Day 7.

After getting up at early we got ready for our tour and headed downstairs to get some breakfast. The hotel breakfast started from 5:30am and there were already a few other guests up early before their early morning tour pickups.


And just after 7am where we were the first pickup for our tour today. Most of the other guests on the tour spoke Spanish but there was also three Australians.


As we headed out of town we stopped at a corner shops to buy some water and snacks for the day as there would be only limited civilization for most of the trip. Some people also bought small bags of fresh coca leaves to chew on to help with our eventual drive up to ~4,000+ metres elevation. Our guide later told us that the cultivation, sale, and possession of unprocessed coca leaf is legal in (only the) the northern provinces of Argentina.


Today's tour plan was to first head south out of Salta before heading north-west, following along the road through Quebrada del Toro Canyon. After stopping for lunch at San Antonio de Cobres we would continue along Route 40 until reaching the Salinas Grandes salt flats. After reaching an elevation of 4,170 metres on Route 52 we would then descend to Cerro de los Siete Colores (The Hill of Seven Colors) beside the town of Purmamarca before returning to Salta in the evening.


Stopping at the Viaducto del Toro, a rail bridge where the famous Tren a las Nubes (Train to the Clouds) also passes.


As we would be entering an area that is close to the Chilean border, we stopped at a police checkpoint and had to have our passports checked.

The Río Rosario river meandering along the canyon floor.


A very photogenic dog as we make another stop.


Rianda making another Argentinian friend! Our guide said that some of the cacti were 100+ and up to 300 years old, and that cutting them down is forbidden by law.


And stopping mid-morning at the small village of Santa Rosa de Tastil. Population: 25.


In the town was the Museo de Sitio Tastil.


Near the town are the ruins of Tastil. Built by the Atacameño people, the settlement thrived during the 15th century and grew to over 2,000 inhabitants before being besieged by invading troops of the Inca Empire.


The settlement ruins were rediscovered by a Swedish anthropologist in 1903.


There was also a private museum nearby. Although not quite as polished, it had a well preserved mummy on display.


Another photo stop at ~3,800 metres elevation as we continued on our way along Route 51.


Just after midday, San Antonio de los Cobres came into view. A mining town which is surrounded by copper (cobre) rich mountains.


Schoolkids.


Outside Restaurante El Malevo where we headed to for lunch.


They only had menu's in Spanish so I used the Google Translate and the camera on my phone to do a live translation. The waiter was really intrigued and asked me if it worked from English to Spanish too.


Always eager to try some local cuisine I opted for the llama schnitzel while Rianda had the llama stew. Surprisingly tasty!


We were starting to feel the effects of the altitude so Rianda ordered a large cup of coffee.


And I couldn't resist the coca candy. Not sure if it helped but the mild buzz was kinda cool.


After lunch we said farewell to San Antonio de los Cobres and then headed along Route 40 towards Salinas Grandes salt flats.

Some Llama's beside the road.


At about 2:30 pm we arrived at the salt flats.


The interesting gemoetric shapes where the salt has dried after infrequent rain fall.


And a great place for a jump photo!


Salinas Grandes is situated at an altitude of 3450 meters and covers an area of 212 km2.


The salt is mined for its sodium and potassium.


Mining trucks heading along parallel lines carved into the salt.


Convoy.


Loading.


Heading back. It was the highest altitude that I launched my quadcopter from and I could clearly hear the motors working overtime with the very thin air.


After 40 minutes of exploring the salt flats we then hit the road again .


Heading east and beginning the journey back to Salta.


And at the top elevation for the trip at 4,170 metres elevation! The last time we were close to this high was when we had been climbed to the top of Mount Kinabalu at 4,095 metres tall. This time above 4,000 metres was a definitely alot easier though!


215 k's to Salta and 1,750 k's back to Buenos Aires.


More woolly llama's.


The winding descent down.


At about 4pm we arrived at Cerro de los Siete Colores (The Hill of Seven Colors).


A beautiful sight with a rainbow of different colours, each derived from different types of rocks. Each colour/rock is said to have formed during different time periods.


Nestled on the southern side of the hill is small the town of Purmamarca.


The name of the town comes from the combination of Aymara language words purma (desert) and marca (city).


Florida. We then went for a stroll around the town.


Colourful shawls on display in a market in the town's centre.


And some lemonade and an alfajores before beginning the final drive back.


We arrived back in Salta just after at dusk at 7:30pm.


For dinner we headed to Café Rústiko just across from our hotel.


And enjoyed a hot drink and some tasty beef and ham & cheese empanadas at the end of a long but very interesting day of sightseeing through the dry brown landscape of Salta province.