Argentina & Chile: From Salta to Atacama

We leave Susques and cross the Chilean border! We pass through the Los Flamencos National Reserve, which is dotted with lagoons and salt flats. It is home to many rare and vulnerable species such as flamingos and vicuñas. We arrive in San Pedro de Atacama in the evening.

San Pedro de Atacama is a village in the middle of the desert where everything is concentrated, so we will stay there for 3 nights. Today we are traveling through the Valley of the Moon, 15 kilometers of track on another planet in the middle of salt mountains! On the way to Rio Grande for lunch, the great desert canyons open up to us and their small winding roads are ideal for our motorcycles. At the end of the day, the sunset over the desert from the heights of the “Piedra del Coyote” is a unique moment…

We departed early this morning... Started tackling the trail at 7 a.m... By the light of the Himalayan headlamp and the rising sun... An awe-inspiring 2-hour ride between the volcanoes, reaching an altitude of over 4250 meters in the cold. At the end of the trail, a field of boiling geysers! These 80 geysers at the base of the Tatio volcano make up 8% of all geysers in the world... The third largest geyser field on Earth. It's a completely improbable place that we discovered at dawn, as it's the best time to appreciate the fumaroles. On our way back, we will get lost on a small trail along the Bolivian border before descending back to the Atacama Desert.

The return to Argentina takes a different path, sometimes on the track, sometimes on the road. We reach the small mining town of San Antonio de los Cobres perched at an altitude of 3700 meters. ** Change of itinerary possible depending on the opening/closing of borders.

Today we continue on the legendary Route 40 and reach the highest point of our tour by arriving at the "Abra del Acay" pass, which is 4,850 meters above sea level! The highest drivable national road pass in the American continent! From up there, the 360º view allows us to admire the Cordillera for over 200km around! Then we embark on a dizzying descent of over 100km in an incredible setting! The Andes are truly magical! We arrive at the beautiful small village of Cachi in the late afternoon.

Spend the day exploring the charming Andean town Cachi perched at 2,500 m altitude and overlooking the Calchaquí Valley. With cobbled streets and colonial architecture, you’ll no doubt love this picturesque town. History buffs mustn’t miss the Pío Pablo Díaz Archaeological Museum with exhibits from Pre-Inca, Inca and Spanish eras. There are also many local vineyards worth visiting. Those who prefer to rest can stroll to Plaza 9 de Julio, sit in the shade and watch time stand still.

Starting from Cachi, we take Route 40 that runs along the 64-hectare "Parque Nacional de los Cardones," named after the "cardón," a cactus species that is a symbol of the Calchaquie region. We take a small 20km track to the hidden Brealito Lagoon located at an altitude of 2,700 meters. We join the "Ruta 40" and the Calchaquie river until the "Quebrada de las Flechas," a gem of the Northwest, a lunar landscape of rock formations sculpted by earthquakes, erosion, and time. These arrow-shaped rocks pointing towards the sky lead to an exceptional track, a real treat for us and our motorcycles! Finally, we arrive in Cafayate, surrounded by vineyards, an essential stop on the Northern Argentina wine route. This charming village houses many wineries, artists, and artisans.

On the last day of our motorcycle trip, we continue on our way to Cafayate and pass through the Quebrada de Las Conchas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we travel about a hundred kilometers through an immense canyon formed by oceans millions of years ago! You will discover impressive colors and rock formations, from ochre to golden hues, to green, red, and yellow! We arrive in Salta and spend the night at the hotel.

Depending on your flight schedule, you may be able to spend a few hours in Salta. You’re transferred to the international airport. End of our services.