NORTH WEST ARGENTINA SAMPLE ITINERARIES

NORTHERN CIRCUIT FROM SALTA THROUGH JUYUY 

Salta > Purmamarca > Salinas Grandes > Tilcara > Humahuaca > Iruya > Salta 

Travelling from colonial Salta into the dramatic landscapes of the Quebrada de Humahuaca, this route takes in the colourful village of Purmamarca, the vast white expanse of Salinas Grandes, the small towns of Tilcara and Humahuaca and the remote, spectacular village of Iruya, before returning to Salta. The journey is full of dramatic Andean scenery and a strong sense of the region’s indigenous heritage.

Suggested 3 night Itinerary

Day 1: Salta → Purmamarca
Highlights: Cerro de los Siete Colores, Paseo de los Colorados

Day 2: Purmamarca → Salinas Grandes → Tilcara
Highlights: Huge salt flats, Cuesta de Lipán, Maimará, Tilcara

Day 3: Tilcara → Humahuaca→ Iruya 
Highlights: Quebrada scenery, Humahuaca town, Hornocal, Iruya

Day 4: Iruya → Salta
Highlights: Return via Humahuaca/Quebrada

A note on Altitude
Salta - 1,152 m (3,780 ft) 
Purmamarca - 2,324 m (7,625 ft)
Salinas Grandes 3,450 m (11,320 ft)
Tilcara 2,465 m (8,087 ft)
Humahuaca 3,012 m (9,882 ft)
Iruya 2,780 m (9,121 ft) 

Day 1: Salta → Purmamarca

Driving: 4.5 - 5  hours including stops.

Leaving Salta and driving through the green and lush Lerma Valley, you will drive north through the Juyuy province where the landscape begins to change and the mountains become more prominent. North of Jujuy, the road leads to the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a spectacular mountain valley which runs all the way to the Bolivian border. Valued both for its dramatic landscape and its long history as an Andean cultural and trading route, the Quebrada is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Think huge, dry, multicoloured mountains rising above a broad valley, which have been eroded into layers of reds, oranges, yellows, purples and greys, creating the famous striped landscapes. Passing by Tumbaya, a small andean village you will approach Purmamarca where the mountains become increasingly colourful and sculptural. Suddenly the famous Cerro de los Siete Colores appears which is the mountain immediately behind Purmamarca and one of the defining landscapes of northern Argentina. Folds of sedimentary rock in bands of reds, oranges, yellows, greens and purples have been deposited over time and then exposed and eroded. 

  • This small adobe village has pre hispanic origins and was historically connected to the Inca Trail. Its red earth streets, market and plaza are a delight to wander - there are plenty of artisan stalls selling textiles, ceramics and other Andean crafts. Its magnificent backdrop of the Cerro de los Siete Colores is particularly beautiful in the late afternoon when the sun is lower. Worth doing is the Paseo de los Colorados which is a short scenic circuit immediately around the village, taking you through much more dramatic red-rock scenery.

Day 2: Purmamarca → Salina Grandes → Tilcara

This is a spectacular full-day journey from Purmamarca up the winding Cuesta de Lipán, where the road climbs to over 4,000 m and the colourful mountains give way to the vast, barren landscapes of the Puna. You then continue across the high plateau to Salinas Grandes (3,450 m), an enormous white salt flat where you can walk among the geometric salt formations and see traditional salt extraction. After exploring the flats, you will retrace the route over the high pass and descend dramatically back toward the Quebrada de Humahuaca. Continuing to Tilcara, the route passes through Maimará, with its spectacular multicoloured Paleta del Pintor, before arriving in Tilcara in the early evening. This day is full of extraordinary contrasts and is one of the most standout journeys of the northern itinerary.

Day 3: Tilcara → Humahuaca → Iruya

Follow the Quebrada de Humahuaca north from Tilcara, passing through the colourful mountain landscapes around Huacalera and Uquía before reaching historic Humahuaca. 

Explore the town, then take the excursion to Hornocal which is also known as the Mountain of 14 Colours. This is a spectacular multicoloured mountain range about 25 km from Humahuaca in the Jujuy Andes. You can drive from Humahuaca up into the mountains to a viewpoint at roughly 4,300 m. From the viewpoint, you look across a vast valley toward the enormous folded mountains. From Hornocal, continue to Iruya via the spectacular mountain road, arriving in the late afternoon.

  • Humahuaca is a small, historic Andean town at about 3,000 m, and it feels noticeably more rugged, traditional and less polished than Purmamarca or Tilcara. It sits in the upper part of the Quebrada de Humahuaca, surrounded by dry, multicoloured mountains and wide open high-altitude landscapes. 

  • A tiny remote mountain village, time appears to stand still in Iruya which is set in a deep valley at around 2,780 m, surrounded by enormous, dry Andean mountains. Walk its cobbled streets, visit the church and viewpoints such as La Cruz, or hike towards San Isidro. 

Day 4: Iruya → Salta

Enjoy the morning in Iruya, then make the long drive back to Salta. The route itself is scenic, descending from the high Andes towards the valleys.