Hotel and hostel pick-up.

This trip departs from the city of Salta and heads south. You’ll pass through the towns of Cerrillos and El Carril, before turning west towards Chicoana. You’ll go through the jungle environment of the Yungas, and after a few kilometres’ ascent, enter the Quebrada de Escoipe. Here, cacti, drought-tolerant carob trees, and a landscape of red rocks and colourful crops await you.

After about 2 hours of travel by mini-bus, the vehicle is left in a place named Margarita, and you’ll take a local bus line. This bus is normally used by locals, and also by tourists who travel independently to Cachi. It will take you about 20 kilometres up to the entrance to the National Park, from where the trek begins.

The highlights of your trek include: Observing the condors in their natural habitat, the beautiful views of the Cuesta del Obispo, seeing rock paintings, discovering natural caves, and of course, being surrounded by a breath-taking landscape of mountains and valleys.

Hotel and hostel drop-off.

Minimum of 2 passengers for this tour.

06:30 - 07:00

Hotel and hostel pick-up

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07:00

Depart from Salta

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09:00

Arrive in Margarita to take a local bus line

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11:00

Arrive in Los Cardones National Park

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11:30

Start the trek

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13:00

Lunch - picnic

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14:00

Continue the trek

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20:00

Return to Salta

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- Transfers
- Trekking sticks
- Snacks
- Lunch (picnic)
- Bilingual guide
- Insurance

- Personal expenses
- Tips

- Trekking shoes and socks (with a good tread, not smooth soles)
- Long trousers (preferably demountable)
- 1 warm jacket (even in summer)
- Backpack (30 litres minimum) that must contain: 2 litres of water, 1 windbreak, insect repellent for summer days, sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses
- Hat and sunglasses

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

EXCLUSIONS:
This tour is not possible to operate for children under 7 years old.

Cancellation or changes of this tour:

Changes: If you change your tour date before 5:00 pm (Buenos Aires time) 5 days before the tour begins, a 60% administration fee will apply. After this time, there is a 100% fee.

Cancellations: If you cancel before 5:00 pm (Buenos Aires time) 5 days before the tour begins, a 60% administration fee will apply. After this time, there is a 100% cancellation fee.

Please email bookings@findlocaltrips.com to cancel this tour or make any changes.

1. What time zone is used in Salta?

   Local time in Salta is GMT -3, the same as on Argentina's mainland.

2. What kind of weather can we find in Salta?

   Salta, located in a tropical area, has a warm climate year-round. However, there are quite marked variations in its different regions, due to the disparity in the terrain elevation. January is the hottest month in Salta, with an average temperature of 22°C (72°F), and the coldest month is June, at 12°C (54°F). September is the month with the most daily sunshine hours, at 11. The wettest month is January, with an average of 182mm of rain.

3. What should I bring to the tour?

   You must bring trekking shoes (with a good tread, not smooth soles), trekking socks, long trousers (preferably demountable), a warm jacket (even in summer), a backpack (30 litres minimum) that must contain: 2 litres of water, 1 windbreak, insect repellent for summer days, sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses.

4. Who can do this tour?

   This is suited for people who are physically fit, and who have the ability to walk along narrow trails. Children under 7 years old are not able to do this tour.

5. How many kilometres will I walk during the trek?

   You will trek approximately 17,4 km, and depending on your group’s level, this will take 4 to 6 hours. We recommend that those who participate should be physically active people, who normally play sports or go walking/hiking.

6. Will I get problems with altitude sickness?

   Altitude sickness is a real possibility here. If you are arriving directly from the coast, you may need up to a couple of days to acclimatize. Dizziness, shortness of breath, and headaches are common symptoms, but extended bouts of nausea and vomiting are not unheard of amongst those that have rushed their ascent. The locals swear by chewing coca leaves, and although they do relieve the symptoms, it may cause you to fail a drug test. Anyone not already fully acclimatized is advised to pick up some medicine (such as Dramamine) from the pharmacy in Salta before departure. You can also drink tea or coffee to help (but most importantly, drink water to stay hydrated).

7. Why book with FindLocalTrips.com?

   Apart from our low-price guarantee, with us you are 100% assured that your booking is made. We provide an instant email confirmation, and have live spaces and availability for each tour. If you have any queries, you are in the hands of our team of 20 local experts here on the ground, who speak perfect Spanish and English. We guarantee quick responses to any questions or queries. Tour operators are experts at operating their tours... We are the experts at reservations, organisation and assistance with your plans for these tours.