La Quiaca

Day 1124
18.03.2014
120 977 km since the beginning of the journey
Day`s journey: Abra Pampa – La Quiaca – Cieneguillas – Paicone - Pirquitas – and so on, total 231 km.

Just like in Patagonia - also in the northern region of Argentina it is recommended to use every opportunity to refuel. Last night at the petrol station I was told that diesel will be brought in the morning, but it seemed that morning at 10 o'clock there was not morning enough. Diesel will be brought later. In fact, it did not matter at all, just makes one feel safer to have got sufficient supplies.

Sufficient supply means to be able to drive to an x place, where a gas station should be located and if not, then to reach to some next one.


La Quiaca was less than 90 kilometers away. At the border of the town was the first tourist information board, but there the construction was of unfinished appearance. The doors were open and electrical wires were hanging on the wall. A few hundred meters further - the next sign " Information Turistica ". I made a stop.

Iruya

Days 1122 - 1123,
03/16/2014 - 03/17/2014,
120,746 km since the beginning of the journey,
Route: Humahuaca - Coctaca - Iturbe - Iruya - Iturbe - Casillas - Iturbe - Tres Cruces - Abra Pampa ( 279 km)


The small town of Iruya lost between the mountains.

Humahuaca

Day 1121
120 467 km since the beginning of the journey,
The Route: Salta – Humahuaca (252 km)

Humahuaca Valley (Quebrada de Humahuaca) was inhabited as early as 10,000 years ago already, and later, in the 15th century an important Road of Trade of Incas proceeded along the valley. Since 2003 the 155 km valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ruta 40, Cachi - Payogasta - Poma …

Day 1107,
01.03.2014
120 215 km since the beginning og the journey
Route: Cachi – Payogasta – Poma – veel 20 km põhja suunas – jälle tagasi - Payogasta – kaktuste park - El Carril – Salta (285 km)

In the morning the plan was clear – it was made several days ago already. Plan A. To drive to the mall town of San Antono De Los Cobres by 2 pm. The reason - at that time on March 1, there was going to begin the carnival. And then the next day - again down from the mountains to reach Salta on March 3 to see the Salta Carnival. In theory entirely possible because from Cachist to Cobrese was supposed to be directly 101 km and along the road - 144 km. To take off at ten in the morning, one should reach there around two o'clock. Or a little later.

For the road conditions are not completely ordinary, as the road will be, of course, the famous Ruta 40 again, and namely that part of it which has is the highest mountain pass - 4972 m high Abra del Acay. For a long time that has also belonged to the category "must visit - must see" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abra_del_Acay. In fact, of course, totally unscheduled Plan B came into use.

Plan B meant that if there was some kind of problem, then the priority was to reach Carnival of Salta by March 3, all other places could wait. The Salta Carnival is enough famous and enough big to arrange other issues accordingly.

Parque National Los Cardones

Day 1106,
28.02.2014
119 940 km since the beginning of the journey
Route: Cachi – PN Los Cardones – Cachi (137 km).

The previous posting will continue. Cachi.


Parque National Los Cardones (area 650 km²) is a huge cacti park and it is located by the road of Salta - Cachi. It is the same park which I intended to visit in January already but didn`t make it this time.. About twenty kilometers remained missing

Cafayate Wine Museum

Day 1105,
27.02.2014,
Cafayate, Argentina.

Cafayate is a small town in Salta province with the population of 11 thousand inhabitants. The town is located 1,683 m above sea level.


"Bienvenidos a Cafayate" says the sign at the border of the city.

Cafayate Valley

Day 1104
26/2/2014,
119 639 km since the beginning of the journey
The route : Salta - Cafayate ( 194 km ),

The below-described tour in the southern and western mountains took place almost two weeks ago , during the last days of February. And as it sometimes may occur- the material was left uploaded.


The morning of February 26.

The sky is just like in the picture above. Suspiciously cloudy, although the sun is shining from between the clouds. The dark clouds promise rain, but only perhaps some three drops of water fall on the windscreen. But it's not important at all and what really matters is the issue that the major heat wave is over and the temperature is no longer +35 or more.

Pictures of Salta Carnival

Day 1110
03/03/2014
Argentina, Salta.

Some photos of Salta Carnival, held on March 3, 2014.

The first hour of the event was a bit drier, then decent rain lasted for about an hour, and finally after midnight the raining was over. But the rain almost did not disturb the arrangement and event. When waterproof clothing and boots are available, they must be used, even to protect the camera. And cameras are not waterproof.

But the event itself was awesome.