I woke up early at Salta.The bus would pick me up between 7-7:45 AM. As I was told there is some interesting things to see on the way, I booked a touristic bus, but I only paid one way as I wanted to to see few more villages around the area.
Shortly after we left, the señora-guide chatted me up as of why I wanted to stay in that small village, and it only took me 2 minutes to realize there was no Bus connections (or any other) between the villages I wanted to see! haha... Never the less, I had the hostel booked so I decided to spend the night there anyway and decide what to do the day after.
We visited briefly several places in that semi-desert (if I can name it like this) and the last one was the winery. When we got there, I start speaking with an Argentinian guy and his girfriend Gaston and Marianela. Very warm and nice people, we had some food together (little goat with a nice sauce) and had the first nice insight on Argentinian culture. Few hours later we said goodbye and promised to meet in 2 days in Juyjuy (north province of salta).
I arrived at the hostel, first I met an Argentinian tour guide who was staying there for business purposes, Frederico, very warm guy too, I figured out that either Argentinians are exempionally warm or I havent lived in Cyprus for a long time, or both :p never the less, shortly later another guy from the USA was added to our company and a couple of hours later a wonderfull girl from the France, their names Matt and Lea.
First night, we went out of drinks, 3 large bottles of Salta beer later, Matt asked if anyone wanted to do Rio Colorado the day after, Lea went all in, I figured out whatever that is I am up for it, they didn't look fitter than I was so if they can do, I can do. Frederico had to work so he only wished us luck, in general we were only seeing him in the afternoons as he was busy in the mornings. Went to bed fairly early as we had to get up early.
Next morning, off we are for the hiking, we booked a local guide to take us in the canyon as it wasnt really an easy route, his name Gustavo. Until that moment I had no idea what I was doing, until the entrance of the canyon when they asked us for names/nationality/passport number. When I asked why, he said "accitends happen". Hm.. good stuff I though.
Anyhow, it turned out to be not a difficult one (I have no previous experience to compare) but I came across one of the nicest places I ever been in my life there was a river constantly flowing next to us with ice cold water.
Very refreshing but even though we were advice to drink, I wouldn't dare because they told us is full of minerals and my stomach may complain a littlebit, not something you want during physical excersice.
At the very end we reached the large waterfall with a deep enough to swim lake. Ice cold but the nicest/most refreshing bath/shower ever had. Went in twice but it was so cold you couldnt stay in for more than 3 minutes. Definitely worth it though., really hot weather and a very cold water! We Stayed there for around an hour and then Gustavo guided us out of the canyon from another route. We reached the start, signed off and rushed for water as we all run out of it. An exceptional day that I will definitely remember.
Later that day, my plans with the Argentinian couple for the day after collapsed as they went to a different place, so I decided to stay for one more day in Cafyate as I had a very good company. In the afternoon we agreed on doing the 45km cycling in the semi-desert (same route the bus took me on the first day) the next day. We made all the arrangments necessary and went to bed. Next day would be huge, especially one day after the hiking.
Once again, got up early, took the bus to the 45th kilometer (right were the sides begin) and started exploring things one by one and cycling back.
It turned out to be a lot harder than what we expected, it took us 7 hours to complete, as it was very hot and we had to make stops very often. Never the less, we made it, 7 hours later we arrived back with looots of pictures on our cameras, a tiring day but defo worth it.
Next day I had to return to Salta to move to Iguazu waterfalls as I spend too much time around the same province. In the morning we said goodbye to Lea and Frederico while me and Matt went to Salta on the same bus. He was travelling the oposite way so he was going to Salta to stay for a while, while I went there to catch the next bus. Arrived in Salta early in the afternoon, had a walk around, was rainy we didnt do much, we met an annoying Irish girl who had all the negativity of the world and she was following us every where, anyhow we had a nice steak in a restaurant and went to bed.
Before I sleep I tried to make a schedule for my day after. After thinking about it, I figure it wasnt worth it going to Iguazu, at least not now, it was going to cost me so much, it was completely out of my way and I had to cross to Brazil to to enjoy the best views so I figured in few years on my return to for Brazil ill put it on schedule and then went to sleep.
Last day in Salta, I woke up early, had a breakfast, waved goodbye with my American friend and part ways. I left for Tucuman for few days before I make way to Cordova.
Shortly after we left, the señora-guide chatted me up as of why I wanted to stay in that small village, and it only took me 2 minutes to realize there was no Bus connections (or any other) between the villages I wanted to see! haha... Never the less, I had the hostel booked so I decided to spend the night there anyway and decide what to do the day after.
We visited briefly several places in that semi-desert (if I can name it like this) and the last one was the winery. When we got there, I start speaking with an Argentinian guy and his girfriend Gaston and Marianela. Very warm and nice people, we had some food together (little goat with a nice sauce) and had the first nice insight on Argentinian culture. Few hours later we said goodbye and promised to meet in 2 days in Juyjuy (north province of salta).
I arrived at the hostel, first I met an Argentinian tour guide who was staying there for business purposes, Frederico, very warm guy too, I figured out that either Argentinians are exempionally warm or I havent lived in Cyprus for a long time, or both :p never the less, shortly later another guy from the USA was added to our company and a couple of hours later a wonderfull girl from the France, their names Matt and Lea.
First night, we went out of drinks, 3 large bottles of Salta beer later, Matt asked if anyone wanted to do Rio Colorado the day after, Lea went all in, I figured out whatever that is I am up for it, they didn't look fitter than I was so if they can do, I can do. Frederico had to work so he only wished us luck, in general we were only seeing him in the afternoons as he was busy in the mornings. Went to bed fairly early as we had to get up early.
Next morning, off we are for the hiking, we booked a local guide to take us in the canyon as it wasnt really an easy route, his name Gustavo. Until that moment I had no idea what I was doing, until the entrance of the canyon when they asked us for names/nationality/passport number. When I asked why, he said "accitends happen". Hm.. good stuff I though.
Anyhow, it turned out to be not a difficult one (I have no previous experience to compare) but I came across one of the nicest places I ever been in my life there was a river constantly flowing next to us with ice cold water.
Very refreshing but even though we were advice to drink, I wouldn't dare because they told us is full of minerals and my stomach may complain a littlebit, not something you want during physical excersice.
At the very end we reached the large waterfall with a deep enough to swim lake. Ice cold but the nicest/most refreshing bath/shower ever had. Went in twice but it was so cold you couldnt stay in for more than 3 minutes. Definitely worth it though., really hot weather and a very cold water! We Stayed there for around an hour and then Gustavo guided us out of the canyon from another route. We reached the start, signed off and rushed for water as we all run out of it. An exceptional day that I will definitely remember.
 |
| Final Waterfall of the Hike |
Later that day, my plans with the Argentinian couple for the day after collapsed as they went to a different place, so I decided to stay for one more day in Cafyate as I had a very good company. In the afternoon we agreed on doing the 45km cycling in the semi-desert (same route the bus took me on the first day) the next day. We made all the arrangments necessary and went to bed. Next day would be huge, especially one day after the hiking.
Once again, got up early, took the bus to the 45th kilometer (right were the sides begin) and started exploring things one by one and cycling back.
 |
| From the inside of "devils throat" (Garganta del diablo) canyon |
 |
It turned out to be a lot harder than what we expected, it took us 7 hours to complete, as it was very hot and we had to make stops very often. Never the less, we made it, 7 hours later we arrived back with looots of pictures on our cameras, a tiring day but defo worth it.
Next day I had to return to Salta to move to Iguazu waterfalls as I spend too much time around the same province. In the morning we said goodbye to Lea and Frederico while me and Matt went to Salta on the same bus. He was travelling the oposite way so he was going to Salta to stay for a while, while I went there to catch the next bus. Arrived in Salta early in the afternoon, had a walk around, was rainy we didnt do much, we met an annoying Irish girl who had all the negativity of the world and she was following us every where, anyhow we had a nice steak in a restaurant and went to bed.
Before I sleep I tried to make a schedule for my day after. After thinking about it, I figure it wasnt worth it going to Iguazu, at least not now, it was going to cost me so much, it was completely out of my way and I had to cross to Brazil to to enjoy the best views so I figured in few years on my return to for Brazil ill put it on schedule and then went to sleep.
Last day in Salta, I woke up early, had a breakfast, waved goodbye with my American friend and part ways. I left for Tucuman for few days before I make way to Cordova.
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| The Rio Colorados |
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| The Road Trip to Tucumán |
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