Salta Holidays
Salta
Holidays
Colonial baroque architecture, the Train to the Clouds, the coloured rocks of Quebrada de Humahuaca and the most dramatic Andean landscapes in Argentina
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Flight Time
13–14h to Buenos Aires, then 2h internal flight to Salta (SLA)
Best Time
April–November (dry season); avoid January–March (rainy season)
Country
Argentina
Suppliers
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Salta Holiday Guide
Salta, in the northwest of Argentina, is one of the best-preserved colonial cities in South America — a city of pink-tinged baroque buildings, cobblestone streets and ornate churches in a fertile valley (the Valle de Lerma) at 1,187m altitude, surrounded by dramatic Andean landscapes of extraordinary colour and beauty. Founded by the Spanish in 1582, Salta has retained its colonial character more completely than almost any other Argentine city, earning it the nickname 'La Linda' (The Beautiful).
The city is the gateway to some of the most dramatic landscapes in South America. The Quebrada de Humahuaca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site 150km north of Salta, is a narrow gorge of extraordinary coloured rock formations — reds, purples, greens and yellows — carved by the Río Grande through the Andean altiplano. The indigenous Andean culture of the Jujuy province is still very much alive here, with traditional markets, festivals and architecture that feel closer to Bolivia and Peru than to Buenos Aires.
The Tren a las Nubes (Train to the Clouds) is one of the great railway journeys in the world — a 434km round trip from Salta that climbs from 1,187m to 4,220m through 29 bridges, 21 tunnels and 13 viaducts to the extraordinary La Polvorilla viaduct, a steel arch bridge 63m high and 224m long spanning a desert canyon at 4,200m altitude. The journey takes 16 hours and is one of the highest railway journeys in the world.
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Average Temperatures
Jan
22°C
Feb
22°C
Mar
21°C
Apr
19°C
May
16°C
Jun
13°C
Jul
13°C
Aug
15°C
Sep
17°C
Oct
20°C
Nov
21°C
Dec
22°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Salta
The colonial architecture, Andean landscapes, indigenous culture and extraordinary railway journey that make Salta Argentina's most atmospheric destination.
Salta City — La Linda, The Beautiful
Salta city is the finest example of colonial architecture in Argentina — a compact, walkable city centre of pink-tinged baroque buildings, ornate churches and cobblestone streets centred on the Plaza 9 de Julio. The Cathedral (1882) and the Iglesia San Francisco (1882, with its extraordinary baroque facade) are the most impressive buildings. The MAAM (Museum of High Altitude Archaeology) houses the extraordinary Llullaillaco children — three Inca child mummies discovered at 6,739m on Volcán Llullaillaco in 1999, among the best-preserved mummies in the world.
Tren a las Nubes — The Train to the Clouds
The Tren a las Nubes (Train to the Clouds) is one of the great railway journeys in the world — a 434km round trip from Salta that climbs from 1,187m to 4,220m through the Quebrada del Toro canyon, crossing 29 bridges, 21 tunnels and 13 viaducts to the extraordinary La Polvorilla viaduct. The viaduct — a steel arch bridge 63m high and 224m long spanning a desert canyon at 4,200m — is one of the most dramatic pieces of railway engineering in the world. The journey takes 16 hours and operates April–November.
Quebrada de Humahuaca — UNESCO World Heritage
The Quebrada de Humahuaca is a UNESCO World Heritage Site 150km north of Salta — a narrow gorge of extraordinary coloured rock formations carved by the Río Grande through the Andean altiplano. The Cerro de los Siete Colores (Hill of Seven Colours) above the village of Purmamarca is the most famous image of the quebrada — a mountain of red, purple, green, yellow and white rock strata that glows in the afternoon light. The villages of Tilcara (with its pre-Inca pucará fortress), Humahuaca and Uquía preserve indigenous Andean culture.
Salinas Grandes — Salt Flats at 3,450m
The Salinas Grandes are a vast salt flat at 3,450m altitude on the Andean altiplano, 160km northwest of Salta — a blinding white expanse of crystallised salt covering 212 square kilometres, with the snow-capped Andes as backdrop. The salt flat is less visited than Bolivia's Salar de Uyuni but equally spectacular, and the road from Salta through the Quebrada de Humahuaca and over the Lipán Pass (4,170m) is one of the most dramatic drives in South America. Salt extraction is still carried out by hand by local communities.
Cafayate — Wine in a Desert Canyon
Cafayate, 180km south of Salta in the Valles Calchaquíes, is Argentina's second wine region — a small town at 1,683m altitude in a dramatic desert canyon, surrounded by vineyards producing the Torrontés grape that is Argentina's signature white wine. The Cafayate wine route takes in a dozen bodegas; the Bodega El Esteco and Vasija Secreta are the most celebrated. The drive from Salta to Cafayate through the Quebrada de las Conchas — a canyon of extraordinary red rock formations — is one of the most beautiful in Argentina.
Cachi — Remote Andean Village
Cachi is a remote Andean village at 2,280m altitude in the Valles Calchaquíes, 170km west of Salta — a whitewashed colonial village surrounded by cactus-covered mountains and the snow-capped Nevado de Cachi (6,380m). The village has a beautiful colonial church, a small archaeological museum and a handful of excellent restaurants and boutique hotels. The drive from Salta to Cachi over the Cuesta del Obispo (3,348m) through the Parque Nacional Los Cardones (a forest of giant candelabra cacti) is extraordinary.
Tilcara — Pre-Inca Fortress and Indigenous Culture
Tilcara is the most visited village in the Quebrada de Humahuaca — a small town of 3,000 people at 2,461m altitude with a beautifully restored pre-Inca pucará (fortress) on a hill above the town, a good archaeological museum and a lively market selling indigenous crafts, textiles and food. The Carnival of Tilcara (February) is one of the most vibrant and authentic indigenous festivals in Argentina, with processions, music and dancing that reflect the Andean culture of the region. The village is 85km north of Salta.
Valles Calchaquíes — Red Rock Valleys and Vineyards
The Valles Calchaquíes are a series of high-altitude valleys stretching 250km south of Salta through some of the most dramatic landscapes in Argentina — red rock canyons, cactus forests, salt flats and vineyards at altitudes of 1,700–3,000m. The valley road connects Salta to Cafayate through Cachi, passing through landscapes that feel more like the American Southwest than South America. The indigenous Diaguita culture is still present in the villages; the pre-Inca ruins of Quilmes (the largest pre-Columbian city in Argentina) are near Cafayate.
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Key areas, beaches and attractions across the island.
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