DAY 1 | Tucumán - Belén - Fiambalá
Leaving Tucumán in western direction we travel through valleys and slopes to Belén, well known for its lama and vicuña wool ponchos. Nearby Londres, the first town built (1558) in Catamarca, time permitting we visit the Inca site of El Shincal, continuing on through picturesque villages of adobe houses and churches. At the end of the day we enjoy relaxing thermal waters, nestled in between of towering granite walls, in the proximity of Fiambalá (altitude 1,570 m). In this friendly town set among vineyards we overnight in a comfortable hostería.

DAY 2 | Mount Pissis / Green Lagoon - Las Grutas (San Francisco Pass)
A fabulous expedition up into the deserted Andean precordillera, along colorful lagoons and stunning mountainous landscape. When reaching a natural balcony at an altitude of 4.500 m, a breathtaking view of untouched nature and of Mount Pissis, rising as the highest volcano of the world, opens up. It is a glaciar covered massif with five summits and 6,882 (IGM) meters in height, and one of the remotest mountains in Argentina. As the track takes us down and penetrates deeper into the wilderness, we approach the glowing Green Lagoon, which resembles an enormous emerald. We return down to follow the serpentine road up to Paso San Francisco, driving amidst fascinating backdrop to Las Grutas, near the Chilean border, and spend the night in rustic dorm accommodation, at an altitude of 4,000 m.

DAY 3 | Incahuasi volcano - San Francisco salt flat - Fiambalá
In the extensive valley surrounding the Pass two imposing peaks stand out against the horizon, the San Francisco (6,080 m) and the Incahuasi (6,640 m) volcanoes. The Incahuasi is isolated and highly visible from very far, its name means "House of the Inca" in Quechua, and, on its summit, archaeological excavations exposed a small statue. A desolate but splendorous Andean setting, which we explore thouroughly by driving up the foothills of the Incahuasi and by walking over the Salar San Francisco. After seeking shelter behind a boulder for a tasty lunch, we slowly return to Fiambalá, where we overnight at the hosteria again.

DAY 4 | Fiambalá - San José de Vinchina
Passing by olive groves and vineyards we enter La Rioja Province. The Cable Car La Mexicana in Chilecito is worth a stop. Constructed in 1903 by the German company Bleichert and Co., it was the largest cable car in the world, stretching 34 km up to a gold mine in Sierra de Famatina, at an altitude of 4,600 m. Continuing on, a snaking road takes us along the beautiful Cuesta de Miranda through up to 500m high red rock walls dotted with cactus. Homely overnight accommodation in San José de Vinchina (3,000 masl).

DAY 5 | Vinchina - Laguna Brava (Prov. Reserve) - Villa Unión
Heading into Andean heights the road winds upwards through multi-colored gorges. To an altitude of 4,200 m a magnificent panorama of a sky blue lagoon and snowcapped pinnacles unfolds before us. Laguna Brava (Brave Lagoon) is an extensive altiplanic lake of salty waters, 17 km long and 4 km wide. The Reserve was established to protect native fauna like vicuñas, guanacos, foxes, flamingoes and hawks, and is surrounded by giants like the Veladero (6,436 m) and Bonete (6,872 m) volcanoes. Another attraction are the circular stone huts, constructed in the last century to shelter the carriers leading cattle to Chile. In the afternoon we drive the same way back to spend the night in a pleasent hotel at Villa Unión.

DAY 6 | Talampaya / Ischigualasto (Valley of the Moon) Natural Parks - San Agustín
In the morning we explore (unfortunately not on our own) the astonishing Talampaya Park and its invaluable geological and archaeological treasures. Main marvels are the colossal 160m deep Talampaya Canyon and the up to 80m high red cliff walls. In the afternoon, in neighboring province San Juan, we visit Ischigualasto Park (by driving in a convoy). This dazzling moonlike desert exhibits bizarre wind-eroded sandstone formations, reveals the evolution of vertebrate life, and represents with a complete sequence of continental sediments the entire Triassic Period (250-208 million years ago). Overnight we stay in a nice hotel at San Agustín del Valle Fertil, a tranquil town set amid shady trees.

DAY 7 | San Agustín - La Rioja
From San Agustín we return to the city of La Rioja, where our trip finishes.