Colours of Vallecito

We travel south from Salta through the Parque Nacional de los Cardones into the Valles Calchaquies. We will have time for a couple of hours hiking along the way, and could even visit a vineyard in the world's highest-altitude wine region.

Overnight and acclimatization in Cachi (2,300m altitude), a restful, scenic town protected by a 6,300m mountain range.

On our first day of full hiking, we follow a riverbed upstream, hitting the 3,000m altitude mark before a picnic lunch. Then it’s a tough climb to a peak of 3,558m, our highest altitude along the whole walk, to be rewarded by some stunning views of the snow-topped mountains of Cachi, Palermo, and San Miguel: and the multi-colored canyon of Vallecito. We arrive at Patahuasi for our overnight stop in the adobe brick home of Juan and Nilda. They will cook us dinner before the night’s entertainment: marveling at the stunning starscape in this corner of the wilderness.

distance 16km: hiking time 6 to 8 hrs: highest altitude 3,558m: overnight altitude 3,531m

The following day we descend gently into Vallecito canyon: a little-visited spot of great natural beauty between the Valles Calchaquies and the gorge of the Quebrada del Toro. We can visit the primary school where a teacher and a cook live most of the year dedicated to a handful of pupils. The landscape over the next few kilometres, as we continue our descent along the river bed, was transformed by a mudslide during the rainy season of summer 2016. A 10-metre deep channel was gouged out in the course of a few hours: an example of the dramatic erosion which constantly changes the landscape in this area. Overnight in the adobe home of Beto and Elda.

distance 13km: hiking time 4 to 5 hrs: highest altitude 3,531m (start): overnight altitude 2,690m

An early morning start to walk out of the valley, climbing to a peak of 3,276m, with great views of snow-topped mountains and the Parque Nacional de Los Cardones. We get a birds’ eye view of Payogasta valley before descending for lunch: empanadas and cold Salta beer. From here we can visit the Inca ruins of Potrero before returning to Salta. Or, with a few extra days, we can continue by vehicle south into the Valles Calchaquies wine region or north towards La Poma and the Altiplano mountain plateau.

distance 17km: hiking time 6 to 8 hrs: highest altitude 3,276m

overall distance: 46 km over 3 days

highest altitude: 3,558m

maximum distance per day: 18km

grade of difficulty: 4/5