Salta Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Salta tours and things to do in Argentina’s beautiful northwest: wander the colonial centre, ride the cable car up San Bernardo hill, taste Torrontés wine in the Cafayate valley, marvel at the dazzling Salinas Grandes salt flats, and drive the rainbow-hued Quebrada de Humahuaca. Compare top-rated experiences and plan the perfect trip.
rating
Explore Salta by interest
Whatever brings you to Salta — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Top attractions in Salta
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Colonial Centre
Pink cathedral.
Cafayate
Wine valley.
Salinas Grandes
Salt flats.
Purmamarca
Seven-colour hill.
San Bernardo
Cable car views.
Empanadas
Local food.
Cachi
Andean village.
Andes Scenery
Mountain roads.
3 hrs awayCafayate
Wine valley.
Full day awaySalinas Grandes
Salt flats.
Full day awayHumahuaca
Coloured hills.
4 hrs awayCachi
Andean village.
City awaySan Bernardo
Cable car.
City awayEmpanadas
Food tour.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Salta visitor asks before booking.
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Dry, sunny days — the best season.
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Mild and pleasant, ideal for touring.
Autumn (Mar–May)
Clear skies after the summer rains.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
Warm but with afternoon rains.
For wine
Autumn brings the Cafayate harvest.
Best overall
April to November for dry, clear weather.
One day
The colonial centre and cable car.
Two days
Add a Cafayate wine day trip.
Three days
Add the salt flats and Humahuaca.
For wine
A day in the Cafayate valley.
For scenery
The salt flats and coloured hills.
For culture
The centre and the MAAM museum.
On foot
The colonial centre is compact and walkable.
Tours & transfers
Tours reach Cafayate, the salt flats and Cachi.
By cable car
The teleférico climbs San Bernardo hill.
By car
A car helps for the scenic valley drives.
Where to stay
Stay near the central plaza.
Argentine peso
Argentina uses the peso; carry some cash.
The centre
Visit the MAAM to see the Inca mummies.
Cafayate
Book a bodega tour for the best tastings.
Salt flats
Bring sunglasses and sunscreen for the glare.
Humahuaca
Morning light is best for the coloured hills.
Altitude
The high passes can cause soroche — go slow.
Local food
Try the famous Salta empanadas.
Cafayate tours
Wine trips fill up — book ahead.
Salt flat tours
Salinas trips fill up — reserve early.
Humahuaca tours
Valley tours fill up — book ahead.
Cachi trips
Mountain tours fill up — reserve early.
City tours
Walking tours fill up — book ahead.
Dry season
June to August is busiest — book well ahead.
City tour
Around $25–50 for a colonial city tour.
Cafayate tour
About $28–60 for a Cafayate wine day trip.
Salt flats tour
Roughly $25–60 for a Salinas Grandes tour.
Humahuaca tour
Around $32–70 for a Humahuaca day trip.
Cachi trip
About $33–70 for a Cachi day trip.
How to save
Join group tours to save over private ones.
Salta through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Dry & sunny.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Peak.
- Best for
- Touring.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Mild.
- Best for
- Wine harvest.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Clear.
- Best for
- Green valleys.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Rainy.