🚘 Car guide to the north of Argentina

The provinces of Huhui and Salta are my favorite part of Argentina: the Martian Andes, salt lakes, fluffy llamas and flawless blue skies.

The most beautiful places are in the untamed mountains. Which means you need to plan three things: when you’ll refuel, where you’ll spend the night, and how to gain altitude so you don’t vomit from the highlands. Nature has figured out the rest for you: every road is beautiful. Multiply the road time from the navigator by two: you will want to stop often and take photos. And, of course, you should drive a tall four-wheel drive car – the roads are wild

⛰️Low-altitude routes to adapt:

San Miguel de Tucumán – Cafayate. Perfect slow climb to enter, forest of cacti all around and hotels in vineyards.

Cafayate – Salta. That Martian road among the red mountains. Devil’s throat canyons, amphitheater and other viewpoints. Stop at all of them!

Salta – Cachi. Cacti and a park with lagoons at Parque National Los Cardones.

Cachi – Cafayate. James Turrel Museum: Argentina’s best museum, 4 hours semi-highway from the nearest civilization. Wrote a separate post about it! Beautiful mountains in Quebrada de las Flechas.

🌋 Higher routes:
Careful – the altitude really feels it! My favorite way to combat mountain sickness is to have an oxygen tank with me or stop to breathe at the aid stations if the tank runs out. Much more effective than coca leaf tea and other folk methods.

The planning is simple: there are hotels only in Purmamarca and Tilcara, you sleep here, fill up a full tank and drive out to see the beautiful:

14-color mountains. You can drive to the first viewpoint, but to the most beautiful view there is a half-hour trek up the hill.First you go down, it’s very easy, going back up is more difficult, calculate your strength.

Salinas Grandes – huge salt lakes, a must see.The most interesting thing about the lakes are the ojos (eyes), deep crevices with clear water.Blue sky, white salt going deep – incredibly beautiful! Near the eyes everything is very touristy and they will try to get a guide to come to you, all other sides are wild and empty, just the way we like it.
Route 40 above Salines to return to Cachi via the highest point of the legendary Route 40: Abra de Acay.

For the brave: Cusi cusi. Cafayate – Salta.That Martian road among the red mountains.Devil’s throat canyons, amphitheater and other viewpoints.Stop at all of them!