Northern Argentina road trip: Salta and Jujuy, 4,520 km

The 4,520-kilometer route through northern Argentina covers the provinces of Salta and Jujuy, with their high mountain passes, colorful canyons, and salt flats. The route follows National Highway 52 at altitudes up to 3,500 meters above sea level through Purmamarca and Salinas Grandes.

Mode
Places
Start
Municipio de General San Martín, Argentina
End
Río Negro, Argentina
Stops
8
Video author
travmap
Updated

Stops on this route

  1. Municipio de General San Martín, Argentina
  2. Cosmic Landscapes: Salinas Grandes Salt Flats — A vast white salt plateau at an altitude of 3,600 meters with lunar landscapes that create the illusion of space travel.
  3. Municipio de Purmamarca, Argentina — A colonial village in an Andean valley with the Cerro de los Siete Colores hill, famous for its multi-colored geological layers.
  4. Municipio de Palca de Aparzo, Argentina — A mountain range with a natural rainbow of mineral rocks creating bands of red, yellow and purple.
  5. Los Cardones Giant Cactus Park — A national park with ancient candelabra cacti up to 10 meters tall in the arid foothills of the Andes.
  6. Meet your guide Eduardo in Salta
  7. Buenos Aires, Argentina
  8. Río Negro, Argentina — A rugged region in the south of the country with glaciers, lakes and rocky peaks on the edge of South America.

Useful for your trip

Timing
The rainy season in the Salinas Grandes salt flats is from December to March - the landscapes look especially alien, the clouds are reflected in the mirror salt.
Transport
National Road 52 connects the province of Hujuy with the Chilean coast – one of the most beautiful roads in the world, in perfect condition, 5 hours to the border with Chile.
Tip
At an altitude of 2300+ meters, take coca leaves (mate de coca) - they help with altitude sickness, headache and drowsiness. A bag costs about 500 pesos.
Where to stay
There is accommodation for tourists in Purmamark – the village is located at an altitude of 2000 meters, surrounded by colorful mountains (seven-colored mountains).
Food
In Purmamarca, try the tortillas of Doña Susanna, tortillas stuffed with corn, tomato and goat cheese for 1000 pesos. The summer tourist season is December-March.
Save money
Tourists from abroad benefit: 1000 Argentine pesos ≈ 1 US dollar at the current exchange rate. Local goods and food are cheap for foreigners.
Tip
In the Salinas Grandes salt flat, water is hidden under a crust of salt. Small pools are carved into the thickness of the salt, used for the extraction of salt and lithium.
Avoid
In Purmamarca, the locals (descendants of the Incas) are not always happy with cameras and drones - they believe that they can take away the soul. Be careful when shooting.
Tip
The Iruzja (Suspended City) is located at an altitude of 2800 meters – a small village on the rocks, well worth a visit. Residents are friendly, but cautious about cameras.
Food
In the center of Salta, there is a café Martinez - recommended for coffee in the morning in the very center of the city.

Video on this route

A huge country with almost no people. Argentina

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