High peaks, extinct snow covered volcanoes and verdant forests contrast with the desert country in a long trip full of traces of colonial times. The small villages and their pre-Hispanic ruins let the seasons pass by only interrupted by the carnivals, the Indian markets and the worship of the Pachamama or Mother Earth.
This is a zone in which the mountains offer such contrasts as the possibility of crossing the sky, not in an airplane but on the rails of the "Tren a las Nubes" (Train to the Clouds), in the province of Salta; and finding yourself dazzled by the amazing "Cerro de los Siete Colores" in Purmamarca. In this same mountain complex small villages are virtually isolated from the world.
From Salta, the city with the most colonial architecture in Argentina, you can embark on a stirring 500 kilometre circuit and tour the Calchaquies Valleys, passing through colonial villages and discovering archaeological clues, beneath the clear sky that is a hallmark of the region. Famous is the "Torrontes" white wine from Cafayate. Unforgettable, the "Tren a las Nubes" journey.
Jujuy province treasures one of the most peculiar natural formations in the north west: The "Cerro de los Siete Colores" (seven coloured mountain), so named because of its rich mineral deposits, displaying a multicoloured rainbow constituted by grains of earth. Sheltered at its feet Purmamarca is one of the main attractions. It has scarcely 500 inhabitants, a telephone and a square from where you can see, amid the mountains, goatherds and groups of llamas and vicuas who- without asking permission- invade the dead calm of the spot.
Useful Hints /
We recommend you to spend 5 days in the area. There are many things to do and places to visit if you are willing to explore in depth this amazing lands. Enjoy the local cuisine and keep in mind spending a night in Purmamarca at the "Manantial del Silencio" hotel is a must.
