EL Chalten: The Best Trekking experience in Argentina

The snow-capped magnificence of the Fitz Roy Mount Range nearby invites you to experience our  Adventure Classic plus programme.

For 3 days you will have the chance to trek to Laguna Torre, Laguna de Los 3 and visit Los Huemules private reservation. All this while spending nights in a stunning natural setting, at Poincenot Camp and at the cottage of Refugio Cagliero.

Be immersed in nature as you walk along numerous trails crossing forests, reaching breathtaking viewpoints of glaciers and mountains which make this corner of Patagonia so unique.

Chalten Classic Plus – 3 Days / 2 Nights.

Day 1:

Early in the morning meet your guide to start the hike to Laguna Torre. This 19km wonderful trekking takes you through a great glacial valley full of Lenga Trees to find Laguna Torre and the famous Torre Mountain. Enjoy this breathtaking view while having a quick lunch. Afterwards descend on the Madre e Hija trail towards the Poincenot Base camp. Enjoy dinner, get some rest and be ready for your next day. 

 

Day 2:

After breakfast we hike to Laguna de los Tres. This steep trek leads you to the beautiful turquoise colored waters lagoon which is the closest point to Fitz Roy Mount showing us great scenery. Afterwards descend by Piedras Blancas Glaciar viewpoint and continue towards Hosteria El Pilar. We meet our driver who will transfer us to Estancia Los Huemules.

Los Huemules is a private reservation focused on conservation. We stop at the Visitors center to get a lot of information and learn about the area and choose the best trail to Puesto Cagliero. Afterwards relax at the cottage, contemplating the stunning views of the Cagliero Glacier as you drink some wine. Dinner is included. 

 

Day 3

After breakfast, this morning is a great opportunity to explore the different hikes that Reserva Los Huemules has to offer. 

 

In the afternoon, we will get transferred back to your hotel at El Chalten village.

Recharge your energy with this active program!

 

 

Included: 

*1 night camping at Poincenot

*1 night at the refuge

*Guide

*1 Porter every 3 pax

*Meals

 

Not Included:

*tips

*Personal expenses

*Pre-Post tours, such as nights in El Chalten and transfers from/to El Chalten.

Walk through ancient Inca roads! Trekking to the clouds.

Live this extraordinary experience in the Argentinean Northwest!

Walk through ancient Inca roads and discover old ruins and breathtaking landscapes. Enjoy unique moments interacting with locals while sharing special dinners and warm campfires.

The Trekking to the Clouds proposes three different experiences depending on how many days you choose to walk and the level of difficulty of each version.

Sillon del Inca 

This version is intended for those seeking for a mountain experience within the immensity of Quebrada del Toro. The trail leads to a peculiar panoramic lookout point where native villagers built an observatory (El Observatorio) to share the incredible view with visitors.  The path continues towards Sillón del Inca ruins where we will camp for the night. The way back is through Mount Golgota, passing by Abra del Caminante, reaching 3000 mts above sea level, enjoying wonderful panoramic views of the region. The day ends descending through Golgota’s slope down to the picturesque village of Ingeniero Maury.

Confluencia: 

For those looking for a more active experience and a deeper interaction with locals.

First night camping at Sillón del Inca Ruins, then on the second day, the trek continues up to Abra de la Cruz, the highest point of the trail (3400 mts above sea level). If the sky is clear, the immensity of Valle de Lerma, where Salta city is located, comes into full view. By the afternoon, the Reinaga family will be expecting us in their cozy mountain home expecting to share a dinner full of experiences as we enjoy a privileged view of the hills. During day three, the trek will continue from the deserted mountains towards the outskirts of the Yunga forest descending alongside Río Astilleros, where the vehicle to return to Salta will be waiting for us.

San Lorenzo:

For those travelers who want to extend and experience the full version of Trekking to the Clouds, it is possible to add an extra night and arrive in San Lorenzo. 

The third day, travelers leave the deserted area to enter the density of the Yunga forest. The night is spent at Miss Feliciana Sarapura’s house, with whom we will share our evening meal cooked with local ingredients and a very welcoming smile.

On day four, the trail takes us through the lower hills, the vegetation gets more lush as we approach the outskirts of the yunga’s forest. We may come across the local people herding their cattle as they move from one post to another looking for better grass.

In the afternoon we reach San Lorenzo village, near Salta city. As we get in the truck that will take us back we leave this wonderful adventure behind, treasuring memories that will never be forgotten.

Join us on this adventure, walk over the clouds and feel like touching the sky!

TREKKING TO THE CLOUDS 2020 DATES

A Kallpa classic, the Trekking to the Clouds returns as every year. Find out the dates, available routes of choice and highlights.

Going across the mountains and through the ancient roads of the Inca Empire, this journey will make you discover ruins, views and magnificent landscapes. To do so, the Trekking to the Clouds offers three different versions with different lengths: 

Sillón del Inca – 2 days / 1 night:

Ideal for those looking for two days of activity to train the body and the senses. This version of the Trekking to the Clouds is intended for those seeking for a mountain experience within the immensity of Quebrada del Toro.

The trail- that once was part of the ancient roads of the Inca Empire- will lead us in a moderate ascent up to a peculiar panoramic lookout point where the old villagers installed an observatory (El Observatorio) in order to anticipate the presence of visitors.

Then the path will take us to the ruins of Sillón del Inca, where we will spend the night. The way back is through Mount Golgota, passing by Abra del Caminante, a milestone which today’s climbers use to frequent. The day ends descending through Golgota’s slope down to the picturesque town of Ingeniero Maury. 

Confluencia – 3 days / 2 nights:

Intended for those looking for a more active experience and in contact with the actual inhabitants of the hills. This version of the Trekking to the Clouds will guide us through the landscapes of Quebrada del Toro passing by El Observatorio (panoramic lookout point of the ancient villagers).

The first night we will camp next to the ruins of Sillón del Inca. During day two, we will continue our ascent up to Abra de la Cruz, the highest point of the trail. From this point, if the sky is clear, we can appreciate all the immensity of Valle de Lerma, where Salta city is located.

By the afternoon, we will be welcomed in by the Reinaga family, with whom we will share a dinner full of experiences and histories and with a privileged view of the hills. During day three, we will go from the dry areas to the beginning of the Yunga.

We will descend alongside Río Astilleros, where the vehicle to return to Salta will be waiting.

San Lorenzo – 4 days / 3 nights:

Descending through San Lorenzo’s Gorge after four days walking among practically uninhabited mountains and valleys is an unrivalled sensation. A memorable contrast between the immensity of the hills, the loneliness of the villagers and the sudden presence of Salta city ahead of us.

This version of the Trekking to the Clouds will also guide us through the landscapes of Quebrada del Toro passing by El Observatorio (panoramic lookout point of the ancient villagers).

The first night we will camp next to the ruins of Sillón del Inca. During day number two, we will continue our ascent up to Abra de la Cruz, the highest lookout point of the trail. From there, if the sky is clear, we can appreciate all the immensity of Valle de Lerma, where Salta city is located.

By the afternoon, we will be welcomed in by the Reinaga family, with whom we will share a dinner full of experiences and stories and with a privileged view of the hills. During day three we will leave the dry area to enter the density of the Yunga.

We will share the night with Miss Feliciana Sarapura. During day four, our walk through the edge of the hills begins until we conquer, in the afternoon, our arrival to San Lorenzo, next to the city of Salta.

If you´re willing to adventure yourself into the clouds, we offer a monthly Sillón del Inca tour from January to December, and a monthly Confluencia and San Lorenzo tour from April to November. These are the departure dates for 2020:

Please, contact us to make your reservation.

 

LLULLAILLACO VOLCANO BASE CAMP IN SALTA

LLULLAILLACO VOLCANO BASE CAMP IN SALTA

Ideal for adventurous travelers who want to live a unique experience in a special off the beaten track place, directly benefiting the local community. 

The Llullaillaco Volcano -with 6,739 masl- is the highest in the province of Salta and the second highest active volcano in the world after the Ojos del Salado, on the border between Argentina and Chile. 

Considered the Incas’ sacred volcano and the highest sanctuary of its empire, its fame grew even more after the Children of Llullaillaco were discovered: three mummified children were found in March 1999 close to the summit. They were perfectly preserved by cold and next to more than 150 objects that made up their funeral trousseau, consisting of miniature human and animal figures, utensils and food. Today they are exhibited at the Museum of High Mountain Archaeology (MAAM) in Salta and the ceremonial complex of Llullaillaco was declared a World Heritage Site. 

There are many reasons why mountaineers from all over the world venture to ascend to the summit of this Sacred Volcano. Being so, now we can find at its base the first Tourist Camp in the Argentine puna.

The Llullaillaco Base Camp project was created with the purpose of promoting the sustainable development of the local communities connected with active tourism in the region. Together with Tolar Grande community leaders, the “Puna Vision Foundation” was born with the aim of training local young people to continue the development of this activity in the area, being the ones who will welcome and assist guests at the camp.

Regarding the campsite amenities, it is prepared to provide quality personalized service and comfort for 24 people at the same time. For safety, there’s permanent connection to a base in Salta via satellite phone, allowing 24/7 communication regarding information about expeditions, weather conditions and efficiently coordinate potential evacuations. The service is also available for visitors to contact their families. 

Meals are carefully prepared in the kitchen tent, fully equipped to provide fresh food, complying with hygiene and safety standards. The in-camp chef offers a wide menu including red and white meat, pizza and pasta, cakes, fresh fruits and cereals among other options. All meals are served at the dining dome. 

There are 1200 liter drinking water supply for guests and solar energy provides power with low environmental impact, available to charge small electronic devices. There is also a toilet (with no showers) to avoid travelers’ impact in the area. 

The camp is located at 4500 masl, which is ideal for mountaineers’ good acclimatization willing to climb the volcano, as well as for those adventure travelers in 4×4 vehicles, motorbikes or MTB travelers passing by the area. 

Using it as a base also enables new trekking possibilities. Just to mention a couple of them, a 6 hour hike to Tambo -an Inca ruin at the foot of the volcano- which starts at 5000 meters and ascends to 5300 meters. And a one hour night walk ascending to the viewpoint in front of the camp to contemplate the starry sky (which may also be done during the day to get a completely different view).

Please, ask your executive about the Kallpa programs already available to get to know the Puna through different activities, visiting and staying at the camp from November to March. An unmissable experience for every adventurer!