4 days · 3 nights · private
A Taste of the Argentine Northwest
Cloud forest, the Quebrada de Humahuaca, the Salinas Grandes, Route 40 and the Cafayate wine valleys in one private loop from Salta.
USD 2,132 for 1 to 4 travellers
Day-by-day itineraryTravel guide · Itinerary
Salta & Jujuy in 5 days
Five days are enough for the full loop from Salta: two nights in Tilcara for the Quebrada de Humahuaca and El Hornocal, then the Salinas Grandes and Route 40 to Cachi, a night in Cafayate and back to Salta through the Quebrada de las Conchas. That is about 1,050 km, and the longest day is about 8 hours of driving.
- Total
- About 1,050 km
- Nights
- Tilcara 2, Cachi 1, Cafayate 1
- Longest day
- Tilcara to Cachi, about 8 h at the wheel
- Best season
- April to November
Day by day
| Day & route | Distance | Driving | Night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1: Salta → Purmamarca → Tilcara | 214 km | 3 h 20 min | Tilcara |
| Day 2: Tilcara → Humahuaca → El Hornocal → Tilcara | 135 km | 3 h | Tilcara |
| Day 3: Tilcara → Salinas Grandes → San Antonio de los Cobres → Cachi | 342 km | 8 h | Cachi |
| Day 4: Cachi → Cafayate on Route 40 | 156 km | 4 h | Cafayate |
| Day 5: Cafayate → Quebrada de las Conchas → Salta | 197 km | 3 h 15 min | Salta |
What do I see on days 1 & 2?
Stop at Purmamarca and the Hill of Seven Colours on the way north and sleep in Tilcara, at 2,465 m. On day 2 visit the Pucará de Tilcara and Humahuaca, and drive up to El Hornocal in the afternoon, when the colours look best. Two nights at this height help before the high pass on day 3.
What is day 3 like?
The longest day. Climb the Cuesta de Lipán (4,170 m) to the Salinas Grandes, cross the Puna to San Antonio de los Cobres and take Route 40 over the Abra del Acay, at 4,895 m, down to Cachi. The pass is unpaved and suited to 4x4 vehicles, and in the rainy season landslides can close it, so check before you go.
What about days 4 & 5?
Route 40 runs south from Cachi through Seclantas, Molinos and the Quebrada de las Flechas to Cafayate, about 4 hours with gravel stretches. Visit the wineries that evening or the next morning, then drive back to Salta through the Quebrada de las Conchas, about 3 h 15 min without stops.
Sources: Distances and times: Google Maps, checked on 22 October 2026, rounded, without stops. Altitudes and roads: Wikipedia and argentina.travel, as in our other guides.
Travel with Pablo
See it on a private trip
Pablo's 4-day trip follows this same loop with one night in Tilcara instead of two, seeing El Hornocal on the first afternoon. If you want the fifth day or a different route, he plans it as a tailor-made trip.
Want a different route? Pablo plans tailor-made trips of 3 to 13+ days. How tailor-made trips work
More travel guides: Best time to visit Salta & Jujuy · Altitude sickness in Salta & Jujuy · Self-drive or private guide in Salta · Salta & Jujuy driving distances · El Hornocal guide · Salinas Grandes guide · Cafayate wine guide · Cachi guide · Quebrada de Humahuaca guide
Plan your trip
Write to Pablo
Tell him your dates, how many you are and what you'd like to see. Your message opens in WhatsApp, ready to send, and Pablo replies with the itinerary and a quote for your private group.
- WhatsApp+54 9 387 543-6476
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- Based inSalta, Argentina · pickup at your hotel or the airport