10 hours
E-voucher
Multiple
Overview
Your full-day journey to San Antonio de los Cobres begins with pickup at your Salta hotel. The drive to the northwest of Salta follows Argentina's famous Tren a las Nubes (Train to the Clouds) but traveling by coach allows passengers to disembark, snap photos and see sights along the way.
Arrive at Quebrada del Toro (Gorge of the Bull) and admire the 79-foot (24-meter) El Toro Viaduct. Pass the impressive Alisal and Chorrillo bridges as you listen to your guide's commentary on the area's history and geology. Watch the scenery change from rocky terrain and cacti to dense vegetation as the coach makes its way up toward the Andes.
Stop to snap photos and stretch in several picturesque towns including Alfarcito, El Gólgota, and El Candado. Visit Santa Rosa de Tastil, a rural village that is home to the ruins of a pre-Incan city. Visit the archaeological museum and purchase a snack here (own expense).
Continue through Finca La Encrucijada to reach the highest point on your journey at 13,386 feet (4,080 meters) in Abra Blanca. View the native llamas and condors in their natural habitat as they pick their way through the mountain landscape.
Complete the final leg of your journey to San Antonio de los Cobres, where you stop for views of the Polvorilla Viaduct. Explore the streets full of traditional adobe homes on your own and taste regional dishes for lunch (own expense) during your two hours in one of Argentina's highest-elevation towns.
Then board the bus for your return trip to Salta, where your excursion ends with drop-off at your hotel.
Operated by
Tangol
Ratings & Reviews
Average Rating
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Abra del Acay- the highest mountain pass in the world
tschacher-ch, Jul 2019
Ruta 40 between San Antonio des los Cobres and Cachi: Traveling over the highest mountain pass in the world (4900m) is quite something. It is possible even without 4-wheel vehicle if you can drive your car, and if in the dry season.
Response from Host, Jul 2019
Thank you for sharing with us your experience! We are glad you have selected Tangol for your visit in our country. We are pleased to know that you have enjoyed the beauties of Argentina. Will be a pleasure to assist you in your next visit! Greetings,
Itinerary
Tangol
Your day trip from Salta starts with hotel pickup for the 100-mile (160-km) drive northwest of town to San Antonio de los Cobres.
Quebrada Del Toro (The Toro Gorge)
Your route parallels Argentina’s famous railway, Train to the Clouds (Tren a las Nubes), but on this tour, enjoy the comfort of disembarking as your group pleases for photo ops of the incredible Andean scenery. Reach your first sightseeing marvel after about two hours, Quebrada del Toro (Gorge of the Bull). Admire views of El Toro viaduct, a 79-foot (24-meter) bridge built between the 1920s and ‘40s, that crosses the gorge, and pass by the bridges of Alisal and Chorrillo. Your guide provides engaging commentary on history and local geology, which spans the spectrum from dense vegetation to rocky landscapes strewn with cacti. See if you can spot cardones, a native plant resembling celery.
1 hourTravel through the charming villages of El Candado, El Gólgota and Alfarcito. Depending on your group, make stops in the towns to stretch your legs and snap pictures.
Continue and disembark at the tiny rural village of Santa Rosa de Tastil, where you’ll visit the ruins of a mysterious pre-Incan city. As you walk through the arid and rocky terrain, your guide points out remnants that used to be housing and streets of this former civilization. Find out more inside the archaeological museum (entrance fee is an additional expense), and if you’re hungry, purchase a light snack in the village.
2 hoursAbra Blanca
Back in your air-conditioned vehicle, pass through Finca La Encrucijada, ascend Muñano Cliff and reach Abra Blanca, the highest point on the road between Salta and San Antonio de los Cobres, at a height of 13,386 feet (4,080 meters). Take in sweeping views of the gorge and perhaps catch sight of condors swooping over the valley or llamas clopping up a mountainside.
1 hourThen make the final stretch to San Antonio de los Cobres, one of Argentina’s highest-elevation towns at 12,300 feet (3,750 meters), and enjoy views of the often-photographed Polvorilla Viaduct. During your two hours here, learn about the town whose name is taken from nearby Sierra de Cobre (Copper Mountain). Explore at your leisure and buy lunch at one of the local restaurants serving regional dishes. Wander the streets lined with traditional adobe houses, browse the handicraft stalls and admire the views of the surrounding Andes.
2 hoursSalta
When it’s time to go, return to Salta the way you came, but with no stops. Your day trip ends with hotel drop-off.
3 hours
Experience
Highlights
Inclusions
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Professional guide
- In-vehicle air conditioning
Exclusions
- Gratuities
- Food & Drinks
- Entrance fee to Archaeological Museum in Santa Rosa de Tastil
Additional Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A minimum of two passengers per booking is required.
- It is recommended that you wear comfortable clothes and shoes and bring a jacket/sweater and sunscreen.
- Note: San Antonio de los Cobres sits at an elevation of more than 12,000 feet, which may cause altitude sickness for some; it is recommended that you drink plenty of hot tea or water prior to the tour and carry any necessary medication.
Guide Languages
English
Spanish
Cancellation Policy
A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 24 hours before the activity start time.
No refund is possible if you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time.