Guide
Getting to and around Northwest Argentina
Flights into Salta and Jujuy, long-distance buses, hiring a car and what the mountain roads are really like — how to move around the NOA.
By Visit NOA Editors ·
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Experiences
Tours for this trip
Likely to sell outViatorNature
2-Day Calchaquí Valley Tour to Cachi and Cafayate
Experience the incredible Calchaquí Valley on this activity-filled overnight tour from Salta that combines stunning natural scenery with Argentine wine. You’ll enjoy a scenic round-trip drive to the towns of Cachi and…
Full day · 48 h · Salta, Cafayate, Cachi
From US$461
5.0 out of 5 (1)
Free cancellationViatorCulture
Quebrada de Humahuaca From Salta with Purmamarca
Discover the beautiful landscapes offered by the Quebrada de Humahuaca, with its picturesque villages, culture and ancestral history. The various colors, mountains and hills. The native fauna, the warmth of its people,…
Full day · 12 h · Salta, Humahuaca, Purmamarca
From US$56
4.9 out of 5 (130)
Free cancellationViatorNature
From Jujuy: Full-Day Tour to Salinas Grandes and Purmamarca
This full-day excursion from Jujuy will discover the most interesting places. Marvel at the Cerro de los Siete Colores, pose for photos in the striking white salt flats of Salinas Grandes and shop for souvenirs at the…
8–9 h · Purmamarca, Salinas Grandes
From US$44
4.2 out of 5 (19)
Most trips to the Northwest begin in Salta, which has the region’s busiest airport and the widest choice of buses, hire cars and tours. Jujuy is the alternative gateway and sits closer to the Quebrada de Humahuaca.
Arriving by air
Salta’s airport (SLA) receives daily flights from Buenos Aires and connections from other Argentine cities; Jujuy (JUJ) is served less frequently but puts you an hour from Purmamarca. Flying is the only way to cross the country quickly — Buenos Aires to Salta is roughly two hours in the air against twenty or more by road.
Long-distance buses
Argentina’s long-distance buses are comfortable and well organised, with reclining semi-cama and cama seats on overnight routes. Within the region they connect Salta with San Salvador de Jujuy, Purmamarca, Tilcara, Humahuaca, Cafayate and Tucumán on regular schedules. It is the cheapest way to travel and needs no planning beyond booking a day or two ahead in high season.
Hiring a car
A car is what the Northwest is built for. The Calchaquí Valleys loop, the Cuesta del Obispo and the climb to Salinas Grandes are the trip for most visitors, not the way to reach it, and buses do not stop at the viewpoints.
Hire companies operate at Salta airport and in the city centre. A standard car handles the paved routes and the main ripio (gravel) roads in dry weather; for the Puna, remote valleys or the wet season, a high-clearance vehicle is worth the difference.
What the roads are like
- Paved and straightforward: RN9 and RN52 through the Quebrada de Humahuaca and up to Purmamarca; RN68 through the Quebrada de las Conchas to Cafayate.
- Paved but slow: the Cuesta del Obispo on RP33, a long series of switchbacks climbing past 3,300 m.
- Gravel: much of RN40 between Cachi and Cafayate, plus most Puna routes. Expect to average 40–50 km/h and allow far more time than the distance suggests.
Fuel stations are far apart outside the main valleys — fill up in Salta, Cachi, Cafayate, Humahuaca or Susques whenever you pass one. Mobile coverage disappears for long stretches, so download offline maps before leaving.
Driving in the wet season
From December to March, afternoon storms can wash gravel across the road or flood river crossings for a few hours. Travel in the morning, ask locally before committing to a mountain route, and never try to cross running water.
Tours and transfers
If you would rather not drive, day trips from Salta reach the Quebrada de Humahuaca, Cachi, Cafayate and Salinas Grandes, and shared transfers link the main towns. It is the practical option for the high-altitude roads, where a guide watches the weather and the altitude for you.
