Puna Gallery ... Back to Argentina Home

Time to relax and bask in the sun of Salta's beautiful plaza before heading to the field. On the way to the Puna Plateau, in the background, one of the driest deserts at high elevation. The vicuñas, the wild slender relative of the llamas, always belong to the other side of the road! Rush hour in downtown San Antonio de los Cobres-- Puna. So dry, that even the cactuses planted in this plaza's flower beds (marked by whitewashed stones) are beginning to die… Sunset in Antofagasta de la Sierra. Puna region, Catamarca province.
Time to relax and bask in the sun of Salta's beautiful plaza before heading to the field. On the way to the Puna Plateau, in the background, one of the driest deserts at high elevation. The vicuñas, the wild slender relative of the llamas, always belong to the other side of the road! Rush hour in downtown San Antonio de los Cobres-- Puna. So dry, that even the cactuses planted in this plaza's flower beds (marked by whitewashed stones) are beginning to die… Sunset in Antofagasta de la Sierra. Puna region, Catamarca province.
Cerro Galan hot spring. Puna, Catamarca province. Student Sarah Richards (left), and Dr. Alberto Patiño (camera around his neck) joined by three members of Argentina's Gendarmería Nacional (in green uniform) and Santos Soriano, guide. They made sure we all returned safe from Cerro Galan caldera -- The detail is that they are standing on the road that descends into the caldera, at its edge. Talking about bad roads, how about this one? See the road sign? The road is to the right. You do not see it? Well it was also hard to find in the field! Puna Plateau, close to Antofagasta de la Sierra. We make sure our students are strong enough to qualify for our program! Campo de Piedra Pómez. Puna, Catamarca. Time to relax and bask in the sun of Salta's beautiful plaza before heading to the field.
Cerro Galan hot spring. Puna, Catamarca province. Student Sarah Richards (left), and Dr. Alberto Patiño (camera around his neck) joined by three members of Argentina's Gendarmería Nacional (in green uniform) and Santos Soriano, guide. They made sure we all returned safe from Cerro Galan caldera -- The detail is that they are standing on the road that descends into the caldera, at its edge. Talking about bad roads, how about this one? See the road sign? The road is to the right. You do not see it? Well it was also hard to find in the field! Puna Plateau, close to Antofagasta de la Sierra. We make sure our students are strong enough to qualify for our program! Campo de Piedra Pómez. Puna, Catamarca. Time to relax and bask in the sun of Salta's beautiful plaza before heading to the field.
On the high plateau, the thin atmosphere and the lack of humidity makes for some of the bluest skies you will ever see. The Puna is the land held sacred by the Incas. Messages from the ancient inhabitants of the land have reached us through time. Coming back from the Puna, we are introduced to the colorful scenary of the Valles Calchaquíes. Río de las Conchas. Cafayate - Salta. On the trip to along Quebrada de Humahuaca, it's hard to keep track of how many colors of rocks you have seen on the same mountain. Local children love tourists. Many of them sell souvenirs, others rarely come down to town from their homes in the mountains. Carrying with you a handful of candy is always a good idea.
On the high plateau, the thin atmosphere and the lack of humidity makes for some of the bluest skies you will ever see. The Puna is the land held sacred by the Incas. Messages from the ancient inhabitants of the land have reached us through time. Coming back from the Puna, we are introduced to the colorful scenary of the Valles Calchaquíes. Río de las Conchas. Cafayate - Salta. On the trip to along Quebrada de Humahuaca, it's hard to keep track of how many colors of rocks you have seen on the same mountain. Local children love tourists. Many of them sell souvenirs, others rarely come down to town from their homes in the mountains. Carrying with you a handful of candy is always a good idea.
The streets in Humahuaca still preserve their proud mixture of colonial and indigenous heritage. You'd better be prepared to apply what you learned in Haggling 101. Celebration on Seclantás patron saint's day: Virgen del Carmen is paraded from the cathedral around the central plaza. Local's share in the festivities with genuine devotion. On this day, every gaucho salteño from Seclantás neighboring ranches parade in their best clothes with their faithful rides. You can FEEL their pride… On the high plateau, the thin atmosphere and the lack of humidity makes for some of the bluest skies you will ever see.
The streets in Humahuaca still preserve their proud mixture of colonial and indigenous heritage. You'd better be prepared to apply what you learned in Haggling 101. Celebration on Seclantás patron saint's day: Virgen del Carmen is paraded from the cathedral around the central plaza. Local's share in the festivities with genuine devotion. On this day, every gaucho salteño from Seclantás neighboring ranches parade in their best clothes with their faithful rides. You can FEEL their pride… On the high plateau, the thin atmosphere and the lack of humidity makes for some of the bluest skies you will ever see.