Trekking to the Clouds

The trip begins at the bus terminal in the city of Salta. We took the bus that goes to San Antonio de los Cobres (departs at 8 am – time to be confirmed on each departure as it may vary). We got off the bus at the Gendarmerie Outpost of Ingeniero Maury, next to a school. After checking in the luggage and backpacks for the day, we provide lunch boxes, fill our water bottles and start walking. The first part is uphill. The trail is well marked and the slopes are mild / moderate but continuous. As we ascend the Quebrada del Toro starts looming before us in all its glory as well as the snowy peaksof Mount San Miguel and Acay behind the hills.

After three hours of walking uphill we reach "La Virgen del Caminante" (The pilgrim´s Virgin) reference point for many mountaineers in the area. From this point the path continues with intermittent ascents and descents but mostly downhill. Our destination is Sillón del Inca ruins, where our first camp will take place. We'll have some spare time to walk around the area at this archaeological site that was once part of the Inca Empire.

The second day we start from Sillón del Inca and the path will lead us over the 3,000 meters. We walk along one of the most beautiful places of agricultural production in the area, and if we are lucky, we will see some condors flying over us.

We continue the road with a slight increase up to the maximum height of travel in the crossing clearing, reaching 3418 meters above sea level. Here the journey will show us one of the most spectacular views of the trip. From this point well above the clouds you will get to see all the Lerma Valley and the city of Salta.

Then the trail descends and leads us, accompanied by spectacular views, to the site of our second camp. The camp takes place in the company of local people who have their agricultural production ranch. Here we can share experiences and learn about the lifestyle of the current inhabitants of the area.

The third day the trail leads us closer to the typical wetland forest of Yungas. We left our camp and began to descend. Here the views are completely different from what they used to be in the previous two days. After a short hike we find that some trees and vegetation begin to grow on the mountains. We found Rivers and waterfalls. The trail continues in slight decline to the point where two mountain rivers meet. At this point those who opted for the Express version of Trekking to the Clouds go on another trail continuing their way down the river a few kilometers to the meeting point on the vehicle that will take us to Salta. The rest of the group continues upstream, and then goes into the Yungas. Here there is a first slight rise that gets more intense towards the end of the walk.

We began the last day of our tour, already immersed in Salta Yunga. The trail goes along charming landscapes towards the city of Salta.

Walking on the edge of the mountain, we enjoy the flora and fauna of the region, in contact, every few kilometers, with local inhabitants who breed their cattle in these inhospitable places. The last part of the tour will take us to the foot of the city of Salta, in the Quebrada de San Lorenzo. Once in the Quebrada we share a few drinks, to end the trip by returning on a bus to the city of Salta.