Quebrada de San Lorenzo

The Quebrada de San Lorenzo cuts into the hills immediately west of Salta at the village of San Lorenzo, a leafy suburb of old summer houses that sits a few degrees cooler than the city. A municipal reserve protects the gorge itself, where a stream runs under a canopy of yungas cloud forest, and a shaded path follows the water upstream past pools and small falls, thick with ferns, bromeliads and lianas. The birdwatching is excellent for somewhere so close to a city: toucans, tanagers and hummingbirds are regular, and dawn brings a wall of sound. Horse riding and guided walks operate from the village, and the whole outing fits comfortably into a morning, which is why Salta residents treat it as their green lung.

What you actually see

• The forest trail - a shaded path along the stream through cloud forest.
• The stream and pools - small falls and clear pools under the canopy.
• The birdlife - toucans, tanagers and hummingbirds close to the city.
• San Lorenzo village - old summer houses and cafes at the gorge mouth.

When to go

Year-round; the forest is greenest and fullest from December to March, though that is also when afternoon storms hit and the trail turns muddy. Early morning is best for birds and for cool air. Weekends bring crowds from the city.

Honest expectations

This is a short, easy reserve, not a wilderness, and the trail is busy at weekends and can be muddy and slippery after rain. Mosquitoes are persistent in warm months. Visitors coming from the region's great landscapes will find it pleasant rather than remarkable.

Nearby

Salta city is fifteen minutes east; the Cuesta del Obispo road climbs further west.