Northwest Argentina: Best Things to Do in Salta and Jujuy

With so many things to do in Salta and Jujuy, planning your trip can feel overwhelming, especially given the region’s vast territory, diverse attractions, and limited travel time. For a first visit…

Northwest Argentina: Best Things to Do in Salta and JujuyColorful mountains of the Quebrada de Humahuaca in JujuyCerro de los Siete Colores - Purmamarca, Argentina

Landscapes, Culture & Andean Traditions

With so many things to do in Salta and Jujuy, planning your trip can feel overwhelming, especially given the region’s vast territory, diverse attractions, and limited travel time. For a first visit, we recommend spending at least 7–8 days exploring the main highlights. While this won’t cover every destination, it offers a great introduction to the region’s most iconic landscapes, cultural sites, and experiences.

Salta City

Salta is the region’s main gateway and one of Argentina’s oldest cities, making it an ideal starting point for exploring the many things to do in Salta and Jujuy. Its historic center is easy to explore on foot, with highlights such as 9 de Julio Square, the Salta Cathedral, and the Cabildo, whose colonial architecture reflects the city’s past. At the High Mountain Museum (MAAM), you can learn about the Inca children discovered on Mount Llullaillaco and the region’s pre-Columbian history. For panoramic views across the city and surrounding mountains, take the cable car or hike up San Bernardo Hill. The leafy suburb of San Lorenzo, just outside the city, offers cooler air, wooded trails, and a relaxed change of pace. Together, these sights make Salta an appealing place to spend a day before or after exploring the region.

Cafayate

Cafayate, one of the gateways to the Calchaquí Valleys, is a highlight for travelers seeking the best things to do in Salta and Jujuy, especially those interested in wine and nature. Surrounded by vineyards and framed by the Andes, the town is known for its high-altitude wines, particularly the aromatic Torrontés white variety. Visit a winery to learn about local production and enjoy a tasting, or stay at a wine lodge for a slower-paced escape. Cafayate can also be visited on a full-day trip from Salta, though staying overnight gives you more time to explore the town and its vineyards.

The drive from Salta is an attraction in itself. The route passes through the dramatic Quebrada de las Conchas, where wind and water have shaped striking red-rock formations. Stop at landmarks such as the Devil’s Throat and the Amphitheater, whose natural acoustics make them especially memorable. For a more active experience, add a trek to La Yesera, where a trail through colorful sandstone formations offers a closer look at the region’s geology and a chance to explore beyond the roadside viewpoints.

Cachi

Cachi is a charming colonial village in the Andean highlands and a highlight among the things to do in Salta and Jujuy. Although it’s often visited on a full-day excursion from Salta, we highly recommend staying at least one night—Cachi deserves more than a quick stop.The scenic drive crosses the spectacular Cuesta del Obispo and Los Cardones National Park before reaching the village. Another unforgettable route connects Cafayate and Cachi through the dramatic Quebrada de las Flechas, following the legendary Ruta 40.

For an active adventure, add the Acsibi trek near Seclantás, where a guided hike leads through a remote canyon of red rock formations, narrow passages, and natural caves. Allow extra time for this excursion, as it is usually arranged separately from the drive between Cafayate and Cachi.

Red sandstone cliffs of the Quebrada de las Conchas near Cafayate under a stormy skyRoad curving past jagged reddish rock formations in the Quebrada de las FlechasCardón cacti scattered across hills in Los Cardones National Park near Cachi

San Antonio de los Cobres and Salinas Grandes

This scenic route is one of the most memorable things to do in Salta and Jujuy. It usually connects Salta with Purmamarca, though you can return to Salta the same day. Following part of the famous Tren a las Nubes (Train to the Clouds) route, the drive winds through the colorful Quebrada del Toro and climbs into the high-altitude landscapes of the Puna. Along the way, stop at Santa Rosa de Tastil to see its nearby pre-Hispanic ruins, and San Antonio de los Cobres (3,776 m), a traditional mining town. The journey also takes you to the striking La Polvorilla Viaduct, across the dazzling white expanse of Salinas Grandes, and down the winding Cuesta de Lipán to Purmamarca, beneath the famous Seven Colors Hill. We highly recommend spending a couple of nights in Purmamarca. You’ll have time to browse the artisan market, try the street-vendor tortillas, walk the scenic Paseo de los Colorados, and enjoy an evening at a local peña, where you can experience regional music and dance.

Quebrada de Humahuaca (Humahuaca Gorge) and Serranías del Hornocal

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape in 2003, the Quebrada de Humahuaca is one of the most spectacular destinations to explore when discovering the things to do in Salta and Jujuy. Following the Grande River, this colorful valley is dotted with adobe villages, Inca heritage, and striking mountain landscapes. Highlights include Purmamarca and the famous Seven Colors Hill, Maimará with the Painter’s Palette, Tilcara and its ancient Pucará fortress, Uquía with its chapel featuring Cusco School paintings, and Humahuaca, the historic capital of the gorge. About 25 km from Humahuaca, along a gravel road, lies Serranías del Hornocal, a striking mountain formation known as the Mountain of 14 Colors. Its panoramic viewpoint sits at 4,350 meters (14,272 feet) above sea level, where the mountain’s vivid, layered bands create a spectacular view.

Puna: Tolar Grande and Antofagasta de la Sierra

For a deeper adventure in the Argentine Puna, extend your trip to Tolar Grande and Antofagasta de la Sierra. These remote, high-altitude destinations offer dramatic desert landscapes, immense salt flats, colorful rock formations, volcanoes, and vast open skies. Around Tolar Grande, highlights include the striking Cono de Arita and the Ojos de Mar lagoons; near Antofagasta de la Sierra, you can explore the Campo de Piedra Pómez, a surreal expanse of pale volcanic rock. Plan several days for the journey and stay overnight, as the distances are long and the scenery is best enjoyed at an unhurried pace.

Because many routes are remote, unpaved, and unmarked, this experience is best arranged as a private 4x4 tour with local guides who know the roads and changing conditions. The journey crosses the high-altitude Puna, where travel can be demanding, so a knowledgeable guide can help you navigate the terrain and plan appropriate stops.

Cono de Arita, a dark cone-shaped hill rising from a white salt flat in the PunaSteel La Polvorilla viaduct crossing a valley in Salta, with a roadside sign showing its height and lengthPerson walking beside a turquoise pool on the white salt flat of Salinas Grandes

Yungas Jujeñas (Yungas of Jujuy)

The Yungas Jujeñas offer a refreshing change of scenery among the things to do in Salta and Jujuy. This lush subtropical mountain region is known for its cloud forests, winding roads, rivers, and rich wildlife. In Jujuy, you can explore the Yungas around Calilegua National Park, hiking forest trails and looking out for toucans, monkeys, and other native species. It’s a beautiful side trip for nature lovers, especially if you have extra time to travel beyond the high-altitude landscapes of the Quebrada and Puna.

Iruya

Iruya is an unforgettable addition to the things to do in Salta and Jujuy—and it has a curious location: although the village is in Salta Province, the road reaches it through Jujuy. From Humahuaca, take Provincial Route 13 via Iturbe and the winding mountain road to Abra del Cóndor, at around 4,000 meters, before descending into Iruya’s dramatic valley. The journey’s steep slopes and sweeping views are part of the adventure, so many travelers stay overnight rather than rushing back the same day. In Iruya, explore the village’s steep streets, whitewashed church, and viewpoints overlooking the surrounding mountains. For an active excursion, hike the 8-kilometer trail to San Isidro, a small community beside the Iruya River. The route follows the rocky riverbed and takes roughly two and a half to three hours each way. It's imporant to check weather conditions before setting out.

Zigzag red, ochre and green layers of the Serranía de Hornocal in JujuyAerial view of a winding dirt road through dense cloud forest in Calilegua National ParkYellow church with a blue dome on a hillside among houses and mountains in Iruya

Ready to discover Northwest Argentina with us?

There are so many wonderful ways to explore Northwest Argentina—with a local guide or on a self-drive adventure—and plenty of destinations to combine with your trip, from Catamarca, La Rioja, and Mendoza to Iguazú Falls. We’d love to help you plan a journey that feels just right for you. Get in touch, and one of our travel specialists from the region will suggest an itinerary tailored to your interests and travel style.

Let's plan your personalized experience

Beyond BA Latam is a local travel agency based in Argentina that designs personalized tours in Argentina, Chile and Antarctica. We are very proud to work with a knowledgeable team capable to design trips based on your interests and traveling style. We are able to bring you a different and more enjoyable experience.

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