How Many Days In Salta Do You Need?
2-3 days in Salta is more than enough to see the city, but if you want to explore the north-west (using Salta as a base) then I would recommend 5-7 days.
Here’s my recommendations:
| Days | Recommended For | Activities |
|---|---|---|
|
3 Days |
Seeing the highlights in a short time |
Walking Tour, San Bernardo Hill, Day trip to Salinas Grandes |
|
5 Days |
Seeing more or the north or south loops from Salta |
Salinas Grandes, Rainbow Mountain and/or Cafayate |
|
7 Days or more |
Seeing everything Salta has to offer |
All of the above |
Salta 3-Day Itinerary
This itinerary is perfect for travellers on a weekend escape from Buenos Aires, or for those of you short on time and want to see the highlights of the city.
| Day | Where? | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Salta |
Walking Tour, San Bernardo Hill |
|
2 |
Salta |
Museums, Food Tour |
|
3 |
Purmamarca |
Salinas Grandes |
Day 1 – City Day Part 1
Free Walking Tour
- Cost: Free
- Timings: Mon-Fri at 6PM (2 hours long)
The free walking tour in Salta is the perfect introduction to the city.
The tours are run by local guides who will teach you about the city’s history and leave you with a wealth of tips, tricks, and recommendations for your stay.
Your first few sights are in the main plaza, an elegant, cafe-lined square bordered by the neoclassical Salta Cathedral and El Cabildo.
San Bernardo Hill
- Cost: 500 pesos
- Timings: Every day from 10.00 AM to 7:45 PM.
After the walking tour, head to San Bernardo Hill.
Salta’s Teleferico has been in operation since 1987 and takes tourists to the top of the hill for the best view over Salta. It is a pleasant ride up that takes around 8 minutes.
Day 2 - City Day Part 2
Museum of High-Altitude Archaeology (MAAM)
- Timings: 11.00AM - 6.30PM, closed on Mondays
The Museum of High-Altitude Archaeology (MAAM) may not sound that interesting, but it has one of the most unique and weirdly distributing displays in the world.
The museum focuses on the indigenous tribes of the Andes and provides insight into the high-altitude dweller’s ways of living.
However, the museum was also created to house the institute’s most important discovery: in 1999 they found three perfectly preserved Inca children frozen in ice on top of Llullaillaco Volcano.
Salta Food Tour
You must try four things whilst in Salta:
- Saltenas – asavoury pastries filled with beef, pork or chicken mixed in a sweet, slightly spicy sauce. They are perfect for an afternoon snack if you are feeling peckish. Try Dona Salta or Patio de la Empanada.
- Andean fusion food – head to Viracocha for a great selection of dishes. They also have their own craft brewery on site with some fantastic craft beers on tap.
- Steak – finding a great steakhouse in Salta is easy, and you know you will be getting grass-fed, pasture-raised beef. One of the best places in town is ‘El Viejo Jack’, most popular among Salta locals so you know it’s going to be good.
Day 3 - Purmamarca and Salinas Grandes
- Cost: $80 for car rental for a day or around $40 for a tour
- Timings: Full day
The north-west of Argentina is home to two rainbow mountains. The first is in Purmamarca , around a 2h drive north of Salta.
Also known as the Hill of Seven Colours, this is your first stop on this day trip. You can wander the town and shop at the artisan stalls, then climb up to the viewpoints opposite the mountain for photos.
After you’ll continue to the salt flat – Salinas Grandes.
Salinas Grandes is Argentina’s very own salt flat and well worth a visit if you can’t make it to Salar de Uyuni.
“We ended up with a better itinerary than anything a travel agent suggested – and without the expensive price tag!
Maeve & Martin – 3 Weeks In Argentina
Planning a trip to Argentina?
Are you struggling with any of this?
✔ Unsure how to pick the best route
✔ Spent hours researching… and still feeling lost
✔ Want freedom, not a rigid tour
✔ Don’t want to spend $5,000+ on a travel agent
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I help travellers like you plan custom Argentina trips that are efficient, affordable, and totally personalised.
Salta 5-Day Itinerary
With 5 days in Salta, you can explore even further beyond the city an into the beautiful countryside of the north-west.
This 5-day itinerary can be done with a car if you like, but I’ve also recommended tours below if you prefer. With day tours from Salta, you can pack a lot in with the time you have.
| Day | Where? | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Salta |
Walking Tour, San Bernardo Hill |
|
2 |
Salta |
Museums, Food Tour |
|
3 |
Purmamarca |
Salinas Grandes |
|
4 |
Humahuaca |
Rainbow Mountain |
Day 4 – Humahuaca / Rainbow Mountain
- Cost: $80 for car rental for a day / around $40 for a tour / local bus $10 return
- Timings: Full day
Argentina has a second rainbow mountain hiding away in the town of Humahuaca.
El Hornocal or the 14 Coloured Mountain is an impressive site. This sprawling mountain range is full of colour.
It’s around a 4-hour drive from Salta which is the only downside, so most of a tour is spent on transport. However, if you want to see a Rainbow Mountain then you can always go for an overnight stay instead.
You can take the bus to Humahuaca or rent a car. The town is nice and staying overnight means you avoid paying for a tour and the time spent on transport is split up over 2 days.
You can even combine it with a trip to Purmamarca on the way back.
How To Get To Humahuaca From Salta
Salta is 5 hours from Humahuacha. Buses leave from Terminal de Omnibus.
You may have to change buses in Jujuy.
Day 5 – Cachi / Cafayate
- Cost: $80 for car rental for a day / around $40 for a tour / local bus $10 return
- Timings: Full day
Mendoza is known for producing some of the country’s best wines, but El Cafayate is a close second. It’s a is a must-visit for wine lovers.
Located within the Calchaqui Valley, it’s one of the world’s highest suitable locations for growing grapes.
The combination of high-elevation, great year-round weather and fertile soil produce incredible malbecs.
This tour will take you along the picturesque route 33, via Cachi and then to El Calafate for wine tasting!
How To Get To El Calafate From Salta
The journey takes 3-4 hours by bus, but you can also rent a car to visit.
Again, it’s much better to either stay the night or just visit for 2-3 days if you have the time. This is another beautiful Argentinian town that’s off the beaten tourist track.
“Joe turned our fragmented ideas into a seamless itinerary. His expert advice saved us time, money, and stress – making our time in Argentina unforgettable”
Sam & Amy – 1 Month In Argentina
Planning a trip to Argentina?
Are you struggling with any of this?
✔ Unsure how to pick the best route
✔ Spent hours researching… and still feeling lost
✔ Want freedom, not a rigid tour
✔ Don’t want to spend $5,000+ on a travel agent
You don’t have to figure it out solo!
I help travellers like you plan custom Argentina trips that are efficient, affordable, and totally personalised.
Salta 7-Day Itinerary
With a week in Salta, this is the perfect opportunity for a road trip. Rent a car and explore north of Salta along Route 9 first, then after returning to the city, head south along Route 33 to Cachi and El Cafayate.
Here’s a breakdown of this itinerary:
| Day | Where? | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Salta |
Walking Tour, San Bernardo Hill |
|
2 |
Salta |
Museums, Food Tour |
|
3 |
Purmamarca |
Salinas Grandes |
|
4 |
Humahuaca |
Rainbow Mountain |
|
5 |
Tilcara |
‘Devil’s Throat’ Hike |
|
6 |
Cachi |
Cuesta Del Obispo |
|
7 |
Cafayate |
Wine Tasting |
This route is for 7-days or more in the Salta region. However, I would recommend 10-14 days overall to avoid rushing.
This will allow you to stay overnight in each of the towns and relax.
This itinerary also includes stops in Tilcara and Cachi to break up some of the journeys
Is Salta Worth Visiting?
Salta is one of my favourite cities in Argentina for several reasons and I think it’s well worth visiting – especially if you want to do something a little different.
- The north-west of Argentina is still relatively untouched by tourism compared to Buenos Aires or Patagonia . This means everything is cheaper, there are fewer people, and everything feels more relaxed and authentic.
- Also, the weather is perfect all year round, with warm temperatures and little rain.
- And finally, the region is beautiful, and there are some fantastic natural sights such as El Hornocal, Salinas Grandes and the vineyards of the Calachqui valley.
Exploring the northwest of Argentina is a must. Head to the post below to see the full itinerary:
PATAGONIA...
is a must visit for travelers visiting Argentina. Check out these posts to help you plan a hassle-free trip:
Car Rental In Salta
The biggest hub for renting a car is from Salta, but you will also be able to find companies in Jujuy.
I always use Discover Cars to find the best rental prices when travelling Argentina.
For $40 a day (see below), it’s well worth it. If you are in a group of 4, then that’s $10 a day for transport and you’ll save money by not having to pay for tours too.
Argentina Itineraries
How many days do you need in Argentina? Whether it’s 7 days, 3 weeks or 1 month, I’ve created pre-made itineraries to suit every schedule and traveler.
Check out these posts to help you plan a hassle-free trip:
How To Get To Salta
Salta is the biggest city in Salta province in the north-west of Argentina. It’s a great city to use as a base for exploring the rest of Salta and Jujuy province.
Salta’s bus terminal, southeast of downtown, has frequent services to all parts of the country.
How To Get To Salta From Buenos Aires
Bus – This journey will be an overnight bus taking between 20-24 hours to reach the capital.
I found that long bus journeys in Argentina were the same price as flights so it might be worth looking at flights.
Flight – a flight from Salta to BA takes 2 hours.
Martín Miguel de Güemes International Airport is around 30 minutes by taxi (pay about 200 pesos, equal to a few dollars).
“We ended up with a better itinerary than anything a travel agent suggested – and without the expensive price tag!
Maeve & Martin – 3 Weeks In Argentina
Planning a trip to Argentina?
Are you struggling with any of this?
✔ Unsure how to pick the best route
✔ Spent hours researching… and still feeling lost
✔ Want freedom, not a rigid tour
✔ Don’t want to spend $5,000+ on a travel agent
You don’t have to figure it out solo!
I help travellers like you plan custom Argentina trips that are efficient, affordable, and totally personalised.
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