10-Day Self-Drive Northwest Argentina

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Today, you'll head to the airport for your flight to Salta. Upon arrival, you'll collect your rental car and drive to your hotel. Salta is located in a fertile valley, surrounded by stunning landscapes; the gateway to the wild north. In the afternoon, you'll have the option to head out on a guided Salta city tour. You'll walk around the main square, see the stunning colonial buildings like the Salta Cathedral and end your tour in San Lorenzo, a small colonial village outside of Salta.

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This morning, you'll leave Salta and head to Purmamarca. You'll follow the Tren a las Nubes rails and drive through the colourful Quebrada del Toro. You'll continue to Santa Rosa de Tastil and enjoy a 30-minute walk as you visit the Tastil pre-Incan ruins. You'll make a quick stop in the small town of San Antonio de los Cobres and visit Salinas Grandes. Finally, you'll arrive in Purmamarca and stroll around the colourful handicrafts market and appreciate the impressive Seven Color Hill.

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Today, you'll have the option to drive north to the border between Salta and Jujuy. Here, you'll visit the UNESCO site, Quebrada de Humahuaca, a 155-kilometre-long mountain valley that frames villages where old traditions, cuisine, and music live on. You'll appreciate the landscapes filled with multi-coloured hills, valleys, and the altiplano. Afterwards, you'll visit Pucará de Tilcara, an ancient indigenous fortress situated in a magnificent setting surrounded by cacti and colourful mountains.

Today, after breakfast, you'll leave Purmamarca and return to Salta in your rental car. Upon arrival, you'll check back into your hotel and then have the rest of the day free to spend as you wish. This free time presents the perfect opportunity to explore the parts of Salta that you haven't yet had the chance to. This buzzing metropolis is a cultural hub that boasts bars, cafés, tasty food, shopping and a lively cultural scene.

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Today, you'll leave Salta and drive to the Calchaquí Valley’s highest point: Piedra del Molino, which is a natural gate that separates the Lerma and Calchaquíes Valleys. You'll cross the National Park Los Cardones and reach the quaint village of Cachi. You'll then continue the scenic drive through the Calchaquies Valley to Cafayate and check-in at your hotel. Surrounded by green vineyards backed by towering mountains, this small, quiet and clean town has something for everyone.

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This day of your Argentina road trip is free for you to explore the local area on your own. As a suggestion, you should drive or walk to a local winery in Cafayate. A walk through picturesque Cafayate is very much recommended, including a visit to the handicrafts market or the wine museum. The town and its surroundings also have several wineries where you can enjoy great wine tastings and lunch.

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At due time, you'll drive 197 kilometres to Salta. Along the way, you'll stop at the UNESCO site Las Conchas Ravine and observe the colourful hills and odd rock formations that form figures like La Garganta del Diablo, El Anfiteatro, El Sapo, El Fraile, El Obelisco, and Los Castillos. Your accommodation, Finca Valentina, is the ideal place to relax and is located a six-minute drive from Salta airport and just 25 minutes from Salta downtown.

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Today, you'll have the day free to spend as you wish Salta, a city known for its Spanish colonial architecture as well as its Andean heritage. Centred around its plaza, completed by the Salta Cathedral and the 18th-century El Cabildo, Salta is fast-becoming one of Argentina's must-see destinations. Not only is it full of stunning architecture but the city is surrounded by stunning natural landscapes, imposing mountains, rolling vineyards and numerous valleys.