Discover Salta

Salta offers a range of reasons to visit: landscapes, culture, nature experiences and regional cuisine. To start planning, consider which of these themes interest you most. The province’s landscapes range from the dry Puna desert to lush green jungle, providing a vast backdrop for nature experiences and cultural impressions.

Discover landscapes and wildlife

One of Salta’s three national parks is Parque Nacional Baritú. At Parque Nacional Los Cardones, photography, hiking and observing flora and fauna take center stage. Amid the cardones and Amancay flowers, the park’s plant life creates its distinctive setting. Los Cardones also offers specific opportunities for wildlife watching: alongside other Andean wildlife, you can spot condors, vicuñas and tarucas. Photography, exploring on foot, and observing plants and animals offer different ways to experience this park.

Another natural attraction is Puente del Diablo, a section of the Río Calchaquí that flows underground. This makes it a distinctive natural feature of Salta, whether you are primarily interested in landscapes or the unusual course of a river. The Anfiteatro, a natural formation with near-perfect acoustics, is also located in the Quebrada de las Conchas. It needs no amplification to produce its sound; this natural acoustics is what sets the Anfiteatro apart from an ordinary rock formation.

Routes and highlights of the Puna

The Tren a las Nubes route runs from San Antonio de los Cobres up to Viaducto La Polvorilla. In the Puna region, it reaches 4,220 meters above sea level. Its destination and altitude give this train journey a clear connection to Salta’s highland landscapes. If you are planning a specific trip, check the timetable for your travel dates.

Ruta 40 also crosses a striking landscape: it runs through Monumento Natural de Angastaco in the Valles Calchaquíes. The Ruta del Vino de Altura, in turn, passes through the Quebrada de las Flechas. The two routes therefore cater to different interests—the first offers a journey through the natural monument, while the other combines wine with the landscape of the Quebrada. This distinction can help you shape your plans around the experiences you want to prioritize.

Culture, music and dates to note

Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña preserves and studies the Children of Llullaillaco using a modern cryopreservation system. The museum brings together archaeology and the preservation of cultural heritage. Music is also one of Salta’s important forms of cultural expression. Folklore peñas are recommended as a way to discover local music and experience this cultural tradition through sound.

A set date on the calendar is the El Milagro celebrations. They begin on September 1 with pilgrimages. The solemn triduum takes place on September 13, 14 and 15, and concludes with a procession on September 15. This schedule makes the September dates particularly relevant if you are interested in traditions. The individual dates can help you align your travel plans with the festival calendar.

Wine and regional cuisine

The Ruta del Vino de Altura offers plenty for wine enthusiasts: wineries along the route hold guided tours and personalized wine tastings. Salta’s cuisine uses spices from the Valles Calchaquíes, including paprika and cumin. Wine and cuisine can thus be included as separate themes in your travel plans, without implying that they are the same experience.

Día de la Empanada is another culinary date with a fixed day on the calendar. It takes place every year on April 4 and includes a provincial competition in which the winners from each municipality take part. Together with the September El Milagro celebrations, the two dates have a clear distinction: the April event centers on an empanada competition, while September features pilgrimages, a triduum and a procession.

Discover more destinations: Los Andes Department, Capital Department, Santa Carlos, Humahuaca Department, Antilla, Cafayate, San Ramón De La Nueva Orán, General Güemes, General José De San Martín Department, Cachí, El Chañar, Chicoana, San Juan De Dios, El Molino, Rosario De La Frontera Department, Molinos Department, Cachi Department, El Encón, Rosario De Lerma Department, Rivadavia Department, Gral. Martín Miguel De Güemes, Libertador General San Martín Department, La Caldera Department, Orán Department, Tafí Del Valle Department, Rosario De Lerma Department, Cerrillos Department, La Viña, Anta Department.

Back to the main travel overview: Argentina.