📍 Argentina

NORTHWEST ARGENTINA: COLONIAL TOWNS AND ANDEAN COLORS

Seven colors set the Andean peaks ablaze, colonial bells ring, vineyards climb. Northwest Argentina is a land dressed in impossible hues.

≈ 10
Days
0
Km
9
Stops
📖 6 min read 🔄 Last updated: 2026-01-17

Stroll Salta's colonial squares, admire Purmamarca's seven-colored mountain, visit Tilcara's fortress and discover villages along the Quebrada de Humahuaca. Northwest Argentina offers landscapes of impossible colors.

Your day-by-day itinerary

1
Day

Salta

colonial plaza andean heart

Salta - Photo 1Salta - Photo 2Salta - Photo 3Salta - Photo 4Salta - Photo 5Salta - Photo 6Salta - Photo 7Salta - Photo 8Salta - Photo 9Salta - Photo 10
10 photos
Day 1
🔍

Discover

1
Explore Salta la Linda historic center with colonial architecture
2
Visit the main plaza and surrounding churches
🎯

Activities

→
Stroll through the Lerma Valley setting
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Explore contrast of colonial buildings with modern urban architecture
2
Day

Purmamarca

seven colors mountain glow

Purmamarca - Photo 1Purmamarca - Photo 2Purmamarca - Photo 3
3 photos
Day 2
🔍

Discover

1
Cerro de los Siete Colores (Hill of the Seven Colors)
🎯

Activities

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Hike around the hill following the well-defined trail
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Photograph the yellow, orange, red, pink, gray, green, and black rock strata
3
Day

Tilcara

fortress canyon pre-inca stone

Tilcara - Photo 1Tilcara - Photo 2Tilcara - Photo 3Tilcara - Photo 4Tilcara - Photo 5Tilcara - Photo 6Tilcara - Photo 7Tilcara - Photo 8Tilcara - Photo 9
9 photos
Day 3
🔍

Discover

1
Museo Arqueológico Dr Eduardo Casanova with Inca masks, pre-Inca mummy, and ceramics
2
Pucará de Tilcara, a 1,000-year-old ruined fort
🎯

Activities

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Explore the pre-Inca era origins of this 6,000-inhabitant town
4
Day

Humahuaca

adobe villages cliff side

Humahuaca - Photo 1Humahuaca - Photo 2Humahuaca - Photo 3Humahuaca - Photo 4Humahuaca - Photo 5Humahuaca - Photo 6Humahuaca - Photo 7Humahuaca - Photo 8Humahuaca - Photo 9
9 photos
Day 4
🔍

Discover

1
El Angosto de Perchel narrow gorge passage
2
Stone-paved narrow streets of Humahuaca
3
Bronze monument commemorating the Argentine War of Independence
🎯

Activities

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Visit vendors of herbs and produce near the former railway station
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Acclimatize to the 3,000 meters altitude
5
Day

Abra Pampa

plateau wind mountain pass

Abra Pampa - Photo 1Abra Pampa - Photo 2Abra Pampa - Photo 3Abra Pampa - Photo 4
4 photos
Day 5
🔍

Discover

1
Monumento Natural Laguna de los Pozuelos
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Activities

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Observe huge flocks of spectacular Andean flamingos
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Spot vicuña herds grazing near the road
6
Day

Cafayate

Cafayate - Photo 1Cafayate - Photo 2Cafayate - Photo 3Cafayate - Photo 4Cafayate - Photo 5Cafayate - Photo 6
6 photos
Day 6
🔍

Discover

1
Cathedral with rare five naves
2
Small museums of archeology and wine cultivation
3
Bodega Jose L. Mounier (Finca Las Nubes)
4
San Pedro de Yacochuya winery
+1 Places visited
🎯

Activities

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Explore vineyards and countless archeological remains in surrounding areas
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Visit tapestry artisans and silversmiths
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Enjoy shade of patios overgrown with vines at 1,600 meters altitude
7
Day

Quilmes

ruined city stone terraces

Quilmes - Photo 1Quilmes - Photo 2
2 photos
Day 7
🔍

Discover

1
Ruinas de Quilmes archeological site, once home to 200,000 inhabitants
2
Small museum at the foot of the ruins
3
Craft shop with ceramics and tapestries
🎯

Activities

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Guided tour of fortifications, residential area, dam, and reservoir
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Learn about the last indigenous site to surrender to the Spanish in 1667
8
Day

Cachi

Cachi - Photo 1Cachi - Photo 2Cachi - Photo 3Cachi - Photo 4Cachi - Photo 5Cachi - Photo 6Cachi - Photo 7Cachi - Photo 8Cachi - Photo 9
9 photos
Day 8
🔍

Discover

1
San José de Cachi church from 1796 with cactus wood furnishings
2
Museo Arqueológico Pío Pablo Díaz with 5,000 exhibits
🎯

Activities

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Explore the pretty main square
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Visit Cachi Adentro village for views of Mount Cachi and country houses
9
Day

Parque Los Cardones

cactus desert landscape sculptural

Parque Los Cardones - Photo 1Parque Los Cardones - Photo 2Parque Los Cardones - Photo 3Parque Los Cardones - Photo 4
4 photos
Day 9
🔍

Discover

1
Parque Nacional Los Cardones, designated 1997 to protect endangered cardón cactus
2
Tin-Tin high plateau, native terrain of the giant candelabra cactus
🎯

Activities

→
Drive through the captivating landscapes of the Calchaquí Valleys
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Photograph outlandish rock formations
10
Day

Salta

colonial plaza andean heart

Salta - Photo 1Salta - Photo 2Salta - Photo 3Salta - Photo 4Salta - Photo 5Salta - Photo 6Salta - Photo 7Salta - Photo 8Salta - Photo 9Salta - Photo 10
10 photos
Day 10
🔍

Discover

1
Return to Salta via scenic Calchaquí Valleys route
🎯

Activities

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Final exploration of Salta's colonial heritage
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Complete the circular road trip through Northwest Argentina

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🛡️ Travel advice - Argentina

Check official recommendations

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❓ Frequently asked questions

What weather should you expect?

Spring (September-November): Mild temperatures, blooming flowers, excellent for wine regions and outdoor activities, shoulder season pricing.

Summer (December-February): Peak tourist season, warm weather, perfect for Patagonia, highest prices, book accommodations early.

Fall (March-May): Harvest season in wine regions, comfortable temperatures, fewer crowds, excellent for Buenos Aires and cultural activities.

Winter (June-August): Ski season in Andes, perfect for northern regions (warm and dry), Buenos Aires cultural season, tango shows peak.

How many days should I plan?

We believe you will enjoy this itinerary best by dedicating between 8 and 12 days. The next step will allow you to adjust the duration of your stay.

What to discover in Argentina?

From tango in Buenos Aires to Patagonian glaciers and world-famous steaks and wines. Experience gaucho culture, stunning Andes peaks, and vibrant cities with European flair. Iguazu Falls and diverse landscapes from tropics to Antarctica create endless adventures. Argentina combines passionate culture with natural wonders and culinary excellence.