AUTENTICA SALTA is a boutique tour operator based in Salta, Argentina. Since 1995 we show in a different way the incredible landscapes hidden in Salta and in the northwest of Argentina. We are specialists in Soft Adventure and Cultural Travel around one of the most beautiful regions in Argentina. The respect to local traditions and to nature is the philosophy behind our trips. Travelling with us, our guests know the authenticity of our incredible region.
We were chosen as one of the world’s “Exemplary Practices in Ecotourism” by the World Tourism Organization (WTO).
We are members of the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) and of the Asociación Argentina de Ecoturismo y Turismo Aventura (AAETAV).
Fernando Escudero
Founder
Fernando was born in Salta in 1970. He worked in Adventure Tourism since he was15 years old, travelling by bike around the most incredible places in Argentina. He is an industrial engineer and after working in different industries and service companies, decided to change his lifestyle and in 1995 founded the first horseback riding company in Argentina with rides in Salta, Patagonia and the Andes among others. In 2007 he was named Secretary of the Commission for the creation of the Standards of Quality and Safety for Horseback Riding. He was the founder, first president and present Vice President of the Association of Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism in Argentina (AAETAV), was founder and present Vice President of the Association of Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism in Salta (AAETAV SALTA) and member of the Advisory Board of Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA). Fernando was Coordinator of the Tourism Promotion Institute of the Province of Salta, in charge of the international promotion of Salta. He coordinated adventure races for important brands such as North Face and Columbia and was in charge of the Travel Mart Latin America for which 1000 tourism businessman from all the world visited Salta. He was Director of the Strategic Sustainable Tourism Plan of the Province of Salta for which 57 million dollars are being invested for the development of ecotourism.Since 2004 he collaborates with the development of mountain rural schools and actually is president of the Foundation Unir whose goal is the development of the mountain communities.
Soledad Gaztambide
Founder
Soledad was born in Buenos Aires in 1977. She belongs to a family of Creole horses breeders, she spent her childhood in different farms in the Province of Buenos Aires. This explains her love for horses and respect for nature. She has a degree in Business Administration and worked in different companies, in Deloitte Argentina as a consultant and Kraft Foods in finance and trade marketing. In 2007 she moved to Salta and was named CEO of Gaucho Trails, a horseback riding company dedicated exclusively to organize long rides in Salta, Patagonia and the Andes among others. It was chosen as one of the world’s “Exemplary Practices in Ecotourism by the World Tourism Organization (WTO). Together with Fernando they have visited great part of the Province of Salta and decided to found Autentica Salta, a specialized company in this region and in organizing tailor made tours. She is the trip designer of the company. In the trips you can visit hidden places that the conventional tourism doesn’t know, share the life of local people, learn about wine with the best winemakers and cook the most delicious dishes of Argentina. Soledad helps in an Institution for the development of women and coordinates the program of help for mountain rural schools.
Together with our children Santiago, Nicolás and Tomás we live in Salta, the place we chose to see them grow. We hope that you can visit us and we will show you all the nice things Salta has to offer you.
In 1995, we decided to follow a dream: to show the incredible landscapes hidden in Salta and Northwest Argentina in a different way. With us, you will be able to discover unique landscapes as well as the culture and authenticity of the people living in our region.. The respect to local traditions and to nature is the philosophy behind our trips.
At AUTENTICA SALTA we are certain that sustaintable tourism is one of the best tools that can be used to improve the world. This is why, together with our guests, we have developed a program to help with the improvement of the local people´s way of life. This program includes educating them in tourism aspects, teaching them about nature protection and finding godparents to sponsor kids at rural schools. We devote all of our efforts to this initiative with the only purpose of leaving a better world for the next generations.
designed to be life changing experiences you will never forget.