Horse Riding in the Great North

per person

This horse riding adventure in the North of Argentina is the perfect opportunity to discover the fascinating landscapes of the Calchaqui Valleys on the back of a Peruvian horse. Pablo and Nestor’s comfortable horses will take you on a ride through the mountain chains that you will never forget.

The Calchaqui Valley is an area in the northwest of Argentina with a 520 km extension. It goes from La Poma to the north until Punta Balasto to the south. The name comes from the Calchaquies, an indigenous tribe. They were at war against the Spanish settlers for 100 years, resisting their conquest.

It’s a very unique and beautiful region of the country. It offers a one-of-a-kind landscape. On one hand, the Andes has an arid weather and the mountain desert. On the other hand, it also has the subtropical forest. Also, it carries a powerful cultural heritage. It has been the home of many tribes and pre-Columbian towns apart from colonial settlements.

During this ride, you will be able to visit the following localities: Cachi, Seclantás, Molinos, Angastaco, San Carlos and Cafayate.

8 Nights / 9 Days

Trail Rides

Destination
Salta
Departure
Salta City
Included

Accomodation

Advanced

Alcoholic Drinks

Beginner

Breakfast

Dinner

Intermediate

Lunch

private Guides

Riding Horses

Spa

Transport
Not Included

Caballos de equitación

Economic

Endurance Horses

Equipment

Full Board Accomodation

Gimnasio

Half Board Accomodation

Jumping Horses

Local Tours

Luxury

Polo Horses

Tickets to National Parks

From our gallery

1

Itinerary

Pick up at Salta’s city Airport. Chick in at Hotel Solar del Plata. Dinner at Peña Los Cardones, there is no Salta trip without peñas! They are the best to try local food and see live folklore shows.
The first day will be all about meeting the horses and learning about peruvian ones. Pablo and Nestor have more than 20 years breeding and working with them. Riders will get to know their peculiar way of moving, the “Paso Llano”, a 4 beat lateral gait which is very comfortable and reaches an average speed of 10 to 12 km per hour.
The meeting point will be Chicoana, located 30 minutes away from the city of Salta. This town is surrounded by mountains and green valleys. The first day ride will be near here. Then, dinner and night at Hotel Solar del Plaza.
After breakfast, a transfer will take you to Cachi through Cuesta del Obispo. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks and high cactuses, this town (located 3.000 meters above sea level) is full of adobe made houses and whote colonial buildings. You will witness evidence of ancient civilizations together with an incredible natural landscape. You will enjoy a day of resting and strolling. Check in at Hotel La Merced del Alto in the outskirts. This was made of local materials and lies at the foot of the Nevado where you can appreciate the incredible views of the Calchaqui Valleys. It has a spa that will be very useful the next day!
The adventure begins after breakfast! Riders will go to Seclantas, a little Calchaqui Valley town. There will be ancient Inca ruins on the way. Lunch will be near the mythical Route 40 that crosses the country from north to south. After a few hours riding through the Artisans Path they will arrive at the destination town where they will sleep at Montenieva Farm. This is a typical family house that stands out for its delicious home made food.
Ride to Molinos: on the second day you’ll go through the Calchaqui Valleys route where wonderful views will await: rivers, valleys and mountains. Lunch will be at the edge of Brealito lagoon and after a break riders will continue to Pueblo Los Molinos. These lands were inhabited by the Tiahuanaco and were then occupied by the settlers. Hacienda Los Molinos established here, a mandatory stop in the region. It’s a traditional hacienda that dates back to the 18th century and was home to the last governor of Salta appointed by the king of Spain. The town goes according to the Hacienda which nowadays works as a hotel that riders will be able to enjoy. It preserves the essence and features of colonial times. Dinner will be here.
On the third day riding through the valleys the final destination will be Angastaco, on the 44,2 km of the Route 40. You’ll notice the contrast between the intense green of the crops with the arid valley. Dinner and night at Finca El Carmen, a very fine and cozy lodge. In its property lies one of the oldest churches of the Valley that goes back to 1970.
After some homemade bread and typical local jams, horses and riders will begin a new day of adventure. The first stop will be at La Flecha, a place that will take some time to cover. Together with El Ventisquero, these places have a moonlike landscape. You’ll find many rocky formations. You’ll ride the area with the horses and get lost in this moonscape. The night will be spent at a camp in La Viñita.
The fifth day riding will be the last one. On this day you’ll go from Las Viñitas to San Carlos locality. On the way you’ll see quebradas and mountains, going through a very small town called San Lucas until you reach San Carlos, a place with a lot of history. This was once the home of the Jesuits that established the Mission San Carlos de Borromeo, which was later destroyed in 1.658 when the war against the Calchaquies started. The Jesuits never returned to this area. In San Carlos, riders will say goodbye to the horses and will take a transfer to Cafayate (20 minutes away).
Check in at Hotel Patios de Cafayate. This is a worldly known place thanks to the elaboration of the Torrontes wine. You’ll see another great contrast between the vines and the red rocky formations. The experience at this hotel is awesome! It has 32 rooms and it goes back to 1.892. It’s surrounded by the Esteco winery and the Calchaqui Valleys. It has everything you need for a good after-ride rest and relaxation, but for those who can’t get enough, the hotel offers a very cool ride through the wineries. On the next day, the Calchaqui Valley experience comes to an end. Optional: to extend the stay to enjoy and get to know the place a bit better.

Location

The Calchaqui Valleys is a mountain chain that goes from the northwest of the country 520 km to the south through the provinces of Salta, Tucuman and Catamarca.

Other activities for riders and non riders companions

The Calchaqui Valley route can be covered by car going through Cachi, Seclantas, Los Molinos and Cafayate such as the riders do. EQUUS Argentina can show you some of the activities and places to know on the way.

Cachi: besides being a very lovely town full of history, it’s the home of Nevado de Cachi, the highest mountain of the region. Also, 1 km away is the Mirador, another great place to know. It’s a cemetery with an arch gallery or “recova”.

Seclantas: definitely, the workshop of Ponchos del Tero Guzman is one of the most interesting places to visit in the town. His ponchos are famous, he made one for the Pope Juan Pablo Segundo and one for the current Pope Francisco, apart from many other argentine celebrities.

Cafayate: this region is the number one of Salta’s touristic places. It has many things to do! Among them:

You can do an excursion to the rocky formations of the Quebrada de Las Conchas. Here you’ll find the Amphitheater, a natural vault made of 20 metres high rocks that create a perfect acoustic. Garganta del Diablo is one of the most important rocky formations that can be visited by an excursion that will take you to many other places, or you can go by your own means and take all the time you would like to discover it.

Cafayate, “the town that has it all”, as its meaning in Quechua says. It is true, walking and getting to know this town is an activity that takes its time. There is a very interesting fusion between the old cultures and the colonial style and the modern times brought by tourism in the last years. The church stands out, located in the main Plaza.

Winery tours and wine tasting is a must in this region.