Full-Day Tour Salinas Grandes and Purmamarca from Salta
Salta, Argentina
- 12 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Argentina’s wild northwest is home to some of the country’s most spectacular landscapes, and this full-day small-group tour from Salta checks off all the most photo-worthy sights. Marvel at the UNESCO-listed Humahuaca gorge and the ‘Hill of Seven Colors; pose for photos on the startling white salt flats of Salinas Grandes; and shop for handicrafts at the legendary Purmamarca market.
- Full-day tour of Salinas Grandes, Purmamarca, and Humahuaca from Salta
- Marvel at natural wonders like the Humahuaca gorge and the Hill of Seven Colors
- Pose for fun forced perspective photos on the Salina Grandes salt flats
- Browse for colorful handicrafts at the Purmamarca market
- Great-value tour includes hotel pick-up, national park fees, and round-trip transport
- Small group tour limited to 15 people ensures a personalized experience
What's Included
- National Park fees
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Operating hours.6:30 am
Itinerary
Your full-day adventure begins with pick-up from your central Salta hotel by air-conditioned coach. Admire the scenery as you drive north, winding along the Rio Grande, and climbing through the foothills of the Andes Mountains. Get a glimpse of local life as you pass through the sleepy villages of Yala, Volcan, and Tumbaya, and enjoy plenty of stops to take in the views and snap photos.
Arrive in the lively village of Purmamarca, famous for its daily handicrafts market and its spectacular backdrop, in the shadows of the Cerro de los Siete Colores (Hill of Seven Colors). Stand in awe before the multi-hued peaks, then journey on through the Humahuaca gorge, driving along the dramatic mountain passes of Cuesta del Lipan, Cuesta del Saladillo, and Abra del Potrerillo. Jump out to take photos as you climb to a height of 13,615 feet (4,150 meters), marvel at the mountain vistas, and look out for llamas and vicuñas grazing on the hillsides.
After an unforgettable drive, arrive at the day’s star attraction – the Salinas Grandes, an awe-inspiring expanse of gleaming white salt flats. You’ll have around 45 minutes of free time to explore the salt flats, leaving plenty of time to experience the unique landscapes and pose for the ubiquitous forced perspective photos.
Head back to Purmamarca to enjoy lunch (own expense) at a local restaurant and browse the market stalls for handcrafted souvenirs, before the return journey. Back in Salta, your tour ends with drop-off at your hotel.
Arrive in the lively village of Purmamarca, famous for its daily handicrafts market and its spectacular backdrop, in the shadows of the Cerro de los Siete Colores (Hill of Seven Colors). Stand in awe before the multi-hued peaks, then journey on through the Humahuaca gorge, driving along the dramatic mountain passes of Cuesta del Lipan, Cuesta del Saladillo, and Abra del Potrerillo. Jump out to take photos as you climb to a height of 13,615 feet (4,150 meters), marvel at the mountain vistas, and look out for llamas and vicuñas grazing on the hillsides.
After an unforgettable drive, arrive at the day’s star attraction – the Salinas Grandes, an awe-inspiring expanse of gleaming white salt flats. You’ll have around 45 minutes of free time to explore the salt flats, leaving plenty of time to experience the unique landscapes and pose for the ubiquitous forced perspective photos.
Head back to Purmamarca to enjoy lunch (own expense) at a local restaurant and browse the market stalls for handcrafted souvenirs, before the return journey. Back in Salta, your tour ends with drop-off at your hotel.
Cuesta de Lipan (Pass By)
1
Salinas Grandes
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
The Hill of Seven Colors
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Nordic Travel (Pass By)
San Salvador de Jujuy (Pass By)
Province of Jujuy (Pass By)
Salta (Pass By)
3
Purmamarca
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
4
Purmamarca
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Cabildo de Purmamarca (Pass By)
5
Salinas Grandes
50 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Salinas Grandes (Pass By)
Cuesta de Lipan (Pass By)
6
The Hill of Seven Colors
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
- A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
- IMPORTANTE: Para compras realizadas en pesos argentinos, el valor publicado es en dólar a cambio oficial y en el mismo no figura el impuesto PAIS (30%), ni impuesto GANANCIAS (30%). Estos se veran reflejados en el resumen de su tarjeta de credito, o se descontaran en el momento con tarjeta de debito, agregandose como extra al valor final del servicio.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 27 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.2
based on 232 reviews
Adriana_S, Jul 2025
This was an amazing , incredible experience!
Our guide was beyond knowledgable and amazing! I am still in awe!
Neil_R, Mar 2025
A varied, interesting and long day. Plenty of stops to take photos. Excellent lunch (not included in the price). Our tour was booked as english-speaking and, although our guide was excellent, most of the commentary was in Spanish.
MARK_P, Feb 2025
A long drive, but comfortable bus and helpful guide. We had to ask him for translation however, as the default was in Spanish. If it were advertised as such at least we would have known but it was supposed to be an ‘in English’ tour. Stunning locations, worth the long drive.
Nirupama_P, Nov 2022
The places and the landscape was truly amazing and magical. Indeed unforgettable experience of a lifetime. The villages and their inhabitants are so helpful and appear very happy with whatever they possess, everything feels so spiritual and untainted….
Heinz_R, Nov 2022
Everything was organized well. Unbelievable landscape and good guide, who give us special english interpretation, cause we have been the only not spanish speaking person in the bus.
We didn't return to Salta and stayed in Purmamarca. They stopped at our hotel to deposit our luggage - thank you very much!
Elizabeth_i, Oct 2022
We booked and paid a tour in english but the guide did not speak english, only spanish. Very disappointed as we did not get any of the explanations along the trip.... i think there was just not enough english speakers to make a separate trip and then we got to be included by the company in a spanish tour... a long day not understanding anything...
Birgitte_U, Jul 2022
We had booked a trip with an English speaking guide, that only spoke Spanish. We got absolutely no informations during this trip of the surroundings only where we could find the toilet.
Malcolm_M, Jun 2022
As with my previous tour with Nordic, I had to contact them via WhatsApp the day before to find out when and where the pick-up would be. Apart from this minor inconvenience, the tour went splendidly. The landscapes where beautiful and our guide spoke excellent English. He gave us good advice on how to prevent altitude sickness (the highest point we passed through was at 4170m!) and indeed no one had any trouble. For those who don't have their own means of transportation, the Nordic tour of Salinas Grandes is a convenient way to discover some of the most impressive sights of the region.
hannah_C, Jun 2022
Nice scenic day trip with a mix of sights. Consider taking a remedy as the high altitude/twisting road might affect you. There wasn't any trekking involved but it was a good activity with sufficient time to see the salt flats and mountains as well as browse markets for souvenirs.
Bryan_O, May 2022
Guide was good. Bus was comfortable. Felt quite rushed at some points. Would have been better if we were able to spend more time at each stop.
Sylvia_P, Apr 2022
This tour was very disorganized and with a tour guide who spoke very poor English. For me that did not matter as I speak Spanish but since there were other Englis speaking passengers, I wonder how you can recruit a tour guide without speaking understandable English.
We saw the sights yes but Salinas Grandes was in a rush, 1h30 in Purmamarca etc
There was a religious festivity and people had to leave at the latest at 6 pm so everything rushed ! But that is the responsibility of the company if they did not predict it, it’s their own problem ! If you shorten our time, then you should have picked us up earlier.
Rent a car instead , much better!
SooHyeon_S, Mar 2020
Itinerary includes diverse stops, (for sightseeing, eating, hiking, photos, shopping) without feeling too rushed or packed
The tour guide was knowledgeable, entertaining and spoke English very well.
They had 2 drivers to take turns which was a great safety feature
And they make small gestures (local candy) which gives the tour a really thoughtful & enjoyable vibe. Would fully recommend
(Only small caveat: need to organize transfer to meeting point in the morning, but it is very doable in Salta)
Aliaksandr_K, Mar 2020
Long trip, but views are amazing. Small bus with enough legroom. Guides are very polite and helpful. A lot of info in Spanish, less in English
Alexandra_K, Nov 2019
I loved visiting the salt flats & 7-colored mountains, but the description of what you do on the tour should be more specific. I was hoping to visit Humahuaca & the 14-colored mountains, but that was not on the itinerary. "with trekking & more" is not explicit enough. Also, while I liked our tour guide, he did 85% of his talking in Spanish, while it was explicitly advertised as an English tour. Half of us were sitting there, wondering what he was talking about with the Spanish-speaking passengers (our translation was a short bit, and then he was back to Spanish again), and felt like we were not getting the full experience and education about the places we were visiting. I fully realize I need to improve my Spanish, but when I booked the tour, I expected to be hearing mostly English.
Jonathan G, Sep 2018
Essentially the tour that I thought I booked was not what I received. But it was still such a beautiful place and decent drive. The approximately 2 hour stop in Purmamarca was long enough to visit the market and walk around after lunch. The guide Martin was fairly knowledgeable but sometimes spent too much time on tangential topics to the local scenery and history.
On the page of the tour it clearly states that the tour is limited to 15 people to make it a 'personalized experience'. I purchased this tour in part for this very reason. What I received was a large bus with AT LEAST 30 people. When I asked the tour guide he stated that no the tours were always that big. Very disappointed. Especially Considering that the day prior I was on a different tour my other Viator booking, and same description of 15 people or fewer and it was perfect, and was driven in a small van 15 people, and half the price!.
I found the tour's description of the destinations somewhat exaggerated. Humahuaca is clearly stated in the title description along with Salinas grandes and purmamarca. We visited all except humahuaca. How can you consider the three equal as in the title? This maybe works for a while as a marketing tool but the next person will hopefully be more informed after reviews come in.
Gabriella V, Jan 2018
This tour is amazing! The tour guide Jeremy and Fabian were exquisite, they explained everything a bout the mountains and the salinas, took their time providing incredible info. The scenery is just indescribable, your drive through the mountains that have so many colors.
the altitude wasn't a problem for me, but diffidently could feel it a bit, just recommend taking it easy. Would definitely recommend this tour!
Snjezana L, Dec 2017
The tour definitely delivers on its promise. It is a great value, considering the length of the drive. It is also a 'must do' if you are in Salta region. The scenery is absolutely breath taking. The guide was informative and spoke good English. I really admired the drivers patience to navigate the roads. I wish we had more time in Purmamarca to enjoy it's beauty we had 2 hours of which 1 hour was spent on lunch in a local restaurant. I would recommend staying overnight if you are not pressed for time.
Joanna D, Oct 2017
The tour was great! The tour guide was fantastic, very knowledgeable. The route is beautiful and scenic so even if most time is spent on the bus, it gives you the chance to absorb the changing landscape and the information provided by the tour guide. Highly recommended.
Nichola B, Apr 2017
This is a 'must do' if you are in the Salta region. It is a long day, but well worth it. Our guide spoke excellent English and was very inclusive with his commentary. The scenery is absolutely breath taking. We even got to try cocoa leaves as we climbed in altitude nearly 4200m!
MAngeles_L, Nov 2022
Excursión muy larga, más de 12 horas , y muy restrictivos en las paradas. Por ejemplo, al llegar al salar estuvimos escasos 20 minutos
Viviana_H, Nov 2022
Ver animales por la carretera y los paisajes tan maravillosos que se pueden apreciar más lainformación del guia
Montserrat_B, Nov 2022
Excelente. Es una excursión muy completa e interesante. El guía y el conductor fueron muy amables en todo.
AntonioCarlos_F, Oct 2022
Observar aquela quantidade de sal é fascinante. Sentir a altitude superior a 4.000 m também. É uma sensação única.
GISELA_M, Oct 2022
Excelente experiencia, solo que la disponibilidad debería estar actualizada, compre y al momento de viajar no había lugar, en nordic travel fueron super amables e hicieron las intervenciones necesarias para poder viajar
Bianca_B, Aug 2022
Foi um ótimo passeio, as paradas para as fotos foram um pouco apressadas e a caminhada final as 7 cores o guia acabou nos direcionando para outro guia, mas os lugares são lindos e únicos! Vale muito fazer!
Aline_F, Jul 2022
Eu achei incrível Purmamarca e as Salinas Grandes. Lugares realmente memoráveis que todos devem ir uma vez na vida. Porém ao efetuar a compra tem que ter em mente que bem provável que você tenha que ir a um ponto de encontro e não ser buscado no hotel. Eu acho que foi a única coisa que a empresa errou. Agora isso tudo ótimo. O guia super atencioso e responsável com os horários.
PabloJavier_L, Jul 2022
Muy buena la excursión recorriendo lugares bellísimos e imperdibles!! y muy bien guiada por Jeremy de gran experiencia y buenos conocimientos!!! Hay que ir preparado para la altura y si el tránsito está denso el regreso se hace largo!!! Pero vale la pena!!!
VALERIASOLEDAD_B, Jul 2022
Muy buen viaje desde Salta a Salinas Grandes, hermoso recorrido, Purmamarca bello en todo su explendor, recomiendo el servicio excelente
Lilia_L, Mar 2022
L’excursion comportait deux arrêts prolongés - les Salinas Grandes et le village de Pumamarca - et plusieurs arrêts le long de la route pour prendre des photos des paysages. Journée dense mais riche en découvertes! Nous avons étés émerveillées par l’ensemble des lieux visités. Nous avons vu un concentré de la région et pu profiter, tout ça en une journée.
AURELIE_J, Mar 2022
C'est ce que je voulais absolument voir en Argentine et c'était juste magnifique !!!!!
Dommage par contre que la guide ne parlait pas un mot anglais. J'avais pourtant signé pour une excursion espagnol/anglais
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