Salinas Grandes & Purmamarca day trip from Salta: 7-colored hill

Two geological wonders in one day: a 7-colored mountain and a salt flat at 3,400 meters

This full-day tour from Salta crosses the high passes of northwestern Argentina to reach Purmamarca's Cerro de los Siete Colores and the vast Salinas Grandes salt flats, with a live guide in English or Spanish and an air-conditioned vehicle. The itinerary includes a lunch stop in Purmamarca's village and photo breaks along the Cuesta de Lipán mountain road. You can book as a private tour or join a shared group departure.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Purmamarca15m
2. Great Salt Flats1h

Explore Purmamarca and Salinas Grandes

• Visit Purmamarca village
• Admire Cerro de los Siete Colores
• Walk Paseo de los Colorados trail
• Lunch in Purmamarca
• Photo stop at Cerro de los Siete Colores
• Drive Cuesta del Lipán road
• Photo stops on Cuesta del Lipán
• Reach peak at 4170 meters
• Visit Salinas Grandes salt flats
• Free time in Purmamarca
• Return to Salta

The experience

You leave Salta in an air-conditioned vehicle and head north into the Puna landscape. The first stop is Purmamarca, a town built around the Cerro de los Siete Colores: a geological formation striped in seven distinct colors that rises directly from the village plaza. You have time to walk the Paseo de los Colorados trail into the surrounding desert, explore the adobe-lined streets, visit the centuries-old Santa Rosa de Lima church, and browse the craft market at Plaza 9 de Julio. Lunch happens here at your own expense, giving you flexibility to eat where you choose in the village.

After Purmamarca, the route climbs the Cuesta de Lipán, a cornice road that winds upward through the clouds. The driver stops at scheduled viewpoints so you can photograph the landscape and feel the altitude: the peak sits at 4,170 meters above sea level. From there, the road descends to Salinas Grandes, a salt flat covering 212 square kilometers and sitting at 3,400 meters. The white salt bed stretches across the horizon, one of the ten best landscapes along Route 40. You walk on the salt, take photos, and stand in the vastness of the Puna before the return journey to Salta.

A live guide travels with you throughout the day and speaks English or Spanish, depending on your preference. The tour runs 12 hours total, so plan for an early start and a late return. You can book this as a private tour for your group or join a shared departure. Either way, pickup from your Salta accommodation is included.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle.
• live guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel pickup from Salta.
• stops at Purmamarca village with time to explore the Cerro de los Siete Colores, the craft market and the Santa Rosa de Lima church.
• photo breaks along the Cuesta de Lipán mountain road.
• access to Salinas Grandes salt flat.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 15

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 yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Luna Roja

Is this one for you?Choose the private tour if your group wants to set the pace and linger at viewpoints. The shared departure works well if you prefer to travel with other visitors and split the cost. Either way, the 12-hour day means you need a full commitment starting early and returning late, so book this when you have the time blocked out in Salta.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3): free.

What is the Cerro de los Siete Colores and why does it matter to Purmamarca?

The Cerro de los Siete Colores is a multi-colored hill striped in seven distinct hues that rises directly from the base of Purmamarca village. It is the iconic geological formation the town is built around, and the Paseo de los Colorados trail leads from the village into the surrounding desert with views of the mountain. You stop here for photos and a closer look at the rock formations.

How high is Salinas Grandes and what will I actually see there?

Salinas Grandes sits at 3,400 meters above sea level and covers 212 square kilometers of white salt bed. You walk on the salt flat itself and photograph the vastness of the landscape. It is one of the ten best landscapes along Route 40 in northwestern Argentina.

What happens during the Cuesta de Lipán part of the drive?

The Cuesta de Lipán is a mountain road that climbs to 4,170 meters, winding upward through the clouds along a cornice route. The driver makes scheduled photo stops so you can capture the landscape and experience the altitude before descending toward Salinas Grandes.

Can I eat lunch in Purmamarca, and is it included?

Yes, you have free time in Purmamarca to have lunch at a restaurant of your choice in the village. Lunch is at your own expense, so you can pick where and what you eat.

Is this tour private or shared, and does pickup from my hotel come with both options?

You can book this as a private tour for your group or join a shared full-day departure. Pickup from your Salta accommodation is included with both options.