TRIP OVERVIEW

“The first time I was there was 1999. Since that time I have turned my whole life upside down’.
Willy Mulonia.

There is a saying that goes: ‘Until you spend a winter in Alaska, you can’t say you really know it’.

We at PA-Cycling have experienced 14 winters there. And we have cycled its wilderness for over 10,000 miles (16,000 km).

Now we are ready to take you there. You read that right, we will finally take you to Alaska to ride on an endless blanket of snow, under heart-warming northern lights and on an adventure like no other.

The experience we have gained over the years and the human relationships we have built up, rubbing elbows with the locals, gives us a unique insight and knowledge of the area.

March is thaArgentina and its Calchaquíes Valleys in the province of Salta.

Argentina and its high altitude wine lands in the lands of Cafayate.

“Northern Argentina” is a trip that will transport us to one of the most autochthonous areas and that best preserves the culture and traditions of all Argentina. We will go from the dry and arid lands of the Salta area to the humid territories of Paso de la cornisa which will make us feel that we are pedaling in a tropical forest on our way to San Salvador de JUJUY. We will also go up the famous “Quebrada de Humahuaca”, a cultural heritage of humanity while we adapt to the altitude for the most demanding and beautiful part of the route.

Known as “La cuesta del Lipan”, and after resting in one of the most authentic towns in the area, Purmamarca, we will face the first big climb of the trip to reach a place with a unique landscape, “Las salinas grandes”.

National Route 40 is an icon in Argentina that runs from North to South the Andes mountain range throughout the country. With its more than 5,200 km and a pass known as “El abra del Acay” at 4895m, it is one of the most famous routes in the world that thousands of people come to travel every year.

The section of National Route 40 that joins Salinas Grandes with Cafayate is one of the most emblematic sections of the entire route and that still preserves all the essence from its Andean culture and its complicated routes. It is a route in which adventure and the most impressive landscapes are guaranteed.
In Cafayate, and after passing through the Quebrada de las flechas, we will have a day Off to visit a wine cellar and delight ourselves with its high-altitude wines and gastronomy of the area.

“Argentina Norte” is one of the trips with the greatest diversity of landscapes in our entire repertoire. We will pass through arid areas, humid forests, salt flats and high altitude areas.

For the last two stages we reserve surprises, because each and every one of the stages of this trip come with unforgettable views and experiences.

• Dates

• 22 November - 7 December 2025

• Duration

• 16 days

• Stages

• 9

• Length

• 737 km

• Elevation

• 7950 m

• Difficulty

• Hard

Arrival in Salta, Argentina Airport. PA Cycling will have organised your airport / hotel transfer. The afternoon will be spent assembling bikes followed by a briefing introducing the guide team and participants, and going over the finer details of the itinerary.

After setting up the bikes the day before, we will go for a ride around the city to check that the bikes are correct and enjoy the view from a little climb in town that takes us to the top of Salta´s cableway. Afterwards, we will enjoy some “empanadas salteñas” and we will get ready for dinner where we have something special reserved for you.

From Salta we will head towards San Salvador de Jujuy in a stage that will probably take us to one of the most exotic passes that we will be able to cover throughout the route. “El camino de la cornisa” or route Nº9 that connects the city of Salta with the city of San Salvador de Jujuy, is a narrow route with an asphalt in perfect condition that will make us feel that we are submerged in a tropical forest.

In its short 65km but +1400m of elevation in this stage that joins San Salvador de Jujuy with Purmamarca, we will begin the ascent through the famous “Quebrada de Humahuaca” and we will go from 1200m to 2400m in a progressive ascent while we get used to the height.

Purmamarca, which preserves its architecture and traditions, will offer us a place to rest in a very peculiar ravine surrounded by coloured mountains and where we will be able to appreciate the contrast between “La cornisa” and this northern area.

Famous for its humitas, tamales and locros, we will enjoy a traditional dinner before going to rest.

Today is an epic day, from its hard climb with stunning views to the amazing landscape of the salt sea at 3400m of elevation.
We will climb from Purmamarca to the top of “Cuesta del lipan (4170m)” and afterwards we’ll go to visit “Salinas grandes” where we’ll take a transfer that will take us directly to San Antonio de los cobres.

In San Antonio de los Cobres we will have a rest day where we will acclimatise for next days climb and visit “The train to the clouds”, the fifth highest railway I the world.

Today is “the big day”. Today we are going to live a unique experience that is not possible to live in many places of the world.

“Abra del acay”, with its 4895 m, is the highest point of all the Route national 40 and one of the highest mountain passes in the world.
Once again we will experience a change in the landscape, going from the arid high lands to a valley that goes along the Calchaqui river flooded with waters from the snow break of the highest peaks that go up to 6000m in the case of “Nevado del acay”

After the big climb and huge descent from the heights of Abra del acay, we will keep on going down towards Cachi.

Cachi is a small town surrounded of mountains of 5000m height, besides its authentic conservation of the culture, it’s known to be one the best places for high performance training for athletes due its high altitude and great climate all the year.

From Cachi, and along the valley that goes from the top of Abra del acay to our waited arrival to Cafayate, we still have one stop to make in the smallest village we will rest in the hole trip. Angastaco, with around 1000 habitants it’s known by its contrasts between the green farming fields and the sandy soils.

A remarkable route today, from Angastaco we get straight away into “La quebrada de las flechas” which formed about 15 to 20 million years ago is a unique part of the hole route national 40 with its high rocky peaks along the path. This is the last stretch to the beloved lands of high altitude wines of Cafayate and where we will enjoy a rest day eating asado and drinking wine in a wine cellar.

We will enjoy a rest day eating asado and drinking wine in a wine cellar.

From Cafayate we get into the asphalt again. We will go along the valley that goes by the river of “las conchas” and the famous “Quebrada de las conchas”. Here we will make two quick stops to visit “El anfiteatro” and “La garganta del diablo” before arriving to Cabra Corral.

After sleeping by the lake of Cabra Corral, and after the most adventurers have gone for a bath, we will go for the last stage to Salta on a road that goes through farm fields all along the way to the city.

Free day to go shopping, eat, hang around the city and get the bikes ready for the departure next day.