Cachi and Los Cardones National Park tour from Salta

Cuesta del Obispo and the high-altitude cardón forest

A full-day tour from Salta to Cachi and Los Cardones National Park, traveling through mountain passes and high-altitude terrain with a live guide in English or Spanish. The route crosses Cuesta del Obispo, passes Piedra del Molino at 3,400 meters, and enters Argentina's only high-altitude national park before reaching the colonial town of Cachi for two hours of free time. Pickup from Salta is included. Lunch is on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Bishop’s Slope20m · entry included
2. Los Cardones National Park20m · entry included

Excursion to Cachi and Los Cardones Park

• Depart Salta through Lerma Valley
• Stop at El Carril for break
• Ascend Quebrada del Escoipe
• Drive Cuesta del Obispo and Enchanted Valley
• Visit Piedra del Molino
• Cross Los Cardones National Park
• Pass village with drying peppers
• Arrive in Cachi for 2-hour free time
• Return to Salta with stop in Chicoana or El Carril

The experience

The tour leaves Salta heading south through the Lerma Valley, then turns west into the Quebrada de Escoipe where the landscape begins to shift. You climb Cuesta del Obispo and pass through the Enchanted Valley, surrounded by mountains, before reaching Piedra del Molino at 3,400 meters above sea level. From there the route enters Los Cardones National Park (Argentina's only national park at high altitude), where the distinctive cardón cacti dominate the terrain. Technical stops along the way let you stretch and grab a snack or use facilities.

You arrive in Cachi around noon, a small colonial town set at the foot of the Nevados de Cachi peak. The town's ten-by-ten-block layout sits on cobblestone streets lined with adobe houses, many with their original facades. Two hours of free time lets you walk the streets, eat lunch at a local restaurant, and see how the town dries peppers on the roadside: a detail that marks the agricultural rhythm here. Before heading back to Salta, there's a technical stop in Chicoana or El Carril.

The full journey takes around ten to eleven hours. An air-conditioned vehicle and a live guide in English or Spanish are included. The guide handles the route and the stops while you take in the high-altitude scenery and the colonial architecture.

What’s included

• Admission to Los Cardones National Park.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• live guide in English or Spanish.
• pickup from Salta.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

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

GroupUp to 23

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 11 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 a full day covering high-altitude passes and a remote colonial town in one trip: the fixed route combines the Cuesta del Obispo, Enchanted Valley, and Cachi without backtracking.

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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): free.

What is Los Cardones National Park and why does this tour go there?

Los Cardones National Park is Argentina's only high-altitude national park, located above 3,000 meters. The tour passes through it on the way to Cachi, so you see the distinctive cardón cacti and the high-altitude landscape that defines this region.

How much free time do you get in Cachi itself?

You have two hours free in the town of Cachi to walk the cobblestone streets, have lunch at a local restaurant, and explore the colonial-style houses and narrow streets at your own pace.

What stops happen along the drive from Salta to Cachi?

The tour includes technical stops for bathrooms and snacks, plus time at Cuesta del Obispo and Piedra del Molino (3,400 meters), where you can see the mountain scenery and the cardón forest before entering Los Cardones National Park.

Is lunch included in this tour?

Lunch is not included. You eat on your own during the two free hours in Cachi, where local restaurants serve regional food.

What is the highest point you reach on this tour?

Piedra del Molino sits at 3,400 meters above sea level, the highest point you visit on the route. From there you can see the Nevados de Cachi peak at 6,380 meters in the distance.