Salta to Cachi tour: Cuesta del Obispo and Los Cardones

Twelve hours crossing the Andes from desert floor to puna plateau

A 12-hour guided tour from Salta climbs the Cuesta del Obispo switchback road through the Andes Precordillera, reaches the puna desert at 3,348 meters, crosses Los Cardones National Park, and ends in the colonial village of Cachi with a museum and artisan market. Hotel pickup and an air-conditioned vehicle with a bilingual guide are included; lunch is on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour from Salta to Cachi and back

• Pick up passengers from accommodations
• Drive along National Route 68 through Cerrillos, Merced, and Lane
• Breakfast stop at the bridge bad step
• Travel to Bishop’s hill for cheese and salami tasting
• Enjoy panoramic view at the millstone (3348 meters)
• Visit Los Cardones National Park
• Visit the speciero for traditional seasonings tasting and purchase
• Free time in Cachi for lunch and village tour
• Return to Salta and drop off passengers

The Experience

The tour starts with hotel pickup and heads north on Route 68 through the tobacco towns of Cerrillos, La Merced and El Carril before turning west toward the mountains. A breakfast stop at Puente Malo gives way to the Cuesta del Obispo, the famous switchback climb where the road winds through rock formations and natural walls steep enough to spot condors overhead. The road deposits you at the Millstone, the tour's highest point at 3,348 meters above sea level, where the landscape shifts from Andean valleys to the open desert of the puna.

From the plateau, the route follows the Tin Tin straight—part of the old Inca Trail—into Los Cardones National Park, the second largest cardon forest in the world. The cacti-studded desert gives way to Payogasta and then Cachi, a village where colonial architecture and narrow streets have stayed largely unchanged. After two free hours to explore on your own, you'll tour the Church, the Museum (which holds the history of indigenous communities in the region), and the artisan market where local craftspeople sell traditional work. A cheese and salame tasting happens somewhere along the climb, and the spice market in Cachi offers regional seasonings to taste and buy before the return drive to Salta.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return to your accommodation in Salta.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• a bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
• the cheese and salame tasting on Cuesta del Obispo.
• entry to Los Cardones National Park.
• access to Cachi's Church, Museum and artisan market.
• and two free hours to explore Cachi village on your own.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Parada Norte Travel

Is this one for you?Pick this if you're based in Salta city and want a full-day loop that climbs the Andes by vehicle, then walks the Cuesta del Obispo switchbacks to reach the puna plateau at 3,348 meters.

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Top questions

What is the Cuesta del Obispo and why does the tour spend time there?

The Cuesta del Obispo is a famous winding mountain road through the Andes Precordillera, surrounded by impressive rock formations and natural walls where condors can be spotted. The tour climbs this route as the main approach to the high puna plateau, making it a central part of the day's journey and the reason the landscape changes so dramatically.

How high does the tour go, and what happens at the highest point?

The tour reaches 3,348 meters above sea level at the Millstone, the highest point of the day. From there, the landscape shifts from the Andean valleys below into the open desert of the puna, and the route continues into Los Cardones National Park on the high plateau.

What is there to do in Cachi at the end of the tour?

Cachi offers two free hours to explore the village, tour the colonial Church, visit the Museum (which documents the indigenous communities of the region), and browse the artisan market where local craftspeople sell traditional goods. Lunch is available in the village but is not included in the tour price.

Does the tour include pickup from my hotel?

Yes, hotel pickup from your accommodation in Salta is included, and the tour returns you to your hotel at the end of the 12-hour day.

What is Los Cardones National Park, and what will I see there?

Los Cardones National Park is the second largest cardon forest in the world, located on the puna plateau. The tour passes through the park as part of the route between the high mountain pass and Cachi, traveling through desert landscape dotted with tall cardon cacti.

Is there a tasting or food experience included?

Yes, a cheese and salame tasting happens during the climb of Cuesta del Obispo, and the tour includes a stop at the spice market in Cachi where you can taste regional seasonings, though purchases are optional.