Questions & Answers
What are the vehicles like on Safari to the Clouds?
The vehicles are four-wheel drive minibuses. They are equipped with air conditioning, heating and toilet.
What is the difference between the Safari to the Clouds & Safari to the Clouds in 2 days?
Safari to the Clouds is the one-day version of Safari to the Clouds, Salinas Grandes and Humahuaca in two days. In the first day, you travel through the iconic points of the Cloud Trail, Salinas Grandes, and Purmamarca. In the second, you add up all the towns and landscapes of the Quebrada de Humahuaca.
Are there vegetarian options for lunch?
Yes, there are vegetarian options for lunch.
Is the accommodation in Purmamarca included?
Accommodation is not included, and you will have to manage it on your own. However, if you need help finding accommodation in Purmamarca, please write to hello@howlanders.com and we will be glad to assist you.
Book Safari of the Clouds + Salinas Grandes, Purmamarca and Humahuaca
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