What to pack for Salta & Jujuy, month by month

Salta city, average temperatures and rain by month

What do I bring from April to November?

Layers. Days in Salta city run from 20 to 27 °C, but from May to August nights drop to 3 to 8 °C, and the high stops are colder still. Bring a warm jacket, a hat, gloves and a scarf, plus T-shirts and a light shirt for the middle of the day. Rain is rare, so you can leave the heavy rain gear at home.

What do I bring from December to March?

Light clothes for the valleys, where days reach 25 to 28 °C, and a rain jacket: Salta gets almost 200 mm in January, with storms that build in the afternoon. Even in summer, keep a warm layer for the high passes and viewpoints, and a pair of shoes that can get wet.

How cold does it get on the Puna?

Very. At La Quiaca, on the Puna at 3,442 m, the average July low is −6 °C, and in the 1961 to 1990 records average lows are below zero from May to September. On the salt flats and at passes like the Cuesta de Lipán, wind adds to it. For a trip to the high plateau in winter, bring a down jacket, thermal underwear, gloves and a hat.

What about the sun?

Strong at any time of year. La Quiaca gets more than 3,400 hours of sun a year, and the air is thin and dry. Bring sunglasses, a hat and high-factor sunscreen, even on cold days, and lip balm.

Which shoes and bags do I need?

Comfortable closed shoes with a good sole: the viewpoints, the salt flats and the short walks are on gravel and dirt. A small daypack for water, a layer and a camera is enough, because the vehicle carries your main luggage.

How do I handle the changes in one day?

A day trip can start in Salta city at 1,187 m and reach more than 4,000 m by noon. Dress in three layers: a base layer, a warm middle layer and a windproof jacket. You add and remove them as you climb and descend. Our guides to the best season and to altitude go deeper.