Purmamarca Town Colorful Mountains Behind
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Salta & Argentina Salt Flats

A deep-dive into Argentina’s arid Andean northwest visiting Salta, Purmamarca and the salt flats.

Overview

Beginning and ending in vibrant Buenos Aires, this Salta & Argentina Salt Flats tour invites you to explore Argentina’s capital city, before adventuring into a land of red rock landscapes, green rivers, fertile valleys, Andean cultures, and arid deserts surrounded by towering mountain peaks. Discover Purmamarca, Salta, and the incredible salt flats of Salta, located in the remote northwest corner of the country.

Buenos Aires

Your classic Salta Argentina Salt Flats tour begins in the country’s vibrant capital, Buenos Aires, a city that combines faded European grandeur with Latin passion. On the narrow cobblestone streets of the old town, tango music is heard at every corner. Be sure to head down 9 de Julio Avenue, the widest avenue in the world, its name honoring Argentina’s Independence Day.

You’ll pass the majestic opera house known as ‘Teatro Colón,’ the magnificent ‘Obelisco’, and ‘Casa Rosada’, the pink-colored government mansion with the iconic balcony from which Eva Perón famously addressed the throngs of impassioned supporters packed into Plaza de Mayo.

Visit local barrios such as La Boca, a traditional quarter of brightly painted Italian family homes and restaurants, the graceful neighborhood of Palermo where you can stroll through purple-blossomed parks, rose gardens and lakes among porteños playing sports, and the Recoleta district, one of the most fashionable parts of the city, which includes South America’s most opulent and extraordinary cemetery, the resting place of Eva Peron.

In the evening, enjoy a unique dining experience that cleverly blends exquisite food and wine, local culture, and social integration.

Salta

Fly to Salta, a very attractive city at the foot of the Andes. Explore the beautifully preserved historic architecture and rich colonial history. Stroll down the main street as the sun sets, enjoy a drink al fresco and then visit one of the many excellent folk bars, where you can enjoy dinner, wine, and traditional live music.

Purmamarca

Journey to Purmamarca in a private 4×4 vehicle. Cross the region’s dramatic and magnificent terrain and enjoy the spectacular, high-altitude desert scenery, including

La Caldera and the beautiful cloud forest. See the incredible Mountain of Seven Color that rises up behind Purmamarca. The town sits in the middle of jagged hills drenched in red, purple, yellow and orange hues brought ablaze by the rising sun, cloaking the landscape in a kaleidoscope of colour and warmth. Stroll past the adobe houses and ancient Algarrobo trees next to the 17th-century church and shop for handwoven goods.

Argentina’s Salt Flats

The highlight of your Salt Flats Argentina adventure lies in the sheer, bright salt flats where stark lines clearly separate the vast blue sky and the silvery-white, fissured ground, at an average altitude of 11,320 feet above sea level. It is said to be the remnants of an ancient spent river, with shimmering salt flats stretching into the background of the Andes Mountains.

The featured activities and accommodations can be tailored to suit your personal wishes. The tours are conducted on a private basis (private transport with a private guide).

Itinerary & Prices

All itineraries are subject to change due to seasonal weather conditions (and resultant variations in river and tributary water levels) affecting accessibility to locations. Thus navigation routes, times and excursions may need to be modified at the cruise captain’s or your guide's discretion.

7 Day - Salta & Argentina Salt Flats
itinerary map

Welcome to Buenos Aires

Welcome to Argentina! For most travelers, Buenos Aires is the entry point to Argentina… and what an entrance it is: this vibrant city feels almost European! Its cosmopolitan population of Italian, Spanish, French, and many other nationalities, combined with stunning architecture, cultural activities, and attractive neighborhoods with small shops, cafés, and international restaurants, make the atmosphere relaxed and welcoming.

Upon arrival, our local representative will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. After settling into your accommodation in the trendy neighborhood of Palermo, the rest of your afternoon and evening is free for you to spend at your leisure. We recommend exploring the area near your hotel where you’ll be able to soak up the atmosphere of this thrilling city stopping off at one of the nearby boutique cafés or lively wine bars. Having found somewhere for dinner and experienced one of South America’s top restaurant scenes, explore Buenos Aires’ nightlife at one of the local wine bars in Palermo, add an exclusive wine tasting to your itinerary or, take a leisurely stroll back to your hotel.

Tip: Porteños eat dinner late; usually restaurants will open their doors around 20:00.

Meals (x)

Buenos Aires Flowers
Location
Buenos Aires
Day
1 / 7

Highlights of Buenos Aires

After breakfast, you are collected from your hotel for your city tour of Buenos Aires, discovering the history and modern life of this world-renowned city.

The tour provides an in-depth introduction to its architecture, the culture of its people, its anecdotes and secrets. Put simply, Buenos Aires is exceptional, dynamic, sophisticated, and overwhelming. An exquisite combination of a European atmosphere and the charm of Latin American cities. You will begin at the famous Plaza de Mayo, before venturing out to the old tango districts of Buenos Aires: Monserrat, San Telmo, and La Boca. You will then move on to the busiest areas – Puerto Madero, Retiro, and Plaza San Martin – and then, districts with wonderful green spaces and old residences: Palermo and Recoleta.

In the evening, you will enjoy a completely unique dining experience that cleverly blends exquisite food and wine, local culture, and social integration. Individuals, couples, families, and groups from all over the world are mixed around two 14 person banquet tables, which are led and entertained by two guides, and our friendly international team. Empanada making, juicy fillet steaks, boutique wines, ‘alfajor’ making, and sharing ‘mate’ between new friends. There is no better place to be!

Meals (B, D)

Buenos Aires City Tour
Location
Buenos Aires
Day
2 / 7

Towards the Eastern Andes

In the morning, your transfer will take you to the domestic airport for your flight to Salta.

Today you’ll arrive in one of the most popular destinations in Argentina for Argentineans. Salta, nicknamed ‘La Linda’ (“The Beautiful”),  is a very attractive destination at the foot of the Andes. Salta is celebrated as a hidden gem due to its colonial architecture, inviting weather, and stunning natural scenery. Upon arrival, after having settled into your accommodation, the rest of the day is free to enjoy the town, or relax and enjoy the blue skies and sunshine that are abundant in northern Argentina.

If you do have time, it is well worth booking a half-day city tour locally where you’ll learn about the city’s beautifully preserved historic architecture and rich colonial history. Salta really comes to life in the evening. Stroll down the main street as the sun sets, enjoy a drink al fresco and then sit down for dinner at one of the many excellent folk bars, where you can enjoy dinner, wine, and traditional live music.

Meals (B)

Salta Argentina Town Landscape
Location
Buenos Aires to Salta
Day
3 / 7

North to Purmamarca

Today, we begin our two-day adventure across Northwestern Argentina in a private 4×4 vehicle, in which we will cross the region’s dramatic and magnificent terrain. Setting off from Salta, the journey to Purmamarca takes approximately 4 hours along paved roads through some spectacular, high-altitude desert scenery.

The most scenic part of the route, and our favorite, takes you on a winding road up through La Caldera and the beautiful cloud forest, contrasting landscapes many people don’t expect to find in the north! Arriving in the picturesque village of Purmamarca around lunchtime, you’ll be able to check into your hotel, have a look around town catching your first glimpses of Purmamarca’s claim to fame, the incredible Mountain of Seven Colors that rises up behind the village. Aside from this, Purmamarca has adobe houses and ancient Algarrobo trees next to a 17th-century church and, is a beautiful place to spend the evening and shop for handwoven goods.

Meals (B)

Driving to Purmamarca Argentina
Location
Salta to Purmamarcao
Day
4 / 7

Argentina's Salt Flats

We recommend waking up early today to see the sunrise as it lights up the magnificent Mountain of Seven Colors. After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll continue with your tour to visit the impressive Salinas Grandes, Argentina’s Salt Flats.

Located roughly a 1.5-hour drive from Purmamarca, the 2,300 sq. miles (6,000km2) of pristine Salt Flats is surrounded by the impressive peaks of the Andes. This bizarre high-altitude landscape really is a sight to behold, and you’ll have plenty of time to take optical illusion photos against the bright white blank canvas. If you happen to be there after a rainfall you’ll see the place in a whole new state, with the Salt Flats transformed into a mirror reflecting the surrounding mountains.

Following your adventure at the Salt Flats, it’s time to head back to Salta where you’ll be passing more epic landscapes and jaw-dropping views. Once back in Salta you can relax at your hotel before heading out to enjoy Salta’s famous folk nightlife.

Meals (B)

Purmamarca Argentina Town and Mountains
Location
Purmamarca to Salta
Day
5 / 7

Returning to the Capital City

At the designated time, your private transfer will take you to the airport for your flight back to Buenos Aires.

Because Argentina is so large, this package takes you back to Buenos Aires for a night, in order to safely and conveniently connect with different destinations in Argentina, Latin America or for your flight back home. We will pick you up from the airport and take you to your hotel in the trendy neighborhood of Palermo.

You may wish to use the rest of today to stroll around the beautiful streets of Recoleta or, to the modern waterfront of Puerto Madero Waterfront. If you want to take in a bit more culture, we recommend visiting the famous and beautiful Teatro Colon or the National Museum of Fine Arts (MALBA). You may also wish to visit the World Tango Museum, which is located above the legendary Café Tortoni which is the oldest café in town. This stunning cafe has been the meeting place for famous and influential Porteños for more than 100 years and the interior will transport you back to the Golden Age of the 1900s in Buenos Aires.

Meals (B)

Buenos Aires Fountain Sunset
Location
Salta to Buenos Aires
Day
6 / 7

Return Home

Enjoy the last breakfast in Buenos Aires, because it’s time to hit the road again as you make your way to your next destination, or return home.

Buenos Aires has 2 airports, the international one Ezeiza, however many of the domestic flights leave from Jorge Newbery-Aeroparque located within the city.

Meals (B)

Colorful Building Argentina
Location
Buenos Aires
Day
7 / 7
1 / 7

Accommodations

Hotel Options

4 Star

Pleno Palermo Soho

Buenos Aires
4 Star

Design Suites

Salta
5 Star

Legado Mitico

Buenos Aires
5 Star

Legado Mitico

Salta
5 Star

El Manantial del Silencio

Purmamarca
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