AR
Salta
La Linda — The Beautiful
La Linda — The Beautiful
The Plaza 9 de Julio (the finest colonial main square in Argentina; the Cathedral (the finest neo-Gothic cathedral facade in the Andean Northwest); the MAAM (the finest Inca mummy collection in the world; 5 ARS; the three 500-year-old Llullaillaco mummies)) is the finest free plaza in South America.
💡 Plaza 9 de Julio (free; the finest colonial main square in Argentina; the Cathedral (the finest neo-Gothic facade in the Andean Northwest); the MAAM (5 ARS; the finest Inca mummy collection in the world; the three 500-year-old Llullaillaco mummies)).
The Tren a las Nubes (the finest high-altitude railway in the world; the La Polvorilla Viaduct (the finest railway viaduct at altitude; the 63m steel viaduct at 4,220m); from 12,000 ARS return; seasonal April–November; departs Salta at 7am; 15h round trip; book at trenalanubes.com.ar) is the finest train journey in South America.
💡 Tren a las Nubes (from 12,000 ARS return; seasonal April–November; the La Polvorilla Viaduct (63m steel viaduct at 4,220m; the finest railway engineering at altitude in the world); book at trenalanubes.com.ar; departs Salta at 7am).
💡 Quebrada de Humahuaca (UNESCO; 3–4h north by bus; the Cerro de los Siete Colores at Purmamarca; the Sunday artisan market; the Tilcara pucara (the finest Inca frontier fortress in Argentina)).
The Quebrada de Humahuaca (UNESCO World Heritage; the finest pre-Columbian canyon in South America; 3–4h north by bus; the Cerro de los Siete Colores at Purmamarca (the finest geological colour pattern in the world); the Sunday artisan market; the Tilcara pucara (the finest Inca frontier fortress in Argentina)) is the finest canyon day trip in South America.
💡 Cafayate (180km south; rental car or bus; the finest Torrontés wine in the world; the El Esteco Winery (tasting from 1,500 ARS)); the Quebrada de las Conchas (the finest red-rock canyon in South America) on the drive south.
Cafayate (1,660m; 180km south; the finest Torrontés wine in the world (the El Esteco Winery; tasting from 1,500 ARS)) and the Quebrada de las Conchas (the finest red-rock canyon in South America; the Anfiteatro, the Garganta del Diablo, and the Tres Cruces formations) are the defining Salta full-day excursion.
Salta eating is the most distinctively regional in Argentina: the locro (the corn, white bean and pork stew; the most specifically northwest Argentine dish; US$5–12 at any Salta restaurant in the winter months), the humitas (the corn paste steamed in corn husks; the most specifically Andean food; US$3–6 at any Salta market), the tamales saltenos (the corn masa stuffed with beef and potato, wrapped in corn husks and steamed; distinct from the Mexican tamale; US$2–4 each), the empanadas saltenas (the Salta empanada has a distinctive sweetness from the raisin and the hard-boiled egg in the filling; the most celebrated provincial empanada in Argentina by popular vote; US$1.50–3 each), and the Cafayate Torrontés white wine (the most specifically Salta region wine; available at any Salta restaurant; US$5–15 per bottle). The Mercado Central (the covered market on Florida Street; the locro and humita stalls; the most affordable authentic Salta food; US$3–8 per dish) and the Balcarce Street folk music and food strip (the most lively Salta evening address; the penas (folk music venues) serving food and Cafayate wine from 9pm) are the two essential Salta food addresses.
The Plaza 9 de Julio (the finest colonial main square in Argentina; the Cathedral (Catedral Basílica de Salta; the finest neo-Gothic cathedral facade in the Andean Northwest).
The Tren a las Nubes (the Train to the Clouds; the finest high-altitude railway in the world).
The Quebrada de Humahuaca (UNESCO World Heritage 2003; the finest pre-Columbian carved canyon landscape in South America; 3–4h north by bus (Bus Balut or Atahualpa; from 800 ARS)).
Cafayate (the finest high-altitude wine region in the world at 1,660m; 180km south of Salta (3h by rental car through the Quebrada de las Conchas)).
Plaza 9 de Julio at 9am (the Cathedral; the Cabildo; the San Francisco Church; free; 1h 30min). MAAM museum (Mitre 77; the Inca mummy children exhibition; US$5; allow 2h — the most significant Inca archaeological collection in Argentina). Mercado Central lunch (the humitas and empanadas saltenas; US$3–8). Cerro San Bernardo cable car (US$10 return; the 20-min cable car ascent to the finest view over Salta city and the Lerma Valley; 1h). Balcarce Street exploration (the folk music strip; the bar terraces; free; 1h). Peña evening at La Casona del Molino or a Balcarce Street venue (from 10pm; the zamba; the chacarera; the Torrontés; US$8–15 entry; dinner at the tables).
💡 The Quebrada de las Conchas (the finest red-rock canyon in South America; on the road south to Cafayate; the Anfiteatro, the Garganta del Diablo, and the Tres Cruces formations) is best seen in the morning light (the canyon faces east; the red rock is finest in the 9am–noon light). Allow 4h to stop at all the formations on the 50km canyon stretch.
Leave Salta at 7am by hired car or guided tour (US$25–50 pp tour). Purmamarca (3h drive north; the Cerro de los Siete Colores; the mountain walk (1h 30min return; the elevated view); the market). Continue north to Tilcara (the Pucará fortress US$5; the Andean village lunch; the humita; 1h 30min). Humahuaca (the northernmost village; the monument; the Sunday market if weekend; 45 min). Return south to Salta by 6pm (3h drive; the golden afternoon light on the Quebrada; the finest Andean dusk drive in Argentina).
💡 Bus to Purmamarca and Quebrada de Humahuaca (ARS 3,500 return; 3h). Hill of Seven Colours at Purmamarca (free; the multicoloured mountain). Tilcara (the colonial village; the Pucara fortress ARS 2,000). Return to Salta via the N68 canyon.
Salta is the most affordable of the six Argentina cities in this guide.
The Quebrada de Humahuaca day tour (US$25–50 pp; the Seven-Colour Mountain, the Pucara fortress, the indigenous village markets) is the finest single US$50 day trip accessible from any Argentine city.
The Puna altiplano expedition (the 4,000m+ Andean plateau north of Salta: the flamingo lagoons, the salt flats, the vicuna herds, and the total silence of the high Andes at sunset)
Tren a las Nubes (trenalanubes.com.ar) for the from-12,000 ARS return ticket booking (seasonal April–November; departs Salta at 7am; 15h round trip).
Free
Bus Balut or Atahualpa (from the Salta bus terminal) for the Quebrada de Humahuaca day trip (3–4h north; from 800 ARS return).
Free
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