Argentina Scenic Road Northwest

Northwest Argentina Self-Drive

Embark on a 12-day self-drive adventure through northwest Argentina, starting in Buenos Aires. Discover stunning landscapes, vibrant culture, and top attractions like Salta, Jujuy, and the iconic Quebrada de Humahuaca on this unforgettable journey.

Argentina Purmamarca Hill Of Seven Colours

Visit Purmamarca, a charming village in northwest Argentina, known for its striking Hill of Seven Colours. Explore its vibrant markets, scenic landscapes, and rich Andean culture in this picturesque destination.

Argentina Salta Rock Formations

Discover Salta Province, Argentina, renowned for its stunning mountain landscapes, colonial architecture, and rich cultural heritage. Explore vibrant cities, ancient ruins, and scenic valleys in this captivating region of the Andes.

Explore the best of the Northwest on a self-drive adventure

The Andean plateau of Argentina’s northwest is renowned for its remarkable topography and a self-drive journey is a wonderful way to explore its spectacular landscapes. Beginning and ending in Argentina’s compelling capital Buenos Aires, fly to the northwest to embark on a self-paced adventure, taking in remnants of ancient civilisations, vast wildernesses, multi-hued rock formations and idyllic mountain-fringed valleys. 

Spend 6 days exploring the best of the northwest with your vehicle, staying in the charming towns of Salta, Cachi, Cafayate and Purmamarca. Connecting the four are some of the country’s most spectacular roads, abundant with geological wonders, enticing vineyards, and tranquil rural Andean settlements. 

Route
Multi-stop Tour

Visit several regions in Northwest Argentina

Bed
9 Nights

Accommodation detailed in itinerary

Compass
2 Excursions

All included as per below

Dining
10 Meals

9 breakfasts and 1 dinner included

Plane
Flights & Transfers

Transfers and domestic flights as per itinerary

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ATOL Protected

Our holidays are ATOL Protected

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Travel Specialists

We will help you plan your holiday

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Rated Excellent

Customers rate us highly on Trustpilot

Highlights
  • Guided tour through the historic districts of Buenos Aires
  • Drive through the incredible landscapes of Argentina’s northwest
  • Relax in one of Argentina's famous wine regions
  • Observe the remarkable geology of Quebrada de las Conchas
What's Included
  • International flights

  • 9 nights’ accommodation 

  • 10 meals; 9 breakfasts & 1 dinner

  • Half-day Buenos Aires city tour

  • Dinner and Tango Show
  • Transfers & domestic flights as per itinerary

  • 6 days of car hire with unlimited mileage (4WD)

  • Full cover insurance 
  • GPS

  • 1 additional driver

Prices from £4,299pp

Excludes:

  • Meals not indicated in your itinerary

  • Local departure taxes payable locally

  • Items of a personal nature such as laundry and drinks etc

  • Tips for guides and drivers (discretionary)

  • Camera or video fees at any sites

Quick Itinerary

Northwest Argentina Self Drive
Day Description
Day 1-3 UK - Buenos Aires View
Day 4 Salta View
Day 5 Cachi View
Day 6-7 Cafayate View
Day 8 Salta View
Day 9 Purmamarca View
Day 10 Buenos Aires View
Day 11-12 Buenos Aires - UK View

Northwest Argentina Self-Drive 12-day Itinerary

Days 1-3 UK - Buenos Aires

Arrive in Buenos Aires from the UK, where you'll spend two days.

Next day, embark on a full morning guided tour of the city. Admire the city’s emblematic main square Plaza de Mayo; the bygone-era neighbourhood of San Telmo - replete with cobbled streets and neoclassical architecture; the rhythmic district of La Boca and the characterful dockland area Puerto Madero. The tour will finish at the humbling resting place of Eva Peron (Evita) in the affluent neighbourhood of Recoleta.

This evening visit one of the finest establishments for tango dancing in the city. Enjoy the cabaret show with an authentic Argentinian dinner.

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Flight
International Flight
Compass white (1)
Excursion
Buenos Aires City Tour
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Activity
Tango Show with Dinner
Congress Square, Buenos AiresTango dancers
Day 4 Salta

Morning flight to Salta in the north-west of Argentina to begin your self-drive adventure. After picking up your vehicle, drive the short distance to the centre of Salta which is encircled picturesquely in a verdant valley by surrounding mountains. In the afternoon we recommended driving the 30km to Finca Valentina, a charming country house exemplifying Hispanic architecture.

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Flight
Domestic Flight
Arg_SaltaLlamas in Salta
Day 5 Cachi

Approximately a four-hour drive away from Salta is the idyllic small town of Cachi, characterised by its colonial architecture and laid-back ambience. The drive is regarded as one of the finest journeys in the north-west, passing through the mountain and desert terrain of the Calchaquí Valley and home to wild donkeys and giant Cacti. There is no rush today so stop and marvel at the views or take a gentle hike along the scenic paths of Cardones National Park. Overnight in Cachi.

San Jose Church, CachiCactus forest, Cardones National Park
Days 6-7 Cafayate

A five-hour drive is required today to reach the wine region of Cafayate. Again the journey is beautiful with a myriad of stops demanding your attention along the way. You will pass by many rural hamlets, vineyards and farms and a short detour to the town of Seclantás is highly recommended to visit the artisans who produce the finest ponchos in the country. The rest of the drive is largely across the Quebrada de las Flechas, a desert formed by the dust of limestone and quartz, eroded by wind and water creating the shape of thousands of Arrow Peaks. Arrive in Cafayate in the late afternoon.

The next day is at leisure to explore Cafayate on your own, or, speak to one of our Travel Specialists if you would like a guided tour and tastings at one of the many exceptional vineyards.

Ponchos hanging in a rustic store, SeclantásQuebrada de las Flechas, Salta Province
Day 8 Salta

As your drive back to Salta, stop at the Quebrada de las Conchas, a beautiful canyon with remarkable geology.  Due to the ferric oxide in the mineral basin, the rocks form an intense reddish hue and a hike through the gorge is a wonderful way to unveil its magical ambience. 

Upon arrival in Salta, the rest of the day is at leisure.

Natural amphitheater, Quebrada de las ConchasLa Yesera, Quebrada de las Conchas
Day 9 Purmamarca

Heading in the direction of Purmamarca, drive through The Unesco Heritage listed Humahuaca Gorge abundant with colourful mountains, remarkable geological formations and historical villages. Here you can visit the archaeological Ruins of the Pucará de Tilcara, a pre-inca fortress, which perfectly capsulates the ancient culture. Continue to Purmamarca via the Pre-Puna plateau. This evening it is highly recommended to visit the Salinas Grandes Salt Flats to watch the sunset over the gleaming barren landscape.

Argentina Purmamarca Hill Of Seven ColoursPucará de Tilcara, Jujuy Province
Day 10 Buenos Aires

Head back to Salta and drop-off your vehicle before a flight back to Buenos Aires for a final night in the capital.

Argentina Buenos Aires Aerial CityMarket in San Telmo, Buenos Aires
Days 11-12 Buenos Aires - UK

You will be transferred to Buenos Aires airport for your onward flight.

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Flight
International Flight

Why Book Our Northwest Argentina Self-Drive Holiday?

Truly Individual and Trusted

  • Truly individual holidays – every holiday we create is designed around you, the places you want to see and the things that are important to you.
  • Dedicated Travel Specialists – your dedicated Specialist will have firsthand knowledge of the destinations and experiences we offer, enabling us to make perfect recommendations.
  • First-class service – all our excursions and transport partners have been hand-selected to ensure they provide the best quality, experience and value.
  • 100% financial protection – our holidays are ATOL protected and we’re an assured member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO).
  • My Routes Rewards programme – as a thank you for being our trusted customer, we offer one of the most generous and flexible reward programmes in the industry.
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What makes our Northwest Argentina Self-Drive holiday Truly Individual?

Award winning UK tour operator

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Award-winning

An award-winning and leading UK tour operator providing Truly Individual holidays across Latin America

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Holidays Tailored To You

Every holiday we create is designed around you, the places you want to see and the things that are important to you.

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Latin America Specialists

Our passionate team of knowledgeable Latin America Travel Specialists are ready to help you plan the trip of a lifetime.

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Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

We consistently achieve 5-star ratings on Trustpilot, reflecting our first-class service and premium holiday experiences.

What Our Clients Say About Us

Thank you to Sarah at Latin Routes for creating a seamless itinerary for our trip to North Argentina. Everything was thought of and well planned in advance.

Helen R
Stayed August 2024

Look no further if you are planning to go to South America. The trip to Chile was clockwork. The guides were excellent, and we felt really pampered in the beautiful hotels.

Sarah M. B
Stayed August 2024

Our bucket list trip to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands had been looked forward to for a very long time. We were not disappointed! The highlight of our trip, without a doubt, was our five-day eastern cruise on the beautiful yacht La Pinta.

Mr Hughes
Stayed March 2023

This is an excellent company. I worked with Paul, who was very knowledgeable and patient when organising my itinerary. There is no pressure selling. Recommend them for South America trips!

John
Stayed March 2024

Speak to a dedicated Argentina Holiday Specialist

All our Argentina itineraries can be tailored to your unique requirements. Enquire about our Northwest Argentina Self-Drive holiday and let us plan your perfect Latin American adventure.