Region Information
Salta: The city lies at 1,190m on a mountainous and strikingly beautiful district. Located 1,600km from Buenos Aires, Salta is nowadays a great tourist and handicraft centre and the best starting place for tours in the Northwest. Capital of its province, Salta is a beautiful city with fine colonial buildings. The city was founded in 1582 by Hernando de Lerma and it is surrounded by verdant peaks. The everlasting spring of the valley, attracted the Spaniards who could pasture animals in the surrounding countryside and produce crops that could not grow in the frigid Bolivian highlands. Although Salta has spread considerably over the past years, most points of interest are within a few blocks from 9th-of-July Square (Plaza 9 de Julio). Some colonial buildings in the historic centre have been turned into important museums. Visitors can breathe the colonial atmosphere only by walking around. The cathedral, in the north of the central plaza, contains venerated images of the Christ of the Miracle (Cristo del Milagro) in its rich interior. The Cabildo, which was built in 1783, is opposite the cathedral. The San Francisco church is quite near and rises above the city centre with its magnificent facade and its red, yellow and grey tower. It is said to be the highest church in South America.
Salta is a perfect base to explore the beauty of the north-western provinces. The most famous excursion - “Tren de las Nubes” (Train to the Clouds) – leaves the Lerma valley to ascend the multicoloured Quebrada del Toro, which goes to the heights of the Puna close to the Chilean border. Other attractions in the northwest are the scenic desert canyons of Quebrada de Cafayate, the Quebrada de Humahuaca in Jujuy province, or the valleys of Calchaquíes with their large indian populations and colonial towns Cachi and Molinos. These excursions offer a wide variety of terrains and colours and can be reached easily by road from Salta.
Tucumán: This capital city is of great historical value due to the fact that it was here, on July 9th, 1816, where the Argentine independence was proclaimed. It stands on a plain at 450m. There are still some colonial buildings left. Among rows of spacious one-story houses, three beautiful churches with blue and white tiled domes rise. From Tucumán you can travel via the scenic road through the central valley of Tafi del Valle, to the ruins of Quilmes and eventually to Cafayate in the Salta province.
Jujuy: Formally named San Salvador de Jujuy. It is completely surrounded by wooded mountains. The colonial cathedral with fine 18th century images has a nave with a superb wooden pulpit, carved by the indians - a unique colonial treasure. Jujuy can also be used as a gateway to the northwest but it is certainly less attractive than Salta.