Tours in Salta and Northern Argentina

Highlights of Salta, Jujuy, and Northern Argentina

Salta and Jujuy are the two most popular provinces of northern Argentina, and are located around 1.500 kilometers (930 miles) from Buenos Aires. They share limits with Chile, Bolivia and a little area of Paraguay.  There are three other provinces that are part of the Northwest of Argentina: La Rioja, Catamarca, and Tucumán.

This region of Argentina has many different reliefs, biomes, and climates. Cloud forests, called “Yungas”, the Puna desert (a high latitude plateau with huge salt flats),  high roads that lie over 4000 mts. above the sea level, long and narrow valleys called “Quebradas” (Gorges), and other incredible landscapes.

The climate is arid and semi desert in the higher latitudes and the lower mountains are subtropical with rainforest. During the summer heavy rains and high temperatures should be expected.

Salta & Train to the Clouds

Founded in 1582, Salta City is one of the most antique cities in Argentina, and one of the best options to use as a hub to start your tours in Salta and Jujuy. This city is a bit different from others, its colonial patrimony is huge! There are houses, streets, hundred-year-old monuments and narrow sidewalks from the foundation years. On a half-day walking tour, you can visit the most important attractions of the city: The Cathedral of Salta, the Cabildo, San Francisco Church, and San Bernardo Monastery. We recommend visiting the Archeological Museum of High Mountains, where you will be able to see items found in the high mountains in the area.

The main attraction is three mummies of three Inca children that were discovered at the Lulliaillaco Volcano, in the border between Argentina and Chile. The summit is 22.100 feet (6.793 meters) above the sea level, where the temperatures are too extreme to preserve the bodies, turning them into mummies, after they were sacrificed 500 years ago!

From this city starts another one of the famous tours in Salta: the excursion to Tren a las Nubes. It consists of a train journey that goes through the clouds as it crosses The Andes at 4,220 mts. above sea level. Apart from seeing impressive works of engineering, it allows you to get to know its picturesque and rustic regions, knowing its distinguished crafts, museums, and its delicious local gastronomy.

Purmamarca & Seven Colors Hill

Purmamarca is a picturesque village located in the province of Jujuy. This small town is situated at the feet of the Seven Colors Mountain, and we invite you to learn more about it in our article about Purmamarca.

Quebrada de Humahuaca & Iruya

Humahuaca’s Gorge  (Ravine) or Quebrada de Humahaca (as we call it) was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.  It includes attractions such as Tilcara, Humahuaca, Uquía, and Huacalera. We invite you to learn more about it in our Quebrada de Humahuaca’s post

Near Humahuaca you can visit El Hornocal, which is a mountain full of colors, the Salt Fields known as “Salinas Grandes”, and Iruya – among other attractions.

We recommend spending a night in Iruya, a small town in “Quebrada de Iruya”, the ravine next to Humahuaca Ravine. Its only 66km from Humahuaca (the town), but the mountain road that leads to this village cross a pass over 4000mts. (which makes it a 3hs drive). Cliffs and mountains surround this small but breathtaking village.  From Iruya, a 2 hour hike connects with San Isidro de Iruya, another picturesque small village lost in the middle of the mountains.

Salinas Grandes

Another must-visit in Jujuy is the salt deposit known as “Salinas Grandes”. Situated at 3.350 mts. above the sea level and with 12 thousand hectares is the third largest salt deposit in South America. We recommend using sunglasses because of the reflection of the sun and also take your camera fully loaded.

The craziest and the most original pictures can be taken there! To get there we suggest leaving early in the morning from Purmamarca, to get there before everyone does. There are three other ways to reach:  one is from Salta city through San Antonio de los Cobres (a circuit called “above the clouds”),   and another one is from Atacama, when coming from Chile to Argentina. It’s useful to add the interesting fact that from San Antonio de los Cobres you can connect not only to Salta, but also to Tolar Grande and Cachi.

Salinas Grandes – Jujuy and Salta

Cafayate, Cachi, & Calchaquí Valleys

Cafayate is  great for high altitude wines. Here you will find mostly Torrontes, a wine that is found mostly in Argentina and is said to be the country’s signature white wine. Other grape varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, and Tannat.

Furthermore, Cafayate has other attractions to visit in its surroundings, such as the colorful Quebrada de las Conchas.  We invite you to learn more about it on our Cafayate post.

The Calchaquí valleys (a “must” for your tours in Salta) include the Wine district and other attractions, such as Cachi -an ancient village surrounded by mountains,  Los Cardones National Park (a park with lots of Cactus),  Quebrada de las Flechas, Quebrada de las Conchas, Molinos, Seclantas, and other sites. We invite you to read our Calchaquí Valleys article.

Tolar Grande and other great attractions

Despite the fact that most of the visitors end up including the attractions mentioned above on their tours in Salta, there are a bunch of othe spectacular places to visit, such as:

• San Pedro de Atacama (Chile): one of the most spectacular attractions of Chile, and not so far from Salta (in comparison with other destinations within Argentina and Chile).
• Tolar Grande & Cono de Arita (High Plateau in Salta).
• Campo de Piedra Pomez (Catamarca Province).
• Talampaya (this is in La Rioja province, and the people usually combine it with Ischigualasto -the moon valley- in the province of San Juan near Mendoza).
• Laguna de los Pozuelos (a lagoon at the Puna with lots of flamingos).
• San Francisco (a great spot in the jungle).
• The Quilmes Ruins.
• San Miguel de Tucumán and Tafí del Valle.
• El Peñón,  Corona del Inca,  Balcon de Pissis, and other remarkable sites.

How do we work?

We offer flexible itineraries, aiming to find the trip that adapts the most to your needs and interests.

• Custom tours:

This is the classic way of preparing a personalized tour. You contact us with your travel idea and other relevant information. After putting together an itinerary that adapts to your preferences (and if we agree on the itinerary and budget), we proceed with the reservation process.

• Escorted Tours:

These are group departures that you can join in fixed dates.

• MICE, Groups, & travel agencies:

When you come with your own group, you’re a travel agent, or you have specific needs and requirements.