Best Things To Do In Salta and Jujuy: Ultimate Argentina 3-Day Itinerary

If you’re looking to visit a different part of Argentina then you’ve come to the right place. Discover the top things to do in Salta and Jujuy, the northernmost province of Argentina.

Argentina is a vast and beautiful country and has no lack of natural beauty.

But an area that is often overlooked is the northwest corner of the country Salta and the Jujuy Province.

This area of Argentina is more arid as it climbs into the Andes.

With archeological treasures and natural wonders, Salta and Jujuy are a great place to explore.

Impressive rock formations and hills define the areas surrounding Jujuy.

The Spanish colonial village of Purmamarca, with its famous Cerro de los Siete Colores, is one of the jewels of the province.

In this post, we’ll guide you through planning an unforgettable three-day journey to explore the wonders of Salta and the Jujuy province.

Getting to Salta and Jujuy

You can reach Jujuy from Buenos Aires or include it as a stop on your trip after visiting the famous Iguazu Falls.

With a new terminal completed in 2020, Jujuy International Airport is the best and fastest way to reach Jujuy.

• From Buenos Aires – Aerolineas Argentinas provides service from the capital, taking a little over four hours.
• From Iguazu Falls – Aerolineas Argentinas also offers a direct flight to Jujuy that only takes two hours and 45 minutes.

Alternatively, you can take a train with a bus connection from Buenos Aires to Jujuy, which takes about fourteen and a half hours.

Another option is to fly into Martin Miguel de Guemes Airport in Salta and take a tour of that city.

• From Buenos Aires – Aerolineas Argentinas will have you in Salta in four hours.
• From Iguazu Falls – Aerolineas Argentinas will take approximately two and a half hours to Salta.

Both towns make a good base from which to explore the Jujuy province.

Day 1: Arriving in Salta or Jujuy

We flew into Salta and spent the afternoon exploring the small city. The town square and the main church are classic Spanish colonial architecture.

One of the unexpected things we discovered in Salta was Museo de las Alturas.

This museum showcases interesting findings and information about the Incas discovered in the surrounding mountains.

The most important discovery was three mummies of Inca children in pristine condition.

One of the mummies is always on display. The other two are stored to help in their continued preservation.

After all this exploring we enjoyed some very tasty empanadas and tamales at a cafe near the museum.

In preparation for our trip to Jujuy, we hydrated and went to bed early.

If you plan to arrive in Jujuy instead of Salta, you can explore San Salvador de Jujuy for a day before exploring the surrounding areas.

In San Salvador de Jujuy you can visit Plaza Belgrano which has the Government House and the Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour. Then you can take a stroll through Mercado Central (local market) to pick up souvenirs and try local snacks.

Day 2: From Salta to Purmamarca

The next morning, we were picked up at our hotel in a minivan. We chose to travel in a minivan instead of driving.

For us, this worked well because we prefer not to travel on big tour buses. Driving at high altitudes and along winding roads was not something we wanted to do ourselves.

Using these shared rides was comfortable, and allowed us to enjoy the trip. Another advantage is that the drivers have good knowledge of the best bathroom stops and where to eat.

From Salta, we took El Camino de las Nubes, The Cloud Road, towards Salinas Grandes.

The road is called that way because you climb to 4,160 meters (13,648 feet) above sea level before descending back to the salt flats. So glad we weren’t driving!

Salinas Grandes

One of the most interesting things to see in Jujuy is the Salinas Grandes or Big Salt Flats.

Although smaller than the famous Bolivia Salt Flats they cover an area of 212 km2. These flats are the third largest salt flats in the world.

At 3,450 meters (11,318 feet) above sea level, these salt flats form an extensive white desert near the sky. One of our favorite parts is the turquoise pools in several parts of the flats.

Like their neighbors in Bolivia, these salt flats provide some great photo opportunities.

Seeing such an extensive amount of salt on a flat plateau is amazing. You will continue to travel around the salt flats for a while as you make your way to our next stop, Purmamarca.

Purmamarca

It takes about two and a half hours to reach Purmamarca from Salinas Grande. Our shared ride dropped us off at our new hotel which was right on the Paseo de los Colorados Trail.

The Colorados Trail is one of the must-do in Purmamarca. This 3-kilometer ring takes you around the town through the red and multi-colored mountains.

Walking through this terrain was surreal, almost like being on a different planet. In fact, sometimes it felt as if we were in a movie set.

This trail can be done by car or on foot, we recommend heading out on foot. Be sure to take water and some snacks with you because the heat is high even late in the afternoon.

The Colorados Trail ends in the town of Purmamarca and it is a great way to enter the village.

The small streets heading to the center of the village are filled with local shops and places to eat.

Street vendors display colorful ponchos, scarves, pottery, and other merchandise, filling the town square with color.

After working up your appetite while exploring the stalls and shops have dinner at one of the restaurants near the plaza or on one of the smaller streets.

We stayed the night in this charming colonial village.

Our hotel was right on the Colorados Trail and looked like something used as a set for Star Wars.

We highly recommend that you stay in Purmamarca for at least one night. With no light pollution, the view of the stars is amazing.

Day 3: Humahuaca and Return to Salta

Quebrada de Humahuaca

The following morning we left from Purmamarca to the village of Humahuaca.

As you leave Purmamarca take one last look at the gorgeous Cerro de los Siete Colores. The sunlight in the morning brings out the colors of the mountain.

Along the road to Humahuaca, you will get to enjoy the stunning colors of the other mountains in the Jujuy province.

You will also travel close the the famous Quebrada de Humahuaca.

Jardin Botanico de Altura

We made several stops before reaching the village of Humahuaca. One of the most unexpected was to Jardin Botanico de la Altura.

This Botanical Garden is managed by the University of Tilcara and is focused on the preservation of species from this area.

The facilities are well kept and they have a variety of plant species that you would not necessarily expect in a mountainous and dry area.

Village of Humahuaca

The village of Humahuaca was an important trading post in the mountains until the end of the 19th Century.

The homes and shops are made mostly of adobe and the area is known for its pottery.

The fun in Humahuaca is to get lost and explore the cobbled streets of the village.

We found the monument to the heroes of the Independence. There is a small archeological museum nearby that you can visit.

We also found blue ice cream called Helado de las Nubes, ice cream of the clouds, and enjoyed a cone while staying cool in the shade.

For this trip, we also chose a mini-van share ride, that took us back to Salta in the evening.

Traveling in Salta and Jujuy

Salta and mostly Jujuy are a mountainous and arid region so it’s good to be prepared when visiting.

• Best time to visit Salta and Jujuy – April through November is the dry season, which makes it the ideal time to visit.
• Altitude sickness – You’ll find Purmamarca at 2,324 meters (7,624 feet) above sea level but parts of Jujuy can reach 4,170 meters (13,681 feet) above sea level. Walk slowly and hydrate to minimize getting sick.
• Motion sickness – the roads from Salta to Jujuy have a lot of switchbacks so if you suffer from motion sickness or even as a precaution, make sure to take some motion sickness medicine before you hop on a bus, mini-van, or car.
• Sun protection – sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat are necessary when traveling in Jujuy. This is an arid and sunny area; the high altitude keeps you closer to the sun and makes sunburn a concern.
• Clothes – Because this is an arid area light cool clothes during the day are recommended, as sturdy and comfortable shoes as you will do a lot of walking in unstable terrain. For nighttime bring a light jacket as the temperatures will surely drop.
• Rainy season – if you come during the rainy season be sure to bring a good rain jacket and a warmer jacket for nighttime. Or buy a warm poncho from a local in the plaza.

Salta is not as arid as the Jujuy province but it is still sunny and hot so the same tips apply.

People often overlook the northwest part of Argentina for better-known places like Ushuaia or Bariloche. Nevertheless, Salta and Jujuy provide some beautiful and unique experiences.

From amazing mountains, incredible salt flats, archeological findings, and movie set-worthy scenery, a visit to Salta and Jujuy is worth the detour during your Argentina trip.