from $5,250* per person	11 Days	Year-round
Boutique accommodations		Exertion level: 4
Operator: Geographic Expeditions		18 people max

Argentina’s sere and volcano-dotted far north, on the other side of the Andes from the Atacama Desert, is little-known and less traveled. Which strikes us as one good reason to explore it. Other reasons: the landscapes up here are massive, the villages are remote and inviting, and the high volcanoes rising from the arid puna are breathtaking.

We begin by flying north from Buenos Aires to Salta, just on the edge of the high country. Then off we go to the cactus-studded landscapes of Los Cordones National Park; to verdant Colome after stopping to admire the talents of local weavers along the way; and south to the brilliantly-colored hills of Calchaquíes Valley and some invigorating tasting at the region’s renowned wineries.

Jumping north to the province of Jujuy, we’ll explore its rich pre-Hispanic traditions and stunning, otherworldly landscapes. The town of Purmamarca, situated in the shadow of the vivid Hill of Seven Colors, beckons with its serene adobe ambiance, vendor-filled plaza, and exquisite colonial Iglesia. After wandering its quiet streets or strolling its multihued hills, we’ll wend our way up to the salt flats and extraterrestrial landscapes of the puna, gazing at snowcapped behemoths like Cachi and Llullaillaco (at 22,109 feet the highest active volcano on the planet).