Cycle Chile & Argentina: Atacama to Salta

The adventure begins in the town of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. Around 6pm, say hola to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big Chilean welcome over a group dinner. There’s no cycling today, so take time to rest your legs before our two-wheel adventure begins in earnest tomorrow. Want more time in San Pedro? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

This morning, we get on our bikes for the first time and go on an acclimatisation ride. We depart the town of San Pedro and cycle to the Valley of the Moon. Here you feel as if you have landed on another planet, it is often compared to Mars with its red rock formations and dunes. Afterwards, there is an option of cycling towards El Mirador de Ckari, near Piedra del Coyote, before returning to San Pedro.

We have a very early start as we depart our hotel and set off towards the impressive Tatio Geysers, the third largest geyser fields in the world and the largest in the southern hemisphere. They are located at 13,125ft (4,000m) above sea level. Departing early gives us an opportunity to watch sunrise in one of the most important geothermic fields in the world. On arrival, we enjoy breakfast in this beautiful setting, providing us the perfect way to warm up. On our return to San Pedro, we see beautiful sites and stop in the village of Machuca, an Atacameño village of 20 houses built from clay, straw and cactus wood. We head back to town in time for lunch. In the afternoon, we have a short ride to San Isidro’s Chapel, stopping along the way at well-known landmarks, including a winding canyon known as Devil’s Throat.

Today is a long travel day, so we rise early to say goodbye to Chile and cross via the Jama Pass (14,025ft/4,275m) into Argentina (approximately 2hr 30min). We stop along the way at viewpoints to stretch our legs and take photos, including a pause at lagoons in Los Flamencos National Reserve. Once we clear immigration, we continue our transfer to the town of Jama (approximately 2hr 30min). In Jama, we have lunch before we get on our bikes and cycle alongside the Jama salt flats. We then have another transfer (approximately 1hr 30min) to Susques, our destination for the night.

Departing Susques, we transfer (approximately one hour) to the small community of Cerro Negro. We unload the bikes and cycle towards the Salinas Grandes saltpans. Here, we can ride on salt before stopping for our picnic lunch. After lunch, we have a short transfer to the viewpoint of Abra de Potrerillos (13,680ft/4,170m). From here, we enjoy a fast, downhill ride with amazing views of coloured hills and rock formations until we arrive in Purmamarca, where we will lodge. There is an optional track that allows us to admire the famous Hill of Seven Colours.

We start the morning with a transfer (approximately one hour) to the small town of El Carmen. Today’s ride feels completely different as we cycle on a paved road through a rainforest heading south towards Salta. This route joins the two main cities in the province, Salta and Jujuy, and is one of the most spectacular cycling stages we encounter: a serpentine road with lush rainforest on either side. We stop for a picnic lunch near the town of La Caldera before boarding a transfer to our destination for the next two nights, the beautiful city of Salta.

Spend today at leisure and enjoy exploring beautiful Salta. We recommend visiting the Museum of High Altitude Archaeology (MAAM) in the town centre, where you can see one of three mummified children from the Inca civilisation, who were sacrificed at the Llullaillaco Volcano. Please ask your tour leader to organise your visit. We can also arrange a bird-watching trip to Finca Cielo Verde.

Kick off with a transfer (three hours) to Los Artesanos viewpoint, where we hop on our bikes and ride up Cuesta del Obispo (Bishop’s Hill). Enjoy wonderful viewpoints along the way, such as Piedra del Molino (Millstone) and Los Ojos del Cóndor (the Condor’s Eyes), where we will hopefully see soaring condors. Next, we cycle into the high desert of Los Cardones National Park, stopping at the Mirador del Camino del Inca (the Incas’ Route Viewpoint) before finishing in the village of Cachi.

This morning, we cycle the RN40 – the Artisans’ Route – stopping at El Colte, where loom weavers display their work on the side of the path. From there, we ride to Molinos, following the same road, a wavy route with gentle slopes. We finish at our accommodation for the night – an 18th-century hotel on the Incas’ Route.

Begin with a transfer (2hrs) to our starting point for today, in front of the Nuestra Señora de la Merced Chapel, just after Payogastilla. Then head south towards the Calchaquí Valley, riding for 10.5mi (17km) on hard gravel and stopping to visit San Carlos, the second-oldest village in Argentina. Continue cycling to our accommodation in the middle of vineyards, where we can relax after a rewarding ride.

Cycle to Quilmes this morning, Calchaquí ruins from an indigenous community that once lived among the Calchaquí mountains. Enjoy a guided tour before lunch, then transfer (approximately one hour) back to Cafayate.

After breakfast and a short transfer we start cycling towards and along the Conchas River valley, home to imposing rock formations, such as El Anfiteatro (The Amphitheatre) and La Garganta del Diablo (The Devil's Throat). We finish our ride at an abandoned railway station, Alemania (Germany); from there, take a transfer (approximately two hours) to our final accommodation.

The adventure draws to a close today and we begin our return journeys home. If you’d like more time to explore, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.