Salta City

Northwest Argentina's "Salta la Linda": a colonial old town and gateway to the Andean highlands, with colorful valleys, the Train to the Clouds and the high-altitude wine country of Cafayate.

Salta lies in the Lerma Valley on the eastern slopes of the Andes in northwest Argentina, at about 1,150 m. The capital of Salta Province, it is nicknamed "Salta la Linda" (Salta the Beautiful) for its well-preserved colonial old town. It is about a 2-hour flight from Buenos Aires. The highland climate has distinct wet and dry seasons: Apr–Nov is the dry season, sunny with little rain and ideal for trips to the altiplano and gorges, though winter mornings and evenings are cold; Dec–Mar is the rainy season, when mountain roads are occasionally washed out and closed. In the city, walk around Plaza 9 de Julio, the cathedral, the Church of San Francisco and the Museum of High Altitude Archaeology, which displays Inca child mummies; take the cable car up Cerro San Bernardo for sunset, and spend the evening at a peña on Calle Balcarce listening to folk music. Classic day trips include: south through the Quebrada de las Conchas to the Cafayate wine region; west over the Cuesta del Obispo and through Los Cardones to Cachi; the Train to the Clouds up onto the Andean plateau; and north into Jujuy for the Salinas Grandes salt flats, Purmamarca's Hill of Seven Colors and the Quebrada de Humahuaca. Allow 4–7 days. Self-driving gives the most freedom (mostly paved roads, some gravel), or join local tours. On the altiplano, guard against altitude sickness, sun and cold; Cafayate, Cachi and Humahuaca are each worth an overnight stay.

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