Horseback Crossing from the Yungas to the Calchaquí Valleys - Riding the Subandean Sierras - Salta

South of the city of Salta and north of Tucumán lies a magical place with a special microclimate that remains little known: the Subandean Sierras. Very close to Rosario de la Frontera.

An environment of abundant vegetation, jungle-yunga style, mixed with the aridity of the higher ground, where cardón cacti and grasslands combine with the intense hues typical of the bare hillsides. The north in all its immensity. It is in this magnificent setting that we offer a new horseback adventure, in the same style as our classic full-week mountain rides. This time under the northern sun, which always shines with a broad smile. 

We recommend: Sleeping in Salta the night before, or in Rosario de la Frontera itself. Hostel recommended. 

Day 1: Meeting in Rosario de la Frontera (ask about transfer from Salta). We set off toward the sierras, entering right into the YUNGAS region, following an ancient trail used during the fight for Independence by Güemes' Gauchos. We continue the day's ride to cross the Huahico Ondo, which lets us know we are close to reaching the La Vaquería spot, located in the middle of the Subandean sierras. We begin entering the transition environment between yungas and Calchaquí valleys, in the Yunga Forest and High-Altitude Grassland sector. Once at La Vaquería,  we will spend the night at the Escuela Albergue (boarding school), where we settle in to rest and enjoy the place.  Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 2: Breakfast, then we begin the ride through ravines and small valleys of reddish earth, heading toward the LA ANGOSTURA spot, from where we will climb toward the Carahuasi Sierras, (2700 m.a.s.l.) on a plateau amid the high-altitude grassland. In the final hours of the day we will arrive at our camp at Puesto El Angosto, in the middle of the sierras. Rest. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Breakfast. In the early hours of the day, after enjoying the birdsong and the peace of the natural surroundings, we continue toward our destination, crossing the Carahuasi sierras through a high-altitude grassland environment; here we will spend the night camping under the stars. Dinner and rest.

Day 4: Breakfast, and we continue the ride, crossing the Subandean Sierras in their entirety, finishing our great journey in the afternoon at Finca Los Churquis in the town of Guachipas. Farewell-to-the-mountain dinner.

Day 5: Breakfast. In the morning, now without the horses, we will have time to enjoy the place before heading back home. Last photos and transfer to the city of Salta, arriving there around midday after passing through different towns in the Valleys. End of our services.

The program may be modified on the fly depending on various circumstances and factors, such as weather or group-related issues. Decisions will be made exclusively by the guides, baqueanos (local horsemen/trackers), and coordinators.

Average riding hours per day: 6

• Transfer to Salta at the end of the ride 
• All meals, from lunch on day 1 through breakfast on day 5.
• Guides and baqueanos.
• Horses
• Pack mules and donkeys
• Nights at the farmhouse
• nights in tents
• General kitchen and first aid equipment
• Satellite phone
• Tents
• Coordination
• Ongoing assistance

• Transfer from Salta to Rosario de la Frontera (please inquire)
• Expenses incurred from leaving the program early.
• Tips
• Travel to Salta

Full Board:

Our mountain menus are varied. From pasta with tasty sauces to stews or grilled meats (Argentine chivito/kid goat). Picadas, salads, and easy-to-digest meals are common at midday.

It is necessary to fill out the personal/medical form to clarify if anyone does not eat certain kinds of food.

• Warm sleeping bag (between -2 and -5° comfort rating) ***
• Insulating sleeping pad
• Waterproof windbreaker jacket with hood (if not waterproof, supplement with a rain cape)
• Sunglasses (UV protection recommended, with a retention strap).***
• Warm gloves. (ski or mountain type) ***

NOTE:  Below is the list of required equipment by layer, with reference to the mandatory technical equipment***.

• 2 pairs of tall socks
• 2 collared shirts or long-sleeved t-shirts (for riding and sun protection)
• 1 tubular neck gaiter (Buff type), for sun and wind protection. Can be replaced with a fleece neck warmer.
• 1 pair of thermal leggings. Can be long lycra leggings.
• 2 short-sleeved t-shirts

• 2 pairs of long pants, quick-drying if possible (gaucho-style "bombacha de campo", trekking pants with no zippers on the legs, or long thermal leggings/pants - NOT JEANS, NOT CORDUROY)
• 2 warm layers (1 thin fleece + 1 thick fleece recommended) ***
• 1 fleece or wool hat - warm ***
• 1 pair of fleece gloves.

• 1 waterproof windbreaker jacket with hood (an ultrex, gore-tex, or similar mountain parka recommended) ***
• 1 pair of warm gloves. (ski or mountain type) ***

• 1 pair of shoes to rest your feet (crocs, flip-flops, espadrilles)
• 1 pair of high-top trekking shoes or riding boots; if you don't have boots, get leather or cordura fabric gaiters. ***
• Headlamp or small flashlight w/spare batteries ***
• Sunglasses (UV protection recommended, with a retention strap).***
• Water bottle or container of up to 1 liter, for drinking.

• Sunscreen (SPF 40 or higher)***
• 1 small towel
• Wet wipes for hygiene / anti-chafing cream.
• Bring personal medication
• Moisturizing creams
• Lip balm and cocoa butter cream.

•  National ID ***
•  Health insurance, medical coverage.***
• Personal form completed online ***
• Authorization in case of minors *** (permit from a notary public or the appropriate authorities, depending on where you live)

•  Down jacket.
•  SILVER TAPE, for repairs.
•  Mate, bombilla, and yerba.
•  Steel thermos.
•  Binoculars, monocular. Photo or video equipment.
•  Book, notebook, travel journal, pencil, pen

CLARIFICATIONS:

1. Equipment needed during the day will be carried while riding, in saddlebags that we will provide 
2. First aid kits (only bring personal medication)

Yes, so some minimal experience is required.  We ask that you have done at least one 4-hour ride in the past year. The horses are prepared to carry riders with little experience, and the adjustment process is quite fast. We ride “at a walk”, expedition-style, one horse behind another, in order to move across the rolling terrain so typical of the Cuyo mountain range.

Definitely not. The horses are prepared to carry people who have never ridden before, and the learning process is quite fast. We ride “at a walk”, expedition-style, one horse behind another, to move across the rolling terrain. 

Those with experience will also have the chance to ride livelier horses and gallop and/or trot at times the baqueanos judge appropriate, depending on the type of terrain.

• 1 night at the farmhouse (shared rooms)
• 4 nights in tents/mountain outposts

Almost all the campsites have quick escape routes. Our baqueanos and guides are trained to handle first aid issues and/or evacuations, which, by the way, are very uncommon.

No. Cell phones in this setting end up becoming useless items. 

Each person should bring their personal luggage in a duffel bag or large backpack as far as Chicoana. There, items are sorted into large shared bags among passengers, and each person is also given a saddlebag (a small bag to hang on the horse's saddle) to be filled with the items needed for each day.

Our mountain menus are varied. From pasta with tasty sauces to stews or grilled meats (Argentine chivito). Picadas, salads, and easy-to-digest meals are common at midday. It is necessary to fill out the personal/medical form to clarify if anyone does not eat certain kinds of food.