Salta to Sucre

Cordoba is a nice city with a pretty historic center (and quite a lot of history) but I wouldn't rate it as one of the top tourist destinations in Argentina. It also has some nice hills in the surrounding area with accessible daywalks and great opportunities for Condor spotting.

From Salta to Chile (Antofagasta) you can take the tren a las nubes, a very impressive feat of engineering that crosses the Andes. The tourist train only goes up to the viaduct (just before the Chilean border) and then chugs back down again, but you can take a ride on the freight train, which does go all the way. It's a freight train, so it's slow and has very basic amenities. It takes 3 days to get to Chile (and more to get to Antofagasta), but it gives you the same stunning views and engineering tricks (zigzags that it reverse up and loops to go up steep slopes), and you can use it for transport. However, unless you are a real train buff, it's probably not worth your time: take the tourist train as a day trip, and then take the bus to San Pedro de Atacama (or go to Uyuni through Jujuy, which is also a really nice trip)

Cordoba is a nice pit stop on the way to Salta - it breaks up the journey and the town is quite nice. I would recommend a small visit - if only to break it up.

From Salta - theres a few towns nearby worth visiting (Cafayate, Tilcara, Pumarmarca). From Salta, buses go to San Pedro de Atacama. Though these buses sell out, so book the bus when you arrive at the bus terminal in Salta. You can also get on the Salta to San Pedro Bus at Pumarmarca ( a small pueblo thats worth a day). Buses also leave from Jujuy to SPdA.

From SPdA - the tours are offered by numerous travel agents. They are everywhere. Do some research online.

I would suggest, not spending much time in Uyuni. There is one bus that goes from Uyuni to Sucre each night. Its not comfy and it leaves at 9pm and arrives at 4:30-5pm. The other option is to take a bus to Potosi, then another across to Sucre.

The salt lakes area is one oh the highlights of South America. I would recomend potosi as a destination in its own right. Fascinating place, fascinating history.

You should be fine with altitude - going to Salta, SPdA etc before hand. However, you do go pretty high on the Salar tour - 5000ms or so....so altitude sickness is a real thing. Be prepared and take it slowly.

Whether I agree that Potosi is a fascinating place is a different thing altogether (I don't and I don't rate it as a destination but you can find that out yourself if you want).

Maybe saying potosi is a destination in its own right is a bit strong. But it's certainly worth spending a bit of time there if you happen to be passing through. It was once the largest and richest city in the Western Hemisphere, and on a par with the great European cities. It's very hard to believe that when you walk around now, although the sense of faded grandeur is interesting. There's also a very good, sociable hostel (in 2007). In any case, wouldn't wish a direct uyuni-sucre bus on my worst enemy.

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