Salta the city is small and walkable, but the experiences that define a trip here are spread across the wider Andean north. Here is how to choose between walking, tours, and a rental car.
Getting Around Salta
The city on foot
Salta's historic center is compact and flat. Plaza 9 de Julio, the MAAM, the cathedral, the Cabildo, Iglesia San Francisco, and the restaurants are all within a few walkable blocks. The teleferico up Cerro San Bernardo departs from Parque San Martin, a short walk or quick taxi from the plaza. For getting around town you rarely need more than your feet and the occasional inexpensive city cab.
Organized day tours
For the landscapes beyond the city, organized tours are the simplest option. Operators run full-day excursions to Cafayate via the Quebrada de las Conchas, the Salinas Grandes salt flats, the Quebrada de Humahuaca, and Cachi over the Cuesta del Obispo, almost always with hotel pickup. Tours remove the long-distance driving and the navigation, which matters most for the high-altitude salt flats. The trade-off is fixed timing and less freedom at each stop.
Renting a car
A rental car gives you the most freedom, and Salta's scenic drives are a genuine highlight, the Ruta 40 over the Cuesta del Obispo, RN 68 through the red-rock canyon, and the Quebrada de Humahuaca on RN 9. Fill up on gas in Salta and again in larger towns like Cachi, because stations are sparse in the valleys. The paved routes are in good condition, but the Ruta 40 stretch between Cachi and Cafayate is gravel, where a high-clearance vehicle helps.
The Train to the Clouds
The seasonal Tren a las Nubes is an attraction in itself rather than transport. It now runs as a combined bus-and-train experience climbing to the 4,220m Polvorilla Viaduct, and it sells out in high season, so book well in advance.
Altitude and timing
Many day trips climb above 3,000m, and the salt flats and some passes exceed 4,000m. Acclimatize gradually, carry water, and consider coca leaves or soroche pills for altitude. Start drives early: morning light is best for the northern quebrada, while afternoon light sets the red rocks of RN 68 aglow.
Getting to Salta
Salta has a domestic airport (SLA) with frequent flights from Buenos Aires (around two hours). Long-distance buses also connect Salta with Buenos Aires, Cordoba, and neighboring provinces, though the journeys are long.
FAQ
- Do I need a car in Salta?
- Not for the city itself, which is walkable. For the surrounding landscapes you need either a rental car or organized day tours. A car offers freedom on the scenic routes; tours are simpler and handle the long-distance driving and altitude logistics for you.
- How do you get to Salta?
- The fastest way is to fly into Salta's airport (SLA), about two hours from Buenos Aires with several daily flights. Long-distance buses also serve Salta from Buenos Aires, Cordoba, and nearby provinces, but the trips take many hours.
Make it your trip
Save these places and build your own Salta itinerary in TripBox.