Salinas Grandes & Purmamarca tour from Salta: 4,170 meters

The salt flats sit at the height where the air gets thin and the landscape turns white.

This full-day tour from Salta climbs to Salinas Grandes, the third-largest salt flat in Latin America, with stops in Purmamarca and a crossing of the Cuesta de Lipán at 4,170 meters. The tour runs 11 to 12 hours, includes an air-conditioned vehicle and a live guide in English or Spanish, with hotel pickup from central Salta. You get roughly 45 minutes to an hour walking the salt pools and sculptures, then 2 hours free in Purmamarca to explore the town and eat lunch on your own. Entry to Salinas Grandes is paid separately to local operators.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day tour to Salinas Grandes and Purmamarca

• Depart from Salta city
• Drive through General Güemes and Jujuy province
• Technical stop at Volcán
• Photo stop at Purmamarca town
• Drive through Cuesta de Lipán mountain road
• Free time at Salinas Grandes salt flats
• Return to Purmamarca for free time and lunch
• Return to Salta with technical stops

The experience

The tour leaves Salta at 7:00 a.m. from the city center and heads north through General Güemes on Route 34, entering Jujuy province and the Quebrada de Humahuaca. You pass through small towns like Yala and Volcán before reaching Purmamarca for a 20-minute photo stop in front of the Cerro de los Siete Colores, the seven-colored mountain that rises above the town. The route itself covers 460 kilometers round-trip, so much of the day is spent on the road through high-altitude landscape.

The Cuesta de Lipán is where the terrain shifts. This winding mountain pass climbs to 4,170 meters above sea level, and the flora and fauna change visibly as you ascend: green and brown scrubland giving way to thinner air and wider views. Once at Salinas Grandes, you have 45 minutes to an hour to walk among the salt pools and salt sculptures, take photos, and visit the salt restaurant if you want. This is the third-largest salt flat in Latin America, and the white expanse is stark and open. Entry here is paid separately to regional operators, estimated at around 5,000 Argentine pesos.

After Salinas Grandes, the tour returns to Purmamarca for 2 free hours. This is when most travelers eat lunch, walk the narrow cobbled streets, and browse the craft market. If you want, you can hike the Paseo de los Colorados, a 30- to 40-minute walk through the hills behind town. The return to Salta leaves in the late afternoon and arrives between 8:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., with technical stops along the way for restrooms and snacks.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle for the full 460-kilometer round-trip.
• live guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel pickup from central Salta.
• technical stops for restrooms and snacks along the route.
• entry to the towns of Purmamarca and the Cuesta de Lipán pass.

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by La Quebrada Turismo

Is this one for you?Book this if you're based in Salta and can commit to a full day in a vehicle climbing to 4,170 meters. You'll see Cerro de los Siete Colores, Salinas Grandes salt flats, and Purmamarca market in one loop.

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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 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.

How much time do I actually get to walk around Salinas Grandes?

Salinas Grandes gives you 45 minutes to an hour to explore the salt pools, take photos and visit the salt restaurant. The rest of the 12-hour day is travel time and stops in Purmamarca.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included. You have 2 free hours in Purmamarca to buy food at local restaurants or cafés in the town. Drinks and tips are also your own cost.

What is the Cerro de los Siete Colores and why does it look different in the morning?

The Cerro de los Siete Colores is the seven-colored mountain that rises above Purmamarca. The tour stops there early in the morning because the position of the sun at that hour brings out the different mineral colors in the rock (reds, greens, browns and purples) most vividly.

Do I need to pay extra to enter Salinas Grandes?

Yes, entry to Salinas Grandes is paid separately to local operators in the region. The estimated cost is around 5,000 Argentine pesos and is not included in the tour price.

What happens at the Cuesta de Lipán?

The Cuesta de Lipán is a winding mountain pass that climbs to 4,170 meters above sea level. As you ascend, the landscape changes. You see different plants and animals adapted to high altitude, and the views of the puna expand. It is a technical stop where the driver navigates the switchbacks.

Can I do the Paseo de los Colorados hike during the free time in Purmamarca?

Yes, the Paseo de los Colorados is a 30- to 40-minute walk through the hills behind Purmamarca. You can do it during your 2 free hours in town, though you will need to leave time for lunch as well.