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Slide
through your emotions
in a territory that vibrates incessantly… |
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Salta, City tour |
The city, walks, rides, avenues and monuments; the national University, River Vaqueros, Quebrada of Castellanos, Lesser, San Lorenzo, the historical tour of the city, comprising the church of San Francisco, the Town Council, the Convent of San Bernardo, The Cathedral Basilica and the Güemes Monument, the 20 de Febrero Monument, etc.
The Spanish appearance of Salta’s capital distinguishes her from the rest of the cities of the country.
Its urban profile is outlined by low houses, narrow streets and sidewalks. |
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Calchaquí Valleys Circuit (Northwest) |
A journey of 529 miles. Duration: 14 hours.
The access is by national routes 9 and 34. You will see mountains covered with trees, oil explorations, aboriginal communities and tropical crops such as banana trees, coffee, citrus fruits, sugar cane, etc. |
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Andean Northeast Circuit |
A journey of 242 miles. Duration: 12 hours.
Starting in national route 51, you cross and then a Quebrada until you get to Santa Rosa de Tastil, where you will find archeological ruins. Going on by this road, you get to San Antonio de Los Cobres, located at 102 miles from the city and, at 3,775 masl, an ancient Indian town erects and at 12 miles you will find the viaduct La Polvorilla.
The famous “Tren de las Nubes” (Train to the Clouds) is part of this circuit. It travels 135 miles with stops in the viaduct La Polvorilla and San Antonio de los Cobres. The traveler will admire the result of man’s technical ability, competing with the natural beauty. The train departs from the station every Saturday in the season that goes from April to October. |
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Southeast Circuit |
A journey of 216 miles.
By national route 34 and then joining provincial routes 5 and 20, you will get to National Park El Rey; returning to route 34, you will find the city of Metán, characterized by its agricultural and cattle activities. At 9 miles you will find Posta de Yatasto, the place where Generals San Martín, Belgrano and Güemes, heroes of our Independence, met. Going on by the same route, you get to Rosario de la Frontera, a city of great economic significance due to its agricultural production, especially legumes. At 4 miles you will find the Rosario de la Frontera thermal springs, internationally renowned. This spa center counts with a hotel, making use of the therapeutic benefits of its springs. Then you can continue your way to Tucumán. |
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Cachi |
Cachi is a city located at the north of the Calchaquí Valleys circuits and it is one of the most important cities of this area, together with Cafayate, located at the south of this same circuit. This traditional tourist circuit offers multiple attractions, due to its different and attractive landscapes as well as the picturesque architecture of its villages.
In Quechua, “cachi” means salt. Other etymology states that the word comes from the language of the ancient Diaguitas that inhabited these valleys, the kakana, joining he word “kak” (meaning crag, rock, stone) with “chi” or “chin” (silence, solitude).
Cachi is a town that survived the Spanish conquest, inhabited by the Chicoanas Indians. The population erects in the confluence of rivers Cachi and Calchaquí. Gentle and traditional, the city preserves old large houses placed over the border of narrow and paved streets, emerging from a luminous backyard of a sown field, especially with red chilies drying in the sun, framed by snow-capped peaks and mountains. Up to the north, the mountain range “Nevados de Cachi” erects, 6,380 masl, a true challenge for mountain climbers.
You can visit the eighteenth-century Parish Church, declared national historical monument. The church offers the city a distinctive frame, and it complements with the renowned Archeological Museum’s arcade. The Museum counts with more than 5,000 pieces and more than 10,000 years of history. You can also go on trips to Las Pailas and Puerta La Paya, where you will find interesting remains of the Pre-Columbian civilization.
This place, where quietness reigns and time seems to have stopped, is located at 2,250 m.a.s.l. height and situated at 97 miles from Salta city. |
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Escoipe Quebrada |
| This section joins the exuberant Lerma and Calchaquí Valleys. It presents forest vegetation, carpeted with brackens and accompanied by the river Quebrada de Escoipe. This multicolored Quebrada, that in some sections is very narrow and limited by walls of rocks, changes the direction many times. The road, sinuous, crosses the river by both bridges, reaching to the amazing Cuesta del Obispo (Bishop’s slope). |
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Cuesta del Obispo and Piedra El Molino |
In this section, the slope starts if you are coming from Salta city. The cornice road is sinuous and shows a high pasture landscape. The highest point is Piedra del Molino, at 3,348 masl and at 58 miles from Salta city.
The landscape amazes the traveler with its stunning view and the sinuous road.
From Piedra del Molino you get a stunning view of the Escoipe Quebrada. There is a little stone chapel and a millstone carved in granite with several stons, giving the name to the place. It is said that the millstone was carried by wagon in 1927 and that, due to the weight, broke into two. The stone was for a farm of the valley and the owners never claimed for it. One mile before getting to Piedra del Molino there is a sign post of National Park Los Cardones and then you will find the access to Valley Encantado (Enchanted Valley). |
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Valle Encantado (Enchanted Valley) |
It is an outstanding landscape that joins natural forms and colors with wonderful contrasts, where wind erosion and rains have carved for years unusual and suggestive beauties. You will find a small lagoon and cave paintings. It is also a place of condor watching. You get there by a 2-mile detour, with sharp slopes. It is recommended not to descend from the vehicle if the road is damp due to rains.
Going on by provincial route 33 to Cachi, at 4 miles from Piedra del Molino, you pass by Cachipampa. The route then penetrates into a little valley of soft hillsides covered with pasture. Further on, the landscape opens and you will see a closed basin and lagoon El Hervidero, formed in the summer season by a rainwater build-up and where you may see guanacos grazing quietly. Then, the road turns sinuous and pretty narrow, twisting and turning among limestone formations. |
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Recta Tin Tin (Tin Tin Straight) |
The road opens again and you will see, coming from Salta city’s side, the Tin Tin Straight. Before reaching to the straight, provincial route 42 takes you to Seclantás, passing by 2 miles of the Giant Churqui Forest (with a great abundance of churquis, member of the leguminous tree family), and belongs to National Park Los Cardones.
The Tin Tin straight is a perfect straight line of approximately 12 miles. |
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National Park Los Cardones |
Comprising Cachi and San Carlos cities, the park counts with an extension of 160,618 acres. Created in November, 1996, it protects the bushes with “cardones”, species of giant cactuses and one of the most picturesque wild formations of the Argentine northwest region. Besides of the characteristic cactus of the area, it preserves the flora and fauna, consisting of vicunas, guanacos, pumas, red foxes, wild cats, weasels, armadillos, condors, rattlesnakes, among others. There are also more than 100 bird species, among them ornate tinamous, Puna hawks. Most of the park has an arid weather, with average temperatures of 51, 8 ºF in winter, with minimum temperatures below 32 ºF; 64 ºF in summer, with maximum temperatures of 86 ºF. More than 90% of the rains are in summer, from October to March. The annual average does not go beyond the 200 mm, humidity is low and snowfalls are not frequent.
Due to the fact that it is a recently built park, it still does not count with all the services required by the visitor. It is recommended to have enough water and sun protection lotion. |
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Payogasta |
It is an ancient population of Indian origin, whose name means “white town” or “whitish town”. It is surrounded by a distant mountainous area and once was an important village in the 19th century. Today it is an agriculture town in which the inhabitants cultivate in the near lands.
Payogasta, in the period of Inca domination, was the strategic point that joined the Calchaquí Valleys with the Lerma Valley. It is located at 6 miles to the north of Cachi by national route Nº 40, skirting river Calchaquí. In the valleys, you will see the sweet pepper crops.
Payogasta’s church is very picturesque and denotes a significant past such as shown by the rest of the churches and chapels located all along the Calchaquí Valleys. |
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El Nevado de Cachi y Cachi Adentro (Cachi’s snow-capped mountains and Cachi inside) |
It is a huge challenge for mountain climbers that come from the remotest places of the world to ascend the mountains. The local people call it the “solitude white wall of rock” or desolate wall of rock. It is the highest mountain of the province and it was conquered for the first time in 1956 by an expedition headed by the Norwegian physician Arne Hoygaard, together with Di Pasquo y Pelicelli, two Salta citizens.
The “Nevado” is a mountain chain of nine peaks. The highest one is the “Libertador”, reaching 6,380 masl and it is located at 47 miles from Cachi town.
To get to this mountain and appreciate the picturesque view of its surroundings, you should visit “Cachi Adentro” (Cachi Inside), a beautiful place to visit, located in a fertile hollow, criss-crossed by rivers Cachi, Las Arcas and Las Trancas. |
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Cafayate |
Cafayate city is located at the south of the Calchaquí Valleys circuit and is one of the most important towns of this area together with Cachi, a city that is located at the north of this same circuit. This traditional tourist circuit offers many attractions, due to its beautiful landscapes as well as the architecture and tradition of its towns.
South
You get to this circuit by national route 40.
Tolombon
You get to this picturesque city by national route 40, to the south of Cafayate. This place takes the name of the old inhabitants of the area that resisted tenaciously the conquest of the Spanish.
It is recommended to visit the church located in front of the main square, where you will admire the neogothic style of the 19th century.
It is also recommended to go round the rest of the old settlements of the Diaguitas.
Northwest
Two routes take you from Cafayate to Salta, the one that goes to the northeast is national route 40, which is the most extensive and is recommended for the ones who are interested in the natural beauty and history. It goes twisting and turning all along the picturesque Calchaqui Valley.
The numerous small villages and towns located in this road are worth visiting to see the attractive colonial architecture and especially the Pre-Columbian and Hispanic art this picturesque region has preserved.
Animana
This town, that in Kakana language means “Place of Heaven”, is located at 9 miles from the north of Cafayate, at 1,695 masl.
This little village extends in a picturesque area of vine crops. One of the most traditional wineries is located in this town for more than seventy years: The “Bodeguita Don Andrés” (Don Andrés winery). It is a 100% craft production. Strong wines stand out in this area.
Another industry is the pottery and you can buy interesting works in the crafts markets.
You can also visit the Municipal Museum of Visual Arts “Luis García Bes”, located in Quinquela Martín street.
San Carlos
To the north of Cafayate, there is an old town, with spacious colonial houses and narrow streets.
The Jesuits established the San Carlos mission, giving birth to the present town. The San Carlos Borromeo church is preserved and was built between 1801 and 1854. It was declared national historical building in 1942. It is the biggest church of the Calchaquí Valley and is the only one with a transept and cupola.
Angastaco
It is located approximately at 31 miles from the north of San Carlos, at 1,990 masl and at 152 miles from Salta city by national route 40.
All along the road you will appreciate the beautiful natural landscapes that make up the Ventisquero and Flecha passes.
This little village has a magical touch, because it is surrounded by vineyards and sweet pepper sown fields. Its old settlers built sun-dried brick huts in the hillsides of the mountains.
The Angastaco church is worth visiting, situated in a hillock, turning it into one of the most attractive places of the valleys to appreciate the picturesque town and its surrounding landscapes.
You will find a Calchaqui Indian fortress in the surroundings and other one at 17 miles by provincial route 25.
Molinos
It is a mountain town of the Calchaquies Valleys, founded in the middle of the 17th century, in the confluence of rivers Humanan and Luracatao, making up the water mill. You will see the old water mill of the town, where corn and other grains are milled, on the banks of river Calchaqui.
Its layout is irregular with adobe houses and mud roofs, with balconies and arcades. The San Pedro Nolasco de Los Molinos church is worth visiting. It was built in the 18th century, baroque style with Cuzco features.
Seclantas
At 12 miles to the north of Molinos and at 116 miles from Salta city, this old settlement stands, situated on the right margin of river Calchaqui. The main square is named “La Junta”, as a memory of a meeting that took place in 1814 with the aim to aid General Manuel Belgrano, who was fighting for the independence of the country from the Spanish crown. The church Nuestra Señora del Carmen, built between 1828 and 1835, is located at one block from the main square.
Northeast
As mentioned above, there are two routes from Cafayate to Salta. National route 68 is part of this circuit, going to the right, to the northeast. In this route, the road winds through the wonderful Guachipas Valley, also known as “La Quebrada del Río de las Conchas” or “Quebrada de Cafayate”. It is a real pleasure to travel round this valley, because water and wind have sculpted the reddish sandstone, making very funny figures throughout the 112-mile journey.
Río de las Conchas or Cafayate Quebrada
You get to this wonderful Quebrada after crossing river de las Conchas, where you will appreciate majestic rock formations that transformed into beautiful figures due to the passing of time and the water and wind erosion processes.
All the figures are signposted through signs, among them: La Garganta del Diablo (the devil’s throat, 88 miles), El Anfiteatro (the amphitheater, 88 miles), El Sapo (the frog, 95 miles), El Fraile (the friar, 96 miles), El Obelisco (the obelisk, 102 miles), Los Castillos (the castles, 104 miles) and other figures such as Casa de los Loros (parrots’ house) and La Ventana Grande y Chica (the big and small windows). The distances mentioned are from Salta city.
Generally, the figures depend on our imagination and the different hours when the sunbeams illuminate the picturesque mountains of the magical Quebrada.
You will also see old large houses such as the Quitilipi ruins; the Curtiembres, with some adobe houses; buried houses; old semi-buried houses. Besides, approximately at 4 miles the Médanos (sand dunes) are situated.
Alemania
This spot is located at 66 miles from Salta city, by national route 68, and at 14 miles from la Viña city, over the Lerma Valley.
From here, coming from the north, you get to the beautiful Río Las Conchas Quebrada (From Salta to Cafayate) or, if you are coming from the south, the journey ends (from Cafayate to Salta).
La Viña
In this place, situated at 1,190 masl, in the 17th century, the Jesuits cultivated the first vineyards of the area. It joins Salta with the Calchaquí Valleys.
You will see large old low houses that border the main square and the old church San Antonio de Padua. Few miles before you will see the farm El Carmen, where a sugar mill that dates back from the 19th century is still preserved.
By national route 68, next to this city, you will see an area of sand dunes created by a strong erosion of the winds on the sedimentary rocks.
It is located at 53 miles, to the south of Salta city, by national route 68 and at 9 miles from Ampascachi. |
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Nuevo Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña (New Archeology Museum of High Mountain) |
This museum shows an invaluable archeological finding discovered in the peaks of the Llullaillaco volcano, one of the chosen scenes by the Inca culture for the ritual ceremonies.
This volcano preserved in its snow-capped peaks, at 6700 masl. Three Inca kids are protagonists of the “capacocha”, a ceremony in which they were offered up in order to act as intermediary between the town and the gods. |
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Museo Histórico del Norte (History Museum of the North) |
| From the old town council, this museum keeps in Salta true treasures of the Indian culture and the colonial period. |
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“Santa Anita” and the history of tobacco |
| Visiting the farm “Santa Anita” is a must in order to get to know the history of tobacco. This private museum keeps the secrets of ritual elements of the Amerindian culture and is the current representative of the productive activity of the region. |
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Photo safari in Salta forest |
Bird watching, besides flora and fauna watching, is ideal to get deep into Salta forest.
Birds: toucans, lapwings, Chaco chachalaca, and small and colorful birds such as the sparrows, golden-billed and grayish saltators, common bush-tanagers and flocks of green parrots. Among the water birds we find the cocoi heron, whistling herons, great white egrets, black-crowned night-herons, grey-necked wood-rails, yellow-billed pintails and cinnamon teals.
Flora: you will see big trees such as walnut trees, cedars, oak trees, laurel trees, silk floss trees, myrtles, guava trees and all types of ferns. Lianas, climbing plants of every sizes and multicolored flowers give the place amazing mixture of perfumes and colors.
Fauna: the forest is shelter for jaguars, pumas, tapirs, squirrels, ocelots, foxes, little monkeys, raccoons, brockett deer, peccaries, golden bears among other wild animals.
The watching is done throughout Salta forest and the area of the “yungas” (hot tropical valleys), today disappearing and replaced by soya crops.
Also, National Parks El Rey (Salta), Barut (Salta) and Calilegua (Jujuy) are excellent scenarios to perform this activity. |
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Tren a las Nubes (Train to the Clouds) |
| We invite you to discover one of the most important engineering works of the 20th century: the C14 branch line, situated at 4200 meters above sea level. |
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San Antonio de los Cobres |
One of the highest points of the Argentine Puna is known as the famous “Tren de las Nubes” (Train to the Clouds) . San Antonio de los Cobres is famous for its knitted objects: socks, hats, gloves, ponchos, pullovers and blankets, done in looms and also with knitting needles made of cactus or with the wood of little bushes of the area.
It is a real pleasure to walk through its streets and observe the oldest inhabitants chewing coca leaves or see the children playing in the different schools of the town. Climbing some of the mountains that surround the city is a way of observing the town from highest points. Talking about the rain season or eating the favorite dish of the local people is another way to get closer to the costumes and routines of the villagers. |
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Fishing in River Juramento |
| River Juramento is not just another river. The fishermen delight in getting big dorados, which is the most popular fish of the area. |
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Rural Tourism |
| All along the area of he Calchaquí Valleys and Lerma Valley, there are noble farms and properties where the tourist has the possibility of getting in contact with nature, enjoying a quiet rest and participating in different activities, such as the jam, cheese and wine production. |
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