NORTHWEST

The Argentinean North-west is a region of high mountains, impressive volcanoes and blue skies.

The region includes Jujuy, Salta, Catamarca and Tucuman Provinces and it offers landscapes full of contrast for travellers to enjoy, from the high peaks to the plains, the salt pans, and the subtropical rainforests, where pre-columbian culture took root.

The excellent wine and cuisine is balanced by opportunities to bike through vineyards, hike with llamas along the surreal Salinas Grandes, trek to remote archeological sites, dance to lively folk music and ride horses through stunning canyon country at original estancias.

Its most beautiful places are La Quebrada de Humahuaca, The Calchaquies Valleys, Salta city and El Tren a las Nubes (Railway to the Clouds). Moreover, tourists from all over the world come to appreciate the technicolour madness of the Hill of Seven Colours (Cerro de los Siete Colores) in Purmamarca, though Tilcara is a livelier place to spend the night, with a good selection of accommodation and restaurants.

Geography

The region had 5 different biomes:
* Sub-Andean humid Sierras of the east
* Fertile valleys
* The canyons
* The high mountains of the Andes
* The Altiplano or Puna

ACTIVITIES

Adventure Tourism: Adventure tourism in the Argentine Northwest is a very attractive option if you are looking for non-conventional activities during your vacations. The diversity of natural landscapes give tourist the opportunity to choose those activities that adapt to your experience and difficulty level. These activities include, trekking, horseriding, rafting and 4×4 adventures, among others.

Sport Fishing: An ample diversity of natural landscapes and dramatic contrasts such as the densely vegetated Yunga forests, or the serenity of mountains, hills and brooks of the Calchaquí Valleys, provide exhilarating conditions for sport fishing. The rivers Juramento, Lipeo, Iruya and Bermejo are home to the mighty dorado, and the mountain river rapids support trout.

Parties (Fiestas), trips, and leisure: Colourful carnivals and Holy Week celebrations take place in the Puna and the Quebrada de Humahuaca. Misachicos are colourful religious processions where Christian liturgy is mixed with ancestral rites in the towns of the altiplano. Another typical event in Salta are the peñas folkloricas in which folklore groups play the guitar while regional meals are served. Interesting visits to wine cellars can be made in Salta. There are casinos in Salta, San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, San Miguel de Tucuman and Termas de Rio Hondo.

Flavours: Regional cuisine is somewhat spicy but exquisite, with ingredients such as choclo or tender maize, ajies (chilies), and charqui meat (beef, lamb, or pork), without fat and dried in the sun. When prepared with salt it is called tasajo. Some of the typical meals are locro, tamales, empanadas (meat pies), chanfaina, quinua soup, and mazamorra, cayote and quesillo for dessert. As far as drinks are concerned, the chicha (made of maize flour and water fermented in earthenware pots), the aloja (obtained from the fermentation of carob pods), and the excellent wines of Salta and the Torrontes white wine of Cafayate are worth mentioning.