SAN PEDRO – SAN BARTOLO – YERBAS BUENAS – ARCOIRIS

This excursion was born last year when we explored a little-visited area : the San Bartolo valley. Exciting in more ways than one, it opens the door to adventure and the discovery of the remains of the Romero Galo gold mine.

Romero is a lovable loner who today mines the copper ore contained in his mountains.

This trail-based adventure crosses the Patience valley to reach La Piedra de la Coca, where your guide will tell you all about its history.

You then cross some very picturesque landscapes, with varied geology, to arrive at the entrance to the Romero estate. We stop under the thousand-year-old Algarobo for a snack and a few photos at the foot of the sheepfold, facing the imposing Licancabur.

We now set off to discover the remains of the gold mine, which requires us to cross several fords – a “Paris Dakar” atmosphere guaranteed!

San Bartolo is also the story of a family who own hundreds of hectares of rock on mountains abandoned after the mining accident of 1930, and the youngest grandson, Romero, has decided to bring them back to life.

After passing through his copper ore mining operation and reaching the Pulpéria crossroads, a remnant of an Inca trading post, we take the mountain path to reach the ……. summit. Wow ! What a breathtaking view!

Once the emotion has worn off, we head for the Rio Salado, which descends steeply, very steeply… we ford the river, then climb back up through the “Yerbas Buenas” wetlands to reach the wide, llama-populated plateau and the entrance to the petroglyph site.

“Yerbas Buenas” is also the gateway to the magnificent Arcoiris valley, which we visit and where the adventure ends!

Return to San Pedro via the national road.

SCHEDULE: 08 :00 am – 05 :00 pm

PICK-UP AND DROP-OFF: HOTEL

ALTITUDE: 2,443 M – 3,190 M

DIFFICULTY: EASY

INCLUDED :

SNACKS, LUNCH, and DRINKS

English speaking guide

SAFETY: on-board oxygen