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.
We will welcome you at the Calama airport and take you to our Hotel de Larache, in the San Pedro de Atacama oasis at 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) above sea level.
While staying at Hotel de Larache, you can choose every day from a variety of different explorations. On foot, by bicycle, on horseback; a couple of hours or a full day; relaxed or physically demanding. These explorations will allow your body to adjust to the altitude and prepare you for the travesía to Cachi.
You will also have the opportunity to experience the complex geography of Atacama, its wildlife and its ancient culture. At the end of each exploration, our lodge is always there waiting for you: a place to enjoy and regain the energy you will need to keep on exploring.
We will start out early in the morning, crossing the Andes mountain range towards Argentina. We will travel southeast, passing by the agricultural towns of Toconao and Socaire.
We will start out on a three-hours trek in the altiplano at 4,000 meters (13,125 feet) above sea level, following a series of salt flats, mountains and volcanos, ending at the Salar de Aguas Calientes. Later we will pass by the Tuyajto lagoon and eventually reach our campsite at El Laco just before dusk. El Laco is located at 4,200 meters (13,780 feet) above sea level, very close to the border between Chile and Argentina. Situated at the foot of the Laco peak and with a view of the salt flat of the same name, this is one of the highest-altitude and most isolated sites. Our stay there will give us an idea of what it means to live at such altitudes and we will be able to understand what it must have been like for the pioneers who crossed these lonely stretches on foot or on mules.
Continuing our journey towards Argentina, we will reach the Sico border pass, at 4,115 meters (13,500 feet) above sea level. From there, we will turn towards the Calchaquí valleys, passing by the village of San Antonio de los Cobres at 3,900 meters (12,795 feet) above sea level. Later we will travel the Abra del Acay road, whose highest point is at 4,900 meters (16,075 feet) above sea level, where we will be able to see the source of the Calchaquí river. Here, we will tour around the mountains surrounding the valleys.
At dusk, we will arrive at our campsite at La Quesera, located at 3,500 meters (11,485 feet) above sea level. This dairy farm gets its name from the traditional goat cheese that is produced in the area.
In the morning we will tour the area around La Quesera and later descend into the valley towards La Poma, a mountain town dedicated to goat and sheep farming, located at 3,000 meters (9,845 feet) above sea level.
We will trek to the crater of one of the Gemelos volcanos, eventually reaching Cachi at dusk. Cachi, whose name means "salt" in Quechua, the language of the Incas, is one of the most important towns in the Calchaquí valleys. Eight kilometers (4.9 miles) from Cachi is the Finca Rancagua ranch with an impressive view of the valley and the mountains, where we will stay for the next three nights.
Days seven and eight will be dedicated to exploration. We will trek through the intricate Calchaquí valleys and through the Finca Rancagua, a terrain measuring over 5,000 hectares (12,355 acres). The landscape is mountainous and semi-arid. There are countless rock formations sculpted by the wind, as well as fresh water currents which gush down from the mountains and mix with the salt water of the Calchaquí river, creating good conditions for agricultural settlements and many different types of crops.
We will come upon ruins, archeological remains and cave paintings by the Calchaquí people, who developed a culture based on agriculture and ceramics many centuries ago. On this trek, we will approach the snow-capped Cachi mountain which, at over 6,380 meters (20,930 feet) above sea level, is the highest summit in the region.
Descending the Cuesta del Obispo and crossing along a landscape of hills eroded by wind and water, we will head in the direction of Salta, one of the oldest colonial cities in Argentina.
Around noon we will arrive in the city which is situated at an altitude of 1,200 meters (3,940 feet) and has a very pleasant climate. Depending on the time of your flight, we can eat lunch or take you straight to the airport. If you would like to stay and explore Salta, we can drop you off at the hotel of your choice.
In the morning, we will pick you up in Salta, one of the oldest colonial cities in Argentina. From there, we will take the Cuesta del Obispo across hills eroded by wind and water, heading towards the town of Cachi, whose name means "salt" in Quechua, the language of the Incas. Eight kilometers (5 miles) away from Cachi is the Finca Rancagua, a ranch with an impressive view of the valley and the mountains, where we will stay for the next three nights.
In the morning we will set out on a trek around the Finca Rancagua, touring the Calchaquí valleys. The terrain is semi-arid and mountainous with distinctive rock formations sculpted by the wind. In the mid-20th century, this area was used for raising cattle, horses and mules, which were later herded to San Pedro de Atacama to supply settlements around the saltpeter and copper mines in the north of Chile.
Countless fresh water currents run from the mountains down to the valleys and mix with the salt water in the Calchaquí river, giving life to the many different types of crops grown in the local agricultural settlements.
While exploring the area we will be able to see archeological remains and cave paintings by the Calchaquí natives, who developed a unique culture based on agriculture and ceramics many centuries ago. Later, we will reach the snow-capped Cachi mountain with, at over 6,380 meters (20,930 feet) above sea level, is the highest summit in the area.
The treks that we go on during these few days will allow you to acclimatize to the altitude and prepare you to continue on to the next leg of the journey.
We will start out early from the Finca Rancagua to cross the Andes mountain range. We will trek towards the crater of one of the amazing Gemelos volcanos and later continue exploring in the region around La Poma, a mountain village dedicated to goat and sheep farming, located at 3,000 meters (9,845 feet) above sea level.
At dusk, we will arrive at our campsite at the “La Quesera” dairy, at 3,500 meters (11,480 feet) above sea level. This place gets its name because of the traditional goat cheese that is produced there.
We will continue the journey towards Chile, crossing the Abra del Acay, a road whose highest point is at 4,900 meters (16,075 feet) above sea level and from where we will be able to see the source of the Calchaquí river.
We will head towards the Sico border pass at 4,115 meters (13,500 feet) above sea level. We will reach our campsite at El Laco, one of the highest and most isolated sites, at sunset. There, at the foot of the El Laco mountain and with a view of the salt flat of the same name, we will be able to get an idea of what travelers many centuries ago must have experienced crossing the mountain range on foot or by mule.
We will depart early from El Laco, heading towards Atacama. Exploring a landscape of salt flats, mountains and volcanos at an altitude of 4,000 meters (13,125 feet) above sea level, we will arrive after a three-hour trek at the Salar de Aguas Calientes. At dusk, we will reach Hotel de Larache.
While staying at the Hotel de Larache, you can choose every day from a variety of different explorations. On foot, by bicycle, on horseback; a couple of hours or a full day; relaxed or physically demanding.
The explorations you go on will give you a chance to experience the complex geography of Atacama, its wildlife and its ancient culture. At the end of each exploration, our lodge is always there waiting for you: a place to enjoy and regain the energy you will need to keep on exploring.
In the morning, we will take you to the airport at Calama for the flight to Santiago.