Salta to Cafayate, Cachi & Salinas: Guided Multi-Day Tour

Summary

Three days exploring Cafayate, Cachi and the Salinas Grandes

You’ll ride from Salta into Cafayate’s painted ravines, taste wine among vineyards, climb mountain roads to Cachi’s colonial streets, and walk across blinding white salt flats at Salinas Grandes with a local guide. Expect early starts, hotel pickup within central Salta, plenty of stops for photos (and empanadas), plus stories you’ll remember long after the trip.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit, I almost bailed on the early pickup that first morning in Salta — 7am is not my hour. But by the time we were winding through Quebrada de las Conchas, with sunlight bouncing off those red cliffs and our guide Martín pointing out shapes in the rocks (“That one’s supposed to be a frog, see?”), I was wide awake. The air smelled dusty-sweet, like warm earth after rain. We stopped at Garganta del Diablo — Devil’s Throat — and it echoed when someone tried singing inside. Not me. Maybe next time.

Cafayate itself felt slow in the best way. I wandered past sleepy dogs in the plaza before lunch (empanadas, obviously), then we visited a small winery where the owner let us try torrontés straight from the barrel. It tasted like peaches and sunlight — or maybe that was just how I felt right then. The drive back was quiet; everyone sort of sunk into their seats watching colors shift outside.

The next day was Cachi, through green valleys and up Cuesta del Obispo. At one point Martín pulled over so we could feel how thin and cold the air got at altitude — my ears popped, and someone joked about needing coca leaves (he wasn’t wrong). Los Cardones National Park looked endless with its spiky cacti lined up like silent sentinels. In town, old adobe walls glowed under the afternoon sun and an old man waved at us from his doorstep without saying a word.

Salinas Grandes was last. That white salt flat is so bright it hurts your eyes if you forget sunglasses (I did). There’s this hush out there — even with other groups around, it feels empty in a good way. We paid a small fee to the local community to walk out further; our guide explained how they manage visits now to protect the land. On the drive back down Cuesta de Lipán, hairpin turns made my stomach flip but also gave us those wild views over Purmamarca’s colored hills. I still think about that silence on the salt flats sometimes — weirdly peaceful.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Excursion to Cafayate

• Passenger pickup in Salta
• Drive and stops at Quebrada de las Conchas
• Visit Devil’s Throat
• Visit natural formations
• Winery visit, lunch, and town exploration

Day 2 — Excursion to Cachi

• Passenger pickup in Salta
• Travel to Carril and Quebrada del Escoipe
• Stops at Cuesta del Obispo
• Stops at Tin Tin Straight Line
• Explore Los Cardones National Park
• Free time in Cachi for lunch and walking

Day 3 — Excursion to Salinas Grandes

• Passenger pickup in Salta
• Stop at Mirador del Cerro de 7 Colores in Purmamarca
• Ascent via Cuesta de Lipan with stops
• Visit Salinas Grandes and optional sites
• Free time in Purmamarca for lunch and visit

Top questions

How long does each excursion from Salta take?

Each day trip lasts between 12 and 14 hours including travel time.

Is hotel pickup included for these tours?

Yes, pickup is included for hotels within 20 blocks of Salta's main square.

What do you see on the Cafayate day trip?

You visit Quebrada de las Conchas, Garganta del Diablo, Cafayate town, and a local winery.

Are meals or wine tastings included?

The tour includes winery visits; lunch is free time at your own expense in town.

Do you visit Los Cardones National Park on this tour?

Yes, you explore Los Cardones National Park during the Cachi excursion.

How do you access Salinas Grandes?

You reach Salinas Grandes via Purmamarca and Cuesta de Lipán; entry requires a small fee paid to the local community.

Is this tour suitable for families with children?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels; infants can use strollers or prams.

Are there any physical restrictions?

The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries due to long drives and altitude changes.

What’s included

Your days include hotel pickup within central Salta, comfortable air-conditioned transport throughout each route, guided stops at natural wonders like Quebrada de las Conchas and Los Cardones National Park, entry to key sites such as Garganta del Diablo and Salinas Grandes (with community contribution), plus free time for lunch and exploring towns along the way before returning each evening.