Whether leaving from the San Pedro de Atacama oasis in Chile, or from the colonial city of Salta in Argentina, the travesía to Cachi follows a route that crosses the impressive Andes mountain range, over the course of which we will explore in depth the ancient culture and surprising geography of the Calchaquí valleys.
On the Argentine side, the travesía will be based mainly in Cachi, the area where the first inhabitants in this vast region came to live thousands of years ago.
Whether starting out from Chile or from Argentina, the travesía starts from an altitude of 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) above sea level. The explorations that we go on during the first three days, whether in San Pedro de Atacama or traveling in Cachi, will reach altitudes as high as 4,000 meters (13,124 feet) above sea level, thus helping you to acclimatize well enough for the rest of the journey.
Over the course of the travesía, the highest altitude we will reach will be on the Abra del Acay road, at a height of 4,900 meters (16,075 feet) above sea level.
Because they are at similar altitudes, the climate in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, and Cachi, Argentina are fairly similar.
San Pedro de Atacama has over 328 days of sunshine a year. The average daytime temperatures range from 8ºC to 23ºC (46ºF to 73ºF) in the winter and from 12ºC to 25ºC (54ºF to 77ºF) in the summer.
Between January and March, the altiplano's "Bolivian winter" partially reaches San Pedro, causing occasional rainfall. The phenomenon has a much greater effect on the Argentine side, damaging roads and blocking paths. This is the reason why, as long as the roads are not maintained regularly, the travesía to Cachi is only available between April and December.
The climate in Cachi resembles that of a semi-desert region, characterized by abundant amounts of sun and sparse rainfall. In the summer, the daytime temperatures average about 25ºC (77ºF), with a maximum of 35ºC (95ºF) and a minimum of 5ºC (41ºF). At night in the winter, the temperature can drop as low as -5ºC (-23ºF), or even lower in some regions.