Things to Do in Salta and Jujuy, 4, 7 and 10-Day Itinerary

If you plan to visit the must-see places in Northwest Argentina, don’t miss this article on things to do in Salta and Jujuy: best time to travel, how many days to spend in each place and much more.

The Northwest Argentina is one of the destinations that receives more tourists in the country. With its colorful mountains, high altitude landscapes, colorful cities and regional cuisine, it is well worth the visit.

To plan your trip, we tell you things to do in Salta and Jujuy,an itinerary to visit the two provinces in 4, 7 or 10 days.

Best time to travel to Salta and Jujuy

Although the two provinces can be visited perfectly well throughout the yeardue to the high temperatures during the summer and the rainy season that occurs during the rainy season, which may cut roadsthe best time to travel to Salta and Jujuy is between the months of months of April to October.

During Holy Week especially the city of Salta receives many visitors. At July and August is high season prices are higher, but it allows you to enjoy the Pachamama Festival The first days of August and enjoy the landscapes and the cities, although in high altitude places the temperature usually drops a lot during the night.

If you want to travel with fewer people and more affordable prices, the best time to travel to Salta and Jujuy is in the months of May, June and September, and even October. We visited both provinces this past month, and although it was already hot, it is not too hot either.

Finally, to experience the famous carnivals of Northwest Argentina, you have to go at the end of February. It should be taken into account that during these dates there is a high occupancy rate, especially in Jujuy, so it is advisable to book in advance.

How many days to visit Salta and Jujuy

How many days will you dedicate to travel to Salta and Jujuy? The answer is basically whether you want to tour the main sites or tour both provinces in depth.

For us, you have to dedicate at least a week to visit Salta capital, the main tourist destinations of Jujuy and cities like Cachi, Cafayate or San Antonio de los Cobres in the province of Salta.

🔝 Check out these recommendations for places to stay in Jujuy Province.

The following is an ideal itinerary to visit Salta and Jujuy for 4, 7 or 10 days.

Things to do in Salta and Jujuy in 4 days

If you have 4 days to visit Salta and Jujuy the itinerary would be as follows:

• Day 1: tour the places to see in downtown Salta Capital such as the Cabildo, the Museum of High Mountain Archeology, the Cathedral, the church of San Francisco and the San Bernardo hill. At night you can go to the famous peñas on Balcarce Street or to the traditional Casona del Molino.

🔝 Check out these recommendations on things to do in Salta Capital.

• Day 2: from Salta Capital to visit Humahuaca and Tilcara, to visit the gorge and the Pucará in the morning and the Serranía del Hornocal in the afternoon (which is the best time). On this day you can spend the night either in Tilcara or in nearby Maimará, where prices are lower.

📷 Book here the excursion to Humahuaca and the Hornocal mountain range from Salta capital in the day. Guide and transfers included.

• Day 3: we will visit two of the main places to see in Salta and Jujuy, the hill of the Seven Colors in Purmamarca and the Salinas Grandes on a scenic route between mountains that ascends the Lipán slope. It is advisable to stay in Salta Capital in order to be able to visit the surroundings of Salta the next day.

🔝 Check out these recommendations on things to do in Jujuy.

• Day 4: from Salta Capital take route 68 through the beautiful Quebrada de las Conchas with the colorful tones of the mountain and arrive at Cafayate. In this town you can visit a winery and its vineyards and tour the small town center.

Check out these recommendations on things to do in Cafayate.

– Route map 4 days Salta and Jujuy

Thing to do in Salta and Jujuy in 7 days

If you have 7 days to visit Salta and Jujuy the itinerary would be as follows:

• Days 1, 2 and 3 are the same as things to do in Salta and Jujuy in 4 days. Basically it is to do the city of Salta, Salinas Grandes and the 3 beautiful towns of the Quebrada de Humahuaca: Purmamarca, Tilcara and Humahuaca, with an excursion to the Serranía del Hornocal (14 Colors Hill). From day 4, things are different.

• Day 4: back to the province of Salta to visit the surroundings of Salta Capital such as San Lorenzo and the Sanctuary of the Virgen del Cerro. In the afternoon you can visit the Craft Market of the city of Salta on San Martin Avenue. Night in Salta Capital.

• Day 5: departing from Salta Capital or from San Antonio de los Cobres, get on the famous Train to the Clouds to cross the Viaducto La Polvorilla at 4,200 m.a.s.l., an incredible experience. Night in Salta Capital.

🔝 Check out these recommendations on things to do around Salta.

• Day 6: Drive along Route 33 along the Cuesta del Obispo, bordering the Los Cardones National Park and crossing the Tin-Tin straight with its incredible landscapes, until you reach Cachi, a beautiful village of white houses and cobblestone streets surrounded by mountains. Here you have the option to spend the night in Cachi and the next day visit Cafayate by route 40 and the “Quebrada de las Flechas” (gravel road), or return to Salta Capital during the day and visit Cafayate the next day by paved road.

🔝 Check out these recommendations on things to do in Cachi.

• Day 7: Tour Cafayate, its vineyards and visit a winery. Return to Salta Capital by route 68 known through the Quebrada de las Conchas with its reddish landscapes, making stops at the Amphitheater and the Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat). In the evening return to Salta Capital if the flight departs from there, or continue the trip home if we are traveling by car.

📷 Book here the excursion to Cafayate through the Quebrada de las Conchas that includes a visit to a winery.

– Route map 7 days Salta and Jujuy

Things to do in Salta and Jujuy in 10 days

If you have 10 days to visit Salta and Jujuy the itinerary would be as follows:

• Day 1: we tour the center of Salta Capital as mentioned in the previous itineraries, spending the night in Salta Capital.

🔝 Check out these recommendations on where to stay in Salta.

• Day 2: drive up the zigzagging Route 9 and enter the province of Jujuy to visit Tilcara with its Pucará, Humahuaca and the beautiful Serranía del Hornocal. The difference is that we stay overnight in Humuahuaca.

• Day 3: from Humuahuaca visit the small town of Iruya with its adobe houses between mountains and a hiking route to San Isidro. We recommend going to Iruya by bus from Humuahuaca or on an excursion because the road is made of gravel and cornices, very narrow and with ascents. Night in Humahuaca.

• Day 4: visit the Salinas Grandes through the Lipán slope and the town of Purmamarca with its famous hill of the 7 colors. Night in Purmamarca.

📷 Book here the excursion to Salinas Grandes, San Antonio de los Cobres and Purmamarca from Salta Capital in the day. Includes: transfers and guide.

• Day 5: return to the province of Salta to visit the surroundings of Salta Capital. Sites with streams and mountains such as San Lorenzo and the Sanctuary of the Virgen del Cerro. Visit to the Artisan Market of the city of Salta on San Martin Avenue. Night in Salta Capital.

• Day 6: take the famous Tren de las Nubes to cross the Viaducto La Polvorilla at 4,200 meters above sea level, an incredible experience on one of the highest trains in the world. Night in Salta Capital.

• Day 7: Drive along Route 33 along the Cuesta del Obispo, bordering the Los Cardones National Park and crossing the Tin-Tin straight with its incredible landscapes, until you reach Cachi, a beautiful village of white houses and cobblestone streets surrounded by mountains. Overnight in Cachi for the next day to visit Cafayate on route 40.

📷 Book here excursion to Cachi by the Obispo slope from Salta Capital in the day. Transfers and guide included.

• Day 8: Travel along Route 40 (gravel road in this section) crossing the Arrows Gorge. Upon arriving in Cafayate, in addition to touring downtown, visit one of the many wineries in the city and the vineyard area along Route 40. Night in Cafayate.

• Day 9: if our trip ends in Salta Capital, leave this day for the end (exchange it for day 10). But if after visiting Cafayate, the idea is to return by car to my city or continue my trip to the south, take route 68 to travel with tranquility along the Quebrada de las Conchas with its colorful landscapes of reddish tones, making stops at the Amphitheater, the Devil’s Throat and other curious formations. Night in Cafayate.

• Day 10: heading south along the same route 40, visit the Quilmes Ruins, a few kilometers from Cafayate and already in the province of Tucumán. And if you dare, you can reach Amaicha del Valle and Tafí del Valle.

🔝 Check out these recommendations on things to do in Tucuman.

– Route map 10 days Salta and Jujuy

The plus: San Pedro de Atacama

It looks like it is next to the Argentine Northwest, but it is not, so if you want to add San Pedro de Atacama to your itinerary, you should add at least 4 more days to your experience (the trip takes time). It is one of Flor’s favorite places in the world for its unique landscapes, with sunsets not found anywhere else on the planet, salt flats, geysers, astronomical tours and much more.

Salta and Jujuy by car or public transport

The best way to visit the places to see in Salta and Jujuy is by car. Distances are not so great and most destinations can be reached by paved road, including the Salinas Grandes.

🚗 Search here for car rentals in Salta Capital.

There are still gravel roads in good condition, such as a small stretch of the Cuesta del Obispo that connects Salta Capital with Cachi or Route 40 that connects Cachi with Cafayate through the Quebrada de La Flechas. These sections can be done by car, always at low speed and avoiding the summer months, when the roads are usually cut because the watercourses overflow.

Just keep in mind that if you want to access the Serranía del Hornocal it is advisable to do it in the 4×4 that leave from Humahuaca because the road is very uphill, gravel and with many stones, not suitable for all vehicles. They also say that the altitude also affects them.

As for public transportation, it is not very frequent and you will even have to hire an excursion, for example to Salinas Grandes. If you do not have a car, it is convenient to make a base in Salta Capital and some city of Jujuy and from there go and return in the day.

Where to stay in Salta and Jujuy

There are more and more offers to sleep in Salta and Jujuy. Both in Salta Capital and in each of the places mentioned above there is availability of accommodations and even apartments and cabins.

– Hotels and hostels

In Salta capital, being a large city, there are many price options, including hostels, hotels and cabins in the area of San Lorenzo.

🏨 Look here for lodging options in Salta Capital.

As for Jujuy, Purmamarca has become popular among foreign tourists, so prices have skyrocketed, although it is still a town worth staying at least one night. If you want to stay at more economical prices we recommend Maimará, a few kilometers from Purmamarca, or Tilcara.

🏨 Look here for options to stay in Jujuy.

I hope these itineraries and tips on thing to do in Salta and Jujuy will help you plan your trip. The only thing left to do is to enjoy the beautiful landscapes and the regional customs and food.