vehículo off road en tolar grande

Tolar Grande: Guide to the Puna of Salta

Tolar Grande is a small mining town at 4,000 meters of altitude, located between the red and ocher mountains of the Puna of Salta, in the northwest of Argentina (NOA).

A mystical and dreamed destination, with a landscape dominated by canyons, caves, salt flats, hot springs and turquoise lagoons.

Visiting Tolar Grande and the Puna in general offers the possibility of experiencing a trip to another planet. NASA has also been interested in the area because of its similarity with Mars.

In 1999 the town has gained some notoriety for being the closest town to the Llullaillaco volcano, where the bodies of the “Children of Llullaillaco” were found, now preserved in the MAAM (Museum of High Altitude Archaeology) in Salta.

In this article we are going to talk about the Puna and the countless attractions in the surroundings of Tolar Grande, which make the town the ideal starting point to get to know the Puna of Salta:

  •  The Llullaillaco and Socompa volcanoes
  •  The Arizaro Salt Flat and the Arita Cone
  • The Ojos de Mar and Santa María lagoons
  • The abandoned mines: Julia and La Casualidad
  • The Devil’s Desert
vista del paisaje en Tolar Grande
Tolar Grande - © Seba Del Val

Table of Contents

What is the Puna?

The word Puna has a Quechua origin and means “High Altitude Region”.

The Puna ecoregion is located in the central mountain range of the Andes. It extends from Peru, through Bolivia, until the north of Chile and Argentina.

The Argentine Puna, in the provinces of Salta, Jujuy and Catamarca, is located at an average altitude of around 4,500 meters.

Wildlife in the Puna

The most representative wildlife of the Puna includes Vicuñas and Guanacos. Among the birds, it is worth mentioning the presence of the Flamingo, the Ñandú and the Andean Condor.

vicunas en la puna
Wildlife in the Puna - © Seba Del Val

Climate

The climate of the Puna has a wide thermal amplitude, which varies according to altitude. With warmer temperatures during the day and colder at night.

It usually has summer precipitation of rain, hail and snow from December to April, especially in January and February.

History of the Tolar Grande

For a long time, the railroad and mining were the backbone of Tolar Grande’s economy.

The town, founded by Spanish settlers, was formed around the train station and had its period of maximum expansion around the 1940s. El Tolar was part of the railroad branch to Chile, connecting the city of Salta with the city of Antofagasta. At that time around 5,000 people lived in the town, mainly dedicated to the railroad business.

At the same time, the mine “La Casualidad” was in full operation, which transported loads of sulfur from “Mina Julia” to the Tolar Grande railway station to send them to their final destination.

The closure of the mine and the interruption of the railway project caused the depopulation of the region, with the consequent worsening of the living conditions of the few settlers who decided not to leave the town.

In recent years, tourism has become the main engine of development.

Arizaro Salt Lake and Arita Cone

The Arizaro Salt Flat has an area of 1,600 km² and is located 30 km away from the town of Tolar Grande. It is the sixth largest salt flat in the world and the second one in Argentina, after the Salinas Grandes.

The famous Arita Cone, a perfectly conical sandstone hill, is located in the salt flat. A unique natural spectacle.

cono de Arita al atardecer
The Arita Cone at sunset - © Seba Del Val

Llullaillaico Volcano

Llullaillaco is a stratovolcano located on the border between Argentina (Salta province) and Chile (Antofagasta region), 110 km from the town of Tolar Grande. It is the second highest active volcano in the world (6,739 m) after the “Ojos del Salado” (6,893 m).

The oldest rocks of the volcano are about 1.5 million years old.

The first recorded ascent of the mountain was in 1950, but traces of earlier ascents and several archaeological sites have been found on the mountain and at its foot.

Llullaillaco represents the highest archaeological site in the world. In 1999, the mummified remains of three children (La Doncella, La Niña del Rayo and El Niño), known as the “Children of Llullaillaco”, were found frozen in a perfect state of preservation. Offered by the Incas to their gods in this sacred mountain.

Socompa Volcano

The Socompa stratovolcano is one of the highest peaks in the Andes (6,051 m) and is located 140 km from the town of Tolar Grande, on the border between Argentina and Chile.

A mystical place, that has been witness of numerous Inca ceremonies. So far, vestiges such as semicircular pyramids and firewood, dating back to the Inca period, have been found at different altitudes.

Ojos de Mar

The Ojos de Mar are three salty lagoons of volcanic origin in the middle of a white salt flat. The water is very clear and generally turquoise in color (varies according to the light).

Stromatolites are found in these lagoons: organic-sedimentary structures formed by the activity of microbial populations (usually dominated by cyanobacteria).

In order not to spoil the environment and the organisms that inhabit it, it is absolutely forbidden to enter the lagoons.

ojos del mar al atardecer
Ojos de Mar - © Seba Del Val

Laguna Santa María

About 65 km from Tolar Grande are the blue waters of Laguna Santa Maria that contrast with the ocher-colored rocks typical of the landscapes of the NOA.

A unique saltwater mirror in the Puna to observe groups of vicuñas and large colonies of flamingos.

Julia and La Casualidad Mines

Julia and La Casualidad Mines are located near the Chilean border and represent what was the largest sulfur mine in Argentina until its final closure in 1991.

In the place known as “Mina La Casualidad” there was a factory and a village built especially for the workers and their families, at 4,010 meters above sea level.

The Devil's Desert

Welcome to Mars!

The arid landscape of the Devil’s Desert, near the village of Tolar Grande, is very similar to the Martian surface. The deep red of its rocks mixes with the blue of the clear skies of the Puna.

Not to be missed.

devil desert tolar
Devil's Desert - © Seba Del Val

When to Travel?

The Best Time to Travel to Tolar Grande is the fall (March to May) and spring (September to November). It is ideal to avoid the cold, ice and rain.

How to Get to Tolar Grande?

Tolar Grande is located in a remote area of Argentina, in the Andes Mountains. Before traveling it is important to always check the weather and the state of the road, almost entirely of dirt / gravel.

For this reason is advisable to go with a 4×4 vehicle and even better with a certified local guide or through a tour organized by a licensed tourism operator.

The last place to find fuel to refill the tank is San Antonio de los Cobres.

The town of Tolar Grande is 380 km from the city of Salta and 214 km from San Antonio de los Cobre. It is accessed by RN 51 passing through the towns of Campo Quijano, Santa Rosa de Tastil and San Antonio de los Cobres. Then it joins with the RP 27 where it passes through the towns of Olacapato and Salar de Pocitos, until arriving to Tolar Grande.

Discover the Puna with Us!

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