June 17, 2026
A New Chapter for Poncho Tours
In April of this year, Nick published his final blog as the owner of Poncho Tours. After many years travelling the roads of Northwest Argentina and ac...
Read More: A New Chapter for Poncho Tours
Customers love us.
Excellent
350 Verified reviews
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Laura Castro
Dec 30, 2025
Contratamos a Poncho Tours para hacer un viaje por la Ruta 40 desde Salta hasta Mendoza, y la experiencia fue realmente hermosa e inolvidable para toda mi familia. Nuestro guía, Rodrigo, fue excepcional: siempre atento, con muchísimo conocimiento, explicándonos cada lugar, dándonos recomendaciones valiosas y llevándonos a los mejores sitios para comer y hospedarnos. Además, cada día del viaje estuvo muy bien organizado, lo que nos permitió disfrutar con tranquilidad y sin preocupaciones. Recomiendo 100% Poncho Tours, una empresa muy bien organizada, seria y comprometida con brindar experiencias de calidad. ¡Gracias Nick, Alicia y Rodrigo por acompañarnos y hacer de este viaje algo tan especial!
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Reni Mobrandt
Apr 15, 2026
Our journey through the Andes would never have been as incredible without Poncho Tours. Already while we were still in Sweden, Nick showed great patience and dedication, helping us design a trip completely tailored to our wishes – including wineries, destinations, and experiences that suited us perfectly. When we arrived in Salta, we were picked up at the airport by our guide, Rodrigo. Once at the hotel, we went through the entire itinerary together. We were able to make some adjustments, and Rodrigo was very attentive and flexible to our wishes. Once the journey began, we quickly felt completely taken care of. Rodrigo had an amazing ability to show us fascinating places while always adapting to our pace. It almost felt like he understood what we wanted to experience even before we did. We traveled from Salta up into the mountains and further into the Andes, where we stayed overnight in three different locations. Waking up to new, breathtaking views each day was an experience in itself. Along the way, we stopped in small charming villages and truly got to experience both the local life and the spectacular nature up close. On our way back, we drove along the magical Route 68, with its incredible rock formations – it felt like Clint Eastwood could come riding around the corner at any moment. Both Nick and Rodrigo made this journey truly unforgettable. Their dedication, professionalism, and genuine care were present throughout the entire experience. This was without a doubt one of the highlights of our month-long trip through Argentina, and we warmly recommend Poncho Tours to anyone looking for something truly special.
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Alison Thomson
Apr 6, 2026
We did a 2 day tour with Nico from Salta to Cafayate, stopping for a night in Cachi.We loved every minute, Nico was so informative, filling us in on all the landmarks we were passing. We would never have wanted to drive this road ourselves due to numerous weather /rainfall hazards. We travelled Argentina for a month and this was at the end of our trip, scenery not to be missed.The whole trip was pulled together by Nick from Poncho tours, who right from our 1st correspondence was so helpful, with all sorts of advice for us who had never been to Argentina before travelling from Scotland.I would highly recommend booking with Poncho tours if interested in this area, they will build a tour round each individuals interests.Alison
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Mariaelena Zecchin
Mar 22, 2026
Fantastico! Il viaggio di due giorni nella Quebrada è stato uno dei momenti più epici del nostro viaggio in Argentina. La comunicazione con Poncho Tours è stata ottima fin dall’inizio e Nick ci ha aiutato con hotel, cambio di denaro e varie questioni logistiche. Il nostro autista Nico era non solo affidabile e preparato, ma anche simpaticissimo! Affidarci a professionisti locali come Poncho Tours ci ha permesso di goderci appieno il paesaggio mozzafiato senza preoccupazioni!
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Sue Arnold
Mar 6, 2026
My friend & I arranged a week long private tour with Poncho Tours to explore the high mountain area of NW Argentina from Cafayate south to Mendoza. Nick was excellent in answering all our questions & offering us excellent advise in the planning of our trip along with a Zoom call which was very helpful. Nick has lived in Argentina for 18 years & is a wealth of knowledge on the culture,sights & history of this amazing country. The scenery is spectacular & everyday was filled with drives high up into the mountains & stops at some very interesting museums, wineries & picnics along the way. We saw sights that far exceeded our expectations & wouldn't have been possible to do on our own. It was very helpful having Nick give us suggestions on our accommodations . He was an excellent guide & driver. An amazing trip & we highly recommend travelling with Poncho Tours to show you this beautiful area of Argentina.
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Ian M
Feb 20, 2026
Very pleased to have used Poncho Tours for our January trip around Salta and Jujuy. We combined two trips, Essential Humahuaca and Classic Wine Route, staying in San Lorenzo on the bridge day. Very happy with our final choices, having discussed different options with Nick via Zoom and used the hotels he recommended. Rodrigo was an excellent driver guide; very personable, knowledgeable and helpful. We enjoyed his company throughout the trip. Travelling in the rainy season gave a few challenges, but so glad we did it. Nick and Rodrigo were able to switch the route due to road closures, so from our side seemed pretty seamless. And most of the time, despite some heavy evening and overnight rain, the weather was perfect for touring. And Salta and Jujuy regions are scenically spectacular. It was great not having to drive ourselves so we could just soak it all in. Would happily recommend Poncho Tours and Rodrigo as a guide. And we finished our tour with a couple of nights at Cielo Verde to stop a while after all the driving. If you’re into birdwatching as I am, cannot recommend this Finca highly enough.
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Tete
Feb 9, 2026
Taylor made Tours. People from this Agency are so cordial and professional . The experiencie with them Was wonderful
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Michael Lam
Feb 5, 2026
Review for Poncho Tours 5/5 Stars We recently toured northern Argentina with Poncho Tours, and the experience was exceptional from start to finish. During the planning stages, and owners Nick and Alicia were incredibly responsive, providing clear and concise communication. Our guide, Alejandro, was fantastic. His English is excellent and we felt safe with Alejandro behind the wheel. The truck was clean and comfortable for the journey. The entire team went above and beyond to ensure our comfort at all times. The scenery in northern Argentina is truly out of this world. I highly recommend Nick, Alicia, and Alejandro at Poncho tours.
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Laura Castro
Dec 30, 2025
Contratamos a Poncho Tours para hacer un viaje por la Ruta 40 desde Salta hasta Mendoza, y la experiencia fue realmente hermosa e inolvidable para toda mi familia. Nuestro guía, Rodrigo, fue excepcional: siempre atento, con muchísimo conocimiento, explicándonos cada lugar, dándonos recomendaciones valiosas y llevándonos a los mejores sitios para comer y hospedarnos. Además, cada día del viaje estuvo muy bien organizado, lo que nos permitió disfrutar con tranquilidad y sin preocupaciones. Recomiendo 100% Poncho Tours, una empresa muy bien organizada, seria y comprometida con brindar experiencias de calidad. ¡Gracias Nick, Alicia y Rodrigo por acompañarnos y hacer de este viaje algo tan especial!
Posted on
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Reni Mobrandt
Apr 15, 2026
Our journey through the Andes would never have been as incredible without Poncho Tours. Already while we were still in Sweden, Nick showed great patience and dedication, helping us design a trip completely tailored to our wishes – including wineries, destinations, and experiences that suited us perfectly. When we arrived in Salta, we were picked up at the airport by our guide, Rodrigo. Once at the hotel, we went through the entire itinerary together. We were able to make some adjustments, and Rodrigo was very attentive and flexible to our wishes. Once the journey began, we quickly felt completely taken care of. Rodrigo had an amazing ability to show us fascinating places while always adapting to our pace. It almost felt like he understood what we wanted to experience even before we did. We traveled from Salta up into the mountains and further into the Andes, where we stayed overnight in three different locations. Waking up to new, breathtaking views each day was an experience in itself. Along the way, we stopped in small charming villages and truly got to experience both the local life and the spectacular nature up close. On our way back, we drove along the magical Route 68, with its incredible rock formations – it felt like Clint Eastwood could come riding around the corner at any moment. Both Nick and Rodrigo made this journey truly unforgettable. Their dedication, professionalism, and genuine care were present throughout the entire experience. This was without a doubt one of the highlights of our month-long trip through Argentina, and we warmly recommend Poncho Tours to anyone looking for something truly special.
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Who we are
Explore Argentina, Bolivia, And Chile With Poncho Tours
Welcome to Poncho Tours, your local contact in Salta, Argentina! We offer custom tours of the natural wonders, the colourful streets, and the award-winning wine country of Latin America. Since 2008 our company has provided personalized Argentina travel packages tailor-made to be the trip of your dreams.
Join us as we explore the best of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. Our English-speaking local guides are passionate about sharing South America's history, food, and culture on a private tour. Argentina trips with Poncho Tours include personalized experiences like small boutique hotels and local restaurants with the best Argentinian beef. Let us show you the best wineries to enjoy a glass of deep red Malbec wine. Whether you prefer llama trekking, exploring the Bolivia salt flats, or adventure in the Andes Mountains, we are here to create unforgettable memories.
We know that travelling can be stressful. Our Argentina vacation packages take care of the details so you can relax and enjoy yourselves. With a local guide to escort your Argentina tour, there is no need to worry about local bus schedules, language barriers, and currency differences. We've put together Argentina tours that will take you into some of the more popular locations in Northwest Argentina, plus some hidden gems you wouldn't want to miss.
CATEGORIES
The Best Excursions and Experiences
The Choices Are Yours
Join us to explore the best of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile
Duration
6 days
Group Size
Up to 4
Mountains to Cloud Forest trekking
This is one of our most challenging north west Argentina hiking trips, recommended only for experienced trekkers: covering 58km over four days, we climb to an altitude of 4,200m, gradually descending to 1,325m, following the contours of mountain tracks along the way. This hike offers a complete change in eco-system during four days: starting in the mountains which enfold the Quebrada de Humahuaca, we descend into the Yungas Cloud Forest of the east, following the trail of indigenous traders who travelled between the salt flats and the sub-tropical jungle. There is an extraordinary range of landscape in these four days, and a warm welcome for modern hikers from the families in the refuges where we sleep overnight. Available April to November.
2 Reviews
from
$950
Duration
3 days
Group Size
1 to 4
Bolivia’s high altitude wine
Allow us to introduce you to one of the world’s lesser known wine regions: Tarija in Bolivia. With vineyards at 1,850m, this is one of the highest altitude wine regions in the world.
The quality of wine, particularly its trademark Tannat red variety, has developed hugely over the last 15 years, while its traditional singani spirit distilled from white Muscat of Alexandria grapes is also excellent.
Join us for a unique and personalised experience in one of the emerging wine regions in the world.
This trip can be combined with hiking in Calilegua or a longer tour also incorporating the new wine region of Jujuy province, Fourteen Colours and Cloud Forest.
2 Reviews
from
$375
Duration
6 days
Group Size
1 to 3
Wine and Mountains
A 4x4 safari tour into the heart of the most remote areas of Argentina’s Andean mountain plateau, combined with the Valles Calchaquies wine region.
This high altitude Altiplano tour also includes the best of Salta wine region, where the white grape of Torrontes finds its best expression, and apart from the classic Argentine Malbec, you can also sample Tannat, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Wine lovers should see our Classic Wine route or Salta to Mendoza trip for more details on the sacred grape: either of those trips can be combined with this one.
Click here to view map route.
8 Reviews
from
$900
Duration
5 days
Group Size
1 to 4
Fourteen Colours & Cloud Forest
Hike Argentina’s Inca trail, linking two completely different eco-systems, the dry canyon of Humahuaca and the Cloud Forest of Calilegua.
We take a narrow mountain road which was only finally completed in October 2019, tracing the footsteps of Inca explorers of northwest Argentina from the 15th century.
This trip can be extended to include a visit to the gorgeous mountain town of Iruya and the historic settlement of Yavi on the Bolivian frontier.
Available April to November.
Click here to view map route.
5 Reviews
from
$625
Duration
5 to 6 days
Group Size
1 to 4
Mountain Trekking in Iruya
This high-altitude trek through the multi-coloured hills around Iruya takes us into the heart of local communities untouched by the modern world. We visit small settlements in the mountains surrounding the tiny hill town of Iruya, close to the Bolivian border. Following trails used for centuries by the locals, we stay with local indigenous families in tiny hamlets only accessible on foot. This trip is combined with a visit to the must see attractions sites of the UNESCO-protected Quebrada de Humahuaca, like the Seven Coloured hill of Purmamarca and the 14 Colours of Hornocal.
4 Reviews
from
$770
Duration
3 days
Group Size
1 to 4
Expedition to the Cloud Forest
Hiking verdant green trails in the sub-tropical Argentina Cloud Forest in Jujuy: an oasis of plants and birdlife.
This is part of the UNESCO region of the Yungas, which contains 300 different species of birds and 100 different types of mammal. Yungas is a word from the Inca language Quechua, meaning “Warm Valleys”.
For lovers of the holy grape, this trip can be combined with the emerging wine region of Jujuy province, Fourteen Colours and Cloud Forest or a
Bolivian wine tour.
Click here to view map route.
Available April to November.
4 Reviews
from
$375
Why choose us?
Poncho Tours - Argentina Tour Packages
Since 2008, we have been providing exclusive personalised Argentina private tours to intrepid travellers like you. All of our tours in South America are escorted by a select group of knowledgeable English-speaking guides. Instead of offering identikit Argentina group tours, we arrange a local experience. We're sure you'll find our tours to be adventurous, informative, and exciting.
Quality & Experience
When you're planning your trip to Argentina, wherever you’re going, do get in touch with Nick and Alicia at Poncho Tours. We have been organizing people’s tailor-made holidays for 18 years. Though bas...
When you're planning your trip to Argentina, wherever you’re going, do get in touch with Nick and Alicia at Poncho Tours. We have been organizing people’s tailor-made holidays for 18 years. Though based in Salta and specialists in the northwest, we have contacts all over the country, so can recommend the best things to do in Buenos Aires, the finest wineries in Mendoza, and the top places to visit in Patagonia.
During our Covid-enforced shutdown over 2020-21, Nick returned to his old job as a journalist and has been writing for the international blog Budget Travel Plans.
Here you will find links to Nick’s articles on Buenos Aires, as well as his guides to the famous Atacama desert in Chile and tours of the Bolivia salt flats, the Salar de Uyuni.
We can also arrange tours to Bolivia’s little-known wine region of Tupiza, the historic cities of Potosi and Sucre, and onto the capital, La Paz.
And check Nick's regular blog which is updated every month with useful information about your holiday in South America.
Culture & Tradition
Your trip with Poncho Tours will give you an insight into Argentina's culture and tradition. Argentina is an ostensibly Catholic country but, particularly in the rural areas, Christianity is mixed wit...
Your trip with Poncho Tours will give you an insight into Argentina's culture and tradition. Argentina is an ostensibly Catholic country but, particularly in the rural areas, Christianity is mixed with pre-hispanic beliefs in Mother Earth, Pachamama. When you visit Argentina, you will come across roadside shrines to more contemporary folk saints like Gauchito Gil and the Difunta Correa. In the North West, the coca leaf is also bound up with ancient traditions: it's still chewed daily by the locals and is ideal for combating altitude sickness. Read our blog to find out more about South America's holy herb.
Though some may quibble about its listing under culture, football is the glue that binds the nation, and it provides a great ice-breaker for foreign visitors. It was immigrant railway workers who staged the first ever football match in Argentina in 1867, and the Scotsman Alexander Hutton who founded the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino 26 years later. The Brits, of course, also brought rugby and polo (as well as cricket, which, mysteriously, never quite caught on). Read our blog for more about the patron saint of Argentine football, Diego Maradona.
Food & Drink
Argentina is a food lover's paradise. Taste the grilled Argentinian beef slathered in fresh chimichurri sauce. Savour the empanadas filled with meat, chicken, or cheese (think of a small meat pie). Th...
Argentina is a food lover's paradise. Taste the grilled Argentinian beef slathered in fresh chimichurri sauce. Savour the empanadas filled with meat, chicken, or cheese (think of a small meat pie). There are cornmeal tamales with meat, and humitas, parcels of sweetcorn and cheese wrapped in a maize leaf. In the border province of Jujuy, llama is a speciality, served with quinoa or Andean potatoes, of which there are hundreds of varieties of all shapes, sizes, and colours.
Pescatarians and vegetarians will be treated to culinary delights like river fish and pasta, while we have the Italians to thank for the best ice cream parlours in South America.
Nick and Alicia from Poncho Tours will be your guides to the Argentine kitchen, and we can organize special classes for those who are passionate about food (and drink!). To whet your appetite, here you can read our blog about Argentina's sweet tooth.
And on our blog you can read more about Malbec and Torrontes on Argentine wine tours.
Location
Argentina Vacation
The first thing to remember when you visit Argentina is that you'll never have enough time to see it all. The amazing food, world-class wine, friendly people, and stunning landscape will call for you to visit again next year. Planning to take tours to Argentina every year gives you time to properly explore UNESCO world heritage sites like the Quebrada de Humahuaca, as well as the wine region of the Valles Calchaquies, the Cloud Forest of Calilegua and the huge open spaces of the Andean mountain plateau in the north west of Argentina, where Poncho Tours is based.
The best time to visit Argentina is during the shoulder season. The lovely spring months of September to November and the fall months of March to May. That is when travellers will find good weather and fewer crowds in Argentina's busy capital city, Buenos Aires, through which every visitor must pass through and spend a few days.
In the north west, rainy season is January and February, and the winter holidays are in July.
Frequently asked questions
Most frequent questions and answers
North West Argentina is really an all-year round destination, but remember seasons are opposite from the northern hemisphere. It’s coldest in July and August (winter), and hottest from November to March (Spring into Summer).
Rainy season in northwest Argentina is January and February, but there can also be storms in December and March. We use 4x4 vehicles, but the weather can be unpredictable so we have to be flexible, and in extreme circumstances may be forced to make changes to the itinerary. Storms tend to come late afternoon or overnight, and are very dramatic but over pretty quickly, so hopefully it shouldn’t affect your holiday too much.
Yes, of course: all the trips outlined on our webpage are designed to whet your appetite and show what’s achievable in a certain time-frame. But as we are tailor-made specialists, what we like to do is design the perfect holiday to suit you. So get in touch and we’ll start the conversation!
It’s unlikely. Salta is 1,200m (3,937ft) above sea level, so you don’t even notice the altitude: but going north and south we soon rise to 2,500m (8,200ft): and west into the mountain plateau we can reach altitudes over 3,000m (9,840ft). The key is acclimatisation, so most of our trips are designed to rise gradually: and to follow our advice en route: avoid heavy food and alcohol, drink lots of water, and chew coca leaves or drink coca tea (we’ll provide both).
For cancellation 14 days or fewer before departure on the trip with Poncho Tours, we reserve the right to retain 100% of the deposit paid. For cancellations between 15 and 30 days before departure, it’s 50%, and between 31 and 60 days in advance, it’s 25%. If you cancel more than 61 days in advance, the deposit is fully refundable. See our full terms and conditions here.
Only in rare cases: from most countries you will simply get an entry stamp in your passport on arrival which allows you to stay here for three months.
The national airline Aerolineas Argentinas offers the most flights from Buenos Aires to Salta, in addition to thrice weekly connections from Salta to Iguazu, Mendoza, Cordoba and Rosario. Apart from Aerolineas Argentinas, JetSmart and FlyBondi also operate daily flights between BA and Salta. Jetsmart also has three connections a week to Neuquen in northern Patagonia and twice weekly Iguazu. Here are the links you can visit: https://www.aerolineas.com.ar/ https://jetsmart.com/ar/es/ https://flybondi.com/ar
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Recent news
May 4, 2026
Poncho Tours in 2026 and Beyond
Last month I finished my last Poncho Tour spending Good Friday in Tilcara (always one of the best places for Easter colour), visiting some familiar pl...
Read More: Poncho Tours in 2026 and Beyond
December 29, 2025
Poncho Tours: the Next Generation
Eighteen years ago this week, my wife Alicia and I packed the last of our belongings into the loft of our house in London and left for a new life in A...
Read More: Poncho Tours: the Next Generation
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