Salta

This place is located in the so called Yungas Territory, very close to the San Lorenzo River, northwest of the Lerma Valley, where you will admire the interesting landscape and flamboyant "Estancias" Ranches.

Few miles ahead, the area of "Yacones", with its changing colours and wild solitude, makes for a magically gorgeous landscape.

San Lorenzo smells of aristocracy, tradition and culture. It cradles the "Tamaleras", women that make and sell tamales and also people that make cheese by hand, whom wait till late night hours till the serum gets its adequate outward appearance.
Among the old manors there are some castles, older still, which had been turned into teahouses. There is a main street, with a poet's name, that crosses the town flanked by ceibo trees. San Lorenzo undoubtedly is one of Salta's many well-guarded treasures.

SAN LORENZO RAVINE
This is a Provincial Nature Reserve, which shows off the phytogeographic environment of The Yungas High Mountain Forest district. There are only 250 kilometres of this kind of jungle, ranging from the Tucumán Province to the Bolivian border.

Ruled by a fresh and welcoming climate, the ravine's flora includes five arboreal varieties: trees from 10 to 15 metres high, trees with less than 10 metres high, bushes or high grasses, ferns which remain under higher plants' shadows, and moss.

EXCURSIONS
There are four-wheel motorcycle guided tours starting from San Lorenzo, which pass through gorges full of exuberant flora, like walnut, alder, and Tipa trees among other species. The tour will take you down countless narrow paths that seem to go off in all directions.

The short circuit, just to mention one of the many available, ends in an impressive panoramic site, from where is possible to survey part of the Valle de Lerma Valley. The unique emotions produced by the landscape and the roaring of the engines during the either two-hour, half-day, or two day excursions, which also includes camping, will be proof enough that none of the existing tours will deceive the excursionist.

Horse riding tours start early and the target is to discover shires, paths and roads only reachable by horse. Short options are perfect for covering the town, its surroundings, and the Finca Las Costas Natural Reserve.

Another attractive excursion, this one a full day one and which includes an asado typical Argentinean meat on the spit barbecue in the countryside, goes towards the Finca Lesser Farm, where you will have excellent views of Valle de Lerma Valley. There are also two day or even longer excursions available. Available to the most dedicated travellers this tour will take you to such incredible locations as Puerta del Cielo, Incahuasi, and Pascha.

When taking a walk in the whereabouts of San Lorenzo is not only to find amazingly beautiful scenarios, but also to walk among huge trees, to sense the exuberant presence of ferns and other epiphytes indigenous to mountain forests, observe birds, listen to their songs, and reach panoramic sites from where you'll be rewarded with an overall view of the Valle de Lerma Valley.

Four-wheel drive safaris are carried out with a specially adapted truck, meant for this kind of journey. Difficult tracks are covered among the mountains to achieve destinations that include farms where off-road activities and camping sites are programmed. Daily programmes consist in taking a 70-kilometre circuit that allows surveying the ecosystem diversity of The Yungas. The final destiny will be the Finca Puerta del Cielo Farm, where a typical country lunch will await the explorer.

Mountain bike excursions are designed with three difficulty levels, to allow everyone to enjoy a special day at San Lorenzo. There are multiple options to choose between, according to the wishes of the participants, ranging from pedalling under the shadows of the town's trees, to climbing hills or defying the mountain's forest, on a 7-hour trip to the Finca Puerta del Cielo Farm.

VAQUEROS

On the way to Lesser you'll find the Vaqueros Locality, renowned for its greenery and culture. This country area is located on the Ruta Nacional No 9 National Route, on the road to Jujuy. It has some interesting gastronomic services, and offers the possibility of visiting the many artisans that work there, some of them showing real masterpieces.

LA CALDERA AND CAMPO ALEGRE
At the beginning of the cornice road to Jujuy, you will arrive to the La Caldera Town (24 kilometres). Typical Hispanic architecture from XIX century. Surrounded by green mountains, it stands out for its beautiful landscape and an 18 metre high image of Christ, seeming to both protect and watch over the Sianca Valley.

Further on, the Campo Alegre Dam is ideal for nautical sports, sport fishing, camping and horse riding among several other recreational activities. The colourful mountain, the sun and the river allow for overwhelming images.

THE FINCA DE CASTAÑARES FARM.
Seven kilometres north of Salta, by National Route No 9, the traveller will find the historical site of the Finca de Castañares Farm. Its origins go back to 1583, when this land was given to Pedro Marcos. Later on, some more land was added, forming an important country complex.

Named after its eighteenth century owner, Martín de Castañares, the farm, nevertheless, had several other owners. Its building, constructed on that same century, has been remodelled several times. The original gallery, with wooden columns over stone bases, was replaced by an Italian style one, with arcs and columns made out of masonry. A tower with a round staircase was also added.

PATHS OF THE PERUVIAN PASO HORSE
This tourist circuit, framed by valleys and mountains, will make you experience unforgettable moments where nature and culture will trap a traveller that has already been caught by the awesome landscapes, country life and the spectacular rides on horses with a soft and elegant gait.

The Peruvian Paso Horse is the best saddle horse in the world. The origins of this unique equine breed go back to the arrival of the Spaniards to America, and reached northern Argentina from the Alto Peru (present day Bolivia) across the Inca Road that goes through the Cafayate Valley.

In Argentina, the breeding of this specimen is one of Salta's most cherished traditions. Parading on a Peruvian Horse when paying tribute to General Miguel Martín de Güemes, every 17th of July, commemorating the anniversary of his death occurred on 1824, is the utmost aspiration for all the local gaucho cowboys.

Its smooth and elegant movements characterize the Peruvian Pace Horse. The breeding stock of Salta has gained worldwide acknowledgement by the best international specialists, like the Peruvian judges Luis Vázquez Nacarino and José Risso Matellini.

The Peruvian Horse's motion mechanics, also known as "Aires" or flaunting confers to the rider a smooth and gentle pace.

The Peruvian Paso Horse is natural pacer. This means that it first moves its right hind leg and then its right fore leg; in the next movement it takes out its left hind leg and then its left fore leg. The structure of this motion results in a gentle stride, due to the stability of the horse's gravity centre.

The elevation of its forelegs, and the outward flaunting movement of its hooves, are also movements that confer particular elegance and showiness, which is another distinctive characteristic of this equine breed. The Peruvian Paso Horse Breeders Argentinean National Association is located in Salta.

Getting to ride a Peruvian Horse and to meet with locals in their homes is, undoubtedly, very attractive. It allows the traveller to participate in the countryman's life, sharing nights around a fireplace, filled with legends, tales and zamba black mixed music and soaking it up in Salta wines.

Since 1987, traditional sweeping of the horses has become one of the most acclaimed spectacles in Rural Palermo. The circuit includes 14 establishments distributed in three groups:

The San Agustín - La Isla Group
The Finca La Paz Ranch, The Finca San Francisco Ranch, The Finca La Isla Ranch, The Finca El Alamo Ranch, The Finca San Agustín Ranch, The Cabaña Onda Leku Cottage, The Finca Belgrano Ranch, and The Cabaña Las Cuatro Marías Cottage.

The Valles Calchaquíes Cafayate-Molinos Group
The Finca San Miguel Ranch, The Cabaña Mi Refugio Cottage, The Finca San José de Angostura Ranch, and The Finca La Angostura Ranch.

The Valle de Lerma Valley Group
The Finca California Ranch, The Finca San Bernardo Ranch, The Estancia La Maroma and Finca Santa Anita Ranch.
Cottages present horse exhibitions, gastronomy, horse riding, archaeological visits, agro-tours and lodging in the ranch themselves.

THE GUEMESIAN CIRCUIT
The tourist circuit known as "La Tierra en Armas" or "The Country up in Arms" opens up the roads of the heroic deeds of the Gaucho Freedom fighter Güemes and his exploits throughout the Salta mountains.

The snake-like path that runs east of the city shows the faces of the mountains under heights full of cacti, and glancing down, in the far distance, the Valle de Lerma Valley. All the signs scattered around the tour speak about the gaucho's militia fighting against Spanish generals between 1814 and 1821, and about Güemes death, on June 17, 1821

One of the assets of the trip are the natural viewing points from the saddle, another, not less captivating, is to meet the gauchos who dwell nearby. When leaving the City of Salta, a very showy cornice path gets you to La Pedrera, La Quesera, The Finca La Cruz Ranch, El Chamical, and the Cañada de la Horqueta Chasm.

The historic tour on unpaved roads takes about four hours. You'll ascend some 1700 metres starting from the 1187 m.a.s.l. where the City of Salta is located to the 2800 m.a.s.l. of the Finca La Cruz Ranch, General Martín de Güemes' bhold.

There, a guerrilla-like war against the Spanish intruder took place, achieving, based on sheer courage and conviction of freedom, to repel seven invasions and finally, caused the withdrawal of the Spanish armies from this territory.

LA PEDRERA
At 11,4 kilometres from Salta, on March 24, 1820, General Martin Miguel de Güemes, commanding the advance forces of Rio Pasaje River, defeats and takes prisoners from the royal guards posted there.

LA QUESERA
At 21 kilometres from Salta City, on June seven, 1821, his gauchos helped the hero from Salta while escaping, deadly wounded, towards the Finca La Cruz.

THE FINCA LA CRUZ RANCH
It stands at 2800 m.a.s.l. During the times of the Independence wars it was the property of José Francisco de Tineo, stepfather to the gaucho hero. On 1820 it became General Güemes bhold and training ground for his militia.

In 1941 it was declared a National Historical Monument. Today it hosts a Country Life Museum. Ernesto Gorena who has lived for 21 years in the Finca La Cruz Ranch, he is the keeper of the museum and also serves as a guide for tourists and locals that visit the place.

In Gorena's own words, God, Motherland and Tradition are the three ideals which resume the concept of "being a gaucho", he himself a true gaucho. "We act nobly with human beings as well as with animals" says Gorena, "because a gaucho is worth nothing without his horse".

If the traveller is willing to retrace part of the heroic deeds done by those patriots, all he has to do is ride the 26 kilometres that separate the old manor and the City of Salta.

THE XVIIIth CENTURY CAPILLA DEL CHAMICAL CHAPEL
At 20 kilometres south from the Finca La Cruz Ranch, in the Town of Chamical, several skirmishes took place in June 1820. General Güemes was buried in this town's church. Some years later his remains where removed and taken to the Panteón de las Glorias del Norte Memorial, located in the Salta Cathedral.

The church of the town of Chamical is of a simple colonial style, dating back to the 18th century. Its façade shows whitewashed walls, crowned with a bell gable. Probably, this chapel was once part of the La Cruz Ranch.

THE CAÑADA DE LA HORQUETA GLEN
At 34.7 kilometres from Salta, General Güemes passed away. The "Club Amigos de la Montaña" or "Friends of the Mountain Club", erected on that place a homage monolith. There, every year takes place the so-called "Guardia de las Estrellas" or "Star Watch", between the night of the 16th and the early morning hours of the 17th of June.

ARGENTINA

SALTA

SALTA CITY SURROUNDINGS