Salinas Grandes & Purmamarca Salt Flats Tour: 11-Hour Adventure

Cross four mountain passes to stand in a white salt desert stretching to the horizon

A full-day tour from Salta to Salinas Grandes and Purmamarca combines a bilingual guide and round-trip transport to reach one of Argentina's most striking natural wonders. The route climbs through the Humahuaca Ravine, passes through Andean towns including Purmamarca with its Cerro de los Siete Colores, and ascends the Cuesta de Lipán to 4,170 meters before arriving at the salt flats. The tour includes stops for photos and walks along the way, with lunch in Purmamarca before returning to your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour to Salinas Grandes and Purmamarca

• Depart from Salta city center
• Drive through General Güemes via RN 34
• Visit Yala and Volcán towns
• Explore Purmamarca and Cerro de los 7 Colores
• Ascend Cuesta de Lipán to 4,170 meters
• Travel to Salinas Grandes salt flats
• Return to Purmamarca for lunch and exploration
• Walk and take photos during stops
• Return to hotel

The experience

How do you reach a salt desert that spans the border between two provinces without driving yourself? This tour handles the navigation and the altitude gain: the road climbs from Salta through the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a ravine carved through the Andes, passing small towns like Yala and Volcán before reaching Purmamarca. The Cerro de los Siete Colores, a striped mountain that dominates the town, marks the point where the landscape shifts toward higher terrain. From there, the route enters the Cuesta de Lipán, a steep pass that gains elevation until you reach 4,170 meters above sea level, where the vegetation thins and the views open across the Argentine Puna.

The Salinas Grandes themselves occupy a territory shared between Salta and Jujuy provinces, and the tour approaches from the Jujuy side to capture the best angle of the landscape. What you see is a vast white expanse of salt that stretches to every horizon, not a lake or a mirage, but a genuine salt flat that has been mined for centuries. The guide explains the local geology and flora as you move through the different zones of the day, and the itinerary builds in stops where you can walk and photograph the terrain. Lunch happens back in Purmamarca, where regional dishes featuring llama meat are served in the town's rustic streets before the drive back to Salta.

The tour runs 11 to 12 hours total, which accounts for the driving time across high passes and the stops built into the route. A bilingual guide travels with the group and speaks English, Spanish, or French depending on the booking. Hotel pickup is included, so you don't arrange transport to the meeting point. The vehicle collects you and returns you at the end of the day.

What’s included

• Round-trip hotel pickup and transport in a shared vehicle.
• a bilingual accredited guide in English, Spanish, or French.
• stops for walking and photography throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (3 to 90 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by ParaViajantes Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a full day free and prefer a structured itinerary with set stops. The group follows a planned route covering high passes and salt flats rather than customizing the route on the go.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

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

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Cerro de los Siete Colores that the tour visits in Purmamarca?

The Cerro de los Siete Colores is a distinctive striped mountain that rises above Purmamarca and is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Humahuaca Ravine. The mountain's name means "Hill of the Seven Colors" and refers to the different mineral layers visible in its rock face. The tour includes time in Purmamarca to see the mountain and explore the town's picturesque streets.

How high does the tour climb, and what should I expect at that altitude?

The highest point of the tour is the Cuesta de Lipán pass at 4,170 meters above sea level. At this elevation, the landscape shifts dramatically: vegetation becomes sparse and the views across the Argentine Puna open up in all directions. The guide points out the local flora and fauna adapted to the high altitude as you pass through.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included in the tour price, but the itinerary includes a stop in Purmamarca where you can order regional dishes. The town has restaurants serving local specialties, including llama meat, and you pay separately for what you eat.

What is Salinas Grandes and why is it worth the long drive?

Salinas Grandes is one of Argentina's most impressive natural wonders: a vast salt desert that stretches across the horizon in an unbroken white expanse. The salt flat is shared between Salta and Jujuy provinces and has been mined for centuries. The tour approaches from the Jujuy side to give you the best views, and the landscape is unlike anything else in the region.

Does the tour include time to walk around and take photos?

Yes, the itinerary builds in stops throughout the day where you can walk and photograph the terrain. The route crosses several dramatic landscapes (the Quebrada de Humahuaca, the high passes, and the salt flats themselves), and the guide times the stops so you can capture the scenery.