2 Day Horseback Riding + 1 Night Camping

Day 1: Moon Valley & Death Valley

We cross the mysterious Moon Valley. As its name points it out, its geological formations and colors curiously remind of the Moon. Canter across its sand dunes and passing through its impressive tunnels, natural caves and holes will amaze you. If you listen carefully you might hear the rumble of the rocks that creaks as if they were trying to whisper us something when there is some temperature’s change. Leaving the Moon Valley behind us, we reach the ledge of the Salt Cordillera. It is a pre-cordillera, created by the erosion that further East turns into the majestic Andean Cordillera. The wind blows there in strong gusts, building each time new natural sculptures.  From its heights we overhang the whole Death Valley and its huge sand dunes, where people practice Sandboard. Also well-known as Mars Valley, this enigmatic place invites you to contemplation and admiration.

Today’s camping shall be at the Petroglyphs next to “La Piedra de la Coca”, a gigantic stone, where formers atacameños spat coca for a good journey. It’s now still possible to see this chewed coca leafs but most of all to observe Petroglyphs, rock drawings, representing formers hunting scenes. These archeological remains are the proof that antic Caravans used this same way several years ago. Through these engravings, representing distinct forms and symbols, they tell us about their history, about their way of life. Like messages carved into the rock, theses symbols are the matter of many theories.

We shall ride between 7 to 8 hours on that day.

Day 2: Rio Salado, Petroglyphs, Devil’s Canyon

Passing through lovely landscapes, we shall cross the Rio Salado (Salt river), where once again you will find ancient Petroglyphs, representing: Lamas, foxes, Caravans, Shamans. Some of these Petroglyphs have more than 2　000 years. We will transit today on all these formers ways crossed several years before by nomad tribes accompanied by their animals.

After following the River Salado we will discover where San Pedro’s river borns. It is responsible for the luxuriant vegetation of the Catarpe valley, creating a surprising contrast with the dryness of the desert. In this area we will cross the way of some shepherds, leading their animals to pasture (sheeps, goats, cows, llamas).

In the afternoon we reach “La Quebrada del Diablo” (the devil’s-ravine), a narrow ravine located inside the Salt Mountain Range. This real natural labyrinth offers landscapes worthy of the North American westerns.

We shall finish our trip passing through the town of Quitor, where an ancient stronghold (Pukara de Quitor) of the 12th century is located.

This fortress has a strategic place; located on the top of a hill. It dominates the whole area as well as the river San Pedro. Nowadays this place is a national monument, archeological remains of the pre-Inca architecture. These incredible constructions, built 700 years ago were used as a defensive gate by the natives against the Incas and later on against the Spanish, who invaded it in 1540.