9 Day From Lerma to Calchaqui Valley Horse Riding Holiday in Salta

The ride will have the town of Escopie (Chicoana) as a starting point and the endpoint will be the town of San Carlos de Cafayate, a unique town for its characteristics and with a lot of history.

During this journey, approximately 180 kilometers will be traveled on horseback, in eight days, crossing from the Lerma Valley to the Calchaquí Valleys, being able to appreciate its beautiful views and witnessing the change of its landscapes and vegetation, from the humid and jungle vegetation that it presents the Lerma Valley, to the semi-arid region that the Calchaquí valleys present; its thermal amplitudes are ideal for the cultivation of grapes, being the privileged region and producers of the best Malbec and Blanco Torrontés regional wines in the world.

Day 1: Arrival Day

You will be picked up from Salta in the afternoon before leaving for the ride. Overnight in Chicoana; the team is prepared and guides and logistics staff are known.

Day 2: First Riding Day

Departure by vehicle from Chicoana to "El Colte", located in Río Malcante. Here, the horses will wait to start the crossing. At dusk, you will reach the Quebrada de Escoipe, a beautiful place where the first night of camping will take place.

Day 3: Second Riding Day

After breakfast, the horses will be prepared and the Yesera will be promoted by a farm; there, you will have a picnic until you reach the post of Agua de Castilla where the second night of camping will take place.

Day 4: Third Riding Day

By Cuesta de Toro Yaco, begin to notice the change of vegetation and the geography of the Calchaquí Valleys. At the end of the day, you will reach “Jume Rodeo”, here, you have the third night of camping.

Day 5: Rest Day

On this day, the animals will be given rest. Riders will be able to walk around the Estate, wash clothes, dry, and organize the equipment to continue the trip. Spend the fourth night camping at Jume Rodeo.

Day 6: Fourth Riding Day

Early and rested, after a good breakfast, leave for the Agüada, enjoying its exotic landscape, arrive at “Amblayo” where you will do the fifth night of camping.

Day 7: Fifth Riding Day

During this day, you will go through “Cuesta Arena”, the camp prior to the final destination of the ride. During this day, you will not be accompanied by vehicles, so you will have to carry the provisions on cargo horses and help assemble the camp.

Day 8: Rest Day

Arrival at “San Carlos de Cafayate”; here, spend the night in a very cozy hostel with all the comforts and the same characteristics of its town; you will be staying in quadruple rooms. At night, you will have a treat in a place with typical meals and live music.

Day 9: Tour, Wine Tasting, and Departure Day

During the final day, without the horses, you will know a little more about the historic town of San Carlos and by car, travel to Cafayate. Here, you will visit its most emblematic wineries and taste its regional wines. Have lunch in a restaurant of height and before arriving in Salta, pass through exceptional places such as The Amphitheater, The Throat of the Devil, among others. Arrive at the airport in Salta at approximately 6 p.m.

The Horses

Sayta Cabalgatas has more than 50 horses with different personalities and features. They were tamed without violence which is why they are docile and disciplined. Sayta Ranch feeds them with special care with regards to their diet and they look after the horses' health and sanitary control. They are mix-raced, known for being versatile and resistant, therefore, the best for safe and comfortable riding.

This horse riding holiday takes place in Chicoana aérea and goes straight to the mountains through Chicoana, Quebrada de Escoipe, Las Zanjas, Amblayo, San Carlos, and Cafayate.

Chicoana

Sayta Ranch is located in the Chicoana, 35 kilometers southwest of the capital of the Salta province and is the access point of the Lerma Valley. Chicoana in the Quechua language means “a little bit of the hidden sky”. It is a town that was inhabited by natives whose tribe was given the same name as the region (Chicoanas, faithful to the Incas).

This tribe was characterized by its impeccable organization and its way of life. It's a village where culture thrives; the people preserve their customs and traditions, they devote their time to agriculture, and some of their most important crops are tobacco, beans, maize, and chili. The village itself has a colonial style and is surrounded by old rambling houses. In town, there are also specialist ironmongers who give the place a unique architectural style.

Distances

• The capital of Salta Province, 35 kilometers
• Salta International Airport - Gral Martin Miguel de Güemes (SLA), 40 kilometers

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Breakfast, lunch, tea snacks, and dinner, as well as drinks (regional red wine), will be served daily. All the meals are nutritious and designed for this type of activity. Some of them are barbeques, various kinds of salads, vegetables, stews, and pasta with emphasis on breakfast. Traditional foods such as empanadas, tamales, humitas, cheeses, marmalades, etc. will be available.

• All horse riding activities and tours
• Wine tastings
• Horse riding equipment (Helmets, horse bags, chaps, raincoats, complete saddle, etc.)
• Camping equipment (Tents, cutlery, plates, glasses, etc.)
• Medical insurance
• All meals and drinks (organic red wine) daily
• 8 nights accommodation (6 nights camping, 1 night at the ranch, and 1 night at a hostel in San Carlos in private rooms)
• Roundtrip airport and land transfers

• Airfare
• Personal expenses

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• A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.