Published on Oct, 2023
Overall, a great experience!
The pre-tour communication with Nordic via WhatsApp was good and smooth. I was staying far from city center, so I had been asked to be at the Nordic headquarters to be the first to board the minibus at 6.30 AM. However, on tour day, I had a problem with my remis, which was very late (I requested it before 6 AM, it picked me up at 6.25 AM). MartĂn, the guide, called me and asked me to go instead to the last hotel where the bus would pick people up, so I wouldn't miss the tour. This alone speaks volumes regarding service quality.
MartĂn is a very knowledgeable guide and the driver was quite skilled. The views are breathtaking and the Salinas are a natural wonder, and because of that I wish we could have stayed there for longer. There's much to enjoy there and, since most tours arrive there at the same time, if you need help of the local folks to take the funny forced perspective pics, you may have to lose some time waiting in line. 40-45 minutes is too little for the Salinas. I could have easily stayed an extra half hour at the Salinas, and wouldn't mind arriving back in Salta a bit later, or have a shorter stop in Purmamarca (although I'd have to eat in a hurry if I wanted to see the Seven Colours Hill and shop at the handicraft market - btw the restaurant MartĂn advised us to go in Purmamarca, Ruta 52, has good food at a decent price).
Keep watch: entrance fee at the Salinas (500 pesos in Sep'23, will probably increase soon) is not included in the tour price.