Theis Argentina MTB tour in Salta is an Andes mountain biking holiday to remember! From the salt mines to the jungle you'll explore the Andean Altiplano
Duration
PriceThis Andes mountain biking holiday crosses Jujuy where the Quebrada de Humahuaca (Humahuaca Canyon), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located. No doubt one of the most amazing places of the Altiplano. The southern reaches of the Inca Trail once ran through here. It later became part of the Spanish Royal Road that stretched from Peru down to Salta in colonial times.
You’ll intimately explore towns like Purmamarca and Iruya. Still have the traditional narrow, cobble-stoned streets and adobe homes. Still inhabited by the descendants of the once-mighty Inca. Below the Puna lie the Yungas.
This is a long thin belt of sub-tropical jungle coming north from Bolivia. It is fed by the waters of the High Andes. Lush, green rainforests with incredible varieties of plants and amazing birdlife. The contrast from the arid desert landscapes above, add much impact to this beautiful scenery. The region also provides an incredible setting for mountain biking, a marvelous way to deeply experience this amazing destination.
This Argentina MTB tour in Salta is an opportunity to live our amazing country with great mountain biking, only as MTB Tours knows how to do!
Itinerary for Argentina MTB tour in Salta
1st day: Meeting in Salta, Argentina.
The group will rendezvous in Salta this afternoon. We’ll have free time to have an overview of the city. Plaza 9 de Julio, the Cathedral, San Francisco Church and Balcarce Street can’t be missed. Time for an Argentinean asado (Barbacue), while we receive a briefing for the next days program.
2nd day: Salta to Purmamarca
Getting on our minibus early with the bikes loaded, we’ll drive to bordering Jujuy Province on Old Road 9. We’ll bike through the exuberant sub-tropical rainforest, a truly amazing setting, and a great contrast to the scenery to come. The narrow, winding road will take us through thick foliage, a true rainforest, where we can spot amazing native birds.
3rd day; Purmamarca to Salt mines (Salinas grandes)
After a hearty breakfast, we’ll drive up towards another trip highlight: the vast, completely white and extremely dry Salinas Grandes (Great Salt Flats), in Jujuy Province. The drive goes over the Cuesta del Lipán, bordering cliffs through a deep canyon, and reaching 4200 ms (13,779 ft), from where we’ll have an amazing view of the nearby Quebrada de Humahuaca.
4th day: Purmamarca to Iruya
This morning we’ll begin driving from Purmamarca through the wonderful Quebrada de Humahuaca, passing through the towns of Tilcara, Tumbaya and Humahuaca. We’ll have plenty of time to take in the amazing scenery that will surround us. After Humahuaca, we will detour to Iruya and that’s where one of the most beautiful rides of the tour starts. We will be riding over a dirt road taking us up to 3,900 ms of elevation, and passing through small towns like Iturbe and Chaupe Rodeo.
5th day: Iruya to San Isidro (Hike)
Today we’ll walk from Iruya to the tiny settlement of San Isidro, located 4,5 miles north of Iruya. We’ll ascend slowly but steadily, crossing a river several times, through canyons enveloped by the always-amazing mountains of this region
6th day: Iruya to Humahuaca
We’ll drive out of Iruya on a different road, and once again reach the high pass where we’ll get on our mountain bikes, riding towards the Quebrada de Humahuaca. Another awesome zigzagging ride from 3,900 to 3,000 ms. We’ll eventually re-route, heading to Humahuaca, where we’ll spend the night. Free time to explore “Humahuaca” in the afternoon
7th day; Humahuaca to Ocumazo
After breakfast we take our bikes and start riding on the road that leads to “Abra de Zenta” from 2.900 meters to 3.300 meters over the sea level. After 10k of continuous uphill we take a detour to the south to “Quebrada de Ucumazo”. The red colored hills combined with the green fertile valley, the slope done by years and years of erosion and the zig-zag of the dirt road are the perfect way to finish this fantastic Andes mountain biking holiday.
8th day: departure from Humahuaca to Salta
We leave Humahuaca after breakfast. There’s a three hours drive back to Salta Capital. Those travelling back to Buenos Aires with us will continue overnight.
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