LOS TOLDOS

In the western border of the Yungas forests, in the northern part of the Salta Province, at the exact point where the woods start to melt with the pre-highlands (pre-Puna) pastures at each step, the town of Los Toldos emerges like an apparition at 1600 m.a.s.l..

It is a village framed by the pictorial sierra highlands; with the Bravo and San José Mountains to the west, and the Astilleros, Paraguay and Vallecito sierra highland to the left, a like a tall gate to the dense Yunga forests.

By the end of the 18th century, villagers of Spanish descent were slowly populating the area holding the village.

In spite of the great distance that separate it from the main towns and cities, Los Toldos is a place worth visiting. Once there, the warmth of its inhabitants makes the travellers feel as one of them. And they will all agree that few places are so special.

HOW TO GET THERE
In order to arrive to Los Toldos by land, travellers must get first to the city of San Ramón de la Nueva Orán, and from there, through the Ruta Nacional Nº 50 National Route, up to the Aguas Blancas locality, on the border of the Republic of Bolivia.

From this point, after going through customs and immigration procedures, visitors must travel up to the town of La Mamora. A brilliant sector of the Pan-American Highway is that linking the cities of Bermejo and Tarija, in Bolivian territory.

From La Maroma, after fording the Oroseño and Condado Rivers, which join downstream to form the Río Bermejo River, travellers return to Argentina at the El Condado spot.

From El Condado, a picturesque 15 kms mountain hugging road will take visitors up to the Abra de Toldos Pass, where the large Los Toldos high altitude valley begins.

Another way of arrival is by plane, hiring the services offered at the city of San Ramón de la Nueva Orán.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

• Always keep both your personal documents and the vehicle's registration papers in order.
• Remember that travelling through the Republic of Bolivia's territory is a must.
• The last gas stations selling Argentinean produced fuel are in the city of San Ramón de la Nueva Orán.
• If you wish to visit the Parque Nacional Baritú National Park, go to the information office they keep at Los Toldos to register and collect information.
• Go to the Los Toldos Municipality to register and collect more information.
• Order in advance if you want to taste typical dishes, rent horses or hire the services of local guides.
• During the southern hemisphere summer, there are heavy rainfalls and fording the rivers is impossible. Therefore, travellers must use the cable car or "roldana", available at the Alarache spot, about six kms before arriving at La Maroma.
• Consider the option of visiting the historic and picturesque town of Tarija, 90 kms away from La Maroma.