Socompa is a Tour Operator based in Salta established in 2004 by a crazy Italian who fell in love with the Andes. We are the first Company to organize overlanding trips & expeditions in the Puna Region (the huge plateau laying in the middle of the Andes, from Titicaca Lake to San Juan Province in Argentina). Socompa has its exclusive group of guides/drivers and 4x4 Vehicles (4WD), with all insurances and authorizations to organize trips in this corner of South America. Our voyages also take us to Chile and Bolivia, departing from Salta, which is strategically located in the heart of the Region.
Because its strong commitment in the area, Socompa is currently opening its first Branch in Antofagasta de la Sierra in Catamarca Province. It is huge news since it is the first office ever opened in the Puna at 3,500 meters in a amazing oasis where everything is a natural challenge! No electricity, no telephone lines; but, we have some nice ideas. There, in a restored mud brick house, our travelers will find a place to approach the local community culture: for example in a 4,000 square meter garden where we'll show them the local agricultural techniques.
Socompa's Branch will be our operative office in the desert in order to take care of our travelers in the best and more effective way possible.
Then, Socompa works as a Adventure Tourism Incoming Operator, offering the best experiences here in the North West (including San Pedro de Atacama), from bird watching in a private reserve to our special High Altitude Extreme Walking, a special lonely walk on a perfect salted lake.
Socompa's Staff (we are growing fast -- now we are nine people working full time!) is formed by people in love with its landscape and with its culture. We really try hard, mainly because we are conscious that tourism, including the best exclusive adventure tourism, always has an impact on people and nature. We believe that we have a huge responsibility and we deeply accept it. We try hard in order to respect and protect our environment. For this reason, together with important members of the scientific and cultural society of Salta, we founded a Foundation called Puna Argentina, whose mission is to protect the whole environment in the Argentine Puna. For this reason, Socompa is member of 1% for the Planet as, we collaborate donating each year 1% of our revenue to an NGO from Argentina that actively works to protect the environment.
Following our idea to offer the best personalized services, six months ago, my wife (an Italian architect) and I, opened our new house (Casa de Campo) just a few kilometers away from Salta, a typical country house but with a minimalist Italian touch! In Finca Valentina (www.finca-valentina.com.ar) we receive our travelers, usually in order to offer them a unique experience in our home with our family. The idea is to spend some time together, to have time to relax in the nature and to offer them a special briefing about what they are going to do in the following days of their stay.
We think the North West of Argentina is one of the last area in the planet that will offer for a long time to go, the real chance to experience the emotion of an Authentic Trip. In particular we consider that the Puna is the new destination for desert lovers.