The charm of the Calchaquí Valleys

The Gaucho Heart and Valley Portal
Located a few kilometers from the capital, Cerrillos is a town that breathes tradition and is the gateway to the most amazing landscapes of the Lerma Valley. Known as the "Provincial Capital of Carnival and Folklore", this destination offers an authentic immersion in the rural customs of Salta.

La Merced: The Jumping Garden and Land of Traditions
Known affectionately as the "Jardin de Salta", the town of La Merced is one of the most picturesque stops in the Lerma Valley. This town is distinguished by the explosion of colors of its flowers and its deep roots to Gaucha customs, offering an atmosphere of peace and pure air just minutes from the capital.

Taste and Tradition in the Lerma Valley
Located in the productive heart of Salta, El Carril is much more than a stopover to Cafayate; it is a destination that invites you to stop and enjoy the pleasures of the countryside. Known for its welcoming atmosphere and strong gaucha identity, this town perfectly combines railway history with a first-rate gastronomic offer

The Valley of Contrasts
The Quebrada de Escoipe is a fascinating natural setting where the mountain forest meets the aridity of the Andes. This valley, crossed by the eponymous river, is famous for its rock formations of a deep red that contrast spectacularly with the deep green of the vegetation of the Yungas.

What makes it stand out:

Surprising Geology: Admire the towering walls of reddish sandstone and the whimsical shapes that wind and water have carved for millennia.

Transition Landscapes : This is where you can watch the landscape change dramatically as you ascend from wet forests to vegetable and fruit fields.

Photo Points : The stretch offers unique panoramic views, ideal for capturing the wild essence of the Salta Precordillera.

Cradle of Tradition : Small farms and farms sit on its fringes, offering an authentic look at the rural life of the region.

A journey to the clouds

This section of Route 33 is one of the most spectacular in Salta. In only 20 km, the road zigzags from the green of the Lerma Valley to the 3,348 meters above sea level in the Millstone. It’s a unique sensory experience where clouds are usually left under your feet, creating a white sea between reddish peaks.

Highlights:

Epic views: Stunning panoramas of the Enchanted Valley.

Landscape change : Watch the wet forest transform into the aridity of the puna.

Photo Points : Close curves and transition landscapes ideal to capture the vastness of the Andes.

The Enchanted Valley is one of the most fascinating hidden gems of Salta, located at the highest point of Cuesta del Obispo, within Los Cardones National Park. It is a natural amphitheater where the erosion of wind and water has sculpted whimsical shapes into rocks, creating a landscape that looks like something out of a fairy tale.

The Salteña Summit

At 3,348 meters, it is the highest point of Route 33 and the threshold to the Calchaquíes Valleys. This natural viewpoint offers one of the most moving panoramas of northern Argentina.

Which makes it mandatory:

360° Views: Take in the Cuesta del Obispo and the vastness of Los Cardones Park.

History: Its name comes from an ancient granite millstone abandoned there centuries ago.

San Rafael Chapel : An iconic stone construction that provides a postcard of faith in Andean solitude.

Nature : Breathe fresh air and seek the flight of condors on the high peaks.

The Way of the Incas
Located within Los Cardones National Park, this amazing 19-kilometer straight line is a marvel of pre-Hispanic engineering. Originally plotted by the Incas at an altitude of about 3,000 meters, it traverses a desert landscape surrounded by thousands of giant cacti and colored hills.

Highlights:

Perfect Engineering : Surprises its almost perfect layout, made centuries before modern technology.

Film Landscape : Flanked by the Nevado de Cachi and Cerro Tin Tin, it offers one of the most iconic postcards in Salta.

Nature and Silence: An ideal place to observe the vastness of the highlands and feel the energy of the ancient Andean world.

Where Time Stands
After overcoming the heights of Cuesta del Obispo, the landscape opens onto an infinite plain guarded by thousands of green "sentinels": Los Cardones National Park. This desert setting, surrounded by colored hills, is the perfect prelude to reaching Cachi, one of the most authentic and beautiful villages in northern Argentina.

What makes this experience unique:

The Kingdom of the Cardons: Cross the mythical Tin Tin Straight, a path traced by the Incas, surrounded by thousands of giant cacti that rise to the sky in a landscape that looks like another planet.

Tradition and Wines of Altura
Located at the gates of Cachi, the picturesque village of Payogasta is a haven of peace that preserves colonial adobe architecture and the leisurely pace of the Calchaquíes Valleys. This destination is famous for its production of pepper for paprika and its exceptional wines, grown more than 2,400 meters above sea level.

achi is a colonial gem stopped in time, located at 2,531 meters above sea level and surrounded by the imposing snow-capped peaks of the Andes. With its cobblestone streets and white adobe facades, this village is the most authentic destination in northern Argentina.

Highlights for your visit:

Colonial Architecture: Admire the Church of San José, famous for its ceilings and carved furniture in cardon wood.

Majestic Views : Take in the Nevado de Cachi, a giant of 6,380 meters that dominates the skyline.

Culture and Taste: Explore its central square, visit the Archaeological Museum and enjoy the best wines of the region.

A haven of peace and tradition that cannot be missed in your itinerary through Salta.