Private tour to Iruya, Humahuaca & Tilcara from Salta

Fourteen hours through five mountain villages and the Hill of Seven Colors

A private tour from Salta into the Quebrada de Humahuaca, visiting Purmamarca, Tilcara, Humahuaca and Iruya with a live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese. The route covers 14 hours and includes pickup from your hotel, air-conditioned transport, and stops at the Hill of Seven Colors in Purmamarca, the Independence Monument in Humahuaca, and the Palette of the Painter rock formation in Maimara. Lunch is on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Quebrada de Humahuaca villages

• Depart Salta at 6:30 am
• Visit Purmamarca village
• Stop in Humahuaca town
• Arrive and explore Iruya village
• Stop in Tilcara village
• Return to Salta and drop off

The experience

The tour leaves your hotel at 6:30 am and heads north through RN 9/34 toward San Salvador de Jujuy, then into the Quebrada de Humahuaca. A valley carved through the Andes where the landscape shifts between volcanic peaks, adobe villages and terraced farmland. You stop first in Purmamarca to walk the main square where artisans sell textiles and pottery, and to see the Church and the Hill of Seven Colors, a striped mountain face that dominates the town.

From there the route continues to Humahuaca, where you walk through the colonial center and stand in front of the Independence Monument before breaking for lunch. On the way back toward Salta, you stop in Tilcara to taste local pastries and explore the village, then pass through Huacalera to cross the Tropic of Capricorn marker. The final stop is Maimara, where the Palette of the Painter (a massive rock wall painted in horizontal bands of red, yellow and brown) rises above the road. The drive back to Salta follows the same route, with drop-off at your hotel.

The vehicle is air-conditioned and seats up to 15 passengers on the group option, or just your party on the private version. Your guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese and travels the whole day with you. All entry fees and taxes are included. You arrange and pay for lunch separately in Humahuaca.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Salta.
• a live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• entry fees and taxes for all sites visited.

Options for this experience

2 options

Up to 4 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese06:30

Up to 15 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese06:30

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:30

Book up to10h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

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 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Parada Norte Travel

Is this one for you?Book the private option if your group wants to set the pace and stop longer at any village. The group option suits travelers who don't mind sharing the van and want a lower per-person cost.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

What is the Hill of Seven Colors in Purmamarca?

The Hill of Seven Colors is a mountain on the edge of Purmamarca whose face is striped in horizontal bands of different colored rock: reds, yellows, browns and grays. It rises directly above the town square and is the most photographed landmark in the Quebrada de Humahuaca.

How long does the tour take and when does it start?

The full tour runs 14 hours from start to finish. Pickup begins at 6:30 am from your hotel in Salta, and you return to your hotel in the late afternoon or early evening.

What is included in the price?

The price covers private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, pickup and drop-off at your hotel, a live guide in your chosen language, and all entry fees and taxes for the sites you visit. Lunch in Humahuaca is separate.

Can I book this tour for just my group, or does it run with other travelers?

You can book a fully private tour for your group only, or choose the group option for up to 15 passengers. Both options follow the same route and stops. The difference is whether you travel alone or share the vehicle.

Is the Palette of the Painter in Maimara on the way back to Salta?

Yes. Maimara sits on the return route between Humahuaca and Salta, so you stop there to see the Palette of the Painter rock formation before heading back to your hotel.