Salta holidays
Salta holidays at a glance
This is Argentina’s Andean northwest, and it feels a world away from Buenos Aires. Spiritually and culturally closer to Bolivia and Peru, the remote provinces here run from snow-dusted peaks and rust-red canyons to lush forest, isolated whitewashed chapels and baroque colonial towns, with a warm welcome from the local people throughout. It’s a region of vineyards on sunlit slopes, pre-Columbian ruins and living indigenous traditions.
Salta city makes the natural base. At 1,200m it’s an easy place to be, a beautifully preserved colonial centre arranged around leafy Plaza 9 de Julio, with a pink-façade cathedral, palm-shaded squares and a cable car up Cerro San Bernardo for views over the Lerma Valley. The MAAM museum here holds the Children of Llullaillaco, remarkably preserved Inca mummies found near the 6,739m summit of the Llullaillaco volcano, one displayed at a time.
From Salta, the landscapes open out. South lies Cafayate and the Calchaquí Valleys, one of the world’s highest wine regions, reached through the sculpted red rock of the Quebrada de las Conchas. North, the land climbs into the puna, a high desert of white salt flats and ochre mountains, and into the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a UNESCO-listed valley of adobe villages and rainbow-striped hills that has been a trade route for thousands of years.
The variety here is what attracts, and much of it sits high. Salta itself is gentle, but the day trips reach much higher ground. The salt flats lie at 3,450m and some passes top 4,000m, so it pays to take it steadily at first. From subtropical yungas forest to the stark, empty puna, few regions of Argentina pack in such range, and the roads between them are half the experience.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Salta
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Give it three or four nights at least. Base yourself in Salta, then work the canyons, the wine country and the puna as you go. Take the altitude gently.
When to visit Salta
In the summer months you’ll experience the hottest temperatures and highest humidity levels. The rainy season runs from January – February, when some roads become impassable. There are many visitors during these months, partly as this is Latin American holiday time and also due to numerous religious festivals. The Train of the Clouds does not run during summer.
Humidity spikes in March, though there is little rain during the autumn months. Expect clear skies and warm days, perfect for taking in the sights of the Train of the Clouds which begins running in April. Many visitors arrive for Easter celebrations in Tilcara, so expect crowds at this time and book well in advance.
These are the coldest months, with little rain and some light snowfall that is deepest in mid July. There are generally few visitors, with the exception of the Pachamama celebrations in August which attract crowds from across the country. The Train of the Clouds is operating during these months, gliding smoothly over gaping canyons.
These months are the least humid, with little rainfall and plenty of clear, sunny days. This is an ideal time to visit, and take in spectacular views as you ascend 4,200m above sea level on the Train of the Clouds. It is difficult to find accommodation in Salta in mid-September, when pilgrims arrive in huge numbers for the Milagro procession.
Top Things to do in Salta
We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts. This is a region for landscapes, wine and culture, best explored at your own pace. Here’s what we recommend.
Sample celebrated New World wines in the foothills of the North West.
Travel through the spectacular landscapes and rustic towns of the Salta area at your own pace with the freedom of a hire car.
Traverse spectacular canyon scenery on one of South America’s best rail voyages.
A high-altitude expedition to discover the other-worldly Atacama desert in Argentina.
Explore an otherworldly landscape drenched in colour and dotted with remote adobe villages and pre-Inca ruins.
Take a guided stroll around the relaxed city of Salta, with its colonial architecture and leafy plazas.
Accommodation in Salta
Accommodation here runs from characterful hotels in Salta city to boutique boltholes and wine-country estancias out in the valleys, and we hand-pick each one for its setting and character. In town you’re steps from the plaza and the restaurants, while further afield you can stay among the vineyards at Cafayate, in the coloured hills at Purmamarca, or on a remote high-altitude estancia. Where you base yourself shapes the trip, and we match it to your route.
Friendly hotel Balcon de la Plaza occupies a restored Spanish colonial residence in central Salta.
Charming and attractive little guesthouse within a whitewashed colonial building, decorated with great care and attention to detail.
Spectacularly located former monastery which retains its colonial character with simple décor and wooden furnishings. Views of the Hill of Seven Colours are a highlight.
The remote Estancia Colomé is a showpiece winery with accommodation for visitors and stunning views of the Calchaquies Valleys and sunlit slopes of the Andes.
Tranquil and charming converted hacienda in beautiful surroundings, with a colonial design centring around shaded courtyards.
Casa Andina is a cosy little guest house in remote village Tolar Grande in the Argentine Andean desert.
Hosteria del Altura el Peñon is a small, agreeable hotel in a remote corner of desert in Argentina’s high altitude Andean Puna.
La Candela is a welcoming little hotel with a lovely garden close to the colonial centre of Salta.
Colonial-style hotel in a great location, close to the attractions and entertainment of the beautiful city of Salta.
House of Jasmines is a luxury countryside hotel in the Andean foothills of Argentina.
Picturesque hotel of adobe-style buildings painted in pastel shades and scattered throughout landscaped grounds filled with desert flowers and grasses.
A stately, colonial-style property in the heart of vineyards with top-of-the-range accommodation and gourmet dining with a choice of good local wines.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Holidays to Salta
From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays.
Group Salta Tours
Our group tours follow expertly designed, well-planned routes with an experienced local guide throughout. Prefer to keep it to your own party? Book the same trips privately for four or more.
Gaucho: Vintage Argentina
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Mendoza and the vineyards · Salta · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Buenos Aires
12 days from £3,791
Pato Andino: Panorama of the Andes
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Salta · Atacama Desert · Uyuni salt flats · La Paz and the altiplano · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lima
20 days from £5,222
Tailor-Made Salta Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
Discover Bolivia and northwest Argentina
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Salta · Uyuni salt flats · Sucre and Potosi · La Paz and the altiplano
14 days from £4,800
Food and wine: Vineyards of Argentina and Chile
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Mendoza and the vineyards · Salta · Santiago and the vineyards
13 days from £7,300
Off the beaten track Argentina: Remote Puna adventure
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Salta
13 days from £5,700
Self-drive Argentina: Highlights of the hidden northwest
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Salta · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side
14 days from £3,650
Signature Northern Chile and Argentina: Atacama Desert to Iguazu Falls
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Atacama Desert · Salta · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Buenos Aires
15 days from £5,600
FAQs about visiting Salta
Salta is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- Will the altitude affect me?
Salta city sits at a comfortable 1,200m, but many excursions climb much higher, the salt flats are at 3,450m and some passes top 4,000m. It’s worth taking the first day or two gently, drinking plenty of water and easing off alcohol at first. Coca tea, widely available, can help with any symptoms.
- How many days do I need in Salta?
We’d suggest at least three nights in Salta to see the city and take day trips to Cafayate or the salt flats. A week lets you explore more slowly, staying overnight in the wine country or the villages of Jujuy, and two weeks opens up the remoter puna and a wider northwest loop.
- How do I get to Salta?
The easiest way is to fly. Salta has regular flights from Buenos Aires taking around two hours, and it’s well connected by road to the rest of Argentina and to Bolivia and Chile. We arrange all flights and transfers so you’re met on arrival.
- Local transport
Within Salta city, most attractions are within walking distance. Taxis and rideshare services are readily available and affordable. For exploring the wider region, organised excursions offer convenience and expert guiding. Car hire suits those wanting flexibility for a road trip, though mountain roads require confident driving and vehicles suitable for varying conditions.
- When is the best time to visit?
Spring, September to November, and autumn, March to May, are the most comfortable, dry and clear, with the Train to the Clouds running from April. Winter is cool but fine for touring, while summer is hot, humid and wet, with some roads affected by rain.
- Is Salta good for wine lovers?
Very much so. Cafayate, in the Calchaquí Valleys, is one of the highest wine regions in the world, best known for its crisp, very drinkable Torrontés. Many wineries welcome visitors for tastings and tours, and you can stay among the vineyards. It combines beautifully with Mendoza for a fuller Argentinean wine trip.
- What to bring
Sun protection is essential year-round due to the altitude and intense sunlight. Layers work best, as temperatures vary significantly between day and night, and between sun and shade. Comfortable walking shoes suit city exploration, while proper hiking boots are needed for mountain trails. A warm jacket is necessary even in summer for high-altitude excursions.
Ready to start planning?
Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.
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