One of the brightest resort towns in Argentina has a sunny and festive name – Salta and hides places that are unforgettable in their picturesqueness and beauty under the crown of exotic trees. Its history shines through the walls of old buildings that have long become objects for standard tourist viewing. The city was founded back in 1582, and at first it was just a resting place on the long journey of trade caravans following from Lima to Buenos Aires.
How to get there
According to top-mba-universities, Salta Airport, 5 km south of the city center, receives flights from Buenos Aires, Puerto Madryna and the Bolivian Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Bus service connects the city with many major cities in Argentina, including Buenos Aires and Cordoba.
Transportation
For comfortable movement around Salta and its picturesque surroundings, it is better to rent a car. The most democratic rental center “Herz” is located in the town of Jujuy. For 250 ARS per day, you can take a pretty decent unit, while about 4000 ARS is blocked on a bank card as a deposit. See themakeupexplorer for trade unions in South America.
Tango
After tasting fragrant wine from local producers and eating it with spicy famous beef, the soul will certainly require spectacles. And the best of them on this earth is Argentine tango. In the evenings, tango shows are available in specialized restaurants in the capital. Ticket price from 180 to 450 ARS per person. You can get to the performances of the real masters of this dance art, but in any case, the burning rhythms, the passionate plasticity of the dancers will not leave anyone indifferent. In many establishments, everyone is taught salsa, and it costs about 180 ARS to book a table in such a cafe.
First of all, arriving in Salta, tourists run for tickets for the legendary “Train in the Clouds”, which makes a 14-hour trip (in both directions) to a town lost in the mountains at an altitude of 4220 m.
Entertainment and attractions
The main square of Salta, Plaza 9 de Julio, was fraternally divided between the Cathedral and the building of the City Council (Cabildo), where the Museum of the History of the North (Museo Histórico do Norte) found shelter, receiving guests from 9:00 to 17:00. As for the cathedral, of course, the miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary and the statue of Christ, which are located in one of its halls, attract the main part of the attention of the city’s guests. The healing power of statues has been tested by many believers.
The Franciscan monastery on Caseros street (calle Caseros) is an energetically “ringing building”, the peace and tranquility of which can only compete with the Bernadine monastery, immersed in peach and apple orchards. In addition, walking along the central streets of Salta, there is always the opportunity to witness a gaucho performance.
Built in a traditional colonial style, the Uriburu house is open to all the curious from 9:00 to 18:00, after which a walk along La Florida alley will complete a pleasant voyage.
San Antonio de los Cobres
First of all, upon arriving in Salta, tourists run to buy tickets for the legendary “Train in the Clouds”, which makes a 14-hour trip on Saturdays to San Antonio de los Cobres, a town lost in the mountains at an altitude of 4220 meters. The route runs along bridges hanging in the air over a yawning impenetrable darkness abyss. The ticket costs 1850 ARS and includes breakfast and afternoon tea. On the way, the train stops only 3 times, so that tourists can buy souvenirs and take a couple of enthusiastic photos in Viaduct la Polvorila and San Antonio. Those who experience attacks of altitude sickness should be careful when choosing this extreme excursion, but the sum of impressions at the end of it will be much more than unpleasant. Website: http://www.trenalasnubes.com.ar
Los Cardones
Located near Cafayate, a place near Salta, Los Cardones National Park (Parque Nacional Los Cardones) attracts tourists with plantations of giant cacti, and sometimes there are even herds of guanacos. The Talampaya National Park in the province of La Rioja and the Valley of the Moon (Valle de la Luna or Ischigualasto) are the best places for a colorful photo shoot and a pleasant relaxing break in the bosom of a fragrant nature scorched by the hot Argentinean sun.
3 things to do in Salta
- Eat the city’s signature dish – traditional empanadas, for example, at La Casona and El Corredor de las Empanadas restaurants during cafecito – an evening traditional dinner that no Argentine can afford to miss.
- See in the rays of the setting sun the overflows of the Seven Colored Mountain (Cerro de Siete Colores), which is located in the small town of Purmamarkai. This is a unique place in terms of geology, thanks to the rich content of minerals, the land of which burns either red, green, or ocher-orange.
- Buy a hand-knitted alpaca wool sweater from Indian traders in one of the many markets for only $8, and listen to a local music band that accompanies the buying and selling process.
