North-west Argentina Self-Drive | The Ultimate Travel Company

ITINERARY INSPIRATION

Northwest Argentina Self-Drive

If you’re an avid photographer, a painter or a collector of stunning scenery the north-west region of Argentina will delight your eye.
ARGENTINA, SOUTH AMERICA

ABOUT THE ITINERARY

Over the next 9 days, you will embark on a breathtaking self-drive through north-west Argentina, focusing on the highlights of this remarkable region. This high-altitude area has some of the most impressive and unique scenery in all of South America, and we have designed the route to allow you to acclimatise and sleep in towns and villages at lower altitudes.

During your time in the north-west you will discover numerous attractions, including the sparkling and mesmeric salt flats around Salta, the Seven Colour Hills by Purmamarca and numerous adobe villages and craft markets. You will pass through an array of jaw-dropping landscapes, enjoy world-class white wines in some of the highest altitude wineries in the world and have a chance to explore the beautiful colonial city of Salta.

The north-west itinerary has been designed to either be a standalone trip or as an addition to a larger itinerary around Argentina. The area’s proximity to neighbouring Chile and Bolivia also means it can be combined with either country too, possibly the Atacama Desert in Chile or the Salt Flats in Bolivia.

Seven Colour Hills by Purmamarca
ITINERARY INSPIRATION

DESIGNED BY SPECIALISTS

Bear in mind, these are just a starting point as all holidays are customised to the specific requirements of our guests. Whether you prefer a different style of accommodation, a greater focus on a particular interest or to go to a different destination all together, every itinerary is created individually around your preferences.

DAY 1-2

SALTA

Take a direct flight from Buenos Aires to Salta. Check in and pick up your hire car from your charming boutique hotel just a few blocks from the centre of town.

Despite being in a desert, Salta is famous for its spring like climate and is surrounded by green hills. It was once one of the most affluent cities in all of Argentina, but went into decline after Buenos Aires was declared the capital. Nowadays it’s a popular place to come and enjoy the warm climate, long sunny days and relax in one of the lively cafés and bars surrounding the main plaza.

After settling into your hotel you will be taken on a private tour of Salta’s main attractions, including the beautiful Plaza 9 de Julio, the MAAM (Museum of high altitude archaeology) and get a chance to discover its many well-kept historic buildings.

Stay: Two nights at the Legado Mitico Salta – bed & breakfast

PURMAMARCA, ARGENTINA
DAY 3-4

PURMAMARCA

Set off early in the morning into the northern province of Jujuy, home to traditional Andean villages and some of South America’s most remarkable landscapes. Similar to the wild-west, but over 3,000m in altitude, the area is referred to as the puna and comprises of canyons dotted with cacti, charming adobe towns and parched desert.

Over the next two days you will stay in the colonial village of Purmamarca (2,400m), set at the foot of the astonishing Seven Colours Hills where different geological eras are picked out in purple, red, green, ochre, brown, yellow and white rocks.

You’ll take in the main church, founded in 1648, and a 500 year old tree and journey on to the Great Salt Flats, Argentina’s largest and most impressive at over 3,500m high. Here you’ll be able to witness the mirror mirage created by sunshine on the salt surface.

You will also visit the historic village of San Antonio de las Cobres, a high-altitude village on the Argentine puna, known for its handicrafts.

Stay: Two nights at El Manantial del Silencio – bed & breakfast

Northwest Argentina | The Ultimate Travel Company
DAY 5

CACHI

Today you will head south to the small town of Cachi (2,280m), famous for its white buildings, traditional adobe homes and attractive stone-paved streets.

Giant cacti will point the way to Cachi and the drive takes you along an impressive mountain road known as Cuesta del Obispo, where on a clear day you’re greeted to magnificent views across the mountains. The winding mountain road reaches its highest point at Piedra del Molino (3,367m), before sloping down to Cachi.

Stay: One night at La Merced del Alto – bed & breakfast

Northwest Argentina | The Ultimate Travel Company
DAY 6-7

CAFAYATE

After breakfast you embark on a journey to Cafayate (1,683m) that winds through a place called Little Hell, before arriving in the Calchaqui Valleys. The scenery is nothing short of miraculous, and ever-changing. Pushing on, the countryside changes dramatically from svelte grass-cloaked mountains to desert highlands. You pass through the spectacular fortifications of the town of Quilmes dating back to 800 AD and nowadays a centre for the Quilmes Native Community.

After an unforgettable journey you’ll arrive in the small city of Cafayate, known for its Torrontes wine and crafts market. The following day you’ll tour the region’s fine wineries, visit a cathedral with five aisles and tour the Archaeological Museum before exploring the weird natural sandstone sculptures and weather-carved rock formations of the Shells’ Gorge.

Stay: Two nights at Grace Cafayate – bed & breakfast

Northwest Argentina | The Ultimate Travel Company
DAY 8

SALTA

Your final full day in the northwest is spent on the beautiful journey back to Salta.

Stay: One night at the Legado Mitico Salta – bed & breakfast

DAY 9

FLY HOME

After breakfast, you’ll drop off your hire car and return to Salta airport to board your onward flight to Buenos Aires.

THE PRICE BREAKDOWN
9 days from £4,893 per person

PRICE INCLUDES

  • International flights
  • Domestic flights between Buenos Aires and Salta
  • Car hire
  • Bed & breakfast throughout
  • All national park fees
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“BEAUTIFULLY ORGANISED AND PERFECT RECOMMENDATIONS. ”
“What a fantastic trip organised by Ultimate. They listened to what we wanted and set up perfect destinations for us. Everyone was friendly and professional from the office in London through to on-the-ground support. The organisation of pick-ups, connecting flights and so on, went like clockwork.”
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“MY FIRST PORT OF CALL FROM NOW ON. ”
“Efficient, friendly and helpful throughout. made everything a million times easier, Ultimate Travel Company will by my first port of call from now on.”
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“FANTASTIC!”
“Sophie went above and beyond to ensure we had a fantastic honeymoon. We had 0 stress relating to planning and everything was taken care of from the moment we stepped off the plane. Sophie anticipated what we wanted when we didn’t even know ourselves. We will certainly be booking with Ultimate again.”
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“PROBLEM FREE EXCELLENCE.”
“Efficiently organised, everything went like clockwork. This is all the more remarkable since the tour involved considerable complexity.”
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“AN EFFICIENT AND RELIABLE COMPANY.”
“We have continued to ask Ultimate Travel to make our distant overseas travel arrangements for many years and they have always given us great service.”
TAILOR-MADE TRAVEL

ITINERARY INSPIRATION

Northwest Argentina | The Ultimate Travel Company
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