Day 1
Riding: No riding.
You will be met upon arrival at Salta airport and transferred to your hotel in downtown Salta. This afternoon you are free to rest or explore the town. In the evening you will have dinner at a typical Pena, where guitarists play traditional folklore music whilst you dine on regional food and wine. Overnight Almeria hotel or similar
Day 2
Riding: 2 hours
After breakfast you are taken to the equestrian centre to meet your Peruvian Paso horse and guides. The relationship between rider and horse is important so you'll have the chance to try a few different horses so that you can choose the one which suits you best. Once everyone is happy you'll set out to get to know your horse and the style of riding on a two hour ride around the grounds of the equestrian centre. A typical criollo lunch will be served at the centre and then in the afternoon you head back to Salta. You are free to explore the city or rest before dinner and overnight at the same hotel.
Day 3
Riding: 4 - 6 hours
After breakfast you'll be transferred to the small, picturesque town of Chicoana which is 45km from Salta city. Here you will meet your horses to start your trail. Ride uphill to 2400m from where you will feel you can touch the clouds. Stop for a light 'campero' lunch whilst enjoying the view of contrasting landscapes and then continue your ride to Quebrada de Escoipe. Here you will leave the horses and transfer to Chicoana to overnight in the beautiful boutique Bo Hotel. Dinner will be taken in a traditional Criollo restaurant.
Day 4
Riding: 4 - 6 hours
After breakfast, you are transferred back to Quebrada de Escoipe to be reunited with your horses. ,Set off riding through the heart of the canyon, surrounded by multi-coloured mountains. Follow horse trails to reach Isonza, a little village lost in time. Continue to the house of the Tolaba family where your transfer vehicle is waiting to take you to Cachi. Dinner and overnight at the hotel Automovil Club Argentino.
Day 5
Riding: 4 - 6 hours
After breakfast you're transferred to the Tin Tin Lane where a dirt road begins. This perfect straight line was made by the Incas and crosses Los Cardones national park. Your horses will be waiting here for you. Follow that road for a few kilometres and then ride along a dried up riverbed - one of many running through the Calchaqui Valley. At midday, stop for a light picnic lunch under a tree.
In the afternoon you continue riding across the Calchaqui river to reach the town of Cachi where you spend a second night at the Automovil Club Argentino hotel. Dinner will be taken at a restaurant that serves typical food.
Day 6
Riding: No riding.
Non-riding day as you explore Cachi. Walk around the cobbled streets and admire the colonial architecture of the main plaza, central church and cabildo, with the mountains as a backdrop. Visit the Pio Pablo Diaz archaeological museum to see important pieces of aboriginal culture, archaeological ruins and handicraft works. You will also visit a local winery at Finca la Paya or Bodega Isasmendi where they make artisanal wines. Have lunch at the winery. In the afternoon continue to explore Cachi and visit Cachi Adentro - the rural area surrounding the town where you can see local communities of indigenous origin who still farm for a living. Later dinner is served at a typical Cachi restaurant, before returning to your hotel for another night.
Day 7
Riding: 4 - 6 hours
After a hearty breakfast at your hotel, you continue your riding trail to the town of Seclantas in the heart of the Vallee Calchaquies. Along the route you'll see Inca ruins which give testimony to the many inhabitants of these lands. Stop for lunch near the mythical national route 40 which journeys the length of Argentina from south to north along the Andean cordillera.
After lunch you follow the Road of the Artisans to reach the town of Seclantas in the late afternoon. Visit this traditional village and head to Finca Montenieva, a lovely farm outside the town where you will stay and have a delicious homemade dinner with the farmers.
Day 8
Riding: 4 - 6 hours
Awake in this beautiful hotel, enjoy breakfast and continue your tour through the Calchaqui valley with its unique landscapes. At midday stop for a light lunch at the Brealito river. Afterwards, ride along canyons until reaching the Brealito lagoon and then continue to Molinos. There is time to visit the church where the remains of Isasmendi lay before heading out for dinner.
Day 9
Riding: No riding.
After breakfast you head off to explore the Calchaqui valley by vehicle. Head to San Carlos where you visit local farmers who raise animals and grow crops following ancient traditions. It was in San Carlos that the troops gathered to fight for independence. Continue your journey to Cafayate where you arrive around midday and check into your hotel and visit some bodegas. The wines produced in Cafayate are internationally renowned for their quality and you can try different wines.
After lunch, explore the fascinating town of Cafayate including places like the canyons Quebrada de las Conchas and Garganta del Diablo, the ampitheatre and rock formations like El Sapo (the frog) that were shaped by the wine.
Head back to your hotel in the evening for a final dinner and overnight.
Day 10
Riding: No riding.
After breakfast you'll be transferred to Salta airport for your onward flight.
Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience.
