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Overlanding / Expedition Driving in Puna de AtacamaAR
The high desert plateau of Salta, Jujuy, and Catamarca at 3,500 to 4,500 meters, rimmed by the highest volcanoes on earth and crossed by almost nobody.
Why here
The Argentine Puna is expedition driving in the strict sense: a 4,000-meter desert plateau where you carry your fuel and water, camp wild or sleep in high-altitude hosterias, and can go days without passing another vehicle. The reward is a catalog of landscapes that look rendered rather than real: the Campo de Piedra Pomez pumice field, the perfect pyramid of the Cono de Arita rising off the Salar de Arizaro, flamingo lagoons at altitudes where nothing should be pink, all rimmed by giants like Ojos del Salado and Llullaillaco. Entry and exit run through the UNESCO-listed Quebrada de Humahuaca and the high vineyards of the Calchaqui valleys, so even the transit days earn their place.
Best months
Mid-April to mid-November is the dry season and the season, cold at night and brilliant by day. December through March summer storms can cut the tracks. Altitude is the real constraint: itineraries build acclimatization in, and guided operators dominate for good reasons.
Getting there & around
Fly to Salta (SLA); expeditions run four to ten days from the city. Small fleets and remote logistics mean booking three to six months ahead. Self-drive is for experienced high-desert hands only.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced
Schools & guides (1)
Socompa Adventure Travel
OutfitterThe Salta-based pioneer of Puna overlanding since 2004, running private 4x4 expeditions with its own high-altitude lodge, Hosteria El Penon, at 3,400 meters.