Frequently Asked Questions

Where do we sleep? Are there hotels in the area?
Where is Chicoana? How do we get there?
Can we stay a few nights in Buenos Aires and then visit Chicoana?
How long is a typical visit?
Who do I contact? How do we make reservations?
How much does it cost?
What type of activities are there?
How do we get around the area?
When is a good time to visit?
What do I need to bring with me?
What about meals?
Where can I read the testimonials of previous Adventures with Martín travelers? Can I contact them?
Where can I find more information about travel in Northwestern Argentina or Argentina in general?

Answers

1. Where do we sleep? Are there hotels in the area?

Our 19th century colonial Inn acts as "base camp" for day activities and adventures in the area (read more about the 9 room Hostería de Chicoana here). Alternatively, there may be nights you want to camp outdoors. All this can be arranged prior to your arrival.

2. Where is Chicoana? How do we get there?

Here is a map of the area. Chicoana is just southwest of Salta, the largest city in the Argentine Northwest. Chicoana is situated just east of the Andes in the lush valley called Valle de Calchaquis. Most travelers fly into Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. Direct flights are available from major US cities, such as Chicago, Dallas, Miami and New York. The flight may be 8 to 9 hours. Once in Buenos Aires, you ride a short distance to the domestic airport where you catch a flight to Salta. The domestic flight is about 2 and 1/4 hours. Martín meets our guests at the Salta airport, and from there it's about a 40 minute drive to our Inn in Chicoana, where your adventures begin!

3. Can we stay a few nights in Buenos Aires and then visit Chicoana?

Yes. We can arrange several nights of stay at the hotel of your choice in Buenos Aires before your flight on to Salta.

4. How long is a typical visit?

A typical visit ranges anywhere from 8 days to 2 weeks or more. We recommend at least 10 days. Anything less than a week will probably be too short a stay. You may wish to split your vacation into two parts, starting with several nights in Buenos Aires and 5 or more nights at the Inn at Chicoana.

5. Who do I contact? How do we make reservations?

Reservations are made through our partner ValueVacation LLC in San Francisco. Click here for our travel agent's contact information. If you're interested in talking to others who've visited with us before, or just have questions, click here for their contact info. If you'd like to contact Martín directly click here for his email and telephone number.

Call or email one of our travel agents to arrange everything from your international air travel to Buenos Aires to all your accommodations when in Argentina. Our packages are all inclusive and include Martíns daily expedition guide and translation services including full use of our 4x4 Nissan Patrol SUV. Call us today for more information.

6. How much does it cost?

We have complete packages starting from $2650, including airfare, guide services, all meals and accommodations. Contact us for up-to-date pricing information. As part of your complete vacation package you receive Martín's expert expedition guide and translation services, including transportation in our 4x4 Nissan Patrol SUV, at prices ranging from $75 to $300 a day, depending on the size of your party. Take advantage of the current strength of the US dollar. Call us now to book your next adventure!

7. What type of activities are there?

A wide variety of activities are available in our area. Discover pre-Colombian ruins, Diaguita Indian cave paintings from 1000 and 1500 AD, weaving arts, local cuisine, condor and falcon watching, wine tasting at world-class local vineyards, music, colorful carnivals with masks, songs and dancing, Gaucho style horseback riding, river rafting, fishing, Enchanted Valley, Cardones National Park, High Andes, Cachi, Calchaquies Valley, Red Canyon with overnight in Cafayate, Quilmes ruins, Jujuy jungle 4X4 tour and much more.

Plan your activities ahead of time or "play it by ear" and let us make recommendations when you arrive. You can learn more about our activities, adventures and custom itineraries here.

8. How do we get around the area?

Once you arrive at the airport at Salta, all your ground transportation needs are taken care of. You have at your disposal a 4x4 Nissan Patrol SUV as part of Martín's expert expedition guide and translation services. We do the driving. You enjoy the adventure.

9. When is a good time to visit?

Temperatures are mild all year long, but the best weather is during the 8 month period between Spring and Fall in Argentina (corresponding approximately to September through April in the northern hemisphere).

10. What do I need to bring with me?

We'd suggest light clothing for daytime activities and a few light sweaters or jackets for slightly cool nights. Contact us for more packing suggestions.

11. What about meals?

All your meals can be taken care of as part of the complete expedition package while you're with us in the Salta region. Just let us know. Some nights we will cook outdoors, and others we will eat at the Hostería (Inn). We can also recommend local restaurants in the area. In all cases, breakfast is included with your stay at the Inn and at many hotels in Buenos Aires.

12. Where can I read the reviews and testimonials of previous travelers with Adventures with Martín? Can I contact them?

You can read a first hand testimonial to Adventures with Martín by travelers Tommy L. Allen & Shannon M. Riley at www.ontheflyexpeditions.com. The journal documents the painted caves of the Diaguitas Indians in the Calchaqui Valley and includes many fabulous cave painting photos! The authors have shared their journal of Adventures with Martín starting from the day they left Richmond VA. Their contact information is on their site. You may also contact our US representative Hank Bannister for more first hand experiences and testimonials.

13. Where can I find more information about travel in Northwestern Argentina or Argentina in general?

We've put together a useful links page with links to information about Argentina and our region in particular. This list contains a small sample of the plentiful information available on the Internet. Also, try searching Yahoo! and other popular search engines for Argentina travel information.