Salta is both a town and a province in the north of Argentina. The combination of its incredible landscapes and beautiful Spanish architecture can create a truly enriching experience. We spent the most time in the city and exploring the northern region in Jujuy province above Salta. We have the deepest explanations of the activities in these two areas. However, after extensive research and talking to a few experts in the region, we can also recommend other things to do in the other regions when visiting Salta.
We recommend spending at least 5 days here (2 days in the city of Salta and 3 days exploring one of the other regions around the city), but it is easy to spend even more time with different unique adventures in various regions around the town.
While there are tour groups that allow you to explore pieces of the region, we recommend renting a car to get the most out of the area as possible. It will give you the flexibility to explore on your own time and do some other activities that are not available through a tour. Below are the following areas to explore around Salta, why to visit each of them, and what to do.
Visiting Salta (The City)
The city itself is full of beautiful Spanish architecture, squares surrounded by cafes, and museums that explain the history of the region.
Why visit the city of Salta?
When visiting this region, you will be flying into or bussing into the city of Salta. The architecture of this city is truly like no other city in the area, with beautifully restored and protected Spanish architecture. It also has a few museums that can help give insight into the history of the region. Being the center of the activities of the area, it will be hard to avoid this city and you absolutely shouldn’t, given everything it also has to offer.
What to do in the city when visiting Salta?
Here are a few of the things to consider doing in the city itself:
Walk around the center of town
The center of town has a concentration of Spanish colonial buildings and churches. Just wandering through these streets will allow you to see the different colors and styles of the town.
Free Walking Tour
Whenever going somewhere new, we recommend doing a walking tour to learn about the history and culture of the city. This one happens every weekday at 6 pm and is completely tip-based.
Tren a las Nubes
This is a tourist-only train line that can be visited through a day-long tour that starts from Salta. This tour is in both Spanish and English and includes a small breakfast snack and an afternoon snack along with a few stops to learn about the history of the region, the communities in the area, and the different ecosystems that exist here. You will travel first by bus and then by train where a guide will explain different stops along the way in both Spanish and English.
To start the day, you must arrive at the station about an hour before the official tour start time to get your ticket and your bus/seat assignment. The company strategically places all English speakers at the front of the bus so the guide can speak directly to those people and answer any questions more efficiently.
For the train portion of the trip, you will also have assigned seats on one side of the train. However, after passing over the bridge in one direction, all passengers will switch seats to the other side of the train to pass the bridge in the other direction. This allows everyone to get the iconic photos of the bridge and train. After riding over the bridge, you will have the opportunity to get out and take more photos of the bridge and the train.
You must purchase tickets in advance and can buy them here. You can purchase just the train tickets but that will require you to get to the train station yourself. We highly recommend the complete tour with the bus-train-bus option due to the convenience and value of the experience.
Teleferico San Bernardo
This cable car goes to a hill above the city, giving you great views of the city below. You can purchase tickets in person at the base of the teleferico and we recommend going around sunset to see the city glowing below.
Visiting Salta and a Traditional Peña Folklorica
A peña is a traditional folk music and dance show that is often put on at different restaurants around the city. It is an entertaining and interactive show that highlights the gaucho culture of Argentina. We went to La Vieja Estacion and had an incredible experience. The singers and dancers interacted with the audience, and the show was a blast.
MAAM - Museo de Arqueologia de Alta Montana de Salta
This archaeology museum displays findings from the surrounding mountains and goes through pre-Incan and Incan discoveries. It even displays an Incan mommy. This is a great place to start to learn about the history and culture of the high mountains that surround Salta.
There are some other museums to visit but if you can only visit one, this is the one we recommend.
Where to Stay when visiting Salta?
The largest concentration of activities and restaurants are near Plaza 9 de Julio and we recommend staying near here, the center of the city. You can also look for accommodations towards the north of the plaza. There is a concentration of hotels, hostels, and Airbnbs that can be rented in this area.
Visiting Salta to the North (Jujuy Province)
The north of Salta is a different province called Jujuy. Here, you can visit several different landscapes and natural formations that will leave you in awe, along with some small mountain towns with so much interest and culture. The drive from Salta to Purmamarca to Humahuaca is beautiful and surrounded by colorful canyons and mountains.
To get here, you can drive from Salta or look for day tours that go to some of these different landmarks. We recommend renting a car and getting a hotel for a few nights to truly have the flexibility of exploring the region. Tilcara is the best town to stay in when visiting Salta and this region. It is centrally located and has several great restaurants.
The region starts in Purmamarca and goes to Humahuaca. Below, we will describe some of the activities to stop at between these two towns.
Why you should be visiting salta towards the north?
This region is rich in unique landscapes and colors in the different Andean mountains. It has some archaeological ruins and a salt flat, making this region a truly unique exploration.
What to do in the area north of Salta?
Here are a few of the things to consider doing between Purmamarca and Humahuaca:
Cerro de los Siete Colores (Purmamarca)
This is a beautiful mountain full of different colors. Purmamarca is located at the base of the mountain and the town has a short walk through the canyon of the mountain, allowing you to intimately see the different colors. They also have a viewpoint where you can take in the different colors. Make sure to bring cash to pay for either or both of these viewpoints.
The town itself also has beautiful traditional architecture and a center square with many vendors selling artisanal crafts.
Salinas Grandes Jujuy (Purmamarca)
2 hours past Purmamarca are the salt flats of Jujuy. The road to the flats is windy but it is paved the entire way and the views are incredible. There is no wrong time to visit the salt flats but if you want the mirror effect of the flats, the best time to go is between January and March during the wet season.
While it is completely possible to go to the salt flats on your own, this is one of the activities that has many tour possibilities. You can find tours in some of the touristy small towns along the route, including Tilcara. If you do go on your own, make sure that you have sufficient time to return down the mountain and to your accommodations.
Mirador Paleta del Pintor
This viewpoint is of the famous vista of the Painter’s Palette. It is just off the main road near Tilcara and worth the stop for the photos.
Pucara de Tilcara (Tilcara)
Tilcara is a town located in the middle of Purmamarca and Humahuaca and a great place to stay when visiting Salta and this region. The pucara is a pre-Incan fort with great views of the surrounding area. You can hike from the town to visit the pucara or do the tour of the Caravan of Llamas (just below) to have a guide take you through the region
Caravana de Llamas (Tilcara)
An interesting and unique activity to do in Tilcara is a walk with llamas. This company has a few different options based on the length of time you want to spend with the llamas. They do a short 45-minute walk daily or a longer 3-4 hour hike through the region. The hike included a delicious regional lunch and a guide who gave us historical information about the region and the llamas themselves.
Cerro de los 14 Colores (Humahuaca)
Above Humahuaca, one of the main towns in the region, there is a mountain with 14 colors. The road to the viewpoint is dirt and gravel and increases dramatically in elevation. It is recommended to hire someone to drive up to the viewpoint, but this is something you can find in person in the town of Humahuaca itself. They will drive up an hour to the viewpoint, wait an hour for you to enjoy the view, and drive back down to where you were picked up. We recommend bringing a jacket because it can be cold at the top of the mountain.
Visiting Salta to the South
The south of Salta contains a valley with several vineyards and high-altitude wineries. If you are interested in exploring the wine culture of Argentina and an area less known than Mendoza, this is the area to explore when visiting Salta. You can learn more about visiting Mendoza and the more famous vineyards of Argentina here.
What to do in the area south of Salta?
Bodegas of Cayafate
This is the center point of the different bodegas (wineries) and the place to stay if you are interested in touring some of these. Some wineries that were recommended to us include:
- El Porvenir
- Domingo Molina
- El Esteco
Visiting Salta to the West
To the west of Salta is a national park and another mountain town that is worth the visit.
What to do when visiting salta to the west?
Parque Nacional de Cordones
If you are looking to hike, this national park is the one to visit. It has a few trails that take you near giant cacti.
Cachi
Cachi is a picturesque town with adobe houses and white colonial buildings. It is about 4 hours away from Salta and is worth the visit to wander through its beautiful streets and visit a museum of local ancient artifacts.
This region is rich in history and culture and is completely different from other parts of Argentina. Visiting this region can richly amplify your understanding and appreciation of this country.