Salinas Grandes & Purmamarca tour: Salt flats and 7 Colors Hill

Walk the white salt crust and climb into the high Andes in one day

A full-day tour of Salinas Grandes, the vast white salt desert in Jujuy, with ascents of Lipan Hill to 4,170 meters and stops at Purmamarca's iconic Seven Colors Hill. Includes door-to-door pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, entrance fees and a local guide fluent in English, Spanish, Italian or French. The 12-hour itinerary covers over 200 square kilometers of salt landscape, geological formations and Andean wildlife habitat.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Great Salt Flats45m · entry included
2. Purmamarca15m · entry included

Explore Salinas Grandes and Purmamarca

• Pickup from accommodation
• Ascend Cuesta de Lipán mountain pass
• Visit Salinas Grandes salt desert
• Walk on salt crust and photograph wildlife
• Stop at Purmamarca village
• Admire Cerro de los Siete Colores
• Walk Los Colorados Trail
• Explore Purmamarca artisan market and village

The experience

Salinas Grandes spreads across more than 200 square kilometers of white salt crystal, formed by mineral sedimentation and known as the "White Sea" of South America. The tour starts with door-to-door pickup at 7:00 AM and climbs Lipan Hill on National Route 52, a fully paved mountain pass that rises over 2,000 meters from Purmamarca's village elevation to the Abra de los Potrerillos at 4,170 meters. As the road winds upward, the landscape shifts from the intense reds of the Quebrada de Humahuaca to the vast high desert of the Puna, with panoramic viewpoints built into the route itself.

Once at the salt flats, you walk on the endless white crust and watch how sunlight creates optical illusions across the crystalline surface. The tour includes stops to photograph llamas and vicuñas in their natural habitat and to learn about the artisanal salt extraction process that sustains indigenous Andean communities. A local guide explains the cultural and economic significance of salt mining alongside the geological story of the landscape.

Purmamarca's Cerro de los Siete Colores, the Hill of the Seven Colors, rises behind the village as a geological formation of layered minerals in terracotta, turquoise, violet and gold. The tour includes time to walk the Los Colorados Trail, a 3-kilometer circuit through crimson cliffs and natural monoliths that winds behind the mountain, or to explore the village's artisan market with textiles, ceramics and silver jewelry. The vehicle is air-conditioned throughout the 12-hour day, and entrance fees to all sites are included.

What’s included

• Door-to-door pickup and air-conditioned vehicle for the full 12 hours.
• entrance fees to Salinas Grandes, Lipan Hill and Purmamarca sites.
• professional local guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French.
• time to walk the Los Colorados Trail or explore Purmamarca's artisan market.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (26 to 59 years) · Senior (60 to 98 years) · Youth (15 to 25 years) · Child (6 to 14 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years)

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 7 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by DESTINO SALTA

Is this one for you?Book this if you're staying anywhere in the region and want to see both the salt desert and high-altitude viewpoint in one day: hotel pickup at 7:00 AM means no separate transport coordination needed, and the full 12-hour commitment fits both sites into a single departure.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (15 to 25 years); Child (6 to 14 years); Infant (1 to 5 years).

What is the Cerro de los Siete Colores and why is it called the Hill of the Seven Colors?

The Cerro de los Siete Colores is a geological wonder rising behind Purmamarca, formed over 600 million years of mineral sedimentation. Its layers of terracotta, turquoise, violet, gold and other minerals create the appearance of seven distinct colors when viewed from different angles and times of day, making it an iconic landmark of the Humahuaca Gorge.

How high does the tour climb, and what happens to the landscape as you ascend Lipan Hill?

Lipan Hill ascends from Purmamarca at 2,100 meters to the Abra de los Potrerillos at 4,170 meters, a climb of over 2,000 meters. As you rise, the landscape transforms from the intense reds of the Quebrada de Humahuaca to the vast high desert of the Puna, with constant changes of light and perspective across the Andean terrain.

What animals might I see on this tour?

Llamas and vicuñas are common sightings during the tour, particularly in the salt flat and high desert areas where they graze in their natural habitat. The guide will point out opportunities to photograph them and explain their role in the Andean ecosystem.

What is included in the tour price?

The tour includes door-to-door pickup at your accommodation, an air-conditioned vehicle for the full 12 hours, entrance fees to all sites, and a professional local guide fluent in English, Spanish, Italian or French who explains the history, geology and cultural traditions of the region.

What is the Los Colorados Trail, and do I have to walk it?

The Los Colorados Trail is a 3-kilometer circuit behind the Seven Colors Hill through crimson cliffs and natural monoliths, mostly flat and accessible to all fitness levels. The tour includes time at Purmamarca for this walk or to explore the village market. Your guide will explain the options when you arrive.