Salta & Valleys | 6 Day Trip

The endless white world of the Salinas Grandes is at the center of this excursion, which starts in Salta and takes National Route 9 to Purmamarca after taking the RN 52.

The Hill of the Seven Colors, the church of Santa Rosa de Lima (whose origins date back to 1648) and the colorful artisanal market in the central square are the town's most important attractions. After crossing them, we set off to Las Salinas through the Cuesta de Lipán, a serpentine paved road that reaches 4170 meters above sea level in the Alto El Morado area. From here you descend to the Puna, a long high plain located around 3500 meters above sea level.

The Salinas Grandes, which were recently included among the Seven Natural Wonders of Argentina, constitute a place of singular beauty, with their immaculately white surface that contrasts with the intense blue sky. There you can observe the salt extraction process and also the work of local artisans who make sculptures with the same material.

After lunch in Purmamarca, you return to Salta along the ledge, the route that passes through a dense sector of yungas dotted with some reservoirs.

Overnight in Purmamarca: Casa de Piedra, Manantial del Silencio, La Comarca (or similar).

Meals Included: Breakfast.

Embark on a journey through La Quebrada, a place declared a World Heritage Site, where the impressive landscapes and colors of the hills are combined with the equally colorful cultures that inhabit this area. This trip is an opportunity to experience social contact and immerse yourself in ancient heritage. The tour begins with the arrival in the town of Purmamarca to admire the majestic Hill of the Seven Colors.

Then, we will continue to the town of Tilcara. Afterwards, the tour will continue to Huacalera, where you will cross the Tropic of Capricorn pass and you can see the impressive Cerro de la Pollera de la Colla. We will visit the Church of Uquía, where you can find the paintings of Los Ángeles Arcabuceros, an important work of art of the Cuzco school in the region.

The tour will end in Humahuaca, where you can see the majestic Cathedral and the Monument to Independence (El Indio) by the sculptor Soto Avendaño.

After lunch, you will return to the starting point while observing the impressive Paleta del Pintor that frames the town of Maimará. This tour lasts a full day and is available every day.

Overnight in Salta.

Meals Included: Breakfast.

It all starts by taking the road from Salta to the Lerma Valley, and when you reach the town of El Carril, take Provincial Route 33, which enters the Quebrada de Escoipe, an area of dense yungas that disperses as the route gains height.

In the El Maray area, the ascent of the famous Cuesta del Obispo begins, which climbs 1,400 meters of unevenness in just over 20 kilometers. On the way you enter Los Cardones National Park, and soon after you reach the highest point of the slope: the Piedra del Molino, 3450 meters above sea level. Here, the panoramic views are breathtaking.

Then the route descends to the Calchaqui Valley, crosses the endless Tin-Tin Straight (traced by the Incas as part of their remarkable road network), crosses the RN 40 and passes through the town of Payogasta, from where you have a beautiful view of the Nevado de Cachi, a mountain range that reaches 6,380 meters in height.

Cachi appears after crossing the Calchaqui River. There is free time to explore its small town, where the square, the old San José de Cachi church and the Pío Pablo Díaz archaeological museum stand out. Then, already on Route 40, it heads south to visit the towns of Seclantás (cradle of the best ponchos in Salta) and Molinos, where you can have lunch.

In the afternoon, the highlight is the amazing Quebrada de las Flechas, then you pass through San Carlos and Animaná, and the arrival to Cafayate is anticipated by the entry on the scene of the first vineyards, the origin of the famous Salta wines, which in recent decades have added Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and other grapes to the traditional Torrontés.

Overnight in Cafayate: Asturias Hotel Cafayate (or similar).

Meals Included: Breakfast.

After spending the night in Cafayate, in the morning you visit one of the many wineries that produce here, of course with tasting included. After lunch, the excursion continues with the tour of the wonderful Quebrada de las Conchas: 83 kilometers in which the view is breathtaking, due to the colors of its hills and the incredible shapes drawn over thousands and thousands of years by the erosion of water and wind.

The Amphitheater, the Devil's Throat, the Obelisk, the Frog, the Monk, the Castles and the Tres Cruces viewpoint are the most renowned attractions, although every meter of this path is unmissable. Further on, to the east, you can see the gigantic mirror of the Cabra Corral reservoir and finally you go back up to the city of Salta.

Overnight in Salta.

Meals Included: Breakfast.

At the appropriate time we will pick you up for your hotel to accompany you to SLA Airport where you will continue with your scheduled itinerary.

Meals Included: Breakfast.