Travelling to northwest Argentina? Be sure to visit Salta, the region’s most beautiful city! Discover the 10 must-sees we’ve selected for you!
If this is your first trip to Argentina, you’ll be amazed by the diversity of landscapes in this immense country! Lush, humid regions, the desert expanses of the Pampas, the glaciers of Patagonia, arid deserts… You’ll quickly fall in love with the culture and the striking contrasts that unfold before your astonished eyes.
Northwest Argentina rises at the foot of the Andes, in a succession of polychrome canyons, Quechua and Aymara villages, deserts and historic cities. Salta la linda – the beautiful one – is one of the country’s prettiest colonial towns. Founded in the 16th century, capital of the province of the same name and perched at an altitude of 1,185 metres, it is one of the most popular destinations for travellers! On the one hand, it’s considered the ideal base for exploring the region’s spectacular treasures: Quebrada de Humahuaca, Quebrada de Cafayate, Valles Calchaquíes… But visitors also come to admire its colonial architecture, fascinating museums and mixed culture.
Planning a trip to the region and wondering what to do in Salta? Follow our guide! We’ve selected the 10 must-sees in and around Salta!
1. Museo de Arqueologia de Alta Montaña (MAAM)
Photo credit: Instagram – eltribunosalta
If there’s one museum not to be missed in northern Argentina, it’s the Museum of High Mountain Archaeology (MAAM). Its collection devoted to Inca culture is fascinating! The museum features the mummified bodies of sacrificial children. Discovered at the summit of Llullaillaco (a 6,739-metre volcano!) in 1999, these mummies have been the subject of much controversy since their public display. Today, they are presented on a six-month rotation, surrounded by the objects discovered in the tombs. Panels and videos inform visitors about the sacrificial rituals, lifestyle and routes taken by the Incas.
2. Salta’s historic center
Photo credit: Shutterstock / marchello74
The main square – Plaza 9 de Julio – and its adjacent streets, the San Francisco church and the cabildo (colonial-era town council) are all places to visit in Salta. A stroll through the historic district during the day or later in the evening, when the monuments are lit up, is a very pleasant experience.
You can stroll through the city on foot, looking up at the exuberant, neoclassical-baroque and ornate facades. The bustle is at its peak in the early evening, when the Salteños return from work and the tourists from their excursions.
3. Pajcha – Museo de Arte Etnico Americano
Would you like to visit Salta and learn more about Andean art and culture? Visit Pajcha! The museum’s collections give pride of place to the original peoples, combining archaeological discoveries with modern-day handicrafts. These include macaw feather ornaments, instruments used by Kallawaya healers and Mapuche jewelry. The collection is in fact the fruit of studies carried out by a passionate anthropologist, the museum’s founder.
4. Cerro San Bernardo (cable car)
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Split Second Stock
The quiet Parque San Martín neighborhood is also the departure point for the cable car to Cerro San Bernardo, a hill overlooking the city. In just eight minutes, you’ll reach the top for a breathtaking view of the entire city. There’s also a small park and a terrace café where you can relax. Sports enthusiasts wondering what to do in Salta can climb the Cerro on foot! Allow an hour on a green path… and 1,070 steps!
5. Tren a las Nubes
Photo credit: Shutterstock / revolucian
The Train to the Clouds is Argentina’s most famous rail route! A popular excursion for travelers visiting Salta, it is particularly well known among tourist sites.
Every Saturday, from April to mid-December, the train leaves the town to descend into the Lerma Valley, then begins the spectacular ascent of the Quebrada del Toro. The route takes in the ruins of Tastil and San Antonio de los Cobres, before crossing a desert canyon. If you don’t want to take the train, Salta agencies offer similar routes along the road that runs alongside the railroad.
6. Museo Histórico del Norte
Photo credit: Flickr – Secretaría de Cultura de la Nación
Nestled in the magnificent cabildo (former city council) buildings on the main square, this museum is one of Salta’s must-visit monuments. Inside, the rooms house a collection of pre-Columbian ceramics. There are also objects of colonial religious art, as well as exhibits on the city in the 19th and 20th centuries. A portrait gallery of Salta’s successive governors and a collection devoted to transportation complete the tour.
7. Salinas Grandes
Photo credit: Shutterstock / revolucian
Located in the Province of Salta, the salt plain is in fact an ancient dry lake at 3,350 meters above sea level. Bring your sunglasses to admire this immense salt crust (525 km²!). By the way, it’s best to admire it after the summer rains (February-March), when the puddles are reflected in the blue sky.
If you’ve been to the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, this salt flat may seem less impressive. But if not, Salinas Grandes is a must-see in the Salta area.
8. Calchaquies Valleys
Photo credit: Shutterstock / ebone
Rural, spectacular, atypical: the Calchaqui valleys seduce visitors to the provinces of Salta and Jujuy. Winding roads pass through villages with magnificent adobe houses, such as Cachi and Molinos. The Parque Nacional de Los Cardones is a veritable field of candelabra cacti, up to 10 metres high!
From one end of the road to the other, through the valleys, grandiose and contrasting landscapes pass by, changing from the green to the red-ochre of the earth. To the south, on the famous Route 40, the village of Cafayate is the perfect place to sample the wines of Argentina’s second-largest wine-growing region!
9. Cafayate
Photo credit: Shutterstock / sunsinger
After your visit to Salta, you’ll probably reach Cafayate either via the Calchaquies valleys or the Quebrada de Cafayate.
Welcome to the region with the highest vineyards in the world! Rural and charming, the town attracts many local and foreign tourists who come to taste its famous Torrontés white wine. Numerous wineries, some of them very chic, offer stays and tastings of local wines such as Malbec, Tannat and Cabernet Sauvignon.
10. Quebrada de Cafayate
Photo credit: Shutterstock / reisegraf.ch
From Salta, Route 68 to Cafayate passes through the wild, arid landscapes of the Quebrada de Cafayate. This canyon carved out by the Rio de las Conchas has shaped rock formations with green, ochre or red sedimentary strata. This excursion can be undertaken as part of a tourist circuit (there are numerous agencies in Salta) or by renting your own vehicle.
While the view of the strangely shaped rocks from the road is already spectacular, the best way to approach them is on foot! Equipped with your hiking boots, you can climb the Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Gorge). If you’re lucky, you might even hear a musician strumming his guitar in theAnfiteatro (amphitheatre)…
How do I get to Salta?
By bus from Argentina
Located 1,468 kilometers from the Argentine capital Buenos Aires, Salta is accessible by bus, car or air. The cheapest way is by bus, but journeys can be very long, given the distances involved. For example, it takes around 20 hours to reach Salta from Buenos Aires or Mendoza, or 8 hours from the Bolivian border at La Quiaca.
By plane from France
The proliferation of airlines – including low-cost carriers – makes flying an attractive option. Whether you’re flying to Argentina or domestically to and from Salta, we advise you to study the offers on a comparator such as Ulysse. The airport is 9.5 kilometers south-west of the city, so you can quickly reach the center by bus no. 8A or cab.
By car once on site
Finally, if you’d like to rent a car, especially for sightseeing, there’s no shortage of good-value rental companies in town. Be careful about the condition of your car and its equipment, and check the weather forecast before you leave. When the rains are heavy, many roads can be cut off.
Where to stay in Salta?
Salta is the most touristic city in northwestern Argentina. You’ll find plenty of youth hostels, as well as small family-run guesthouses and chic boutique hotels. You can sleep in the historic center, to be in the heart of the action, or in the north, to enjoy the nightlife. The east of the city, near the San Martín park, is quieter. To make your choice, read our article on the best areas to stay in Salta. A word of advice: use a hotel comparator to find the best value for money!
Now you know what to do in Salta on your next trip to Argentina!
Map of hotels and accommodation – Salta,ar