Las Yungas are cloud forests situated to the east of the provinces of Jujuy and Salta in the far north of Argentina. The three following national parks were designated to protect these habitats. All have basic campsites with few facilities.

Parque Nacional Baritú
Baritú National Park covers some 72,000 hectares of the north west of Salta province. It protects virtually untouched cloud forests with rare species of plants and trees.  At the same time, as it is Argentina’s only tropical national park it is also its most inaccessible, and the roads are quite often impassable in January and February. Spread over the slopes of the Andean foothills Baritú is incredibly beautiful and fabulously rich in flora and fauna. Take Ruta 34 from city of Jujuy and turn off on Ruta 50 for Oran to Aguas Blancas from where you follow the Ruta 19 to the southern border of the park. Park Administration, Parque Nacional Baritú, Contacto CC nº5 CP 4530, San Ramón de la Nueva Orán, Salta.

Parque Nacional Calilegua
Calilegua contains the high peaks of Cerro Amarillo (3,720 metres) and Cerro Hermoso (3,200 metres) and is the largest park in north western Argentina extending over 76,000 hectares. Fauna is abundant with some 400 species of bird, among them red-faced guans, toco toucans, king vultures, blue-crowned motmots, giant ant shrike, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and many mammals such as the jaguar, taruca (north Andean deer), tapir and Parana otter. There are several trails within the park. It’s also possible to climb both peaks although it maybe necessary to hire a guide. From the Ruta 34, which heads north to Bolivia, turn off after the village of Ledesma toward Calilegua. Just north of the bridge is a dirt road which leads to the park ranger station some 8km further on. Park Administration, Parque Nacional Calilegua, San Lorenzo s/n, Calilegua, Jujuy. Tel: +54 (0) 388 642 2046.

Parque Nacional El Rey
El Rey NP is in the middle of Salta province, some 175km from the city of Salta, and covers just over 44,000 hectares. The park’s natural amphitheatre protects a variety of habitats including mountainous terrain, lush jungle and arid steppe. The park was once the estate of Colonel Fernandez Cornejo, who was given it by the Spanish as a reward for expelling the Jesuits in the 18th century. Epiphytes abound, completely enveloping branches and trunks, as well as orchids, ferns and bromeliads which are prevalent in the forests. The diversity of flora and fauna varies according to the elevation of the land. Various snakes include the rattle snake and coral snake and mammals include the tapir, puma, jaguar, monkeys and deer. Access is not easy and there is a limited bus service but there are tours which leave from Salta. Choose an authorized agency with knowledgeable guides. Alternatively you can drive. You will need to check with the park administration first about road conditions as Route 20 is frequently impassable in the rainy season, November through to March. Park Administration, Parque Nacional El Rey, España 366, 3rd Floor, Salta. Tel: +54 (0) 387 431 2683.