Salta And The Northwest

Great Mountain Scenery, Arid Desert & Huge Red Rock Formations

The Northwest of Argentina is a vast territory that offers an extraordinary range of landscapes, quite different from that in the South. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Andes Mountains, the landscape here consists of arid desert, huge red rock formations, small adobe villages, expansive lagoons and salt flats as far as the eye can see.

The area is steeped in fascinating indigenous history and you can explore several ruins from the ancient civilisations. The culture is still present in the everyday life of the local towns and communities, and the people of this region are amongst some of the friendliest you will ever meet. The area is also famous for wine production and you will find a number of boutique bodegas and wineries to discover along the way. 

The Area

The capital of the region is Salta which is an attractive city steeped in history, heritage and colonial buildings. The compact city is easy to walk around and home to several upmarket cafes, attractive parks and the stunning Salta Cathedral. You can base yourself in the city and take trips to the attractions in the surrounding landscape but to make the most of your time we would recommend hiring a car.

Best Time to Go

Daytime temperatures are generally warm throughout the year reaching highs of 27°C in summer (Nov - Mar). Night time temperatures are pleasant in summer, but can drop to as little as 3°C in winter. Expect some heavy rains from Dec to Feb.

If you would like to begin creating your perfect Argentina holiday, Simply complete the enquiry form to get in touch.

Alternatively call our Travel Specialists on 020 8546 6222.

Salinas Grandes

You may have thought it was just Bolivia that had its own Salt Flats, however they have them in Argentina too. A three hour drive north of the city of Salta and you find the Salinas Grandes (Great Salts) of Argentina. You will find huge expanses of flat white salts, under the brightest blue sky with crystal blue irrigation channels. If you angle the objects in your photo carefully you can make some unique photos that play with perspective. You will also find a few market stalls selling unique statues made from the salts themselves. If you go on a sunny day, make sure you take your sunglasses!

Wineries of Cafayate

Cafayate is the centre of the wine growing area of the region. The northwest is famous for growing the Torrontes grape which is used to make predominently white wine! A suprise you may think for a country that is famed for its red wine like Malbec, but the high altitudes and unique rock compsition make it the perfect place for producing this crisp white wine. In Cafayate there are several Bodegas to explore as well as a few Wine Resorts where you can stay in amongst the vineyards.

Devils Gorge

The Devils Gorge is a canon cut out of the deep red rock on one of the most scenic roads from Salta City to Cafayate. In the cut you can see centuries worth of layers of rock all built upon each other. A place of significance in the past, lots of people come today to marvel at the gorge and the beautiful surrounding mountains.

Tilcara

For a true taste of local life in this part of the world head to the town of Tilcara. Here, tourists are very welcome but the town goes about its daily life regardless. In the centre of town there is an artisans market as well as several shops and restaurants. A great place just to be amongst locals, and maybe practice a bit of Spanish, for a day or two.

If you would like to begin creating your perfect Argentina holiday, Simply complete the enquiry form to get in touch.

Alternatively call our Travel Specialists on 020 8546 6222.

Looking for inspiration? Check out some of our Argentina Itineraries.
 

Activities of Northwest Salta

All of the following activites are available in and around the Salta and Northwest region:

• Horse Riding
• Wine Tasting
• Trekking
• Rock Climbing
• Mountain Biking
• Cooking Lessons
• Salt Flats sightseeing
• Fishing
• Museums
• Art Galleries

If you would like to begin creating your perfect Argentina holiday, Simply complete the enquiry form to get in touch.

Alternatively call our Travel Specialists on 020 8546 6222.

The Incan Empire

The Incan Empire came down from the Titicaca region to occupy these lands in the 12th century and extended its rule gradually southwards down the Andes mountain range until the beginning of the 16th century, when the Spanish conquistadores arrived. They were farmers who tilled the land and reared livestock, whose women spent long hours at the loom weaving or making ceramics, with a strong musical tradition whose wind instruments are still very much in use today in the region. The Incahuasi ruins, perhaps the most typical of their culture, are to be found near the capital city of Salta and archaeologists claim that these are in fact the remains of a stronghold built during the reign of the Inca Yupanqui which served to maintain their rule over the various Indian tribes, the Diaguitas, Atacamas, Humahuacas, Chiriguanos and lules.

The origin of the word 'Salta' is attributed to two sources; one maintains that this is from the quechua word 'sagta', meaning a pretty place to settle, while the other holds that it derives from the name of the sahta tribe who were living in the valley when the Spanish arrived. Forty-three years after Christopher Columbus set foot in South America, the first groups of explorers seeking silver arrived in the region from Peru and began settling in the region which they called the Tucumán.

In 1582, Hernando de Lerma founded the Ciudad de Lerma en el Salta as a half-way resting post between Potosi in Peru and the recently-founded city of Buenos Aires, a strategic point for traders and travellers. However, times were hard and the Indians were unwilling to concede territory without putting up a fight, so the newcomers were constantly under threat of siege from the surrounding tribes.

If you would like to begin creating your perfect Argentina holiday, Simply complete the enquiry form to get in touch.

Alternatively call our Travel Specialists on 020 8546 6222.