On the final leg of our cycling journey through Argentina, we climbed steadily away from the northern deserts to reach the lofty heights of the South American Altiplano - one of the largest, high-altitude plateaus in the world. Surrounded by rainbow-colored mountains, we followed an ancient trading route once traveled by Incan llama caravans. During six days of cycling, we would rise nearly 9,000 ft (2,750 m), stopping along the way to wait out windstorms and let our bodies acclimate to the increasingly thin air - eventually arriving at the border with Bolivia.

North of Chilecito, the landscape burst into a complex maze of ridges and high deserts. Cycling along ancient paths among the sierras, we followed Route 40 across arid valleys, over high, cold plateaus, and through narrow canyons lined with stunning rock formations. Tranquil desert camps alternated with humble, village hospedajes. Eventually we descended into greener lowlands, cycling into the historic and charming city of Salta.