Summer 2023: six must-sees in Salta for the holidays

It is not for nothing that they call

the province of

one" : its towns and cities between valleys or hanging from the mountains, its ancestral culture, its folklore, its typical gastronomy and spectacular landscapes of colorful mountains, valleys and ravines, make every tour of the province an unforgettable trip.

And among the many possibilities to enjoy Salta, here are

that summarize a good part of its culture, adventures, and landscapes.

Must-sees of "la linda" for this summer.

Historic and Colonial Salta + MAAM Museum

The capital of Salta is one of the cities in which colonial architecture is best preserved, especially in buildings such as the Cabildo, in the central Plaza 9 de Julio, where today the Historical Museum of the North is located.

The Cathedral, icon of downtown Salta.

Also noteworthy is the

, which works in the historic Casa de Hernández and was declared a National Historic Monument;

the

, the oldest construction in Salta and considered among the most representative buildings of the colonial era.

You cannot miss the Basilica and Convent of

, whose visit tells an interesting history and cultural aspects, and, of course, the

, which began to be built in 1858 and, with its classic Italian style, with highly worked friezes and cornices, is an emblem of the city.

The Llullaillaco mummies are the main attraction of the High Mountain Archeology Museum (MAAM).

Right next to it, also facing Plaza 9 de Julio, is the

(MAAM), which occupies a historic and stately building from the mid-19th century, remodeled and equipped with modern technology.

Among its collection, the

stand out , three mummies that were found in 1996 near the top of the Llullaillaco volcano, at more than 6,700 meters of altitude.

A tour of downtown Salta that can be done on foot, or by joining a city tour that costs from $3,000 per person.

Cable car Cerro San Bernardo.

Photo Min. of Culture, Tourism and Sports of Salta.

San Bernardo Hill + Peñas

13 blocks from the main square of the city is the initial station of the cable car that ascends to the top of Cerro San Bernardo, an

and part of the Lerma Valley from its 1,472 meters above sea level, almost 300 meters higher than the city.

Going up by

is the most picturesque option because it allows you to admire the city, but not the only one: for those who like to do some exercise, there is a long

that starts from the Güemes monument, and also a

to ascend by vehicle .

The magnificent view of Salta capital from the San Bernardo hill.

AFP Photo/ Juan Mabromata.

At the top, in addition to great views, there is a confectionery with a varied menu and green spaces where you can enjoy some mates with the city at your feet.

Quite a spectacle like the one that the rocks of Balcarce street give at night, which light up to the rhythm of the best folklore, empanadas, tamales and humitas.

Or

, a huge 18th century mansion in which an authentic rock is put together every night without official shows but with occasional artists.

And if you are looking for a show organized in a famous place -although highly commercialized for lovers of traditional clubs-, there is the famous

, that club made famous by none other than the great poet from Salta Manuel Castilla and the unforgettable Cuchi Leguizamón .

“

”.

Vineyards, wineries and mountains, the irresistible "combo" of Cafayate.

Photo Shutterstock.

Cafayate + Quebrada de las Conchas

From Salta to the south it is 190 km to Cafayate, a jewel in the Calchaquíes Valleys.

But it is not a direct trip, because the route along the national route 68 crosses a spectacular landscape: the Quebrada de las Conchas, which extends from the old train station of

(it is well worth the short detour) for about 15 km before Cafayate, where wineries such as Don Celedonio or Del Viento anticipate the arrival at

.

On the way, extraordinary

, with obligatory stops at Garganta del Diablo and El Anfiteatro, and the invitation to discover striking geoforms such as Los Castillos, El Sapo, El Fraile or Las Ventanas.

In Cafayate, to the delight of its central square surrounded by restaurants where you can dine in the open air with a good wine is added the interesting Vine and Wine Museum, the colonial buildings and attractions among colorful mountains, such as the waterfalls of the Colorado River and Above all,

, from the traditional and centuries-old ones like Etchart to the modern and boutique ones that gave new life to the Salta wine phenomenon.

Spectacular landscapes in the Quebrada de las Conchas, between Salta and Cafayate.

Photo Shutterstock

The full day excursion to Cafayate from Salta costs from $8,800 per person (without food/drinks or museum tickets).

Cachi + Cuesta del Obispo

About 35 km to the south of the capital of Salta ,

begins, which faces the mountains to the west, and is looking for a way around them to climb them in a fantastic way.

White houses and cobbled streets in Cachi.

Photo Shutterstock.

After passing through the town of Chicoana, the route circulates through the heart of the

and immediately begins the ascent, curves and against curves, of the Cuesta del Obispo.

In a few km the route ascends from the 1,200 masl of Chicoana to the 3,348 masl of Piedra del Molino, the highest point of the route.

There is also the entrance to

, a must see with its desert landscape colonized by thousands of cacti.

After crossing the famous Tin Tin straight line (at more than 3,000 masl), route 33 ends in Payogasta, where it intersects with national route 40. And about 12 km to the south you reach Cachi, a town with slow times, church with a ceiling of cardones, a large archaeological museum -Pío Pablo Díaz-, a handicrafts market and quiet cobbled streets.

The Cuesta del Obispo rises to 3,348 meters above sea level in Piedra del Molino.

Or walk along the surrounding mountain trails, with the Nevado de Cachi on the horizon.

On the way to Cachi Ad

Inside, five kilometers away, there are vineyards with Malbec and Torront vines.

yes, and a festive calendar

which has the

, the patron saint festivities in honor of San José in March, the pilgrimage to Cerro de la Virgen in May or the offerings to Pachamama in August.

12-hour excursion to Cachi from Salta, from $9,000.

San Antonio de los Cobres celebrates the National Pachamama Festival in August.

Photo Shutterstock

San Antonio de los Cobres + Train to the Clouds

In the heart of the Puna, 165 km northwest of Salta and at almost 3,800 meters above sea level, San Antonio de los Cobres is the main urban center of the highlands, with almost 6,000 inhabitants and the venue, every August 1, for the

.

San Antonio has become more touristy since

from its station -before it did from the city of Salta, but now the trip from the provincial capital is made by bus-, on its zigzagging journey to the La Powder, an unmistakable postcard of the province.

The Train to the Clouds on the La Polvorilla viaduct, near San Antonio de los Cobres.

Photo: Telam

There, in this fantastic engineering work at 4,220 meters above sea level -one of the highest railway bridges in the world-, it measures 223 meters long and rises 63 meters above the ground, through which the famous National Route 40 passes.

The excursion for the day from Salta costs from $25,300.

The complete departure of the Train to the Clouds (bus+train+bus) costs $21,000 per person;

children from 3 to 12 years old, $15,800;

retirees, $17,400.

Only the train from SA de los Cobres costs $15,200, $10,200 and $12,200, respectively.

Iruya, a postcard from Salta.

Photo Shutterstock.

Iruya + San Isidro and San Juan

You have to go through the province of Jujuy and go through almost the entire Quebrada de Humahuaca until you pass the town of Humahuaca and take Provincial Route 13, which zigzags -at times it is a road with high cornices- through imposing mountains.

From the detour of RN 9 there are 47 km of gravel -summer

, so you have to check the state of the road before leaving if you go in your own vehicle- to this small town that literally seems to hang from the mountains, overlooking the Iruya river.

Between mountains and clouds winds the spectacular road to Iruya.

The image that receives visitors is that of the blue-domed church and the name of the town painted on the stone.

From there, at the entrance, everything is pedestrianized, up

that go up and down the slopes of the hills, between adobe, stone and straw houses.

Walking at a slow pace -imposed by almost 2,800 masl- through those narrow and cobbled streets invites you to sit down for lunch or a snack in a dining room and order a good locro, tamales or beef or llama empanadas.

And, if there is time and energy, take the trails that lead to the towns of

and

, between mountains, llamas, condors and incredible landscapes.

San Juan de Iruya is reached on foot through the heart of the mountains.

Photo Shutterstock.

Two-day excursion from Salta to Iruya (with a night in Purmamarca and visits to Quebrada de Humahuaca and Cuesta de Lipán), from $54,000 per person.

look also

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Route 40: keys to travel the most spectacular route in Argentina