Tour : Catamarca Total

Day 1

Transfer from Catamarca Airport. Cuesta del Portezuelo excursion, visit to Casa de la Puna, and city tour of San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca. Overnight in Catamarca.

Cuesta del Portezuelo – Departure from the hotel to the Museo de la Zamba, declared of tourist, cultural, and educational interest as the “Museo y Monumento a la Zamba Paisaje de Catamarca,” located at the entrance to Cuesta del Portezuelo. This scenic mountain road winds upward along dramatic cliffside curves, revealing beautiful landscapes and postcard-worthy views. The viewpoint sits at 1,070 meters above sea level and offers sweeping panoramic views of the Central Valley and its countless shades of green—an inspiring setting that gave rise to the famous zamba “Paisaje de Catamarca.”

Day 2

Departure to Fiambalá via Quebrada de la Cébila, Aimogasta, and Tinogasta. Ruta del Adobe excursion, visiting the Andacollo church and the Orquera family oratory. Visit to Termas de Fiambalá. Overnight in Fiambalá.

Ruta del Adobe – A circuit rich in the historical legacy of the Diaguita native peoples. This 55-kilometer route showcases churches and ruins where adobe is the main construction material. Some of these buildings are National Historic Monuments and are nearly 300 years old. Along the way, you’ll discover charming villages where skilled hands combined wood and adobe—a mixture of straw, mud, and natural binders—to create enduring houses, estancias, chapels, and churches.

Termas de Fiambalá – Fiambalá, whose name in the language of the native peoples means “water that penetrates the mountain,” is a small town located just a few kilometers from Tinogasta. Known for its pleasant microclimate and warm hospitality, Fiambalá is especially famous for its hot springs. Here, natural pools fed by mountain waters range in temperature from 38°C to 70°C. Their mineral-rich waters are highly recommended for their therapeutic and medicinal properties, offering a deeply relaxing and revitalizing experience.

Day 3

4x4 journey to the Seismiles region (Valle de Chaschuil, Laguna Azul), arrival at Balcón del Pissis via the majestic Quebrada de las Angosturas. Visit to Hostería de Cortaderas, Laguna Azul, and a walk through Quebrada del Indio. Overnight in Fiambalá.

Ruta de los Seismiles – The San Francisco International Pass lies 200 km from Fiambalá, connected by the legendary Ruta de los Seismiles. Along this route rise 24 peaks exceeding 6,000 meters in height. The journey offers extraordinary photo opportunities, with mountains and volcanoes framed by lagoons and mountain streams. The landscape displays a striking palette of reds, pinks, greens, and yellows. Wildlife sightings may include herds of vicuñas, guanacos, llamas, and, around the lagoons, pink flamingos and other bird species. Historically, this route served as a natural passage for native peoples, later used by colonizers and muleteers trading with Chile. Today, it offers unforgettable scenery such as Quebrada de las Angosturas, Valle de Chaschuil, and the imposing Andes range, home to four of the world’s highest volcanoes, including San Francisco, Incahuasi, Tres Cruces, Bertrand, and Los Patos—mountains where ancient cultures left their marks in high-altitude sanctuaries.

Balcón del Pissis – A must-see destination in Catamarca, located 170 km from Fiambalá. The landscape features mountains in shades of gray, brown, yellow, and black, contrasted with green grasslands nourished by mountain springs. Access involves 100 km along RN 60 followed by 70 km off-road, making a 4x4 vehicle essential. Weather conditions must always be considered, as temperatures can be extremely low even in summer. The viewpoint sits at 5,050 meters above sea level, making it the highest point in the world accessible by 4x4 tourism. From here, you can admire Ojo del Salado, the second-highest peak in the Andes, as well as colorful lagoons that change hues with the sunlight. A full 360-degree panorama reveals lagoons, white salt flats, and a striking green lagoon in the distance, surrounded by towering Seismiles peaks. Vicuñas, guanacos, condors, and even suris may appear along the route, all within a pristine and untouched natural environment shaped by extreme conditions.

Cañón del Indio – Located along National Route 60 after Cuesta de la Aguadita, toward the San Francisco Pass on the Ruta de los Seismiles. As a sign at the entrance invites: “Dare to walk through passages between rock walls over 20 meters high, along what was once a riverbed, until reaching the dazzling rock formations of an indigenous couple, almost kissing.” Beyond this point, the canyon opens into wider sections where towering rock walls rise like arrows pointing toward the sky.

Day 4

Half-day excursion to the small village of Saujil (north of Fiambalá), home to the Dunas Mágicas (optional sandboarding). Continue to Medanitos and the Tatón dunes. Travel to Belén and visit Arañitas Hilanderas at the Cuna del Poncho. Overnight in Belén.

Dunes – This region forms an extreme desert landscape. The excursion visits the dunes of Tatón, Saujil, and Medanitos, covering approximately 140 km. Here stands the Federico Kirbus Dune, named in honor of the journalist and geographer who documented it; at 1,230 meters high, it is the tallest dune in the world. Near Saujil, about 20 km north of Fiambalá, the “Duna Mágica de Saujil” rises 190 meters with a 45-degree slope, making it ideal for sandboarding. In Tatón, you’ll find the greatest concentration of massive dunes—once part of the legendary Dakar Rally and considered its toughest stage.

Arañitas Hilanderas – A textile cooperative formed by women from Belén and Catamarca. It began informally in 2001 during a period of severe social and economic crisis. Led by Rosa Husqueda de Vega, the initiative brought together mostly single mothers and heads of households to provide social support and restore self-esteem through traditional handcrafts. Originally called “Volver a Hilar,” the project focused on rescuing ancestral spinning and weaving techniques passed down orally through generations. Over time, it evolved into a nationally recognized cooperative, admired not only for its artisanal textile production but also for its commitment to solidarity-based, cooperative economics. Today, it attracts visitors, designers, and travelers from around the world interested in traditional craftsmanship and cultural heritage.

Day 5

Departure from Belén to El Peñón via Quebrada de Belén, Puerto Viejo, Villa Vil, and Barranca Larga. Ascent along Cuesta de Randolfo to reach the Médanos de Randolfo (optional walk on the dunes). Continue to Laguna Blanca and on to Campo de Piedra Pómez. Overnight in Antofagasta.

Quebrada de Belén – An 11 km stretch north of Belén along RN 40, featuring numerous mountains and serving as access to the northern area of the department. Along the route lies the Quebrada de Belén Municipal Reserve, where sculptures of native animals such as the quirquincho, hare, and suri can be found.

Villa Vil – Located 80 km from Belén, Villa Vil was originally inhabited by the Huillahuiles, whose name in the cacán language means “Hare’s Watering Place.” This transitional region between pre-puna and puna landscapes boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage expressed through archaeology, museums, handicrafts, music, folklore, traditional cuisine, and local customs. Nearby are Los Castillos de Villa Vil, natural rock formations sculpted by wind and water erosion over millions of years, resembling gothic castle towers in varied tones.

Campo de Piedra Pómez – This vast landscape of pumice stone formed over thousands of years through volcanic activity and erosion. Characterized by arid soil, extreme daily temperature variations, and scarce rainfall, the area embodies the classic puna environment. It spans over 75,000 hectares, with elevations ranging from 3,050 to 4,850 meters above sea level. Scientific studies suggest the area was shaped by volcanic events dating from 20 million to as recently as 10,000 years ago, creating one of Catamarca’s most surreal and striking natural wonders.

Day 6

Excursion to Laguna Antofagasta, Los Colorados, Salar de Antofalla (one of the largest salt flats in the world, approximately 160 km long), Ojos de Campo, and the ancestral village of Antofalla. Overnight in Antofagasta.

Salar de Antofalla – Located in the Puna de Atacama, this immense salt flat stretches over 164 km, making it the longest in the world. At an average altitude of 3,900 meters above sea level, it is dominated by the impressive Antofalla volcano, rising to 6,409 meters. The region is extremely remote and sparsely populated, home to a small indigenous community. In the heart of the salt flat are the Ojos del Campo—small interconnected lagoons, each with distinct colors—as well as geysers and ancient stromatolites, among the oldest known life forms on Earth, estimated to be 3.5 billion years old.

Day 7

Volcán Galán excursion, beginning at the corner of the sand dune, visiting Laguna Cavi and Laguna Grande—one of the world’s largest pink flamingo reserves—reaching an average altitude of 4,300 meters above sea level. Overnight in Belén.

Volcán Galán – From Antofagasta de la Sierra, the journey follows rugged tracks and gravel roads to reach the immense caldera of Volcán Galán, considered one of the world’s mega-volcanoes. Its crater measures approximately 23 by 46 km. Laguna Grande becomes a spectacular summer nesting site for between 18,000 and 25,000 pink flamingos, creating an unforgettable pink-hued landscape. Further on, at 4,740 meters above sea level, panoramic views reveal the entire caldera and the interior Laguna Diamante, whose intense color is due to salinity levels eight times higher than seawater. The route also offers views of the Galán ridge, rising to 5,912 meters, with permanent snow at its summit, and steaming hot springs that hint at ongoing volcanic activity beneath the surface.

Day 8

Visit to El Shincal de Quimivil. Return to San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca. Free afternoon. Overnight in Catamarca.

Day 9

Transfer to Catamarca Airport.