In the flash of snow-covered ridges,
warmed by the rays of the Andean sun,
your new, mystical world is hiding...

The fire of colors
pours into every scrap of space...
...when it completely fills your lungs,
and your head, electrified by emotions,
is almost exploding from the intensity of sensations...
you already know that...

you’ve passed through invisible gates...

SERPENTINIUM

...a world whose navigator,
as luck would have it,
happens to be me!

BASIC INFORMATION:

SERPENTINIUM:
Here, we have my proprietary project, born in a moment of clear insight, when, after years of exploring the Andes, I realized that I could use my potential, knowledge, and experience (unmatched in the Polish context) to reveal to you some of the most extraordinary places on this planet.

The idea is to help you find your way, with my support, in this fantastic, raw, remote and therefore demanding... but also endlessly beautiful part of the world, which is the High Andes. Information about who I am can be found on the other subpages in the menu available next to this one. Here, I focus on the Andes and Andean mountain roads.

SCENOGRAPHY:
The action of this absolutely open, constantly developing travel odyssey takes place in South America, in the areas of the Argentine provinces of Catamarca, Salta, Jujuy... as well as in the nearby provinces of La Rioja, San Juan, Tucuman, Mendoza... sometimes spreading into the mountain border regions of Bolivia and Chile neighboring Argentina.

This is, in my opinion, the most beautiful part of the world, which I have been exploring for many years. The highest peaks of the Andes rise here from rock formations in colors so incredible that they are hard to describe. Hundreds of kilometers of very hard-to-access (sometimes temporarily inaccessible) mountain roads reveal surprisingly diverse landscapes — from the high-altitude, dry Atacama plateau, through border salt flats, deserts, snow-dusted peaks, or slopes blooming with Cardón cacti (Echinopsis atacamensis), almost like in Quentin Tarantino’s films.

You can freely make your way through the colorful rocks of Salta, the desert dunes of Catamarca, the remains of pre-Columbian cultures in Tucuman, the vineyards of Cafayate, and end in the rainy Yungas forests of Jujuy. There is plenty to choose from!

This recording was made quite a few years ago, somewhere on the outskirts of the Sahara, when a randomly met Berber explained to me what my surname — Tyszka — means in his language... and it means more or less a small road winding in the high mountains.... Although at that time it was hard to see any prophecy in these words ;) now, in the context of Serpentinium, they gain a certain meaning, which is why I decided to place this recording here, as I don’t know if it isn’t the best summary of the fact that the right person ended up in the right place ;)

WHAT YOU WILL FIND HERE:
Below you will find the serpentinium zones I have identified, most often corresponding to physical-geographical regions seen at different scales, areas with preserved cultural distinctiveness, natural phenomena, or other areas of Argentina that, for some reason, have particularly caught my interest... Each zone has a short factual description and, to make it easier to navigate on the ground, is placed in the province where it is located.

I try to upload short, comment-free videos from the roads leading through these serpentines, describing exactly the road number(s) and their geographical location. Sometimes there are also links to maps prepared by tourism departments of selected Argentine provinces.

If you plan an independent trip, you will know firsthand what to roughly expect and how to prepare. If you just want to watch or learn more about the region, you’ve come to the right place. You will find plenty of concrete information here.

If you want to escape the winter gray, even for a moment replace European smog, frost, cold and orderliness with South American ease and freedom, and turn a climate of dullness and apathy into full force, also touching the beauty incomparable to anything you’ve seen before... if you want someone at hand who speaks Polish and knows this cultural code, there is also the possibility that I become your real, not just virtual, navigator through Argentine SERPENTINUM!

HOW TO USE THIS SITE:

• Descriptions of individual serpentinium zones I have discovered, along with their location on the map and links to useful maps, can be found below.

• Short videos from Andean serpentines available on the channel YOUTUBE/SerpentiniumCom
I upload videos at a frequency aligned with my own interests, mainly for a limited group of friends and enthusiasts.

• Photos, which I hope fairly show what, where, and how... divided into specific zones or as a whole, are available in the gallery at the very bottom of the page...

• Private expressions on my Facebook

SERPENTINIUM - ZONES:

Click on a selected module to get more...

1.DIUNA
Salta, Catamarca

2.SALT FLATS
Salta, Juyuy, Bolivia

3.FIVE-THOUSANDERS
Catamarca, Salta, San Juan, Mendoza

4.CONO DE ARICA
Salta

5.VALLES CALCHAQUIES
Catamarca, Salta

6.QUEBRADA HUMAHUACA
Juyuy

7.HOT SPRINGS
Catamarca, Salta, Juyuy

8.RUTA 83
Salta, Juyuy

9.COLORFUL RIDGES
San Juan, Catamarca

10.ROUTE 40
the best of

ACONCAQUA
Mendoza

PATAGONIA
Neuquen, Rio Negro, Chubut

BOLIVIA
choosen

CHILE
choosen

I'M GOING! IS THIS FOR ME?

If you want to use my help in discovering the serpentinium on-site, in Argentina – there is a possibility! Why not ;) ?! However, this offer is aimed at a very narrow group of people, with whom, in short, we resonate on similar wavelengths and would be able to function in a positive atmosphere often in difficult conditions and isolation – please read the guidelines I have listed here, as they will help us avoid misunderstandings...

We travel through areas that are beautiful but remote from civilization; sometimes we have to improvise, be creative, face dangers related to distances, altitudes, potential breakdowns, temperature, lack of comforts, or access to broadly understood fruits of progress.

Physical participation in the project requires good health, both physical and mental, as well as fitness allowing you to walk several or even a dozen kilometers on mountain trails. There are no conditions for makeup, visits to luxury restaurants, or business negotiations. There is, however, raw but also fantastic nature to handle!

The Serpentinium project is for people who have some – even limited – idea of what mountains are, who enjoy contact with nature, improvisation, adventure, and have the WILL to see, discover, and learn something new in an atmosphere of SHARED ENTHUSIASM. These are the people I want to meet and spend time with in Serpentinium! Experience, knowledge of the language, local culture, terrain, routes, and mountain trails – that’s what I bring.

With all due respect, but... ladies in high heels with nails that have never touched the ground, in general ladies!, guests focused on drinking parties or eternal complainers or addicted to anything – NO WAY! Thank you all very much and I suggest spending time in a possibly more civilized and organized way.

If you are not convinced, unsure if you have the will, and not filled with enthusiasm – go later, when the thought of participating in my project matures in you. This is, however, an investment, so it makes the most sense for those for whom exploring the Andes would be something special, unique...

PARTICIPATION IN THE PROJECT:

CHARACTERISTICS:
I can imagine the Serpentinium project as an open book; however, functioning in daily reality for most of you requires some framework, so well... around 10 days of shared adventure in the Argentine backcountry within an agreed period between November and March seems reasonable – this is when exploring this area is even possible. On mountain routes there should not be much snow, and temperatures at altitude are usually acceptable for mountain tourism... It is important to have a few extra days so as not to stress about time and to be prepared for possible breakdowns, delays, unexpected adventures, or weather surprises – a 4x4 with air conditioning is absolutely at our disposal.

PERSONALIZATION:
The offer is highly targeted and limited – you could say exclusive ;) because I take only a few people through the gates of Serpentinium each year, – for more (to be honest) I simply don’t have the desire, and due to climate conditions we are limited to the Argentine holidays and sunny summer!

We need to get along well, then we will work out the rest of the details like price, plan (or lack of it). With me, you will definitely have the chance to see more and more easily than alone. If you plan a longer stay in South America, I can help or give advice – I’ve been everywhere!

SERPENTINIUM GALLERY:

Click on a selected photo to enlarge it...
Click on the name of the chosen serpentinium zone to select only photos from that area...

*Division into zones under reorganization – currently, selection is limited to selected NW Argentina provinces and Bolivia/Chile.