Tolar Grande Overland Travel to the Earth Beginnings ATWS 2017 - Argentina - Pre-Summit Adventure trip 3 days (3 days/2 nights), October 13-15, 2017 Salta, Argentina. (Ph: Sebastian del Val, DeAtura Guide) Guide) DeAtura (Ph: Sebastian del Val, www.dealtura.com.ar Ojos de Mar / Sea Eyes / Sea Eyes Ojos de Mar 2 PSA PROGRAM FOR ATTA SUMMIT ARGENTINA 2017 Pocitos Salt Flat (Ph: Sebastian del Val, DeAtura Guide) About us www.dealtura.com.ar 3 PSA PROGRAM FOR ATTA SUMMIT ARGENTINA 2017 Renato & Martin Contino Owners A Family Company De Altura Travel & Adventure, an agency that emerges from the efforts of a family, each and every one of them contributed to achieve this. Renato and Martin Contino, are the visible face of this family business. We have been working in tourism for years, so we decided to start our trip, our project, our own agency, getting there took a lot of effort and time. So many years traveling, knowing, acquiring experience, learning from the people who visit us, helped us to understand that beyond the knowledge, the tourist seeks for pleasant moment, and take back to home the best memories. We have in our hands the responsibility to make the best of their trips, they will feel that they have friends here, and we, we will always be thankful of heart for choosing De Altura to do it. We are all owners of this beautiful land and that is why we want to share and care for it. Respecting the people, culture, nature, and making this activity: sustainable, for future travelers. De Altura is committed to organizing and share an unforgettable trip, making them feel part of the place, and why not!, to return again to Northwest Argentina! :) www.dealtura.com.ar 4 PSA PROGRAM FOR ATTA SUMMIT ARGENTINA 2017 Tolar Grande Overland Travel to the Earth Beginning Tolar Grande is a small town nestled in the Puna of Salta at 3400 meters high (11482 feet). To reach this village from the city of Salta, we travel 357 km through the wild landscape of Quebrada del Toro and by highland towns such Santa Rosa de Tastil with its pre-Incan ruins and San Antonio de los Cobres. Based in Tolar Grande, we explore places of great cultural and geological interest such as the Arita Cone, Sea Eyes, salty lakes with a variety of birds like pink flamingos, parinas, ducks and gallaretas. We cannot forget to mention Argentina’s largest salt flat, Salar de Arizaro, and the world-famous Llullaillaco volcano, where three Inca children were found mummified in 1999 by The National Geographic archaeology team. Trip Highlights: Traveling through the high puna of Salta province Exploring Argentina’s largest salt flat Visiting highland communities and pre-Incan ruins Photographing the otherworldly landscape Light hiking and birdwatching Stargazing high in the desert with little to no light pollution Itinerary map www.dealtura.com.ar Los Colorados, arriving to Tolar Grande (Ph: Sebastian del Val, DeAtura Guide) 5 PSA PROGRAM FOR ATTA SUMMIT ARGENTINA 2017 Tolar Grande day by day Itinerary (3 days / 2 nights) October 12th - DAY 0 – Arrive Salta, Argentina. Hotel not included. October 13th - DAY 1 - Salta to Tolar Grande Our trip begins today in Salta, Argentina. Our guide will pick you up at 07:30 a.m. at your hotel. We depart Salta and travel through the Quebrada del Toro (The Bull Ravine), a gorge of constantly changing dramatic mountain scenery and multicolored rocks. We take a break at the little town of Santa Rosa de Tastil and visit its pre-Inca ruins. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the best preserved, original ruin in Argentina. It has not been restored. Arriving at midday to San Antonio de los Cobres, a dusty mining town with typical highland adobe houses, we stop for lunch. Our final leg of the trip crosses the Abra de Alto Chorrillo, a mountain pass at 4560 meters/14,690 feet, the highest spend a couple of hours walking and taking photos at the altitude we reach on this journey. If the viewpoints located in front of the seven volcanoes of the spectacular scenery isn’t taking your breath Cordillera de Los Andes range: Llullaillaco, Socompa, Aracar, away, this altitude certainly will! From Guanaqueros, Pulares, Salim and Arizaro. the pass, we descend 1000m/3280 feet through vast highlands framed by giant salt We return to the village for lunch and use the warmth of lakes and volcanoes to reach, without a daytime for bathing. After lunch, we head to the Salar de doubt, the most remarkable part of this day, Arizaro, considered the largest salt flat in Argentina and the the colorful Devil Desert. Here, the play third largest in the Americas (5500 km2). We spend about between the mountain shapes, sunlight, and an hour driving by the salt flats, with photography stops, to shadow projection is captivating to witness! arrive near Arita Cone, a striking volcanic formation in the After a short hike, we continue our journey salt flat interior. We take time to explore the surroundings. Next, we visit a nearby mining camp, where we learn about to Tolar Grande, a small former mining town the life of these Andean workers. As the sun sets, with the at the edge of the Puna. Dinner is waiting light and shadows dancing over the mountains, we return for us in a local family’s dining room. Driving to Tolar Grande in time for dinner. time: ~10 hours, including breaks. October 15th - DAY 3 – Tolar Grande to Salta October 14th - DAY 2 – Exploring the Puna After breakfast, we depart for Salta along the same route, taking more stops for photography and to visit the Andean We start the day having breakfast with a villages of Pocitos and Olacapato. Olacapato is one of the family and meet inhabitants of the village. highest villages in Argentina at 4090m/ 13,419’. We have Afterwards, a local guide meet us to go lunch at midday and plan to arrive back in Salta around to Ojos de Mar (Sea Eyes), which are blue 6:00pm. Driving time: ~10 hours, including breaks. holes in the middle of a white salt lake, and El Arenal (Sand Dunes) where we End of our services. www.dealtura.com.ar 6 PSA PROGRAM FOR ATTA SUMMIT ARGENTINA 2017 Tolar Grande Activities: Hiking: Day 2 - 2 hours, 2 km, at 3500 meters/11,500 ft. Photography: spots during the trip: 10 minutes each one, above 3048m/10,000’ Birdwatching: 10/20 minutes above 3048m/10,000’ Itinerary difficulty: This trip is rated class 2, easy active, due to high altitude (i.e., Beginner level, physical activity; ~2-4 hours activity/day, >10.000 ft.) Participants must be in good health condition in terms of: blood pressure, very good breathing capacity, and previous experience at high altitude. The highest altitude reached on the trip is 4560 meters/14,690 feet. We sleep for two nights at 3400 meters/11,482 feet. This trip is not suitable for smokers. (Ph: Sebastian del Val, DeAltura Guide) DeAltura Guide) (Ph: Sebastian del Val, Los Colorados www.dealtura.com.ar 7 PSA PROGRAM FOR ATTA SUMMIT ARGENTINA 2017 Tolar Grande Trip Highlights Photography (Ph.: Sebastian del Val, De Altura Guide.) Close to San Antonio de los Cobres San Antonio Close to Sea Eyes Dry river close to Tolar Grande town Tolar close to Dry river Arita Cone at sunset www.dealtura.com.ar 8 PSA PROGRAM FOR ATTA SUMMIT ARGENTINA 2017 Tolar Grande Trip Highlights Photography (Ph.: Sebastian del Val, DeAltura Guide.) Pocitos Salt Flat Pocitos Sea Eyes Vicuñas and Flamingos near Tolar Grande Vicuñas and Flamingos near Tolar Near Olacapato town Olacapato Near www.dealtura.com.ar 9 PSA PROGRAM FOR ATTA SUMMIT ARGENTINA 2017 Tolar Grande Trip Highlights Photography (Ph.: Sebastian del Val, DeAltura Guide.) Devil Desert Devil Arizaro Salt Flat Arizaro Lama in San Antonio de los Cobres Lama in San Antonio Tolar Grande at sunset Tolar www.dealtura.com.ar 10 PSA PROGRAM FOR ATTA SUMMIT ARGENTINA 2017 Tolar Grande Accommodation: We spend two night in Tolar Grande at AFAPUNA (French-Argentine Puna Friendship Association) Refuge. The accommodation is basic but clean with two large dormitory style rooms (men/women separate), shared bathrooms (men/ women separate), both with hot shower. Bedding and towels are provided. Toiletries (shampoo/conditioner) or hair dryers are not provided so please bring your own. There is no internet access/WiFi at the refuge. Group size: 4 Price per person with special discount: u$s 320.- US Dollars. Payment method: Cash at time of the trip. (Ph: Sebastian del Val, DeAtura Guide) Guide) DeAtura (Ph: Sebastian del Val, Near Tolar Grande Tolar Near www.dealtura.com.ar 11 PSA PROGRAM FOR ATTA SUMMIT ARGENTINA 2017 We call it Puna... The Andes... Clear skies, without any light pollution, one of the best places in the world to hunt stars, ask for wishes and fall in love with this unusual nature. (Ph: Sebastian del Val, DeAtura Guide) Guide) DeAtura (Ph: Sebastian del Val, Salar Arizaro night and day night and day Salar Arizaro www.dealtura.com.ar 12 PSA PROGRAM FOR ATTA SUMMIT ARGENTINA 2017 Tolar Grande The Tour Includes: Private transportation in 4x4 vehicle Accommodation in Tolar Grande refuge (dormitory style, shared bathrooms) All meals beginning with lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 3 Bilingual Tour Leader assistance (English / Spanish) Local guides as needed The Tour Does Not Include: International & Domestic Flights Alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages Travel/Medical/Evacuation Insurance Personal expenses, tips to guides and drivers Hotel nights in Salta pre and post trip Vicunias in the way to Tolar Grande town (Ph: Sebastian del Val, DeAtura Guide) www.dealtura.com.ar 13 PSA PROGRAM FOR ATTA SUMMIT ARGENTINA 2017 Tolar Grande High Altitude Alert: This trip ascends to high altitude, traveling above 3,048m/10,000’ for the duration of the trip.