Salta

Sports and the Outdoors

MacDermott's Argentina. Despite being told by local gauchos that he and his horse Pancho wouldn't make it crossing the Andes, Hugh MacDermott proved the cynics wrong, and he now shares his expertise by leading horse-riding holidays across the northwest. Salta, Salta. 387/155-395-820. www.macdermottsargentina.com.

Salta has just a few outfitters, but the options they offer feel fresh and exciting. Horseback riding is a growing activity, as are rafting, paragliding, and mountain biking.

Finca Lesser. Fifteen km (10 mi) west of Salta, Finca Lesser provides horseback-riding tours on a huge private estate. Trips can last anywhere from a few hours to two days. They can also organize a folk-music performance and a tour showing gauchos at work. 4 km mi] past Castellanos, San Lorenzo, Salta, Salta, 4401. 387/155-827-321. www.redsalta.com/fincalesser.

Salta Rafting. Salta Rafting operates from a base 35 km (21 mi) south of Salta by the Cabra Corral dam, and offers much more than just getting wet in exciting circumstances in a kayak. They also offer tandem paragliding jumps and have a "death slide"—a network of zip-line cables for a breathtaking canopy surfing experience that crosses high above the Río Juramento. Caseros 117, Salta, Salta, 4400. 387/421-3216. www.saltarafting.com.

Sayta. Sayta offers stays out at a ranch in Chicoana, 40 km (24 mi) south of Salta, and horseback treks lasting from one to 10 days for riders of all levels. The estancia offers meals and accommodation. Chicoana, Salta, Salta, 4400. 387/156-836-565. www.saltacabalgatas.com.ar.