Simon has been living in Argentina for almost 10 years. With experience of the region, a passion for riding and a deep knowledge of mechanics, he’s perfect for this adventure.
A circuit that touches the sky! Discover the legendary Route 40 – La Cuarenta – on a Royal Enfield Himalayan. Get a taste for adventure alternating between smooth roads and tracks on the road that stretches the length of the Andes and the whole of Argentina. Departing from stunning Salta, you’ll be amazed by what this 13-day motorcycle tour has in store. Explore wonderfully diverse Andean landscapes, peppered with volcanoes and lush oases, such as the famous Cafayate vineyards. Set off in search of small village culture and folklore where colonial and Inca history merge.
Salta is located in a fertile valley at the foot of the eastern Andes and is the second largest city in north Argentina. Nicknamed “Salta la Linda” (Beautiful Salta), this Argentine city boasts the best preserved colonial architecture. Overnight stay at a hotel.
Our first day with the bikes! We leave Salta and head onto the fantastic winding Route 9 heading north. Then we enter Quebrada de Humahuaca, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed mountain range that displays a beautiful spectrum of colours. We then take a 30-mile track along the condor pass at 4,000 m altitude and arrive in Iruya, a remote village surrounded by cliffs.
If you get up at dawn, you may be lucky to spot condors rising from their nests and taking flight into the canyon. We head towards the Bolivian border to Cusi Cusi, located at 3,800 m altitude and the home of Moon Valley. We spend the night in a remote village hidden away from the world.
We leave Cusi Cusi and head onto Route 40 ensuring several miles of excellent riding, then Route 9 takes us to Abra Pampa. We spend the night in Humahuaca, a small charming city in the Quebrada de Humahuaca valley.
We set off for the Mirador de Hornocal, spending about an hour climbing the trails to and altitude of 4,350 metres. Breathtaking views guaranteed! You’ll have front row seats to a sensational show where the sun and the peaks’ ever-changing colours play the main roles. We rejoin Route 9 and stop for a visit at Pucará de Tilcara before ending the afternoon in Purmamarca.
We take Route 52 towards Salinas Grandes and ride the famous Cuesta de Lipán. The salt flats are a wonderfully remote landscape and riding over them is a unique experience for any biker! After lunch in Susques, we get back on the legendary Route 40 and climb in altitude crossing the immense desert-like plateau. Hot springs await at the foot of the Tuzgle volcano and we end the day in San Antonio de los Cobres.
Today we continue along Route 40 and climb to the highest point of the tour, the Abra del Acay pass at 4,850 m altitude. This points marks the highest national road on the American continent! Then we tackle the strenuous 60-mile descent with an incredible backdrop, experiencing for ourselves the true magic of the Andes! We arrive in Cachi in the evening.
Spend the day exploring the charming Andean town Cachi perched at 2,500 m altitude. With cobbled streets and colonial architecture, you’ll no doubt love this picturesque town. History buffs mustn’t miss the Pío Pablo Díaz Archaeological Museum. There are also many local vineyards worth visiting. Those who prefer to rest can stroll to Plaza 9 de Julio.
When leaving Cachi, Route 40 skirts Los Cardones National Park, which stretches over 64 hectares. After a short 12-mile track to Brealito, we get back on Route 40 and follow the Calchaquí River to Quebrada de las Flechas, a rocky lunar landscape sculpted by earthquakes, erosion and the weather. Cafayate and its vineyards welcome us for the night.
We leave the vineyards behind us and continue southbound. We deviate from Route 40 and make our way to Quilmes Ruins, a sacred site with the remains of a forgotten civilisation. We pass by Capillitas, which mines rhodochrosite – or Inca Rose – deposits, a semi-precious stone commonly used by local craftspeople. We then enjoy 28 miles of twists and turns on a wild track that takes us to Andalgalá.
We start off on the wonderful Chilca track, perched on the side of a cliff with an impressive view over Catamarca desert. We then cross Aconquija National Park where, after a few miles of twisty tracks, the landscape morphs into the lush mountainous terrain of Tafi del Valle. Today is the day of a thousand hairpin turns!
Our last day of biking! We continue our journey to Cafayate and cross Quebrada de las Conchas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of around 60 miles of immense canyons carved out by oceans thousands of years ago! Expect impressive rock formations and bright colours with tones of ochre and gold, through to green, red and yellow.
Depending on your flight schedule, you may be able to spend a few hours in Salta. You’re transferred to the international airport.
Book an extra night in Salta before or after your motorcycle road trip, in the hotel where the itinerary starts. Includes: one night with breakfast.
A 4-day extension to the famous Iguazu Falls, Argentinian and Brazilian side. The Argentinian Park allows you to approach the falls as closely as possible, thanks to its circuits and footbridges laid out in the middle of the tropical forest. Wilder and less developed, the Brazilian waterfalls are also denser and more wooded than their Argentinian neighbors, promising a real immersion in the local fauna and flora.
Come and spend 4 days in Buenos Aires, to visit the popular and very colorful district in the south of the city; the San Telmo district, between the old buildings and other casas and the North of the city with a bike ride. End this stay with a visit to a gaucho estancia, the Argentinian cowboys, so characteristic of the country.
Direction Patagonia and the city of El Calafate, a real gateway to the exploration of glaciers within the Los Glaciares National Park. You will have the opportunity to admire the famous Perito Moreno which constantly evolves on the lake and to take advantage of boat cruises to get as close as possible to these walls of ice.
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