From La Puna to the Atacama desert

From Buenos Aires, we flew to Salta, where we were picked up by our guide in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. With our bags packed, our journey through La Puna and the Atacama Desert could begin. The drive from Salta to Cafayate took us through a stunning landscape with plenty of cacti and beautiful red-coloured rock formations. We stayed at a wine resort where we were able to relax completely.

The next part of our journey became increasingly remote and solitary. Not long after, we reached the La Puna region. It’s almost impossible to drive here yourself. Firstly, because there are few roads and no signposts. Secondly, you don’t really even want to drive; the natural scenery is so overwhelming that all you want to do is look around you.

The little town of El Peñon was our next stop, where we spent the night. It’s a small town in a very tiny village. We stayed in simple but comfortable accommodation. From there, we visited a volcano and drove through a wide variety of landscapes. It felt as though we were driving across the moon; we drove across endless salt flats, passed white sand dunes and lava fields, and saw llamas, flamingos and vicuñas. The sense of isolation in this vast landscape suddenly makes you feel very small. An incredible experience.

By now, we had climbed from 1,700 metres to 2,500 and then to 3,500 metres. Our guide was very well prepared and had brought a comprehensive range of equipment in case anything happened, which made us feel safe. From Tolar Grande, we drove to a sulphite mine at an altitude of 5,350 metres. On the way, we were surprised by a small village that seemed to rise up like an oasis from the desolate landscape. Here, we were invited to eat llama meat with the villagers. Back on the road to the sulphite mine, we were treated to yet another display of stunning colours, and the mine itself was impressive, despite the strong winds and chilly temperatures at that altitude. Add to that our guide’s explanations, and it was truly a wonderful and unforgettable day.

For the final leg of the journey, we drove into Chile. As soon as we crossed the border, the road turned back into tarmac and we gradually found ourselves back in civilisation amongst other people – it took a bit of getting used to. The solitude and unspoilt nature of the Argentine Puna are what make the area so special. We rounded off our trip in San Pedro de Atacama. In a beautiful hotel with every luxury imaginable, we looked back on an unforgettable journey. One thing is certain: this trip is our number one!

Many thanks Johan and the team of Sapa Pana Travel.

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