Salt & Seven Colours

I am a 66 year old and traveled with my 22 year old son to the north after a week in Buenos Aires. The three days we spent with Nick as our guide were definitely the highlight of our two weeks in Argentina. Nick is patient, flexible, gregarious and chatty. He will put you at ease immediately. He is an encyclopedia of information, fluent in both English and Spanish, vastly knowledgeable about the history and geography of the country and the Salta and Jujuy provinces. He can help you navigate through rough terrain and any situation that might arise for a tourist. He has connections with many locals and will be sure you get to see and do whatever is on your bucket list. The sites you see with Poncho Tours are astonishing. Nick will feel like a friend who makes the trip very comfortable. I recommend Poncho enthusiastically.

My husband and I selected Poncho Tours based on their excellent online reviews and we could not be more pleased. Nick was very responsive to our inquiry. He provided detailed information, was prompt with emails, and flexible with our planning for 3 days of touring in the Salta and Jujuy provinces of Argentina. Similarly, our on-the-ground guide Rodrigo was great! He was friendly, easy to get along with, knowledgeable, willing to adjust our daily schedule if needed, and proud to share his love for the region. Don't hesitate to contact Poncho Tours for an A+ experience! So glad we did!

I did a 6day trip combining Salt & seven colours & the classic wine tour. Nick gives personalised attention pre trip & met me at the airport, went over the itinerary & gave tips of what to do in Salta. We had to miss out a couple of sites due to roads being washed away, nonetheless it was very varied with stunning landscapes, interesting villages & fascinating wineries. I was rather dubious about the wisdom of booking the trip alone but needn't have had any concerns. Rodrigo is courteous & kind, very knowledgeable & a very safe driver. I felt well looked after & totally at ease with him & hopefully will get back to do another trip! Jane

Our tour with Rodrigo was outstanding. The sights were amazing, and we appreciated his knowledge, flexibility, and simpatico. Well worth the investment to have this personalized attention and schedule. Despite road closings at one point, we didn't miss a thing, thanks to Rodrigo's knowledge of the area.And Nick was a great help before the trip, helping us with accommodation suggestions and bookings, money exchange tips, and more.Highly recommend Poncho Tours!

We had a wonderful experience with Poncho Tours. Co-owner Nick and guide/driver Rodrigo were extremely organized and very knowledgeable. The tour was customized to our tastes with a winery tour/tasting, llama trek and Train to the Clouds ride. Nick presented various options for lodging, and you could pick which ones fit your budget. Do not miss the curvy road trip to the 14-color mountain in the Serranía de Hornocal! I would highly recommend Poncho Tours to anyone traveling in northwestern Argentina.

I requested a modification to the Salt and Seven Colours tour--to see the flamingos in the Quebrada del Toro in off-season. Although Nick's usual local guides weren't available, he scouted the route for me and did the tour himself. We were still able to see quite a few flamingos, and it was a beautiful and tranquil place. It would have been great to do the full four days so I could have had time to hike a bit of the Inca Trail, and spend more time in some of the other spots. Although the cost was a little higher than I had been expecting compared to other countries I've been to in the past, once I went on the tour, I could see the rough roads cause wear and tear on the vehicle, and the winding roads at high altitude could be tough on the driver. Lodging and food in the area costs very little, so it all evens out in the end.Alicia also did a Salta city tour with me. I wasn't feeling well that day, and she was patient with my slow pace. Because the hotels in the area don't offer laundry service, she accompanied me to the laundromat before and after the tour.

We loved our tours with Nick - he made everything so straightforward for us so we were able to just sit back and enjoy the incredible scenery around the Salta region. The Inca trail hike was a particular experience we were very keen to have while in Argentina and we’re happy we found Nick to guide us. It was amazing to get off the beaten track from the more visited tourist attractions and to have a hike through the stunning mountain landscapes past several sites of Incan ruins. Nick also suggested adding a visit to the pre-Incan ruins at Tastil and we were really glad we saw these as well. We also enjoyed Nick’s company and the information he gave us about the area while we were exploring. We’d very happily book with Poncho Tours if/when we (hopefully!) come back to Argentina!

If you are reading these reviews it's probably because you are considering a bespoke tour around the Salta region of North West Argentina, well if you want our advice, just do it!... and choose Poncho Tours!From the moment Nick met us at the airport the customer service provided was second to none. Nick tailors the trip to your requirements therefore you can incorporate things you are more interested in and skip the things you don't like. We chose to do the 4 day Salt & Seven Colours trip. The first day involved a trip to the Quebrada de Humahacua. Nicks knowledge of the region means that as you wind through this rocky narrow mountain valley he even knows what time of day to arrive at the seven coloured hills in Pumamarca to see it at it's best - and what a spectacular view it is with the sunlight showing off the distinctive rock colours. Next it was time for a spot of lunch. Nick recommended a local place which served up a variety of different flavoured Empanadas, delicious. The rest of the day involved exploring the exceptional Spanish colonial villages and churches. Highlights included the Iglesia de Santa Rosa de Lima and the Cemiterio Nuestra Senora del Carmen. Our overnight resting place would be the village of Tilcara where we were lucky enough to witness the pan pipe playing of the Easter pilgrims, as well as speak to the locals.The second day began with a hike to the Devils Throat Waterfall followed by a trip to the pre inca ruins at Pucara de Tilcara which affords stunning views of the valley. After a trip to Humahuaca and taking in the huge Monument of Independence we headed along the Cuesta De Lipan which is a stunning drive through long sweeping bends, climbing rapidly. The views are breathtaking and Nick made sure there were plenty of stops for photo opportunities. We were heading for the high altitude salt flats of the Salinas Grandes where you feel like you have been transported to a different world. Afterwards we were afforded a well earned rest in the high altitude village of Susques.Until now we were on surprisingly well tarmacked roads and although the trip does involve long drives there is so much to see that the time still passes too quickly. Nicks friendly manner also means its like taking a trip with an old friend. The third day however involved a huge drive on the historic route 40 which meant going off the beaten track and yet more stunning but different scenery. Wildlife wise there are constant herds of Llama and Vicuna and we also managed to spot an elusive Rhea. Highlights along this route are La Jugueteria where huge boulders have seemingly been scattered randomly all over the landscape and the Tuzgle Volcano where a short hike and a picnic took us to over 4600m above sea level. Nick has designed the trip so that the climb is a gradual one so thankfully no sign of the dreaded altitude sickness. The end of route 40 brought us to the famous Viaducto de la Polvorilla where the train to the clouds crosses. Another hike this time up the hill side and along the railway track and we were ready for our overnight stop at San Antonio de los Cobres.The fourth and final day saw us visit the ruins at Tastil and then hike part of the Inca trail. One of the highlights of the trip is sometimes Nick will pick of a local who is looking for a lift. As some of the villages are extremely remote this can save hours and hours of walking for the local. Sometimes you don't see another car for hours on end. As Nick has settled in Salta and is bilingual he will translate as you ask the local about his life in the area, it is this personal touch that you just wouldn't get anywhere else. Nick can also pick up nuggets of information which he can use on his next trip. After the Inca walk where you visit several ruins we headed back to Salta via the Quebrada de Toro and yet more stunning and unique scenery.We cannot recommend Poncho Tours enough, it's the personal experience that really sets this apart. Nick will get you up close and personal with the area and immerse you in the local culture whether that be eating with the locals, chewing Coca or drinking the local brew Mate.Thanks to Nick for an unforgettable experience, hopefully one day we will return to the region and take another tour. Cheers... or should that be a nod to Pachamama.