Introduction to Salta
In the past fifteen years Salta has gone from a hardly known scruffy town to one of the biggest tourist destinations in Argentina. With its colonial architecture and easy access to the natural beauty of the nearby valleys it no wonder why many come to this city and never leave..
Where to stay in Salta
Hotels in Salta
To check availability and prices of hotels in Salta on Booking.com, Click here.
To comprare prices and read reviews of hotels in Salta on Expedia, click here: Hotels in Salta
Hostels in Salta
Salta is big in the backpacker scene and there are many hostels to choose from. To check availability of hostels in Salta click here: Hostels in Salta
How to get to Salta
By Air
The Martín Miguel de Güemes airport (SLA) is located 7 kms to the southeast of the center. Flights daily to Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Jujuy and Puerto Iguazú. Aero Sur, from Bolivia, flies to Santa Cruz del la Sierra. For more information on flights and the General Belgrano airport click here.
By Bus
The bus terminal in Salta (tel. (0387) 4011143) is located on Av. Hipólito Irigoyen 339 one block from Parque San Martín. Buses leave from Salta to just about everywhere. Buenos Aires is a 19 hour trip, Iguazú 23 hours and La Quiaca on the border with Bolivia, 7 hours. Also buses to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile (reserve in advance). The following companies offer bus service to Salta:
Almirante Brown
Andesmar
Balut
Flechabus
La Veloz del Norte
Nueva Chevallier
Sol and Valle
Services
Restaurants
New Times Cafe
Located right on the central plaza, the New Times Cafe is the perfect place to people watch while catching a bit of sun or drinking a coffee. Wifi available.
The official internet site of the province of Salta
Things to do in Salta
Tren de Las Nubes
We are not decided yet on whether a trip on the Tren de Las Nubes (Train to the clouds) is worth the time and money yet. While it does pass some stunning scenery it is a long all day affair, and is prone to delays and cancellations. Trains leave Salta at 7am on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and return at just before midnight. During the winter, the train goes as far as the Polvorilla bridge, at a elevation of 4,220 meters so it is not uncommon to see temperatures below freezing. In the summer due to heavy rains it may not go that far. Breakfast is included in the ticket price and food is available in the dining car, although at an inflated price. . To see the official website with info and online reservations click here
One common alternative to the train is to rent a car and take a full day trip from the city to San Lorenzo, San Antonio de los Cobres, Salines Grandes, Purmamarca, Jujuy capital and return to Salta late at night. While it is possible to do this trip in one day, it is a long day and some of the roads can be treacherous at night. A better option might be to make a two or three day trip out of it and include Tilcara and Humahuaca. There are tons of car rental agencies in Salta that cater to travelers doing this trip.
San Lorenzo
An attractive town located at the base of a leafy canyon, just on the outside of the city. Recently expats have started buying property in this area and as a result the selection of restaurants and hotels has increased nicely. To get there take a taxi from the center or local bus
Nightlife in Salta
Balcarce street, near the old train station has many bars and is the center of nightlife in the city.
