Salta and the Northwest
Macdermotts was born in Salta and the Northwest, it was Hugh’s home for five years and it’s where he organised his first trips. To make ends meet, he worked in several ranches in the Aconquija sierras of Tucuman province. However, in order to expand his horizons, he had to say goodbye to the charms of ranch life and move to Salta city. It was the most unstable time of the company, living from day to day, much of the time sleeping in the back of his truck or in some very precarious lodgings. It was nevertheless a happy time and where the philosophy of the company cemented around the aspiration to share with our guests a side of the country few visitors have the fortune to see.
Perhaps more than anywhere, the Northwest is where we know best and its people and lands hold a very special place in our hearts. One of our favourite trips there involved dressing a group of New Zealanders and Australians as Gauchos and riding with 7,000 gauchos through the city of Salta in the annual parade that pays homage to the hero of all Gauchos, the venerated General ‘Gaucho’ Guemes. We followed the parade by partying the night away with the Gauchos, who appeared overjoyed to see a group of foreigners taking part in one of their most revered festivals.
The Northwest was once part of the Inca Empire and their influence remains woven in amongst the Spanish colonial architecture, strong gaucho culture and an extraordinarily contrasting, kaleidoscopic landscape. The area encompasses four of Argentina’s provinces and boasts a host of habitats, from thick semi tropical forests teeming with wildlife, to lush green valleys and mountain deserts across which roam the ethereal Vicuña (a wild species of the llama family). The scenery changes so often and so dramatically, that the journeys between each of the fascinating destinations are as much the attraction as the destinations themselves.
Where to go & What to do
- Birdwatching in the Yungas Forests and the high mountain plains.
- Wine tasting along the base of the Andes from Cafayate up to Tilcara.
- Hiking and horse riding in the Andes mountains.
- Road trips around the Calchaqui and Humahuaca valleys.
- Exploring the history and culture of pre-Inca, Incan and Spanish Colonial settlements.
- Discovering the arts and crafts of the Andean communities.
Travel logistics
Our favourite months to travel to the northwest are March and April and October and November. However, with the right planning, it is possible to travel to the region at any time of the year.
During the Summer months, November to March, it rains on average once in every three days and it is not uncommon for the temperatures to go above 30 °C/86 °F. In the Winter, June to September, the temperatures can drop to 0 °C, though the days often remain Sunny and warm.
The main airport in the northwest is Salta, 2.5 hrs from Buenos Aires, and the best way to travel around the region is in a vehicle, either self-drive or with one of our expert local guides as your driver.
The Northwest links well with Iguazu and Mendoza via direct flights and the Atacama region of northern Chile, by driving over the Andes mountains.
Things to keep in mind
Altitude sickness is an issue in the region. Many of the towns are over 2,500 m/8,202 ft, it is not uncommon to drive over 3,000 m/9,843 ft or even 4,000 m/13,123 ft and many of the more extreme hikes can take you very high up, the highest point in the region is the Nevado de Cachi, 6,893 m/22615 ft. Who is affected can be unpredictable and we have spent a long time learning how to organise trips to the region so our guests have the least chance of being affected. Irrelevant of your state of health or experience in high altitudes, it is an important part of the planning.
Example Itineraries
Some examples of our favourite trips that we’ve organised over the years:
What our guests say
