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Get to know the beautiful city of Salta in northern Argentina, which is also called La Linda (the pretty). It has magnificent colonial architecture, reflecting the history of the Spanish Viceroyalty, which can also be found in museums and monuments. Ride through the Quebrada de Humahuaca, starting from el Volcan then continue to Purmamarca, where you can admire the famous seven-colored hill (Cerro de los Siete Colores) and the typical handicrafts. The tour takes you on to Tilcara, a small town where ancient customs and pre-Columbian traditions are still alive. On foot, explore this peaceful place and learn about the life of the locals!
During this program, get to know some of the most beautiful places in Argentina, and Ampascachi has chosen different hotels because of their location and service which meet international quality standards and their architecture and interior design. Some nights may also be spent in the Ampascachi camp. During this program, you will stay at the following accommodations:
Horseback riding in these valleys and river gorges is like riding through history. Ampascachi's surefooted Peruvian horses allow you to discover untraveled paths while admiring nature’s generosity.
This ride begins in the City of Salta, nicknamed “Salta, the Beautiful” in Argentina. Before our horseback tour, you can visit the city, which is brimming with colonial architecture, monuments, and history museums. The horseback ride to the heart of the Quebrada de Humahuaca begins in El Volcán with Peruvian horses – the best company you could have on this trip, without a doubt. Thanks to their stamina, you will be able to reach places that would otherwise be inaccessible.
You will head to Purmamarca and the spectacular Hill of Seven Colours, a landscape that seems hand-painted by the same local artists.
Do you believe in love at first sight? You will surely feel something similar when you stroll down the cobbled streets lined with adobe houses. In the many pottery studios and at the artisans’ market, you can find excellent examples of traditional gaucho culture, framed against the imposing many-colored hill.
Your next stop is Tilcara, a village steeped in pre-Hispanic tradition. Let local people surprise you with their fascinating stories about the Pachamama – Mother Earth. In between these two towns, you will take the opportunity to set up comfortable camps in a natural area where you’ll spend two nights. This will allow you to blend into the surroundings and witness the magic that unfolds among the hills from dusk to dawn.
Pay attention to all five senses. You will discover that these moments are what feed your traveler’s soul and you will understand why La Quebrada de Humahuaca was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Ampascachi believes this is one of those trips that every true rider should take at least once in their lifetime. Will you let Ampascachi be your guide on this adventure?
Ampascachi will meet you at the airport in the city of Salta, from where they will drive to your 4-star hotel. During the trip, you will already discover why Salta is called “The Pretty”. You will have lunch in a typical restaurant of the city with a varied menu of gourmet dishes and local foods. Afterwards, you can either rest or discover the city with your guide, go to the main square, the Archaeological Museum, the historical “Cabildo” (former head office of the political authorities during the Spanish occupation, today a museum).
You will have dinner at a typical Peña (a restaurant with live folk music and dances) on Balcarce Street, where you will taste some regional foods and delicious wine while enjoying a guitar show. Afterwards, go back to the hotel and get a good night’s sleep to be fit for the next day.
Have breakfast buffet at the hotel. After that, you will go to the Ampascachi Equestrian Center La Casa de la Tradición or to the facilities where they keep their horses in Capilla de San Pedro. You will be introduced to the team members who will guide you on your equestrian route and then proceed to meet the horses.
The connection between riders and horses is very important and today you have the opportunity to mount different horses and choose the one you feel comfortable and safe on. Your guides will introduce you to riding techniques, explain the specific features of the horses and then practice what you have learned during a two hours' ride around the Casa de la Tradición. When the riding is over, you will have a delicious Argentine asado (barbeque) at the riding center. Get ready to savor the famous Salta empanadas.
In the evening, drive back to the hotel. Depending on the time of arrival, you can either rest or continue the city tour with your guide. Dinner and then rest at the hotel.
After an early breakfast at the hotel, the logistics team drives you to El Volcán where the horses are waiting for you and from where the trail tour starts today. You will ride in wonderful landscapes full of colours and geographical diversity. Around midday, you will have a light lunch and then continue the tour. You will continue with the ride to Tumbaya where we can enjoy stunning views of the red-colored mountains.
In the afternoon, you will arrive in Tumbaya and from there the Ampascachi logistics team will drive you to the town of Purmamarca. After checking in at the hotel, you will see the sights of this charming town. Purmamarca, meaning desert town in the Aymara language, is precisely that- a quaint village of pre-Hispanic origin and National Historic Site. You will visit the main square, the town hall and the Church, where you can appreciate its rich architectural layout and a collection of paintings and images from Cuzco.
You’ll visit the artisan market where local artisans and makers offer an incredible array of truly unique and rare items: typical fabrics, ceramics, baskets and musical instruments. In the evening, you will have dinner at the hotel.
After breakfast at the hotel, you will head to the meeting point where the horses and the logistics team will be waiting for you to start the ride to Tumbaya. At noon, you will stop for lunch. Today, you will be riding in an incomparable natural setting, where you can highlight the world-famous Hill of Seven Colors, a true landmark worth visiting.
In the afternoon, you will arrive in Tumbaya and from there you will drive back to your hotel in Purmamarca. You will go out for dinner and then back to the hotel to rest.
You will have breakfast at the hotel and enjoy the wonderful views. The transfer brings you to Tumbaya, founded in the 18th century, where the horses are waiting. From there, you will ride to El Porvenir. Visit a local farmer’s market where they sell their agricultural products. Most people around here are descended from indigenous ethnic groups.
After a light lunch, ride back to Tumbaya but you’ll take a different route this time. Upon arrival in Tumbaya, the horses will stay there and you will drive to your hotel in Purmamarca. Have dinner in a local restaurant afterwards. Dinner time is when guests get together to talk about the day’s exploits and everyone enjoys these nice moments!
Breakfast at the hotel with freshly baked bread and other typical delicacies. After that, there is a new riding day ahead. You will ride on your Peruvian Paso horses on traditional trails that were part of important historic events. You will head towards Tilcara riding your Peruvian Paso, where you will continue to enjoy the breathtaking landscapes and the pure air of the Quebrada. It will be a long riding day today, but the natural beauty of this place will make you forget about time.
You will ride up to the sanctuary of Our Lady of Copacabana in place called Punta Corral (3000 meters above sea level), where you will have lunch and experience the magic of the mountains. Once in Tilcara, you will stay in a beautiful boutique / 4-star hotel, where you will have dinner.
Enjoy breakfast at the beautiful hotel surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Afterwards, walk around Tilcara, an ancient town where the inhabitants still maintain old traditions alive and where the natives and Hispanic cultures coexisted during many years. It is not unusual to find monument to honour Pachamama (Mother Earth) set up next to colonial churches. Have lunch at a typical restaurant and afterwards, the logistics team drives you to Humahuaca, another beautiful town in the Quebrada de Humahuaca.
In the evening, you will walk along Calle Balcarce, the most iconic street of Salta. There, you will enjoy a fabulous folkloric show while have dinner in a typical restaurant. Local cuisine, excellent wine and good music. You will spend the last night at the hotel.
Ampascachi had the opportunity to share wonderful days during this amazing horse tour with you. It has been a pleasure and they hope you enjoyed the landscapes, traditions, and culture of northern Argentina. They are grateful for your confidence and hope to see you again soon!
In that region, you'll find high hills and mountains and dry riverbeds or rivers with a very low water level and wide beaches. Ride on steep trails and paths, in canyons, valleys, and in the mountains up to nearly 4000 meters above sea level. The special gait of the Peruvian Paso horses allows you to ride comfortably at an average speed of 10 to 12 km/h. Whenever the guides think it is suitable, you can canter.
The anatomic saddle that Ampascachi uses was specifically designed to give comfort to the rider and protect the horse’s back. Their look is aesthetical and similar to the Argentine gaucho saddles. The reins and bridle are made of sole leather which is also used when getting a horse under saddle as it is light and transmits the given helps easily to the horse’s mouth.
At Ampascachi, they use the same bridles and reins for the rides as they use during the training of the horses and obtain docile, well-educated, and versatile horses. They use Pelham bits with short shanks so the horse responds easily to soft aids.
Ampascachi themselves breed the horses that they use for their riding holidays, they were specifically selected for that purpose by Ampascachi. The education of the horses is based on the principles of ethology which studies the brain and learning processes of horses and emphasizes on respectful and ethical treatment. It is a unique experience to meet their horses!
All the horses are Peruvian Paso horses, they have been breeding them for over 20 years by selecting the best horses. The Peruvian Paso horse moves in a special gait, the "Paso llano", which is very comfortable for the rider, and at an average speed of 10 to 12 km/h, it allows it to move quite quickly over a long period of time. The horse moves both legs on the same side, first, the hind leg steps down, and then the front leg.
The Paso llano is a broken, harmonic four-beat gait, and the center of gravity is almost immobile, which makes it a very smooth and comfortable gait to ride. The horses are also trained in the gallop, a gait that is natural in all horse breeds.
The horses were bred and selected byAmpascachi themselves and have passed a process of education and training without aggression. All horses are unique, have a stable character, and are prepared for equestrian activities.
Nevertheless, riding, or any other equestrian activity always bears a certain risk, this is why Ampascachi asks you to be honest about your horse experiences and to follow the instructions on how to tread and ride the horses that guides give you during the whole duration of your holiday. They strongly recommend the use of a riding helmet; you can bring your own or borrow one for free at Ampascachi.
Make sure that the helmet fits correctly to fulfill its purpose to protect your head. During the rides, at all times you are accompanied by a guide and at least one more member of the Ampascachi team.
On your first riding day, your guide explains important security measures and the right behavior to protect yourself and your horse in situations that could be dangerous. The members of the Ampascachi team always carry a satellite phone and a first aid kit for emergencies and they have knowledge of first aid.
In the programs for companions, you'll travel to places full of natural beauty, culture, and history. In the Calchaqui Valley and the Lerma Valley in Salta, as well as in the Quebrada de Humahuaca in Jujuy, you'll see breathtaking landscapes and learn about the amazing traditions of the local people.
The companions have the possibility to see fantastic valleys and beautiful localities where they offer a range of interesting activities. You'll discover how beautiful the city of Salta is, “The Pretty” as it is called, and other villages like Purmamarca and Tilcara in the Quebrada de Humahuaca or Cachi, Seclantás, Molinos, Angastaco, San Carlos, and Cafayate in the Calchaqui Valley, latter internationally known for its top-quality wines. Whenever it is possible, Ampascachi organizes to share activities with the riders.
Salta is located in the northeast of the country at about 1600 kilometers from the country’s capital Buenos Aires. Founded at the end of the 16th century, it is one of the most beautiful historical cities in Argentina. It is situated among winding mountains with many tobacco plantations. Tourists and local citizens call this city “Salta the Pretty” because of its incredible colonial buildings, its neoclassical churches, and its shadowed squares.
The indigenous roots and its rich culture have brought a long tradition of festivities, folklore, art, music, and local cuisine. The city offers the possibility to visit wine museums and art galleries, among them you can find the Historical Museum of the North which tells the history of the city or also the museum “Casa de José Evaristo Uribiuru”, portraying the lifestyle that the rich families of Salta once had.
The Archaeological Museum of High Altitudes exhibits different objects which were found in an area where sacrifices and burials were held over the llullaillaco volcano. The Anthropological Museum exhibits archeological findings of the pre-Inca site called Tastil. The city is also famous for its typical food, tamales and humitas, local dishes cooked with tender corn, and for its delicious white Torrontés wine, produced in Cafayate, Province of Salta.
Located in the Province of Salta, the Lerma Valley is an extended and fertile area where you perceive the scent of wild herbs. The characteristic, old colonial houses are embellished by the work of handicraft men and surrounded by fascinating landscapes. The climate is typical for a mountainous area with a mildly humid climate and a dry season that starts in May and lasts until November.
This valley descends from the west to the east at an average altitude of 1,100 meters above sea level. Among its main rivers are the Arenales and the Toro, and on its south-east border, you can find the second biggest artificial lake in Argentina, the Cabra Corral.
In the extreme north of the valley, find the great city of Salta. Apart from this beautiful city, the visitor discovers many other important villages and towns such as Rosario de Lerma, Campo Quijano, Cerrillos, el Carril, Chicoana, la Merced, and Coronel Moldes. In the north, the Lerma Valley is connected to the Quebrada de Humahuaca, in the south-east to the majestic Quebrada del Toro, and in the south to the Calchaquí Valleys.
At a distance of 30 minutes by car from Salta city, surrounded by impressive green mountains, fertile valleys, gaucho traditions, and amazing history, you can find a population with a welcoming attitude that makes Chicoana a place worth visiting.
Chicoana is located at the edge of the green canyon Quebrada de Escoipe, very close to where Abreu y Figueroa founded “San Clemente de la Nueva Ciudad de Sevilla” in 1576. The locality was destroyed by the Chicoanas Indians, who had already been living in the place before Columbus discovered America, and for that reason, today the place is called Chicoana.
The Quebrada de Humahuaca is an extensive mountain valley located in the northwest of the country which is, from its northern to its southern end, 155 kilometers long. The Quebrada has an exceptional history; for more than 10,000 years, this Andean valley has been the scenario of important cultural developments that have influenced the region but also neighboring countries.
You can still find traces of the first hunting civilizations that used to live here 10,000 years ago. This valley has been a central connecting point of different regions, countries, and cultures from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Andes to the southern plains. In 2003, the Quebrada de Humahuaca was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The national route 9 runs along the Quebrada de Humahuaca and the first location it passes by is El Volcán, a small village with approximately 1000 inhabitants. The main activities are cattle and crops and the commercialization of the produces from the Salinas Grandes (great salt dessert).
About 48 kilometers from San Salvador de Jujuy, the capital of the Province, lays Tumbaya in the middle of the colorful Quebrada de Humahuaca. Tumbaya is a very special place for visitors with its streets paved with cobble-sized stones, small houses, the simplicity of the inhabitants, the amazing landscapes, and the peace and quiet you find here.
The colors of the mountains range from different shapes of red, green, and ochre, and along with the cactuses and the variety of fruit trees make the surroundings outstanding and colorful. The local church was built in 1796. The walls are made of thick mud bricks, the bell tower is on one side of the nave and it is surrounded by a wall with a front arch where the visitors can get in.
Another place worth visiting is the central square with its green areas, a fountain, and a statue of Francisco de Solano, a well-known priest who used to evangelize in this region.
At the foot of the “Cerro de los Siete Colores” (seven-colored hill), this small town was founded at the beginning of the 17th century. The native tribe Aimará had named this area Purmamarca which means virgin land. The houses are made of adobe (thick mud bricks), cactus wood, and mud roofs and stand around the church which was built in 1648.
It was declared as a national monument for its architectural richness and the Cuzco-style paintings inside. Visitors can visit the main square and the handicrafts market with regional pottery, woven carpets and ponchos and other typical clothes and also traditional music instruments.
The locals are friendly and visitors are welcomed to discover their town, traditions, and culture around Purmamarca, visitors can enjoy the view over the amazing landscapes, the Purmamarca river, and the “Los Colorados” pass with its impressive stone formations.
Punta corral is a small and very old town which is known for being the place where the annual religious pilgrimage to the Virgin of Punta corral finishes.
The surprising aspect of this town is that it has only one square, the chapel, and some abandoned scattered houses where pilgrims stay during their visits. The dwelling has only one inhabitant who is known as the “slave”, as he is the person in charge of accompanying and taking care of the "Virgin". This tradition and duty are passed generation after generation to another member of the congregation.
Tilcara received its name from the tribe that used to live there a long time ago. Today, the visitors find a place with a mixture of preHispanic and colonial houses, ritual sites of the natives lay next to Christian churches and even the spiritual beliefs are a mix of both cultures. There are patronal festivities of their saints as well as native festivities like the misachicos, worship to members of the population who have passed away.
One important festivity is to honor the Pachamama (Mother Earth), during ancient rituals or the Carnival where religious and indigenous traditions mix up. Music is an important part of the lives of the inhabitants, they play regional instruments like the sikuris, quenas, drums, erques, erquenchos, and charangos.
Humahuaca is situated east of the national route 9 and north of the Cerro Verde (green hill) at 3,012 meters above sea level. This town has narrow cobblestone streets and magnificent colonial houses built with adobe (thick mud bricks). It is beautiful to walk around Humahuaca which used to be a commercially important place during Upper Peru until the end of the 19th century.
You can visit the monument of Independence or the archaeological museum among other attractions. Humahuaca lays within the canyon Quebrada de Humahuaca, declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The surrounding landscapes are unique with shades of different colors, the Grande river that flows through the canyon, and various archaeological sites that you can visit. The old fort Pucará de Tilcara with its high altitude botanical gardens is another highlight. Tilcara is a place that amazes every visitor!
All meals and drinks are included in the package.
If you have specific requirements for your diet (celiac, diabetes, food allergies, vegetarian, etc.) please let Ampascachi know when booking.
You can extend your holiday with the extension program and travel to the province of Buenos Aires, where you'll stay in the cosmopolitan and vibrant city of the same name. Take a sightseeing tour and discover historical and modern architecture, the port, the longest avenue in the world, Boca, Caminito, and other emblematic places, the Río de la Plata, tango, etc.
Ampascachi will also take you to rural places where you'll learn about the life of the gauchos in the Pampa, stay at a beautiful Estancia where you'll see how diverse this Argentine province is where history and modernism coexist. Feel the passion of Buenos Aires!
Martín Miguel de Güemes International Airport
9 km
Transfer included
Please book your flight to arrive at Martín Miguel de Güemes International Airport (SLA).
The prices published do not include the cost of international and or domestic flights or transport, only the transfers that are required as specified in each program. Flights need to be booked apart; dates of arrival and departure depend on the dates of the beginning and ending of the chosen program.
You need to book your flights yourself and choose an airline that you think is best for you. Ampascachi is happy to help with information and recommendations if required. As Ampascachi has special agreements with travel agencies and airlines that fly from Europe to Argentina, they can offer flight prices that you can either accept or not. If you wish to receive recommendations, please send an inquiry.
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