Guided tour of the most important historical sites in the city of Salta. The tour includes door-to-door service.
BY MINIBUS, you will be picked up from your hotels to tour the most important historical sites in the city of Salta, drive up to the summit of San Bernardo Hill, and descend to the General Güemes Monument. Afterward, you will visit the San Lorenzo Gorge, crisscrossed by streams of crystal-clear water, and the Yungas of Salta. The tour ends at a historic mansion that currently houses the Salta Artisan Market, a historic 19th-century building.
Duration: 4 hours
The tour departs via National Route 68, passing through the towns of Cerrillos, La Merced, and El Carril. Then, heading west on Provincial Route 33, you’ll travel through the foothills of the Andes, passing through the Los Laureles and Escoipe ravines, where you’ll see the terraced fields where local farmers grow vegetables using the same methods as their ancestors. You’ll descend the famous Cuesta del Obispo, a winding road surrounded by impressive rock formations and natural cliffs where you may spot the king of the skies, the condor. The descent takes you to the Valle Encantado, with its fairytale landscape, and from there to the Piedra del Molino. The latter is the highest point, at 3,348 meters above sea level.
After leaving the subtropical climate of the valley behind, you will head into the Puna Desert, where you will travel along the Recta del Tin Tin—part of the Inca Trail—Los Cardones National Park, Payogasta, and finally, Cachi. There, after lunch, you will explore the town with its well-preserved colonial architecture, its church, its museum—which houses the history of the area’s indigenous communities—and the artisan market where local craftsmen’s textiles are sold. Then, you will begin the return trip to Salta.
Daily departure: 7:00 a.m. Duration: 12 hours.
The tour begins heading south on Route 68, passing through the towns of the Lerma Valley: Cerrillos, La Merced, El Carril, Coronel Moldes, and La Viña—an agricultural and livestock-farming region where tobacco is the main crop. Along the way, you’ll see tobacco drying sheds and tobacco leaves spread out along fences, drying in the sun. You’ll enter the Quebrada de las Conchas via Alemanía, where you’ll see a wide variety of colors and rock formations such as La Garganta del Diablo, El Anfiteatro, La Yesera, Casa de Loros, Los Castillos, Los Médanos, El Fraile, El Obelisco, and Las Ventanas.
Once in Cafayate, you’ll visit a winery to discover all the secrets of Salta’s wines, particularly the famous Torrontés. After lunch, you’ll tour the town and its most significant sites before heading back to Salta, where—thanks to the sun’s position and water and wind erosion—you’ll discover a landscape completely different from the one you saw on the way there. From there, you’ll return to Salta.
Daily departure: 7:00 a.m. Duration: 12 hours.
This excursion will delight you with its variety of landscapes and striking contrasts. You’ll depart from Salta on National Route 9 toward Purmamarca, where, after a rest stop, you’ll climb the Cuesta de Lipán to reach 4,200 meters above sea level, surrounded by breathtaking scenery. From there, you’ll descend to the majestic Salinas Grandes, where you’ll meet the salt workers who will teach you about their craft.
On the way back, you’ll have the chance to see the local wildlife, including llamas and vicuñas. Once back in Purmamarca, you’ll have lunch and visit Los Colorados, an impressive rock formation located behind the Hill of Seven Colors. After touring the town, you’ll head back to Salta via the same route.
Daily departure: 7:00 a.m. Duration: 12 hours.
You will set out from Salta via National Route 9/34 to reach San Salvador de Jujuy and begin exploring the charming villages of the Quebrada de Humahuaca, discovering their customs, traditions, beliefs, and the stunning landscapes that surround them. You’ll visit Volcán, Tumbaya, and Purmamarca, with its plaza where artisans gather, its church steeped in history, and, of course, the Hill of Seven Colors. In Tilcara, you can stroll through the town, just as you can in Humahuaca, with its beautiful buildings and the imposing Monument to Independence.
Next, you will set off for Hornocal, or Cerro de Catorce Colores, which stands at an elevation of 4,350 meters. The mountain range is located 25 kilometers from the city of Humahuaca. It is a stratified sedimentary formation composed of the Yacoraite Formation (a limestone in shades of ochre, yellow, green, and whitish where the iron did not oxidize), dating from the late Cretaceous period, when the last dinosaurs lived, 75 million years ago. This limestone is bordered by other well-oxidized sedimentary formations of a deep red color, creating a striking contrast.
On the way back, you’ll visit the Tropic of Capricorn in Huacalera and Maimará, where you can see the famous “Painter’s Palette.” From there, you’ll return to Salta.
Daily departure: 6:30 a.m. Duration: 14 hours.
This unique and special journey combines two distinct segments. First, along National Route 51, with photo stops at scenic overlooks of places that seem “frozen in time.” Then, you’ll embark on the magical experience of the Train to the Clouds, which reveals itself in all its splendor upon arriving at the imposing viaduct in the foothills of the Andes. Landscapes and sensations blend with stories and experiences to relive the epic tale of the railway’s construction, back in 1920, initiated by engineer Richard Fontain Maury, the driving force behind the project.
The tour departs from the Salta Train Station (at the corner of Balcarce and Ameghino streets) and stops at Campo Quijano, the Toro Viaduct, the Yacoraite Geological Formation, El Alfarcito, the San Antonio de Los Cobres Train Station, the La Polvorilla Viaduct, San Antonio de Los Cobres, and Santa Rosa de Tastil, before returning to Salta.
You’ll depart from Salta via National Route 9/34 to reach San Salvador de Jujuy and explore the charming villages of the Quebrada de Humahuaca, discovering their customs, traditions, beliefs, and the stunning landscapes that surround them. You’ll visit Volcán, Tumbaya, and Purmamarca, with its plaza where artisans gather, its church steeped in history, and of course the Hill of Seven Colors. In Tilcara, you’ll delight in one of Jujuy’s most beautiful towns, then continue on to Humahuaca, where you’ll explore the town with its beautiful buildings and the imposing Monument to Independence, and have lunch.
You will continue on to Iruya, climbing as if across a bridge to the sky, until you reach the idyllic little village suspended among the clouds—the farthest corner of the province of Salta. On the way back, you will visit the Tropic of Capricorn in Huacalera and Maimará, where you can admire the famous “Painter’s Palette.” From there, you will return to Salta.
Hours: 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Duration: 15 hours.
You will explore almost the entire Calchaquí Valley, passing through all the towns mentioned above and discovering their attractions, history, and landmarks. Departing from Salta and heading to Cachi, via the Cuesta del Obispo and Los Cardones National Park, you will arrive around lunchtime. You will continue along National Route 40 to enjoy panoramas of extraordinary beauty along the Calchaquí River, as well as historic towns such as Molinos, Seclantás, and Angastaco.
You will continue along the Quebrada de las Flechas, visiting San Carlos and arriving in Cafayate, where you will spend the night. In the morning, you will visit the town and wineries, then head back to the city of Salta after lunch, passing through the Quebrada de las Conchas and the Lerma Valley.
Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Duration: 14 hours.
You will depart at 6:30 a.m. from Salta City and travel along National Route 68 and then Provincial Route 33, where you will see the full diversity of landscapes this tour has to offer. Along a winding road through canyons and hills, you will make rest and photo stops at Cuesta del Obispo, Recta del Tin Tin, and Los Cardones National Park. Via National Route 40, you’ll head toward the town of La Poma, where you’ll visit the famous Cavernas del Puente del Diablo, the Volcanes Gemelos, and the Graneros Incas. On this excursion, you should bring two changes of clothes because you’ll get wet when entering the caves. You can also hire a local guide who will provide wetsuits, as well as a guided tour.
After touring La Poma, you will head to Cachi, where you will have lunch and some free time to explore, returning to Salta at 8:30 p.m.
Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Duration: 14 hours.
You will depart at 7:00 a.m. on National Route 51 toward Campo Quijano, passing through the towns of El Alfarcito and Santa Rosa de Tastil, where you'll visit some ruins. You'll arrive in San Antonio de Los Cobres, from where you can reach the La Polvorilla Viaduct, over which the Train to the Clouds passes. Afterward, you will take Route 40 toward Salinas Grandes to admire the vastness of the salt flats and their beautiful landscape. You will descend the Cuesta del Lipán toward the town of Purmamarca, where you can explore and appreciate the local culture and the Hill of Seven Colors. From there, you'll return to Salta.
Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Duration: 14 hours.
Day 1: You will depart from the city of Salta at 7:30 a.m., traveling through the Quebrada del Toro to visit the village of Santa Rosa de Tastil. At noon, you'll arrive in San Antonio de Los Cobres, where you will have lunch and then continue on to Tolar Grande. You will cross either the Abra Alto Chorrillo (4,560 m.a.s.l.) or the Abra del Gallo (4,630 m.a.s.l.), depending on the time of year. This will be the highest point of the tour, and you will continue through the vastness of the Altiplano, framed by salt flats and volcanoes. You will then arrive at the village of Pocitos, home to the salt flat of the same name, also known as Quirón. You will cross it, admiring the picturesque small lagoons along the way.
The best part comes at the end of the day as you pass through Los Colorados, small clay-stone hills that will set the stage for what is undoubtedly the most spectacular part of this first day: the colorful and mysterious Devil’s Desert. There, you’ll be captivated by the shapes of the mountains and the play of light and shadow cast by the sun at that time of the afternoon. After a short walk in this area, you’ll continue your journey to the town of Tolar Grande. There, you’ll enjoy a delicious dinner at a family-run restaurant to round out the day. You’ll spend the night at the municipal lodge or a homestay.
Day 2: You’ll have breakfast at 9:00 a.m. in a cozy dining room and then set off for the magnificent Ojos de Mar. These are small green and blue lagoons in the middle of the Tolar Grande Salt Flat, designated a Wildlife Refuge because they contain ecosystems of stromatolites—the oldest living organisms on the planet and the creators of the ozone layer. This scientific marvel blends perfectly with the area’s natural charm, so you’ll take a leisurely walk along the edge of these lagoons to capture incredible photos.
Afterward, you’ll head to El Arenal, where you’ll have about an hour—spent walking and taking in the scenery—to take photos at the overlooks facing the seven volcanoes of the Andes: Llullaillaco, Socompa, Aracar, Guanaqueros, Pulares, Salin, and Arizaro. You will return to the village for lunch and to prepare for the trip to the Salar de Arizaro, considered the largest in Argentina and the third largest in the Americas after the Uyuni and Atacama salt flats. Leaving the town of Tolar Grande, you’ll spend about an hour driving through the Salar de Arizaro, with photo stops along the way before reaching the Cono de Arita. This is a striking volcanic formation located within the salt flat.
Across from the Arita Cone, you can take a 30-minute hike to reach its base. Since it is considered sacred by the local community, climbing it is not permitted. You can explore the surrounding area or simply enjoy the breathtaking scenery that surrounds you.
Finally, you’ll have the opportunity to visit the old onyx mining camp known as Campamento Arita. Currently, a gold mine is being operated nearby, so there are vehicles working in the area, and access to the camp is often restricted. If you’re unable to visit the camp, you’ll return directly to Tolar Grande. As the sun sets over the mountain range, you’ll return to Tolar Grande for dinner. The day ends with a night at a municipal lodge or a homestay.
Note: During certain months of the year, due to the wind and cold in the salt flat, the order of the tour may be reversed, with a visit to the Cono de Arita in the morning and the Ojos de Mar and El Arenal in the afternoon.
Day 3: After enjoying the breathtaking natural beauty of the area, along with the warmth and friendliness of the local Kolla people, you will begin your return to Salta via the same route you took on the way there, with shorter stops along the way, visiting the Devil’s Desert once again to experience its different light and contrasts, the village of Salar de Pocitos, San Antonio de los Cobres, Santa Rosa de Tastil or Alfarcito, and Salta.
At certain points along the route, you may come across vicuñas grazing, suris, or other animals native to the Puna that are worth photographing. In such cases, for your safety and that of the vehicle, you may make a brief photo stop whenever the guide deems it appropriate to do so.
Hours: 7:00 a.m. Duration: 3 days and 2 nights. Return to Salta: approximately 4:00 p.m. on the third day.
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