Huge cacti, tamales and gauchos

Today we drove back to Salta, completing a loop we started two days ago. We started with a ceramics class, making Inca crosses, and then loaded into the van and crossed through Los Cardones National Park, where enormous cardon cacti rise out of the dry valley floor against a backdrop of rugged mountains. The fog hung low over the landscape, giving everything a dramatic atmosphere. We spotted several guanacos along the way, although the condors stayed hidden in the clouds.

From there, we climbed the winding Cuesta del Obispo pass, reaching elevations above 11,000 feet. As we gained altitude, the temperatures dropped sharply and we even encountered snow at the higher peaks but not sticking to the road.

It was certainly our coldest day, compounded by the heater not working in the bus. We stopped for lunch and a tamale making session and a dance demonstration, which helped us warm up a bit before we arrived Salta.Read more