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Nature and wildlife: Salta

An area of remote hills and rugged panoramas the northwest captures the heart

Salta and the Northwest - Salt flats
Salta and the Northwest - Salt flats

Right up in the very northwestern region of Argentina lie the provinces of Salta and Jujuy and some of the favourite sceneries. While a lot of this area is desolate and barren due to the altitude, the rock formations and general vistas are to be seen to be believed. Stark reds stand out against the deep azure sky, and adobe huts are swallowed by the sheer size of the place.

The main city of Salta is a fairly interesting place to visit for those that are interested in the rare indigenous cultures of Argentina and it is certainly worth stopping on the way through, but the real wilderness experiences are out of the town.

To the south of Salta lies the Valle Calchaquies, a stunning series of rock formations and canyons. Some of the highlights’ on a driving tour of the area are the road from Salta to Cafayate, through the Quebrada de las Conchas and the beautiful, red canyons on the road from Salta to Cafayate, and the famous Quebrada de las Fechas, on the road from Cachi to Cafayate (a rock formation that looks like arrowheads aimed at the sky).

To the north of Salta, the land becomes more arid and the rock formations turn into a flood of different colours and hews. The most famous area of the north is the “Cerro de los Siete Colores“(hill of the seven colours) that shimmers and transforms throughout the day. On top of this, the Salinas Grandes, on the border with Chile is a vast white expanse of salt.

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    Salta and the Northwest

    At a glance…The Northwest Region

  • Size: 560,000 sq km
  • Location: North Western Argentina
  • Recommended time: 3 to 6 nights
  • Time to visit: September to April
  • Go here for: Nature and culture
  • Further reading...

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