Purmamarca
VillageJujuy
A small adobe village at the foot of the Cerro de los Siete Colores, and the gateway from the Quebrada to the salt flats of the Puna.
- Region
- Quebrada de Humahuaca
- Altitude
- 2,324 m
Jujuy · Salta · Tucumán · Catamarca · La Rioja
Discover the Northwest of Argentina
Painted mountains, adobe villages and vineyards at altitude. A guide to the Andean north, written by people who know it well.
Cerro de los Siete Colores, Purmamarca, Jujuy.Photo: P. Hughes, CC BY 4.0
Destinations
Where the north begins
Colonial cities, high valleys and villages of the Quebrada — the places that define a first journey to the NOA.
Salta
CitySalta
The colonial capital of Salta province — arcaded plazas, ornate churches and folk music late into the night. The natural starting point for the whole Northwest.
- Region
- Valle de Lerma
- Altitude
- 1,187 m
Cafayate
TownSalta
The wine capital of the Calchaquí Valleys, famous for Torrontés, with the red-rock formations of the Quebrada de las Conchas on its doorstep.
- Region
- Valles Calchaquíes
- Altitude
- 1,683 m
Cachi
TownSalta
A whitewashed colonial town on Route 40, beneath the snowy Nevado de Cachi, reached by one of the most dramatic mountain roads in Argentina.
- Region
- Valles Calchaquíes
- Altitude
- 2,280 m
Tilcara
TownJujuy
The liveliest base in the Quebrada de Humahuaca, with a reconstructed pre-Hispanic hilltop settlement, gorge walks and a good choice of places to stay.
- Region
- Quebrada de Humahuaca
- Altitude
- 2,465 m
Salinas Grandes
Natural attractionJujuy / Salta
A vast white salt flat on the Puna plateau, straddling Jujuy and Salta, reached over the 4,000-metre Cuesta de Lipán.
- Region
- Puna
- Altitude
- 3,450 m
Experiences
Ways to see it
Day trips, walks and tastings selected by our editors.
DemoNature · Culture
Cachi and Los Cardones National Park from Salta
Over the Cuesta del Obispo and through a forest of giant cacti to a whitewashed valley town.
Full day · 10–12 h · Salta, Cachi
Price shown at booking
DemoNature · Gastronomy
Cafayate and the Quebrada de las Conchas from Salta
Red-rock canyons in the morning, wine country in the afternoon.
Full day · 10–12 h · Salta, Cafayate
Price shown at booking
DemoGastronomy
Torrontés tasting among Cafayate's vineyards
An unhurried afternoon at wineries on the edge of town, with high-altitude whites and reds.
3–4 h · Cafayate
Price shown at booking
DemoCulture · Nature
Quebrada de Humahuaca day trip from Salta
A long day north through the UNESCO-listed Quebrada, stopping at Purmamarca, Tilcara and Humahuaca.
Full day · 12–14 h · Salta, Purmamarca, Tilcara, Humahuaca
Price shown at booking
Explore by province
Six provinces, one Andean north
The Argentine Northwest stretches from the Bolivian border to the canyons of La Rioja. Each province has its own landscapes, food and festivals.
Jujuy
The Quebrada de Humahuaca, a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape, and the high Puna with its salt flats.
4 destinations
Salta
A colonial capital, the wine towns of the Calchaquí Valleys and some of the highest vineyards in the world.
4 destinations
Tucumán
Argentina's smallest province, where subtropical forest climbs to green highland valleys such as Tafí.
1 destination
Catamarca
Volcanic Puna, the Ruta de los Seismiles and quiet adobe villages along the Ruta 40.
Santiago del Estero
The lowland gateway to the north, known for chacarera music and the hot springs of Termas de Río Hondo.
La Rioja
The southern edge of the Northwest, home to the red-walled canyons of Talampaya National Park.
1 destination
Travel by interest
Nature, culture, adventure and the table
Painted mountains, salt flats, cloud forest and red-rock canyons, from the high Puna to the yungas.
Andean weaving, colonial chapels, pre-Inca settlements and the music of the carnival.
High-altitude passes, gorge hikes and horseback rides with the gauchos of the valleys.
Torrontés from high-altitude vineyards, regional empanadas, locro and goat's cheese.
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Suggested itineraries
Routes worth the road
Realistic day-by-day plans with honest driving times and time to acclimatise.
7days
Itinerary7 stops
Seven days in Salta and Jujuy
The classic first trip to the Northwest — the Calchaquí Valleys loop, then north through the Quebrada de Humahuaca to the salt flats.
Route
- Salta
- Cachi
- Cafayate
- Purmamarca
- Salinas Grandes
- Tilcara
- Humahuaca
4days
Itinerary3 stops
The Calchaquí Valleys loop in four days
Mountain passes, giant cacti, adobe villages and high-altitude wine on a circular route from Salta.
Route
- Salta
- Cachi
- Cafayate
3days
Itinerary4 stops
The Quebrada de Humahuaca in three days
A slow route through Jujuy's UNESCO-listed valley, with a day on the Puna at Salinas Grandes.
Route
- Purmamarca
- Salinas Grandes
- Tilcara
- Humahuaca
Travel guide
Before you go
Guide
When to visit Northwest Argentina
Dry winters, rainy summers and the shoulder seasons in between — how the weather shapes a trip to the NOA.
Guide
Travelling at altitude in the Andes
Practical advice for the Quebrada and the Puna, where roads cross passes above 4,000 metres.
Story
Empanadas, locro and Torrontés: eating in the Northwest
The dishes, drinks and food traditions to look for on a trip to Northwest Argentina.