In the heart of the Andes Reserve, surrounded by volcanoes that tell the story of ancient inhabitants such as Lullaillaco, Tolar Grande is an unmissable place to enjoy the stunning beauty of the Puna, with its immense salt flats and its eyes of the sea; an unforgettable landscape.

Tolar Grande

Located 387 km away (8hs 30min) and surrounded by volcanoes that tell the story of ancient inhabitants such as Lullaillaco, Tolar Grande is an unmissable place to enjoy the stunning beauty of the Puna, with its immense salt flats and its eyes of the sea; an unforgettable landscape.

Mountaineering in the Puna

Tolar Grande is the ideal place for lovers of mountains and especially those that tell a story, like the incredible Llullaillaco Volcano, which with its 6,739 meters above sea level is the sacred mountain where one of the most important treasures of the Andean world of our era was found, the frozen bodies of three Inca children.

The extensive Los Andes Provincial Reserve

Almost the entire Puna Salta is protected by this immense reserve of more than 1,440,000 hectares, one of the largest in Argentina. The fauna you will encounter is mainly the vicuña, a beautiful camelid very popular in these regions. The landscape that composes it is one of the most impressive of Salta and among the curiosities of the landscape that can be known are the Ojos de Mar and the peculiar Cono de Arita.

Cone of Arita

In the middle of the Arizaro Salt Flat, the third largest salt flat on the planet, is this perfect cone formed naturally of black salt of volcanic origin, which surprises and amazes when you arrive. For lovers of the mysterious and inexplicable, the Cono de Arita, with its 200 meters, is their place in the world.

Cerro Macón

Every third Saturday of November, the ascent to Cerro Macón, 5,611 meters above sea level, takes place; it is an ancestral ritual where you can share with the inhabitants of Tolar Grande the unforgettable and magical experience of giving thanks for the water that the mountain provides to this arid region.

El Arenal

Only 8 km from the town of Tolar Grande, this circuit takes us into one of the most arid areas in the vicinity of the town of Tolar Grande; it goes through the interior of huge reddish sand banks that accumulated in the sector called "El Arenal". At this point, ascending enormous sand dunes, you get a magnificent view of the Andes Mountain Range.

Bear Cave

It is located north of Tolar Grande, 3 km away, about 10 minutes by car and about two hours on foot, from the town and back. On the way you can observe the arid land and the dryness of the Puna, which gives a feeling of being on another planet.

Arizaro Salt Flat

It is surrounded by volcanoes and snow-capped mountains that are among the highest on the planet, such as Llullaillaco, Socompa and Arácar. Touring it allows you to enjoy the breathtaking scenery offered by its extensive salt flats, ideal for activities such as 4x4 tours.

El Mirador

It is located 4 km northwest of Tolar Grande. On the way you can see salt hills and gypsum banks; reaching the top you can have a spectacular view of the area and volcanoes such as Llullaillaco that surround it.

Mina Julia and La Casualidad

In Mina Julia, at 5,505 meters above sea level, more than 600 miners used to live and work, while La Casualidad Camp, at 4,200 meters above sea level, was home to about 3,000 people. This destination is ideal to be visited without haste and go into the abandoned buildings of this real "ghost town" to relive the history of Tolar Grande.

Santa Maria Lagoon

After crossing a landscape of extreme aridity and at 4,000 meters of altitude appears the Santa Maria lagoon, of incomparable beauty with the Incahuasi volcano. In the blue waters swim, walk and fly parinas, ducks, coots and many pink flamingos. An unforgettable postcard.

The striking pink flamingos

Tolar Grande is the ideal place to observe these incredible birds typical of Andean regions, also called parinas, which are found around the water mirrors in the middle of the puna.

Unmissable landscapes

In Tolar Grande, the immensity of the landscape envelops with natural beauties that cannot be forgotten. A panoramic photo at Las Siete Curvas and the Desierto del Diablo, touring the incredible Cono de Arita, admiring the impressive mountain ranges and visiting the Ojos de Mar in the middle of the beautiful Arizaro Salt Flat are unique experiences for visitors.

Llullaillaco Volcano, the Sacred Mountain

La Doncella, La Niña del Rayo and El Niño were found in 1999 at the top of the Llullaillaco Volcano, in a perfect state of preservation. The mountains have the particularity of having been chosen as sacred places or sanctuaries to make offerings in celebration of ancient populations in the area. This Andean treasure is now on display at the Museum of High Mountain Archaeology in the capital city of Salta, where you can live the incredible experience of knowing the environment, the sounds and the representation of the place where the "Children of Llullaillaco" were found.

Children of Llullaillaco

The "Children of Llullaillaco" were offered to more than 6,700 meters high, at the summit of the legendary Llullaillaco Volcano, five centuries ago. Their tombs are the highest that man has ever built on the planet. These child-gods (as huacas or possible messengers of the gods) are the human beings who were closest to the refulgent divinity of the Incas, the Sun.

High altitude trekking

In Tolar Grande you cannot miss this activity in the middle of a majestic landscape. From simple hikes to the most demanding high mountain options, you are always surrounded by incredible reddish massifs. For this activity in the Puna, previous training and special clothing are required; it is suggested to do the circuits through agencies with authorized guides and providers.

Sandboard

The sand of the Puna allows you to practice sandboarding in El Arenal, where you can experience the adrenaline of descending on boards in the middle of an incredible Puna landscape.

4WD tours

You can cross the vast extensions of mountains and salt flats that this region offers in 4x4. A challenge with a mixture of adrenaline.

The Seven Curves

They are formations of reddish tones of an extraordinary beauty that take the breath away from those who travel through them.

The Andean Culture

The Andean culture is reflected in the being and feeling of the inhabitants of the Puna towns, such as Tolar Grande. You can relive the pre-Columbian past enjoying the traditions, beliefs and customs manifested in the cuisine, dances and celebrations that are maintained to this day.

The Pachamama

On August 1st, Mother Earth receives the offerings of those who worship this deity so honored along the mountain range. You can be part of this ritual, which combines Christian religiosity with the Andean world.

Handicrafts

The laborious artisans of this area are characterized by the weavings made with thorn needles and bone combs, with Andean designs, made of pure wool from llamas and sheep raised in the area.

High altitude sanctuaries Llullaillaco Volcano

The Andes mountains are unique in their kind and were chosen by the ancient inhabitants to make offerings to their gods. In Salta, the Chuscha (5,412 meters above sea level), the Quehuar (6,130 meters above sea level) and the Llullaillaco (6,739 meters above sea level) stand out among others, the latter declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO, as it is part of the Qhapaq Ñan or Inca Trail.

Ojos de Mar Provincial Wildlife Refuge

Fans of dreamy landscapes, a few kilometers before arriving to Tolar Grande, can enjoy the incredible sea eyes in the middle of the salt flats at the edge of the road, where the oldest living bacteria were discovered some time ago.
that gave birth to life on the planet. The "Ojo de Mar" is a small lagoon that rises in the middle of the salt flat as a result of the water courses that flow there. The water comes from the Serranía del Macón and therefore is fresh, but when mixed with the salt crust of the salt becomes saline.