Tolar GrandeOverland Travel to the Earth BeginningsATWS 2017 - Argentina - Pre-Summit Adventure trip3 days (3 days/2 nights), October 13-15, 2017Salta, Argentina.

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About us

Pocitos Salt Flat (Ph: Sebastian del Val, DeAtura Guide)

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A Family CompanyDe Altura Travel & Adventure, an agency that emerges from the efforts of a family, each and every one of them contributed to achieve this. Renato and Martin Contino, are the visible face of this family business.

We have been working in tourism for years, so we decided to start our trip, our project, our own agency, getting there took a lot of effort and time.

So many years traveling, knowing, acquiring experience, learning from the people who visit us, helped us to understand that beyond the knowledge, the tourist seeks for pleasant moment, and take back to home the best memories.

We have in our hands the responsibility to make the best of their trips, they will feel that they have friends here, and we, we will always be thankful of heart for choosing De Altura to do it.

We are all owners of this beautiful land and that is why we want to share and care for it. Respecting the people, culture, nature, and making this activity: sustainable, for future travelers.

De Altura is committed to organizing and share an unforgettable trip, making them feel part of the place, and why not!, to return again to Northwest Argentina! :)

Renato & Martin Contino Owners

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Tolar Grande is a small town nestled in the Puna of Salta at 3400 meters high (11482 feet). To reach this village from the city of Salta, we travel 357 km through the wild landscape of Quebrada del Toro and by highland towns such Santa Rosa de Tastil with its pre-Incan ruins and San Antonio de los Cobres.

Based in Tolar Grande, we explore places of great cultural and geological interest such as the Arita Cone, Sea Eyes, salty lakes with a variety of birds like pink flamingos, parinas, ducks and gallaretas. We cannot forget to mention Argentina’s largest salt flat, Salar de Arizaro, and the world-famous Llullaillaco volcano, where three Inca children were found mummified in 1999 by The National Geographic archaeology team.

Trip Highlights:Traveling through the high puna of Salta provinceExploring Argentina’s largest salt flatVisiting highland communities and pre-Incan ruinsPhotographing the otherworldly landscapeLight hiking and birdwatchingStargazing high in the desert with little to no light pollutionItinerary map

TolarGrandeOverland Travel to the Earth Beginning

Los Colorados, arriving to Tolar Grande (Ph: Sebastian del Val, DeAtura Guide)

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spend a couple of hours walking and taking photos at the viewpoints located in front of the seven volcanoes of the Cordillera de Los Andes range: Llullaillaco, Socompa, Aracar, Guanaqueros, Pulares, Salim and Arizaro.

We return to the village for lunch and use the warmth of daytime for bathing. After lunch, we head to the Salar de Arizaro, considered the largest salt flat in Argentina and the third largest in the Americas (5500 km2). We spend about an hour driving by the salt flats, with photography stops, to arrive near Arita Cone, a striking volcanic formation in the salt flat interior. We take time to explore the surroundings. Next, we visit a nearby mining camp, where we learn about the life of these Andean workers. As the sun sets, with the light and shadows dancing over the mountains, we return to Tolar Grande in time for dinner.

October 15th - DAY 3 – Tolar Grande to Salta

After breakfast, we depart for Salta along the same route, taking more stops for photography and to visit the Andean villages of Pocitos and Olacapato. Olacapato is one of the highest villages in Argentina at 4090m/ 13,419’. We have lunch at midday and plan to arrive back in Salta around 6:00pm. Driving time: ~10 hours, including breaks.

End of our services.

October 12th - DAY 0 – Arrive Salta, Argentina. Hotel not included.

October 13th - DAY 1 - Salta to Tolar Grande

Our trip begins today in Salta, Argentina. Our guide will pick you up at 07:30 a.m. at your hotel. We depart Salta and travel through the Quebrada del Toro (The Bull Ravine), a gorge of constantly changing dramatic mountain scenery and multicolored rocks. We take a break at the little town of Santa Rosa de Tastil and visit its pre-Inca ruins. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the best preserved, original ruin in Argentina. It has not been restored. Arriving at midday to San Antonio de los Cobres, a dusty mining town with typical highland adobe houses, we stop for lunch. Our final leg of the trip crosses the Abra de Alto Chorrillo, a mountain pass at 4560 meters/14,690 feet, the highest altitude we reach on this journey. If the spectacular scenery isn’t taking your breath away, this altitude certainly will! From the pass, we descend 1000m/3280 feet through vast highlands framed by giant salt lakes and volcanoes to reach, without a doubt, the most remarkable part of this day, the colorful Devil Desert. Here, the play between the mountain shapes, sunlight, and shadow projection is captivating to witness! After a short hike, we continue our journey to Tolar Grande, a small former mining town at the edge of the Puna. Dinner is waiting for us in a local family’s dining room. Driving time: ~10 hours, including breaks.

October 14th - DAY 2 – Exploring the Puna

We start the day having breakfast with a family and meet inhabitants of the village. Afterwards, a local guide meet us to go to Ojos de Mar (Sea Eyes), which are blue holes in the middle of a white salt lake, and El Arenal (Sand Dunes) where we

TolarGrandeday by day Itinerary (3 days / 2 nights)

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Hiking: Day 2 - 2 hours, 2 km, at 3500 meters/11,500 ft.

Photography: spots during the trip: 10 minutes each one, above 3048m/10,000’

Birdwatching: 10/20 minutes above 3048m/10,000’

TolarGrandeActivities:

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This trip is rated class 2, easy active, due to high altitude (i.e., Beginner level, physical activity; ~2-4 hours activity/day, >10.000 ft.) Participants must be in good health condition in terms of: blood pressure, very good breathing capacity, and previous experience at high altitude. The highest altitude reached on the trip is 4560 meters/14,690 feet. We sleep for two nights at 3400 meters/11,482 feet. This trip is not suitable for smokers.

Itinerary difficulty:

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TolarGrandeTrip Highlights Photography (Ph.: Sebastian del Val, De Altura Guide.)

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TolarGrandeTrip Highlights Photography (Ph.: Sebastian del Val, DeAltura Guide.)

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TolarGrandeTrip Highlights Photography (Ph.: Sebastian del Val, DeAltura Guide.)

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We spend two night in Tolar Grande at AFAPUNA (French-Argentine Puna Friendship Association) Refuge. The accommodation is basic but clean with two large dormitory style rooms (men/women separate), shared bathrooms (men/women separate), both with hot shower. Bedding and towels are provided. Toiletries (shampoo/conditioner) or hair dryers are not provided so please bring your own. There is no internet access/WiFi at the refuge.

TolarGrandeAccommodation:

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Group size: 4Price per person with special discount: u$s 320.- US Dollars. Payment method: Cash at time of the trip.

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We call it Puna... The Andes... Clear skies, without any light pollution, one of the best places in the world to hunt stars, ask for wishes and fall in love with this unusual nature.

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Private transportation in 4x4 vehicle Accommodation in Tolar Grande refuge (dormitory style, shared bathrooms)All meals beginning with lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 3Bilingual Tour Leader assistance (English / Spanish)Local guides as needed

TolarGrandeThe Tour Includes:

International & Domestic FlightsAlcoholic or non-alcoholic beveragesTravel/Medical/Evacuation Insurance Personal expenses, tips to guides and drivers

Hotel nights in Salta pre and post trip

The Tour Does Not Include:

Vicunias in the way to Tolar Grande town (Ph: Sebastian del Val, DeAtura Guide)

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Tolar GrandeHigh Altitude Alert:

This trip ascends to high altitude, traveling above 3,048m/10,000’ for the duration of the trip. The highest altitude reached is 4560 meters/14,690 feet and sleeping occurs at 3400 meters/11,482 feet. It is imperative you understand the symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS) and the more severe forms of altitude illness, HAPE (High-altitude pulmonary edema) and HACE (High-altitude cerebral edema) so that you can self-monitor your reaction to high altitude. Take the necessary precautions to prevent or alleviate symptoms of high altitude such as staying hydrated, avoiding alcohol, and eating well. Be sure to share any symptoms with your guide.

The Golden Rules

1. If you feel unwell, you have altitude sickness until proven otherwise.

2. Do not ascend further if you have symptoms of altitude sickness.

3. If you are getting worse then descend immediately.

For more information: Altitude Illness at CDC (Center for Disease Control); Altitude sickness at altitude.org

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Packing List: Luggage:Medium to large duffle or soft-sided rolling duffle

Packing cubes/stuff sacks

Day pack (15-20 liters)

Clothing:

Casual clothing/shoes for travel and city wear (lightweight, easily washable)

Water/windproof jacket, lightweight

Wind resistant pants

Fleece/softshell jacket

Down (or synthetic insulation) jacket

T-shirts, synthetic or wool

Long sleeve shirt, synthetic or wool

Hiking pants

Synthetic or merino base layers

Underwear/sports bra (quick drying)

Sleepwear

Sun hat

Wool or fleece hat

Neck warmer or buff

Liner gloves, synthetic or wool

Warm fleece gloves/mittens

Tolar GrandeWeather:

Weather in October: Clear sunny skies are usually present. However, this is the Andes so please be prepared for rain and wind. During the day, average temperatures are 11°C and 25°C (52°F – 77°F). At night temperatures vary between 0° and 7°C (32°F – 45°F). There might be frost in the nights/early morning.

Footwear:

Hiking shoes

Hiking socks, synthetic or wool

Assorted Personal Items:

Water bottles (2 1-Liter or 2L hydration blad-

der)

Headlamp with batteries (& extra batteries)

Sunscreen and lip balm with SPF

Sunglasses with UV filter

Personal hygiene items (toothpaste, tooth-

brush, shampoo/conditioner, quick drying

travel towel, etc)

Toilet Kit: Toilet paper, Ziplock bags (at least

one for clean TP, one for dirty TP), wet wipes,

hand sanitizer (You must pack out all toilet

paper out of the wilderness.)

Personal first aid kit, medications, blister kit

Bandana

Camera/memory cards/battery/charger

Optional:

Earplugs and eye shade

Binoculars

mp3 music player, e-book reader

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Tolar GrandeGetting to and from Salta

Important Note: Please take note of which airport in Buenos Aires you are arriving and departing when you book your airline tickets. International flights from North America and Europe land in Buenos Aires at EZE (Ministro Pistarini International Airport; Ezeiza International Airport). Your flight to Salta, however, may (but not always) depart from AEP (Jorge Newbery Airfield), Buenos Aires. The distance between the two airports is ~44km and an hour without traffic.

However, traffic can be very heavy in Buenos Aries and we recommend you allow several hours between flights to clear immigration, customs, obtain luggage, and transfer to AEP to be sure you can make your connection.

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SEBASTIAN DEL VAL

38 YEARS OLD

Sebastian has at least 9 years experience in the

Argentine and Bolivian highlands travel circuit, also

in the northern Chile. Began his mountaineer career

as a member of the local alpine club 16 years ago

climbing mountains in Argentina, Chile and Bolivia

where he learned how to manage difficulties due

to high altitud ambients, developing characteristics

that make him suitable for this kind of trips with

adventurers, as well as a former geology student,

he can translate in words, during the excursion, the

landscapes extravagance in terms of rocks shapes

and colors.

Since 2010 he has complete the highest level in first

aid training: Wilderness First Responder with Search

and Rescue module. He has participate in the course:

Nature-Based Tourism As an Economic Development

Tool by Sthephen McCool and Keith Bosak, College of

Forestry and Conservation, Montana, USA, dictated

in the Catholic University of Salta, in April 2010.

Photography enthusiast since approximately 5 years

as you can see the photos displayed in this program.

His native language is Spanish, second language

English and third language Italian.

Tolar GrandeDe Altura Guide for this trip

De Altura has created a fine selection of

collaborators throughout Salta that are not only

highly qualified in their own particular fields, but

also have played a major role in designing the best

possible itineraries for the vast selection of tours

that De Altura provides. Whether it’s a in-depth tour

of the Andes or an introductory tour to one of the

major cities of Northwest Argentina, Salta. We´ll

guarantee for your trip a member of our selected

group of guides with vast experience in Andean

journeys.

Tolar GrandeA destiny to be discover, deep in the Andes, at the heart of the mountains.

A road in the Andes (Ph: Sebastian del Val, DeAltura Guide)