Trekking the Salta Yungas - from Metán to the Río Juramento

Northern Argentina has always been known for the enormous variety of colors in its astonishing landscapes. Southern Salta still remains little known and little visited. This trek connects the yungas of the Subandean Sierras, near Rosario de la Frontera, with the Calchaquí Valleys, very close to Cafayate. From a humid environment with lush vegetation, typical of the yungas or mountain jungle, to the colorful aridity of the Quebrada de las Conchas, very close to Cafayate and the legendary Calchaquí Valleys.

Day 1: Meeting in Metán, Salta, very early, 10 am. Transfer to El Naranjo, the starting point of the trek. Introduction to baqueanos and guides, and pre-trip checks. Start of the first day of trekking. We head toward the sierras, moving right into the YUNGAS region, following the course of a river.  Lunch in the middle of the jungle. We continue the day until reaching the first campsite, passing through the Montane Forest, where besides the great plant diversity we will be able to observe the different bird species that inhabit this region (more than 400 bird species live in the Yungas). Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 2: Breakfast. Second day of hiking through the sierras, contact with local Diaguita communities. We begin entering the transition environment between yungas and Calchaquí valleys, in the Yunga Forest and High-Altitude Grassland sector, along ancient trails. Second campsite. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Breakfast, then we begin the walk through ravines and small valleys of reddish earth, heading toward a new spot in the sierras. By now we will have crossed different vegetation zones of this ecosystem. In the final hours of the day we will arrive at our next campsite, in the middle of the sierras. Rest. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 4: Breakfast. In the early hours of the day, after enjoying the birdsong and the peace of the natural surroundings, we continue toward our final destination, by the Río Juramento, which originates at the Cabra Corral Dam. Arrival at camp in the afternoon. Farewell-to-the-mountain dinner.

Day 5: Breakfast. In the morning we offer the option of running the river with a wonderful grade-3 rafting trip; afterward, a farewell lunch and return to Metán. End of our services.

Program of moderate difficulty. While everyone must carry their own backpack, we do have pack animals available.

• Transfers from Rosario de la Frontera to the start of the hike
• Transfers from Guachipas to Salta city.
• All meals, from lunch on day 1 through the last lunch.
• Guides and baqueanos.
• General kitchen and camping equipment
• Nights in tents/mountain outposts
• Tents
• Coordination
• Ongoing assistance

• Rafting
• Expenses incurred from leaving the program early
• Transfers from your place of origin to Metán
• Tips

• Special trekking backpack (65 to 85 liters)
• Warm sleeping bag (minimum –10 degrees comfort rating) (e.g. 700g or 1 kg of good down or synthetic fill).
• Insulating sleeping pad (10 to 15mm).
• Trekking poles

•  1 pair of trekking boots  
•  1 second pair of lightweight trekking shoes     

•  One change of underwear
•  Several pairs of trekking socks (some can be thin base-layer socks)
•  1 pair of wool socks (for warmth while sleeping)
•  2 polypropylene t-shirts  (dry-fit type)  or similar (no cotton) for walking
•  1 long-sleeved thermal shirt
•  Warm base-layer pants (leggings or long johns)
•  Trekking pants. Lightweight-quick-drying
•  2 mid-layer warm garments (long-sleeved fleeces)
•  Warm hat (fleece or synthetic wool)  
•  Sun cap (with brim/flap)
•  Neck scarf
• Warm gloves
• Waterproof-windproof jacket  (ultrex, gore-tex, or similar)        

•  Passport, or national ID.
•  Health insurance, medical coverage.
•  Completed personal/medical form    

•  Headlamp with batteries (spare batteries).  
•  Sturdy plastic bags to store clothing.
•  Personal tableware (plate, mug, and cutlery).   

•  Sunglasses with category 4 UV protection. (IMPORTANT)
•  Personal first aid kit (medication with the relevant prescription).
•  Sunscreen, lip balm
•  Soap, shampoo (small, to share) and a small towel.

• Toilet paper. Tissues. Baby wipes.   
• Water containers for at least 2 liters ( can be a plastic bottle) , Camelbak, Nalgene or similar   

•  SILVER TAPE, for blisters and repairs.
•  Mate, bombilla, and yerba.
•  Steel thermos.  
• Water purification tablets.
• Pocketknife
• Warm jacket 

In general our system is to walk about 3 or 4 hours in the morning; we take a long lunch stop and walk a similar amount in the afternoon until we reach the place where we set up camp.

Northern Argentina is known for a significant temperature swing (hot during the day, cool at night and in the early morning). There is also what's known as the “Bolivian Winter”. This means that during our summer (December to March), it is the rainy season there. During our winter it doesn't rain, but the temperature swing becomes a bit more noticeable, and the cold at night and in the early morning can be felt, especially at the high-altitude campsites (above 2500 m.a.s.l.), two of which are on this route. 
You need to protect yourself well from the sun with a hat/cap, neck scarves, sunscreen, and mountain sunglasses. And for the night it's important to have a good sleeping bag and warm clothing, since the temperature can drop below 0° Celsius.

Sleeping bags should be rated for a -2° comfort temperature, so you can rest easy. Goose-down bags are the best, but synthetic ones these days also use modern, high-performance materials. They can be rented. 

In general these are very mixed groups (all kinds of people). A variety of ages and genders, people traveling solo, with a friend, couples, families, etc. 

It's not essential that you be a current athlete training 4 times a week. But it is important to know that the better shape you're in physically, the better it will always be. The idea of these adventures is for you to enjoy them, not suffer through them. If you don't usually train, go running, cycle, or do some other aerobic activity, we recommend joining one of our weekly training sessions linked to mountain activities. Otherwise, start by walking with a loaded backpack of no less than 8 kilograms, covering several kilometers per week, and also going up and down stairs or slopes in uninterrupted 20-minute sessions. Ask us for a suitable training plan.

Tents are included in the program, provided by our company. But if you want to bring your own, you can. Just check with us.

On all our expeditions we provide meal service ON A FULL BOARD BASIS.

On-the-go lunches (cold meals): milanesa and tomato sandwiches, cold-cut sandwiches, picadas, salads, savory pastries, etc.

Dinners: vegetable-bacon-chorizo stews, chicken and vegetable casseroles, pasta with various sauces or stew, grilled meat (chivito), Chaw Fan, chicken and rice casserole....

Breakfasts and afternoon snacks: tea, coffee, cappuccino, mate cocido, mate, powdered milk; bread, crackers, jam, honey, dulce de leche; cereal, fruit.