Cidade Turismo
Argentina
Salta and Cafayate

Salta · Argentina

Salta and Cafayate

Museums and churches in Salta, high-altitude wine in Cafayate, and the village of Cachi among the Valles Calchaquíes.

North

In the photo: Los Castillos — Quebrada de las Conchas

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Salta has a historic center organized around the Plaza 9 de Julio. The cathedral, the Cabildo and the Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña are in the same urban ensemble. The Museo Güemes brings travelers closer to the history of independence, while Cerro San Bernardo offers views over the city and the Lerma valley.

Cafayate lies further south, in the Valles Calchaquíes. The Museo de la Vid y el Vino explains the conditions for producing high-altitude wines, and the wineries El Esteco and Vasija Secreta offer visits. On the road between Salta and Cafayate, the Quebrada de las Conchas has reddish cliffs and cavities such as El Anfiteatro and the Garganta del Diablo.

Cachi has narrow streets, adobe houses and the Iglesia San José next to the plaza. The Museo Arqueológico Pío Pablo Díaz gathers remains of the peoples who occupied the valley. Access via Ruta Provincial 33 crosses the Parque Nacional Los Cardones, where columnar cacti give the landscape a different scale.

The three places require road stages, and sleeping in Cafayate and Cachi prevents each visit from becoming a long round trip. Altitude, cold nights and differences between the routes require allocating time beyond the urban tours.

This destination brings together 3 cities: Salta, Cafayate, Cachi.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Salta and Cafayate is
SaltaCafayateCachi

Fuente: Instituto Geográfico Nacional de la República Argentina (IGN), contornos de 2019. Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Salta and Cafayate

✈ Aeropuerto Internacional Martín Miguel de Güemes (SLA) · 12 km to Salta

Check whether an itinerary via Buenos Aires requires changing airports. Ruta Nacional 68 links Salta to Cafayate; for Cachi, the route uses rutas 68 and 33.

Suggested arrival point: Salta

The local experience

Things to do in Salta and Cafayate

Iglesia San José
Cachi · Salta · Church

Iglesia San José

The white temple of Cachi has adobe walls and cardón wood elements in its interior.

Museo de la Vid y el Vino
Cafayate · Salta · Museum

Museo de la Vid y el Vino

Visual and sound exhibitions explain high-altitude wines and the work in the Valles Calchaquíes.

Plaza 9 de Julio
Salta · Salta · Square

Plaza 9 de Julio

Salta's central plaza brings together trees, promenades and historic façades, between the cathedral and the Cabildo.

Catedral Basílica de Salta
Salta · Salta · Church

Catedral Basílica de Salta

The pink-and-cream façade, the towers and the religious interior mark the north side of the central plaza.

See 14 more places in Salta and Cafayate
Catedral Nuestra Señora del Rosario
Cafayate · Salta · Church

Catedral Nuestra Señora del Rosario

The cathedral of Cafayate has five naves and a façade with two towers facing the central square.

Museo Arqueológico Pío Pablo Díaz
Cachi · Salta · Museum

Museo Arqueológico Pío Pablo Díaz

Ceramics and other archaeological materials present the peoples and the occupation of the valleys in the Cachi region.

Cabildo Histórico de Salta
Salta · Salta · Museum

Cabildo Histórico de Salta

The old cabildo preserves galleries with arches and houses the Museo Histórico del Norte.

Garganta del Diablo
Cafayate · Salta · Rock formation

Garganta del Diablo

The narrow cavity of the Quebrada de las Conchas has slanted walls and layers of reddish rock.

Plaza 9 de Julio
Cachi · Salta · Square

Plaza 9 de Julio

The main square brings together trees and pathways between the church, the museum and the town's low houses.

El Anfiteatro
Cafayate · Salta · Rock formation

El Anfiteatro

A cavity with high, curved walls forms the natural amphitheater of the Quebrada de las Conchas.

Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña
Salta · Salta · Museum

Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña

The MAAM presents Andean archaeology and the discovery of the Niños del Llullaillaco in a building next to the plaza.

Parque Nacional Los Cardones
Cachi · Salta · National park

Parque Nacional Los Cardones

Cardones and mountains line Ruta 33, with interpretive trails in the access corridor to Cachi.

Basílica y Convento de San Francisco
Salta · Salta · Church

Basílica y Convento de San Francisco

The light‑red façade and the tall bell tower identify the Franciscan complex in the center.

Bodega El Esteco
Cafayate · Salta · Winery

Bodega El Esteco

The winery combines production in the Valles Calchaquíes, historic architecture, and visits with tastings.

Bodega Vasija Secreta
Cafayate · Salta · Winery

Bodega Vasija Secreta

The old bodega La Banda brings together wine history and production visits near the Cafayate access.

Cerro San Bernardo
Salta · Salta · Observation deck

Cerro San Bernardo

The hill's viewpoints show Salta's street grid and the Lerma valley, with different ways to ascend.

Museo Güemes
Salta · Salta · Museum

Museo Güemes

The former house linked to the Güemes family presents their life and role in the independence in exhibition rooms.

Quebrada de San Lorenzo
Salta · Salta · Nature

Quebrada de San Lorenzo

River, trees and yungas vegetation form the nature walk near the city of Salta.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From April to June and from September to November, road routes usually encounter milder temperatures. Between December and March, rains are more common and can alter the pace of travel. From June to August, nights in the valleys are usually cold. Grape harvest generally takes place between February and March.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Allow six to eight days: two or three in Salta, two in Cafayate and one or two nights in Cachi. The roads also take up part of the itinerary. The link between Cafayate and Cachi via Ruta 40 has gravel sections and requires its own planning, rather than being treated as an urban transfer.

Which city to stay in

In Salta, the area around Plaza 9 de Julio makes walking tours easy; the Balcarce neighborhood brings accommodation closer to restaurants and regional music. In downtown Cafayate, the plaza and the museum are close, while the vineyard areas require more transport. In Cachi, the core around the plaza concentrates the village's services and allows walking between the church and the museum.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Salta and Cafayate

Can you visit Cafayate and Cachi without staying overnight outside Salta?

There are day trips to each place, but travel time takes up a large share of the day. Staying overnight in the valleys allows you to visit museums and wineries with fewer hours on the road in the same day.

Do I need a car for this destination?

Salta's center can be explored on foot. For the valleys, choose a car, transfer or tour depending on your itinerary. On tasting days, arrange transport so you don't have to drive afterward.

Are Cafayate and Cachi on the same road?

Ruta 40 connects the two places, with gravel sections. Those who prefer the link via Salta take a different, longer route. Check the conditions of the chosen road before departing.

When does it rain more in this region?

Rains are usually concentrated from December to March. In the other months, the valleys tend to be drier, but cold nights remain relevant when packing.

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