Calchaqui Valleys Express

The Calchaqui Valley is an area in the northwestern region of Argentina which crosses the provinces of Salta, Tucumán and Catamarca. It is best known for its contrast of colors and its unique geography that ranges from the mountain desert to the subtropical forest in the nearby area to the Lerma Valley. These valleys were once inhabited by a number of tribes known as the Calchaquíes. Decades before facing the invasion of the Spanish colonization, the natives of these lands suffered the invasion of the Incas around 1450's and then the Spanish entrance, around late 1500's. Through the Colonial times (after 1600's) the valley became very important for the economy of the area since it produced different products such as meat, corn, lima beans, dehydrated products such as spices, jerky meat and potatoes with southern Argentina.