3-day Salta tour: Hornocal, Cafayate & Cachi

Fourteen colors, ten rock formations, and three valleys in one route

This 3-day tour covers the Quebrada de Humahuaca, Cafayate wine region, and Los Cardones National Park, starting from Salta. You visit Cerro Hornocal (the 14-color hill), the multicolored rock formations of Quebrada de las Conchas, a winery with tasting, and the colonial town of Cachi. Includes park entry, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, and a live guide in English or Spanish. Lunch is on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore Cafayate and Quebrada de las Conchas

• Cross La Quebrada de Las Conchas
• See Devil's Throat and Amphitheater
• Visit winery and taste wines
• Free time in Cafayate for lunch
• Return to Salta with scenic stops
• Technical stop in La Viña or Talapampa

Day 2: Visit Cachi and Los Cardones Park

• Depart Salta via Lerma Valley
• Technical stops for snacks and bathroom
• Drive Cuesta del Obispo and Enchanted Valley
• Cross Los Cardones National Park
• Visit village with drying peppers
• Free time in Cachi for lunch and tour
• Return to Salta with technical stop

Day 3: Discover Humahuaca and Hornocal

• Travel from Salta to San Salvador de Jujuy
• Technical stop for bathroom and snacks
• Visit Cerro de los Siete Colores in Purmamarca
• Visit Tilcara and Pucará
• Visit village church and ceramic factory
• Transfer to 4x4 for Hornocal visit
• Stop in Humahuaca village
• Photo tour of Painter's Palettes
• Photo tour of Tropic of Capricorn
• Technical stop for bathroom and provisions
• Return to Salta with stops

The experience

The route opens with the Quebrada de Humahuaca, where you visit Purmamarca and its Cerro de los Siete Colores, then move into Tilcara before transferring to a 4x4 for the climb to Cerro Hornocal. The 14-color hill sits at the end of a winding mountain road, and the panoramic views span across the high desert. On the return, you stop in Humahuaca for 20 minutes to walk through the village. Bring lunch or something light for this day. There is no time to stop at a restaurant in Humahuaca.

Day two takes you through the Quebrada de las Conchas on Route 68, the Wine Route. The landscape shifts from desert to vineyards as you pass more than ten named rock formations: the Devil's Throat, the Amphitheater (with natural acoustics), the Toad, the Friar, the Obelisk, and the Castles. You arrive in Cafayate, a colonial village of single-storey baroque houses, where you have two free hours for lunch and exploring. The winery visit and wine tasting happen in the afternoon. The region grows Torrontés, Malbec, Tannat and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The final day climbs the Cuesta del Obispo (Bishop's Slope) and crosses Los Cardones National Park, where giant cacti dominate the landscape. You pass through the Enchanted Valley and Piedra del Molino at 3,400 meters before descending into Cachi, a town of cobblestone streets and adobe houses where time seems to have stopped. Two hours there lets you walk the ten-by-ten-block grid, taste local food, and visit the village church and ceramic factory. The return to Salta follows the same valleys, with technical stops for bathrooms and snacks along the way.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned transport throughout the three days.
• transfer to a 4x4 vehicle for the Hornocal mountain road.
• admission to Los Cardones National Park.
• winery visit with wine tasting in Cafayate.
• live guide in English or Spanish.
• government fees.

Before you book

AgesAdult (4 and older) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 23

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 37 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 26 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by La Quebrada Turismo

Is this one for you?Book this if you want three distinct regions (colorful mountains, wine valleys, and high-altitude desert) covered in one guided loop without backtracking, traveling with other guests in a shared vehicle.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 4).

What is Cerro Hornocal and why is it called the 14-color hill?

Cerro Hornocal is a mountain in the Serranías del Hornocal range near Tilcara, famous for its layered mineral deposits that create bands of color across the slope: reds, greens, grays, and yellows that shift with the light. The 14-color name refers to the distinct color bands visible from the viewpoint.

How much time do I have to explore Cafayate and Cachi?

Cafayate gives you two free hours to have lunch, walk the town and visit shops or galleries. Cachi also offers two hours free to explore the cobblestone streets, eat at a local restaurant, and visit the church and ceramic factory.

Is the winery visit included, and what wines will I taste?

Yes, the winery visit and wine tasting are included on day two in Cafayate. The region is known for Torrontés, a white wine, but also produces red grapes including Malbec, Tannat and Cabernet Sauvignon.

What is Los Cardones National Park like?

Los Cardones National Park sits at high altitude and is dominated by cardón cacti, which can grow very tall and are unique to this region. You pass through it on day three while crossing from the Lerma Valley toward Cachi, seeing the landscape shift from fertile valleys to high desert.

Do I need to bring my own lunch?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. On day one, you have limited time in Humahuaca, so the operator recommends bringing lunch or a light snack. On days two and three, you have two free hours in each town to buy and eat lunch at local restaurants.

What kind of vehicle is used, and will there be other passengers?

You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle for most of the tour. On day one, you transfer to a 4x4 vehicle for the mountain road up to Hornocal. The tour operates as a group with a live guide in English or Spanish.