{"id":38821,"date":"2019-09-13T06:00:58","date_gmt":"2019-09-13T13:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/?p=38821"},"modified":"2025-08-25T22:17:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T05:17:13","slug":"salta-argentina-weekend-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/salta-argentina-weekend-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"A WEEKEND GUIDE TO SALTA, ARGENTINA"},"content":{"rendered":"

Salta, Argentina has oodles of charm. Throw in colourful colonial buildings, Inca ruins, out of the ordinary museums and fantastic day trips within the province, and it\u2019s easy to see why the city makes a great weekend break in Argentina.<\/p>\n

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QUICK FACTS ABOUT SALTA<\/h3>\n

Salta is the capital of the province of the same name in the north of Argentina. The area is famous for its folkloric music and white wines which are particularly delicious due to the favourable conditions created by the high altitude.<\/p>\n

Salta is Argentina\u2019s 7th<\/sup> most populous city but it feels more like a village. Cobbled streets, walkability along the delightful cobbled floors and a distinct lack of tall buildings create a small-town feeling. It\u2019s only when you get to the top of San Bernardo Hill (Cerro San Bernardo) that you really get to take in its grandeur.<\/p>\n

\"Cable<\/p>\n

Buenos Aires and the south of Argentina have a distinctly European look and feel, but Salta is the most indigenous province in Argentina in terms of ethnicity as well as culture. The city enjoys mostly Argentinian visitors (around 80%) and European guests who come all the way here specifically to be dazzled.<\/p>\n

Locals also boast that it\u2019s a very easy place to live. Students pay zero for public transportation, primary and secondary education costs nada<\/em> and healthcare and medicine are free too (for Argentines).<\/p>\n

It\u2019s got a bit of a laidback student vibe due to the two universities in the city, the private Universidad Cat\u00f3lica de Salta and Universidad Nacional, which is free.<\/p>\n

\"Plaza<\/p>\n

Salta is very traveller-friendly with hotels and tour operators dotted all around. It\u2019s also big on museums (all of which are closed on Mondays by the way).<\/p>\n

One of the world\u2019s most unique museums is right here; nowhere else can you visit an exhibition of perfectly-preserved mummified Inca children that were sacrificed to the other realm.<\/p>\n

\"Basilica<\/p>\n

WHERE TO STAY IN SALTA<\/h3>\n

HOTEL LEGADO MITICO<\/h4>\n

Regularly making it onto the list of Salta\u2019s best hotels is Legado M\u00edtico<\/a>, an intimate boutique property in the historical quarter. Legado is worthy of your leisure time even just for its open-air area and most importantly, the library and reading quarters.<\/p>\n

Set in a renovated townhouse, it has 11 rooms, each wholly unique and adhering to its own theme. The luxury rooms also have four-poster beds. Legado M\u00edtico<\/a> is a member of TheBBH<\/a>, an alliance of the best small luxury hotels in Latin America. All guests receive a complimentary glass of Salte\u00f1o<\/em> wine alongside meaty green olives with llama-shaped cocktail sticks.<\/p>\n

SHERATON<\/h4>\n

There are two 5-star hotels in Salta, one being the Alejandro 1<\/a> and the other being the Sheraton<\/a> on the east of the city. The Sheraton has an on-site Italian restaurant and rooms boast panoramic views of the Lerma Valley.<\/p>\n

ALEJANDRO 1<\/h4>\n

This stunning property in the centre of town has an indoor pool and state of the art gym. Alejandro 1<\/a> overlooks Belgrano square and has doctors on call should you succumb to altitude sickness at any point. The rooms are luxurious and you pretty much get 5-star service for a 4-star price.<\/p>\n

LOS AMIGOS DE LA LINDA <\/h4>\n

Los Amigos de la Linda<\/a> is a laid-back hostel and hotel that\u2019s popular with backpackers and budget travellers. Rooms are spacious and it\u2019s a stone\u2019s throw from the nightlife of Balcarce Street and within walking distance from Salta station.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

WHAT TO DO IN SALTA<\/h3>\n

Read on to discover the sights, sounds and feelings capable of capturing your heart. Here\u2019s how to spend a weekend in the city of Salta, Argentina.<\/p>\n

FRIDAY AFTERNOON<\/h4>\n

Much of Salta can be discovered on foot. After checking in to your hotel, a stroll to the tranquil Plaza 9 de Julio is practically obligatory as it\u2019s the undisputed heart of the city.<\/p>\n

Here you\u2019ll encounter locals drinking mate, playing the guitar and leisurely taking in Salta\u2019s renowned warm weather. Situate yourself at one of the many alfresco cafes and enjoy traditional dances put on by Salte\u00f1os<\/em> of all ages as well as the colourful buildings and charming architecture which is French, Colonial and neo-gothic.<\/p>\n

Within the square, you\u2019ll immediately notice the candy-coloured Cathedral Basilica de Salta. This is one of Salta\u2019s most recognizable buildings and it\u2019s also a Freemason\u2019s church – watch out for the all-seeing-eye watching over you.<\/p>\n

\"Cathedral<\/p>\n

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FRIDAY EVENING <\/h4>\n

No trip to Salta is complete without visiting a pe\u00f1a<\/em>, a traditional eatery with live music, regional food, dancing and much revelry.<\/p>\n

For dinner on day one, I would propose heading to La Vieja Estaci\u00f3n<\/a> where you\u2019ll be treated to live music and an impassioned performance from Gauchos, which are Argentinian cowboys.<\/p>\n

Salta is a great place to learn about Argentina\u2019s various traditional dances. There\u2019s the tango (naturally), chamame, zamba, queja and the malambo.<\/p>\n

\"Dancing<\/p>\n

Here at La Vieja Estaci\u00f3n, you get to witness the malambo live on centre stage. This fiery traditional dance sees men dueling with one another to show off their strength and agility via the \u201czapateo\u201d, a term for very<\/em> fancy footwork.<\/p>\n

When the men dance among themselves, their glares are tense as they\u2019re in competition with one another. When the ladies come into the fold, they\u2019re like sweet hummingbirds. It\u2019s also a dance of old-fashioned romance; the girls are in white dresses and the men are in black and red gaucho attire and they exchange handkerchiefs as a sign of their adoration.<\/p>\n

I was sat in the front and so close I even got a hanky in my face at one point (and loved every second of it). It\u2019s an extremely entertaining and energetic show and audience members are later invited to partake and learn some moves.<\/p>\n

\"Band<\/p>\n

Between the dances, a live band gives a musical performance tinged with comedy. The band interacts with audience members (in Spanish) and proceeds to play a localised version of a song from their country.<\/p>\n

After mentioning that I was from London, they devised a folkloric-sounding version of The Beatle\u2019s \u201cDay Tripper\u201d. The band was really impressive and they were able to play a crowd-pleasing titbit from every guest\u2019s country besides Japan.<\/p>\n

Later, the singer proposed a toast to the audience: “to health happiness, money and more money and even more money\u201d. An audience member shouted out, \u201cbut what about love?\u201d to which the singer replied \u201cmy friends, love comes with money\u201d and the crowd erupted into a collective giggle.<\/p>\n

In actual fact, all the songs played were about love: love of the land, romantic love and love for Salta. It\u2019s a great evening out and La Vieja Estaci\u00f3n is rather popular so do reserve ahead.<\/p>\n

\"Food<\/p>\n

SATURDAY MORNING <\/h4>\n

On this trip, I stayed at the Legado M\u00edtico<\/a> boutique hotel where all bookings include a hearty breakfast of fresh fruit, cheeses, tantalising Argentinian meat cuts and pan caseros<\/em> (homemade bread). You might then want to spend some time relaxing in your private balcony or in one of the breakaway reading areas.<\/p>\n

\"Lounge<\/p>\n

SATURDAY AFTERNOON<\/h4>\n

To cram six sights into one day, take a half-day city tour by car with UMA Travel<\/a>. The tour is bilingual (English and Spanish) and commences at 4 pm till around 8 pm at a reasonable cost of 775 Argentine Pesos (around 29 US Dollars).<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll be picked up from wherever you\u2019re staying shortly before the start time. Our guide for the day was the lovely and very knowledgeable Javier who describes himself as \u201ca fake Argentinian\u201d due to his dislike of wine.<\/p>\n

\"Cerro<\/p>\n

CERRO SAN BERNARDO<\/h5>\n

The first stop on the tour is Cerro San Bernardo, a hill that watches over Salta that\u2019s unquestionably the best vantage point to admire the city\u2019s splendour. A man-made waterfall, two restaurants, souvenir shops, a mobile wine store (and even a gym) will keep you entertained at the top as you devour panoramic views of the city.<\/p>\n

There are three ways to get to the top: by car, by walking or running up a designated footpath or with the Telef\u00e9rico cable car. This option is unbelievably picturesque and costs 400 Pesos (about 15 USD). If you don\u2019t go up the hill by car with the organised tour then you should absolutely take the Telef\u00e9rico which entices unsuspecting visitors who were none the wiser of the city\u2019s beauty.<\/p>\n

\"Telef\u00e9rico<\/p>\n

SAN LORENZO<\/h5>\n

A scenic drive out to the neighbouring town of San Lorenzo is up next. San Lorenzo used to be a summer town for the aristocracy. When Napoleon invaded Spain, lots of wealthy Spaniards fled to Argentina and brought their silver with them so there\u2019s a lot of visible wealth here.<\/p>\n

You get to spot a majestic white building which happens to be the childhood home of Argentina-born Dutch Queen Maxima Zorreguieta. A stone\u2019s throw from this is the equally elegant Castillo de San Lorenzo hotel.<\/p>\n

On the way to San Lorenzo, I noticed what has to be the oddest makeshift pop up shop I\u2019ve ever come across \u2013 a roadside \u201cshop\u201d solely selling swimming pool floats out of the back of someone\u2019s car boot. This somewhat makes sense as San Lorenzo has a river where locals famously camp, picnic and just enjoy life Salte\u00f1o style.<\/p>\n

On the tour, we stopped for snacks at Don Sanca<\/a>, a lovely restaurant with outdoor seating. Here I had a cup of tea alongside a beef empanada that came with moderately spicy tomato salsa.<\/p>\n

\"Don<\/p>\n

MONUMENTO 20 DE FEBRERO<\/h5>\n

Back within the city limits, the tour also stops at the Monumento 20 de Febrero<\/a>, which honours the victims of the battle of Salta in Plaza Armada Argentina. There\u2019s a half-hour stop at the handicraft market too so you can get your hands on all sorts of trinkets, textiles, Andean souvenirs and keepsakes.<\/p>\n

PLAZA 9 DE JULIO<\/h5>\n

The final stop is back at Plaza 9 de Julio where you arrive just in time for dinner. Here Javier explained some local history and Salta quirks that you simply won\u2019t find in the guidebooks. Uma Travel runs this half-day city tour every day so feel free to go on it whichever day suits you best.<\/p>\n

\"Telef\u00e9rico<\/h4>\n

SATURDAY EVENING<\/h4>\n

La Casona del Molino<\/a> (The Mill House) is considered to be the last true pe\u00f1a<\/em> standing in Salta where gauchos drink wine, sing all night and tuck into authentic Salte\u00f1a<\/em> empanadas. Do try the local delicacies of tamales or humitas or the sangria there which is made with either red or white wine, orange, lemon and az\u00facar <\/em>(sugar).<\/p>\n

It\u2019s open every day besides Monday and it\u2019s pumping anytime between 8:30 pm and 5 am. If you go in and it looks full, walk further in cause there\u2019s additional seating at the back. Also, don\u2019t be surprised to see locals with their cheeks stuffed full of coca leaves which combat altitude sickness.<\/p>\n

While at Casona del Molino you may be lucky to catch a live performance from Rodrigo Moro who\u2019s somewhat of a local celebrity. Rodrigo is so synonymous with this place that a football fan at the World Cup in Russia recognized him as \u201cthe guy from Salta\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"La<\/p>\n

SUNDAY<\/h4>\n
FOOD<\/h5>\n

If you haven\u2019t already gotten round to it, have your fill of empanadas before your trip comes to an end. Salta enjoys a mild empanada rivalry of sorts with other Argentinian provinces. The empanadas here are juicily famous and Bolivians are actually said to call all empanadas \u201cSalte\u00f1as\u201d \u2013 they\u2019re that good.<\/p>\n

Many locals will cite Do\u00f1a Salta<\/a> as the place to get the best ones and the staff there are friendly and warm. If it\u2019s a sweet treat that tickles your fancy, stop at Nino Helados<\/a> and sample their various dulce de leche ice cream flavours.<\/p>\n

\"Nino<\/p>\n

MUSEUMS<\/h5>\n

Sunday may be spent enjoying Salta\u2019s various museums which give you a well-rounded insight into the region and its significance in Argentina\u2019s history.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s the Museum of Fine Arts (Museo de Bellas Artes de Salta) and Museo Guemes which attempts to outline the life and death of Martin Miguel de G\u00fcemes (a Salta hero of the Argentine War of Independence) in a light manner via interactive videos and talking portraits. It takes about an hour to go through the museum, photos are indeed permitted and you do need to understand Spanish for the talking exhibits.<\/p>\n

Adventurous souls may also pay a visit to Salta\u2019s Museum of High Altitude Archaeology<\/a> (MAAM) where three well cryopreserved Inca children reside. The children were found 6,739 metres high in the Llullaillaco volcano in the Andes in the east of the Salta province along the border with Chile.<\/p>\n

Quechua linguists believe that Llullaillaco could mean \u201cwater of memory\u201d or \u201cthat which hides away the water\u201d. North American anthropologist Johan Reinhard studied the volcano during an expedition in 1999 where he discovered the bodies of the Llullaillaco children and their treasure trove of funerary goods.<\/p>\n

\"Museo<\/p>\n

It may be news to some that Argentina was part of the Inca Empire, of which Cusco was the capital. Even if the idea of mummified children may not sit so well with you, the Museo de Arqueolog\u00eda de Alta Monta\u00f1a is a great place to learn about the cryopreservation methods used as well as the Inca cosmos and their connection to the spiritual: an ideal yet invisible world. The children were sacrificed to the gods and looking at the spookily lifelike figures (with black hair and all), you\u2019ll notice intentionally deformed skulls which denote their noble origin and high social standing.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t have to see the bodies if you don\u2019t wish to as they\u2019re behind a screen. There are three children in total though the exhibit rotates and you\u2019ll only ever see one in the flesh at any given time to keep them well-preserved.<\/p>\n

Though over 500 years old, The Maiden (La Doncella) \u201cis\u201d technically 15-years old, The Boy (El Ni\u00f1o) is 7, and The Girl of Lightning (La Ni\u00f1a del Rayo) is just over 6 years old. Note that there\u2019s no photography allowed inside. The museum itself is in a beautiful historic building and the full tour takes around an hour.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

SALTA WEEKEND WRAP UP<\/h3>\n

The city of Salta surprised me in so many ways. Many use it as a base to explore the rest of the northwest region and Salta province which is ridiculously diverse in topography. A day trip to the kaleidoscope rock formation of Quebrada de Humahuaca is possible from here and Train to the Clouds<\/a> (Tren a las Nubes) departs from the main train station here too.<\/p>\n

I leave Salta with a heavy heart having discovered a new resplendent corner of the world \u2013 and perhaps having consumed one juicy empanada too many.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

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We hope that this article has inspired you to visit Salta, Argentina. If you have any questions about the destination or have your own travel tips to share please leave these in the comments below. <\/b><\/p>\n

Want to share your own travel tips by guest writing for We Are Travel Girls? Go to our Contribute<\/a> page for guidelines and to submit your article.<\/b><\/p>\n

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Our Top Places To Stay In Salta, Argentina:<\/em><\/h4>\n