SALTA

Arrival in Salta and transfer to hotel. In the afternoon, we will visit the city, know the most attractive sites of the city: Cathedral where lie the remains of General Güemes, the American Cultural Center, Historical Museum North (Cabildo) with exhibits of sacred art, Basìlica de San Francisco, Convento San Bernardo Order of Carmelites, MAAM Museum (included entrance fee) and Artisan Market where crafts are displayed with the original certification of the whole province. Overnight in Salta.

TOLAR GRANDE / OJOS DE MAR / HIDDEN DUNE / TOLAR GRANDE / CAIPE / SUNSET AT TOLAR GRANDE

The morning will be dedicated to the exploration of the surrounding of Tolar Grande. Ojos del Mar are Blue Holes in the middle of a white salar, where researcher discovered a huge colony of living stromatolites. The surroundings of Tolar Grande offer chances of great small hikes. The best one is the hike to a hidden sand dune in the middle of the desert. From the highness of the dune the traveler will be rewarded by a 360°view over the area, from the Sacred Macon Mountain to the Llullaillaco Volcano, where was discovered an Inca Treasure including the body of 3 Inca children perfectly kept by ice and dryness. It is also a perfect place for meditation. For lunch we will be back at Tolar Grande and after it we will have time to relax in the hotel. In the afternoon we will drive to Caipe. Caipe was the old railway station where the mineral processed in the mine city was carried on cargo train and then transported to Salta. From the abandoned station, the traveler can have wide view of the Giant Salarde Arizaro. On our way back to Tolar Grande with just the perfect light of the sunset and all the Puna will offer its best scenery. Sunset above a hill just outside of Tolar Grande. Overnight in Tolar Grande. Included Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

EL PEÑON / PURMICE STONE FIELD AND LAGUNA GRANDE / EL PEÑON

Morning: Visit to the Natural Reserve Campo de Piedra Pómez, a strange and stunning landscape carved into the rock that gives rise to its name: The Pumice, of purely igneous origin and produced from a massive explosion of the volcanic stratum. This explosion was so powerful that if one could have seen it, it would be similar to the mush room cloud produced by a nuclear bomb. This cloud has spread the ashes and debris in large areas and in different directions, which crystallized by the effects of the temperature and gave birth to these wonderful rocks with special features, with plenty of holes produced by the escape of gases during the chilling stage. This degassing phenomenon made the rock very easy to carve by the winds of the Puna, arid and harsh winds that move freely through the region, becoming the best and most prominent Andean rock sculptors. Afternoon: Visit to Laguna Grande RAMSAR site, a place of unique beauty that keeps fragile treasures of the environment. A saline lake that sits at an altitude of 4150 m, path to the crater of the Galan Volcano, the largest in the world. During Winter, the water freezes completely, but when Spring arrives, it becomes the largest gathering center of the Puna flamingo birds, also called Small Parina with more than 19000 birds. It is also a place for Summer congregation for the Andean flamingo and it is a common nesting site of the Southern flamingo. We will visit Laguna Grande, respecting it as an Andean sanctuary and appreciating species of exotic birds in their natural habitat, taking into account that we will be privileged spectators of such majesty. Overnight in El Peñon. Included Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

SALTA

Breakfast and transfer to Salta airport at time according.