By air
Salta (SLA), ~10 km
South America · Argentina
Salta, Argentina
A colonial city of red canyons and painted hills
Getting there
Best time to visit
April to November — dry season
Don't miss
Salta's cathedral
The Quebrada de Humahuaca
Cafayate
The Salinas Grandes
Things to do
The Quebrada de Humahuaca road trip
Cafayate's wineries
The Train to the Clouds
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Layers, sun protection (it is high altitude)
A quieter corner
Purmamarca's Hill of Seven Colours at sunrise
Questions travellers ask
When should I visit Salta?
April to November, the dry season. It is high altitude, so pack layers and sun protection.
What trips can I take from Salta?
Road-trip through the Quebrada de Humahuaca, visit Cafayate's wineries, ride the Train to the Clouds and see the Salinas Grandes. In town, visit Salta's cathedral.
What's a hidden gem near Salta?
Purmamarca's Hill of Seven Colours at sunrise.
What should I eat and drink in Salta?
Salteña empanadas, locro stew and Torrontés wine.
About Salta
- Mountains
Where it is
Salta is the capital of Salta province in north-western Argentina, set at about 1,150 m in the Lerma Valley in the foothills of the Andes, and the gateway to the canyons of Cafayate and the Quebrada de Humahuaca.
History
Hernando de Lerma founded Salta in 1582 on the route between Peru and the Río de la Plata, and the city grew as a trading centre. During the wars of independence General Martín Miguel de Güemes and his gauchos defended the city and the north, and it has kept many colonial buildings, among them its Cabildo.
People
Salteños speak Spanish, and the province keeps strong Indigenous roots, with Kolla, Wichí, Diaguita and other peoples. Folk music in the peñas, the red-and-black poncho linked to Güemes and the procession of the Lord and the Virgin of the Miracle each September are part of city life.
Known for
- The cathedral and the San Francisco church
- Empanadas salteñas
- The Train to the Clouds
- Cafayate's Torrontés wines
- Road trips through the Quebrada de Humahuaca
Did you know?
The Train to the Clouds climbs to more than 4,200 m at the La Polvorilla viaduct, 64 m high, making it one of the highest railways in the world.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.