2 days · 1 night · private
Calchaquí Valleys Express
Cardón forests, colonial Cachi and the high-altitude vineyards of Cafayate, sleeping in the valley.
USD 1,066 for 1 to 4 travellers
Day-by-day itineraryTravel guide · Getting around
Self-drive or private guide in Salta & Jujuy?
Driving yourself in Salta and Jujuy is doable: the road to Cafayate (RN 68) and the road over the Cuesta de Lipán to the Salinas Grandes (RN 52) are paved. The hard parts are the gravel roads: most of the Cuesta del Obispo, Route 40 between Cachi and Cafayate (156 km, about 4 hours) and the Abra del Acay. A guide adds the most on those back roads, at altitude and in the rainy season.
- Paved
- RN 68 to Cafayate, RN 52 to the Salinas Grandes
- Gravel
- Cuesta del Obispo, Route 40 south of Cachi, Abra del Acay
- Fuel on Route 40
- Cachi, Cafayate, San Antonio de los Cobres
- Rental cover
- Deductibles up to USD 4,500
When does driving yourself work?
If you are used to mountain roads, travel in the dry season and have spare days, a rental car works well. There are rental offices at Salta airport. Read the cover: at one major company the deductible is up to USD 4,500, or USD 9,000 for a rollover, and most insurance bought outside Argentina does not cover you there.
Which roads are hard?
About three quarters of the Cuesta del Obispo is gravel. Route 40 south of Cachi has gravel, sand and dirt stretches that can become impassable after heavy rain. The Abra del Acay, at 4,895 m, is unpaved and suited to 4x4 vehicles most of the year.
What about fuel and phone signal?
On Route 40 in Salta there are fuel stations in Cachi, Cafayate and San Antonio de los Cobres, and they can run out. Fill up whenever you can and carry cash. Phone signal drops in remote places: there is none at the El Hornocal viewpoint.
Where does a private guide add the most?
On the gravel and the high passes, where you watch the landscape instead of the road. In the timing: the light at El Hornocal, or what to do when rain closes a road. And in the places you would not find alone: back roads, family kitchens and viewpoints off the map. If you still want to drive, Pablo sells a personalised roadbook for USD 75.
Sources: Roads: Wikipedia (RN 68, RN 52, Abra del Acay), Canal 26, Welcome Argentina, La Política Online (Feb 2025). Fuel: Turismo Ruta 40. Rental cover: National Car Rental, Salta airport office. Times: Google Maps.
Travel with Pablo
See it on a private trip
Pablo drives a 4x4 pickup with a professional licence, so you can spend the gravel stretches looking out of the window.
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 · Salta & Jujuy driving distances · El Hornocal guide · Salinas Grandes guide · Cafayate wine guide · Cachi guide · Quebrada de Humahuaca guide · 5-day Salta & Jujuy itinerary
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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
- Instagram@travelingsalta
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- Based inSalta, Argentina · pickup at your hotel or the airport