Salt

Speaking of the province of Salta, and this is a province, and not just one city, I personally do not think anything clear and worthwhile. Salta is something salty on the tongue. There is nothing remarkable for a Russian tourist - call the region whatever you like. There are no wineries like in Mendoza, penguins and glaciers of Tierra del Fuego, and the province is located far away from the paths trodden by European tourists. Nevertheless, this region attracts attention, and there are much more local tourists than foreigners. And who better to know their country than the Argentines themselves? Well, we have to go (and we chose at that time between Salta and the famous resort of Bariloche), we decided, after listening to the advice of Argentinean friends. And I must say we did not fail, the region was impressed by the nature of extraordinary beauty. Here you can catch pieces of Bolivia, hook a little Chile while staying in Argentina!

How to get there

According to the modest opinion of the author, the region is deprived of attention in vain, visiting it, you can also capture the "nearby" important tourist points - like the Uyuni desert in Bolivia or the Atacama desert in Chile. Below I will try to talk about the most convenient means of transportation in the region.

How to get to the capital of Argentina or Chile, read the relevant sections. And how to get to the "salty" region, read below!

By plane

From the capital, Buenos Aires, direct flights are made to Salta 5-7 times a day by the airlines Aerolineas Argentina or LATAM. The cost, as always in Argentina, is very different, and usually differs upwards. The normal cost is about 300USD for 2 hours on the road in both directions. I think it is very expensive. If you caught the cost lower - buy. Find flight options for your dates here.

The airport is just 5 km south of the city center. Bus 8A runs between the airport and the bus station, the fare is 10 pesos (0.75 USD). Bus stop 500 meters from the exit of the terminal. You can always use a taxi, the fare on it is about 10 USD.

By train

In general, any sections on train travel with regard to Argentina should be empty. But this is not about Salta. In this region there is a railway connection with the Chilean coastal city of Antofagasta, and the name of this road is Tren a las nubes or "Train to the clouds", translated into Russian. And even if it’s not quite a means of transportation, but rather entertainment or a tourist attraction, by the way, not cheap 1700 pesos (110USD) for an adult ticket in high season. I believe that it is worth mentioning this long-term construction of Argentine railway workers in this section. See and ride this road, consider plunging into a fairy tale. The train crosses 21 tunnels, 29 bridges, 13 viaducts. But only people with a good vestibular apparatus will be able to enjoy the trip: the track climbs twice in a spiral, and in two places “zigzags” are arranged to overcome the strong height difference along which the train climbs parallel to the slope of the mountain.

By bus

In argentina

The road on the earth will be much longer, but a little cheaper. Depending on the chosen vehicle, a bus or a car - it seems to me appropriate to capture the town of Rosario on this journey, if you look at the map it’s just along the way

The cheapest bus ticket from the capital will cost 1750 pesos (~ 110 USD) one way - the journey will take 18-20 hours. Read more about classes on buses here.

• From Rosario - 1410 pesos (90 USD) in the way 17 hours;
• From Mendoza - 1825 pesos (110 USD) in a journey of 19 hours;
• From Cordoba - 1,200 pesos (77 USD) in a journey of 13 hours.

From Chile

If you are going to go to Salta from Chile, then the most logical and most justified (yes, and cheap) option is to go by bus from San Pedro de Atacama. In this case, the fare will cost 810 pesos (52 USD) and will take 11 hours, excluding the time spent at the border.

From Bolivia

For example, the famous Uyuni desert, in spite of its apparent proximity, simply cannot be reached: there is no direct bus service, you will have to change at the La Chiaca border (350 pesos or 22.5 USD; 7 hours on the way) - Villason.

By car

The most interesting thing in Argentina, as in any other large country, is to travel by car - I sat down and went on all four sides. I want to immediately note that we moved in this way. And I want to once again note that Salta is a region, and all (precisely all) places of interest to tourists are located at a distance of 50-250 km from the city itself. No need to be afraid of such distances, Argentinean roads are smooth, well-groomed. Mostly paid, along the way you will meet points of payment cost from 5 pesos to 25 (0.3USD-1.6USD) for a passenger car. Here they are still incredibly picturesque, in contrast to, for example, the road from Buenos Aires to Mendoza. The average price of gasoline in Argentina, the difference from the brand - 18 pesos (1.2USD)

We drove from Chile from the side of San Pedro de Atacama to Salta.

This route carries several difficulties: the first one is through an alpine pass, my altimeter on the phone showed 4,600 meters, my head is spinning, my legs are cottony, it’s cold to go out, despite the dazzlingly bright sun. At a minimum, be prepared, as a maximum it is better not to meddle.

The second is serpentines, here the situation is ambiguous. On the one hand it’s beautiful, on the other hand there was a situation when we almost ran into another car. Those. if you are not an experienced driver, it is better not to take risks.

hint: Salta - time is now 10: 0213 OctoberDifference in hours: Moscow & plus; 6 Kazan & plus; 6 Samara & plus; 7 Yekaterinburg & plus; 8 Novosibirsk & plus; 10 Vladivostok & plus; 13

When is the season. When is the best time to go?

If we talk briefly about the weather in Salta, then I want to note: despite the fact that the region is located in the north-west of the capital, and logically it should be warmer (closer to the equator), this is not so. In winter it even snows. The best time to visit is considered to be from September to April. At the same time, it cannot be said that prices in this period are somewhat different from usual ones, certainly not about food; there may be a slight difference between the prices of excursion programs.

Salta in the summer

Summer lasts from November (the hottest month) until the end of February - I was in Salta in January: rivers rage, the grass turns green, the sun shines. You know, if you describe my feelings, I would compare it with the summer in the middle zone of Russia, when it is cool in the morning and you feel that the dew is cold, and with the onset of noon the sun begins to bake. In the evening everything is enveloped in a wonderful coolness. By the way, a large amount of precipitation falls during this period. Therefore, going to Salta, do not forget both sunscreens and swimwear, as well as raincoats, jackets, and socks for evenings or nights in the desert. There are a bit more tourists at this time than usual, since this is the holiday season, mainly the Argentines themselves.

Salta in the fall

It becomes much cooler, especially at night, the daytime temperature on average does not exceed 25 ° C, the nighttime temperature can drop to 10 ° C. But it is worth remembering that nevertheless this is the harvesting season, and in Salta there are vineyards, as without them in Argentina. And though not as noisy as in Mendoza, but still people are happy with the new crop. If you are not afraid of cool nights, then go for it.

Salta in the spring

Above, I have already compared the region with central Russia. Here, for some reason, I want to do the same: nature begins to bloom and recover from the winter months, it becomes warmer, everything is in bloom. The temperature at the peak can reach up to 30 ° C. The only moment - after the winter it is still dry, and this period (from August to October) is not the best time to visit the salt marshes - it is very dry!

Salta in the winter

Coldly. The temperature can drop to 0 ° C. Of course, snow on the plain and in the city is a rarity, although it does happen. The main feature is that the heating system in Argentina does not exist as such, and it is likely to find a room with a stove, which needs to be heated, or with a fireplace, which, of course, adds a degree of romance, but does not give heat. Argentines prefer to wrap themselves in several blankets. In general, if you are not afraid of this approach to business, then you can go to Salta in the winter season.

Salta - monthly weather

hint: Salta - weather for the months of January January ± 21.2 February ± 20.2 March ± 19.0 April ± 16.3 May ± 13.3 June ± 10.3 July ± 10.4 August ± 12.3 September ± 14.9 October ± 18.3 November ± 18.3 20.2 December & plus; 21.1

Areas. Where is better to live

Salta - the city is very small, it is easiest to move on foot, believe me, you will go around the center at a slow pace in an hour, well, maybe one and a half, with stops for "taking pictures". The streets in the center are small, narrow, in the evening filled with people, horses, cars. Here I want to note that if for some reason you (1)Salt just for 2-3 days and without a car, it is, of course, worth living in the center. And all the budget options and hostels are also located in the city center. But, if you stay longer, and even more so have a personal means of transportation, listen and settle in a quiet beautiful suburb: towns (rather villages) of the type (2)San lorenzo or (3) Vaquieros. Hotels can be booked at Bucking. Remember to compare prices here and make sure they are the lowest. If you want to feel the local flavor, then it makes sense to rent an apartment with the locals, you can find the option that suits you here.

For example, a good double room both in the city and in the suburbs will cost you about 400-500 pesos (25-32USD), the difference is that in the suburbs, the room or the cabanos is more spacious. Breakfast will be served on the terrace, there will be a pool on site. On the whole, some provincial, in the best sense of the word, charm and pacification hangs in the air. Is this not necessary after a full day's impressions? Yes, and it’s also cheaper than in a congested city. And it’s safer here, semi-closed villages. You can always go to the city for dinner and take a walk. I admit, we stayed in such a place even longer than planned.

What are the prices for vacation

Housing prices vary:

• Hostel in the city center from 15 USD bed;
• Double room in the city center from 20 USD;
• A room in the village with a pool and breakfast is also from 20 USD.

Food:

• Choripan (Argentinean hot dog) - 2 USD;
• Dinner in a restaurant with wine from 10 USD per person;

Transport:

• Public transport 0.5 USD;
• Taxi on the counter from 3 USD.

The main attractions. What to watch

It is worth mentioning right away: there is nothing to do without a car in Salta. Yes, albeit rude, but true. In the city itself, frankly, there are only two places worth attention, an excellent museum and church. It’s even hard to imagine how much you can save on car driving, especially if you travel with 4 people. Moreover, in this region of amazing beauty of the road, and this is the lion's part of the whole adventure. There is another option for the brave and athletic in spirit - rent a bicycle for the whole day - do one part of the journey by bus, and return back to the city, but the distances are at least 50 km, so consider your strength.

Top 5

Las Conchas River Valley (Quebrada del Rio de las Conchas)

It is a 30-kilometer valley between Salta and Cafajate in northern Argentina with stunning views and landscapes.

Salinas Grandes

One of the largest salt marshes, only slightly smaller than Uyuni, mast si!

Throat of the Devil (La Garganta del Diablo)

One of the main natural wonders in the valley of Las Conchas, attracting tourists with its ominous views and stories associated with this place.

Museum of Archeology Alta Montana de Salta (MAAM - Museo de Arqueologia de Alta Montana de Salta)

A museum worth visiting that will tell you about the history of this Argentinean corner.

Salta Cathedral (Catedral de Salta)

You can not pass by, the cathedral on the main square of the city - tourists, cafes, pigeons, aborigines. Beautiful and authentic.

Churches and temples. Which are worth a visit

Salta Cathedral

The cathedral is located north of the central square. It acquired its current form in 1882, after a devastating earthquake. It is considered one of the most beautiful in Argentina. A stunning interior, symmetrical and luxurious decorations, stands out with gold-colored ornaments and a magnificent altar.

Address: Av.España 558

Open to visitors:

• Monday-Friday: 7:00 - 19:00;
• Saturdays and holidays: 8:00 - 19:00;
• Sunday: 8:00 - 20:30.

Basilica of St. Francis

This is one of the most prominent representatives of the architectural and historical heritage of the city. The church was built in 1625 and crowned with a 53-meter tower, the highest in South America. The tower consists of 4 floors made in different styles with different styles.

The church combines terracotta and ivory colors with outstanding decorations such as false shadows made in stucco at the entrance arch

This is a work of art in itself. There we can also find a small museum and library with over 40,000 ancient volumes.

Address: Córdoba 33 (corner with Caseros street)

Timetable:

• Monday - Friday: from 9:00 to 20:00;
• Saturday: from 9:00 to 20:00;
• Sunday: 9:00 to 20:00.

Museums Which are worth a visit

Museum of Archeology Alta Montana

The museum is located in a building built in 1860. Initially, it housed: a women's school, shopping arcades, just apartments. Currently, a museum is operating here, which was opened after archaeologists discovered the remains of three Inca children in 1999. They were called the Children of Ljulyayljako.

They were discovered at the top of the Ljulyayljako volcano, 6700 meters above sea level, with a large number of funerary objects of gold, silver, wood, textiles and leather, which can be seen today in the museum.

Address: Miter 77.

Entrance ticket for foreigners - 100 pesos (6.5USD)

Opening hours:

• Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays: 11:00 to 19:30.
• Monday: Closed.
• If Monday falls on a public holiday, the museum operates normally, but closes next Tuesday.

Museum of the History of the North

Since the founding of the city of Salta, April 16, 1582, Don Hernando de Lerma, on orders from the Spanish crown, distributed land around the main square - today Plaza 9 de Julio - to build buildings that will serve as government and church buildings. One of these buildings was Cabildo. In 1937 the building was declared a national historical monument, and in 1945 it was restored by the architect Mario Buschiazzo. Today, here is the headquarters of the Museum of the History of the North, which presents historical photographs, portraits, furniture. There you can visit the room of General Martin Miguel de Gümez, with original artifacts and replicas belonging to him and his family.

Address: Caseros 549.

The entrance is free.

Opening hours:

• Tuesday-Friday: 09:00 to 19:00;
• Saturday and Sunday: 09:00 to 13:30;
• Monday: closed.

Parks

• Cerro San Bernardo, hill east of downtown. A cable car rises here from San Martin Park. A breathtaking view of the city and its surroundings opens from above. If you decide to climb on foot, the path will take about 30-40 minutes or 1070 steps. At the top you can find something to eat and drink at a reasonable price, a great way to keep yourself busy for a few hours in fair weather.

• San Martin Parkperhaps the park with this name is almost like Lenin Street, a small city park almost in the center, is no different: a fountain, a pond, catamarans. If on a sunny day you wanted to soak up the sun by the pond, look at the locals, you are here.

Cableway

The cable car departure station is located at the crossroads of San Martin and Hipolito Yrigoyen (San Martin Park).

The arrival station is on top of Mount San Bernardo. The distance between the two stations is 1.016 meters and the difference in height is 284 meters. Travel time is 9 minutes.

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00.

Adult ticket 150 pesos (9.7 USD) / children 85 pesos (5.4 USD).

Tourist streets

• Plaza 9 de Julio - main square of the city. Here is the building of Cabildo, i.e. Council or Senate, the main city building that was built during the founding of the city. Now here is a museum of the history of the North. In general, this is a cozy area. You definitely won’t pass by her, from here come the shopping streets. Great place to have a cup of coffee overlooking the main cathedral.

• Calle Balcare - It starts very close (like everything in the city) from the main square. Absolutely empty and dead in the afternoon, it is filled with lights after 8 pm, chairs are exposed in warm weather, and everything turns into the local Arbat: it is noisy and crowded here. As befits any other Arbat, they will try to breed you for money, and everything will cost much more than in the neighboring streets. Of course, it is worth a visit, but I would recommend having dinner elsewhere, it will be no worse.

What to see in 1 day

It is difficult to cover in one day a region in which so many beautiful and interesting things are located so far. Below I’ll try to figure out an approximate route for one day, but still I highly recommend not saving time, we’re not often that far. So, if you ended up in Salta, you should say that the route should look like this:

• You can take a half day tour (or a car, in this case it’s better to negotiate the day before) and will go by Road 68 between Salta and Cafayate. On the way, you will meet both the Devil's Throat and the Las Conchas River Valley, the whole journey takes 197 km (about 3 hours), but it’s worth remembering that you will make constant stops for photos and in fact, it’s 4-5 hours on the way . Therefore, it is better to start early in the morning. In the city of Cafajate (in the Argentinean style) you can visit the wineries and return.

• Or, having traveled half this beautiful path, turn back, here better to focus on your feelings. I repeat, if you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to take an excursion. On my return to Salta I recommend visiting Alta Montana Museum. It makes an incredible impression. Take a walk around the city and dine in the restaurant you like.

Such a route with a mandatory visit to the surroundings, I consider the most optimal.

What to see in the surroundings

Salinas grandes

If I already mentioned the road 68 above, then I want to dwell a little more on the sights, which made a lasting impression on me personally. it saline Salinas Grandes. This natural wonder is located in 250 km north of the city. It seems to me that only magnificent pictures can tell me better. There are several tricks: you need to go here either on a rented car or take a short tour. The only way to get to the salt marsh on your own is to take a bus leaving from the town of Huhui in Chile and ask the driver to stop in the salt desert :) Not the most convenient way. And the most important thing is to attend better in the rainy season (December to March)then you can catch a mirror surface and take the craziest photos.

Jujuy

If we are already talking about a town with a name so peculiar to the Russian ear and eye, then you definitely cannot just take it and will not dwell on it a little more. so (San Salvador de) Jujuy - pronounced as Huhui, and not Jujuy. Cute provincial town in 124 km from Salta, it is believed that it does not have such colonial charm as in other cities, and therefore tourists undeservedly bypass it. This may be partly true, but many of my friends like him for this very reason! Even more, there is something magical in it, which one name is worth!

Buses run every two hours; it costs from 165 pesos to 195 (10.6 USD-12.6 USD); the journey takes 2 hours.

Hint: Routes to neighboring cities Salta - San Salvador de Jujuy 68 km Salta - San Antonio de los Cobres 112 km Salta - Purmamarca 116 km Salta - Libertador General San Martin 126 km Salta - Tilcara 134 km

Food. What to try

As in the rest of Argentina, there are empanadas, choripans and asado, meat on coals. This is not to say that Salta stands out for something special, except that the prices here are slightly lower. Have your own local beer Cerveza Salta. It is cheap, tastes no different from other beers in Argentina.

Recommended Places

• Come to try empanadas (pies with various fillings) in a place called El patio de la empanada, on weekends there are especially many locals, you can watch everyone having fun and families, often playing local music groups.Address: Av.San Martin 1300

• Also, from the places I especially loved, in Salta - parilla (barbecue) El Viejo Jack. Perhaps one of the best in terms of price and quality, I am not afraid of the word in all of Argentina. The only choice of wine let us down, but this is for an already sophisticated traveler. Tip: Once in Salta, choose a local wine, it can be a wonderful discovery for you, no worse than in Mendoza.

Budgetary

• Bixi Coffee House - breakfast and coffee
• La criollita
• Cafe del tiempo

Mid level

• Chirimoya - Vegetarian
• Doña salta
• El Charrua, Parrilla
• La monumental
• La vieja estación

Expensive

• Restaurant del Hotel Almeria Don Salvador
• Osadia restaurante
• Jose Balcarce
• Punto ar

Security. What to watch out for

According to the good old tradition, the smaller the town, the safer and calmer it is. But you should never yawn and “shine” with the phone, especially on the main tourist streets. Always remember, you are still in South America.

Things to do

• Free walking tours: Monday to Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. start from Place 9 de Julio, in front of the cathedral. Like all free walking tours, don’t forget to tip the guide!

• Horseback riding : lasting from several hours to several days. There are many options that include snacks, accommodation in country houses or camps, as well as typical products. All this in order to let you feel the real life of "gaucho" on yourself. There are many tour agencies that offer various routes.

• Trekking. There are several options: short walks around the mountains and hills bordering the region, or a few days in the region already further, with varying degrees of difficulty. This is a unique opportunity to break away from civilization to be in contact with nature and to better know the surroundings.

Shopping and shops

Balcarce Arts and Crafts FairPerhaps the only affordable and worth visiting fair. Every Sunday, the main pedestrian street, Balcarce, is closed for car traffic - there is a craft fair. The works of local artisans and artists are exhibited in the open air - everything can be purchased ... But let's not forget, the street still remains touristic;)

Bars Where to go

It’s hard in an article about a small town to separate bars and nightclubs by points :) Everything flows smoothly from one to another, and let's be honest with ourselves, this is not what they come here for. You definitely won’t see such a rich night life here as in the capital, Mendoza, or Cordoba.

The main noisy street is the same Balcarce, it all starts with a drink and on weekends or closer to them it continues in the form of a noisy party, the main party goes a little further from the center - closer to the railway station. Here is a list of noteworthy bar clubs:

• Aniceto Coffe Bar And Grill
• Filipo cafe-restó-bar
• Greendog
• Limbo one resto bar

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

As in all of Argentina, leather goods, local wine, knives. Since it is a northern province, there are a lot of alpaca wool products for very reasonable money.

How to get around the city

Mostly walking around the city! It is very compact, I even doubt that a bus can be useful to you, for example. Taxi affordable - in case you decide to still settle out of town.

Taxi. What features exist

A taxi from the airport will cost you 150 pesos (add the price in USD, please) and will take 25 minutes, depending on the traffic. A city taxi rides around the city, quite convenient and simple - easy to recognize, these are pink and red cars:

• Minimum cost: 12 pesos (0.7USD) for the first 100 m;
• Next: 10.5 pesos (0.6USD) per kilometer.

Buses

Buses cost 3.25 pesos (0.2 USD) and you need to buy a special Saeta card or have the exact amount in coins. Maps can be purchased at small kiosks on 9 de Julio Square or see the list of sellers on the site, and there is also a detailed map of routes. Remember: the city is small, and if you live in the center, it is easier to walk or sometimes afford a taxi.

Vehicle rental

Renting a car in Argentina is not cheap, and the best way to rent a car in a large city, in small ones, will be more expensive. We ourselves rented a car in the capital. On foreign sites recommend the agency ATLAS. Car rental 950 pesos per day (low season), cars in good condition, the manager is very friendly and helpful. Other agencies may ask for 800 pesos, but be sure to check and photograph the car! Large world offices charge from 80USD or more. Compare prices from different distributors here.

Tips for motorists

As I said, the roads are often dangerous, very beautiful, but there are a lot of serpentine and narrow tracks. If you are not confident in your experience, it is better not to tempt fate. In general, Argentines drive strangely, but no more than residents of a metropolis. With sharp accelerations and braking. Just be careful and alert.

Salta - holidays with children

What can I say? Since Argentina as a whole is not Disneyland, forgive me for such a comparison. And travel by plane is expensive. If your child can spend many hours in a bus or car, and he is a born naturalist, then good luck. But we will be honest, do not torture children :)

Ski vacation

Watch the video: Ava Max - Salt Lyrics (April 2024).