Information about Salta
from flickr user: ANNE LOTTE
from flickr user: Madeleine_H
from flickr user: Madeleine_H
from flickr user: Madeleine_H
from flickr user: nicomendoza84
from flickr user: nicomendoza84
from flickr user: ANNE LOTTE
from flickr user: Alicia Nijdam-Jones
Salta is one of Argentina’s most well-preserved colonial cities, as the many historic buildings, mansions dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries and the whole planning of the city will immediately let you know.
Salta was founded in 1582 and has a population of 500,000 Salteños who consider themselves the only original Criollo (Creole) people – that is native Argentinians of Spanish ancestry.
Salta, apart from a beautiful travel destination with numerous sights, countless museums, galleries, historical and cultural points of interest, is the perfect gateway to the north-eastern side of Argentina.
A traditional, yet modern destination, Salta loves arts, honours its national identity and culture and forms an excellent example of a tourist destination that never lost its own personal nucleus and character.
Definitely a destination to be on your bucket list!
Airport
The international airport of Salta (Aeropuerto Internacional de Salta "Martín Miguel de Güemes") is located 7 kilometres southwest of the city centre and can be reached by bus and taxi.
Getting around Salta
You can get around Salta using the city’s extensive bus network; or you can take a taxi. Fares start at 1.00 ARS and minimum taxi fare costs 13.00 ΑRS.
Salta Guide
Your day in Salta begins at the city’s central square and focal point, Plaza 9 de Julio. Two are the buildings that dominate the area:
- The Cathedral of Salta (Catedral Basílica de Salta) was built in 1858-1882 and is famous for two things; the one is the four monumental murals that decorate the nave, each depicting one of the four Evangelists. The other is the tombs of heroes of the struggle for national independence, housed inside the cathedral.
- The Cabildo is Salta’s government palace and is one of the most well-preserved colonial buildings in Argentina, though it was restored several times following its first construction in 1582. It now houses the History Museum (Museo Histórico del Norte), holding exceptional collections of pre-Hispanic art, paintings, sculptures and religious artefacts and memorabilia.
If you wish to get a taste of local art, you will not want to miss the Museum of Fines Arts of Salta (Museo de Bellas Artes de Salta), where you can find a wide range of collections of American art, with special focus on local and other Argentinian artists.
Continue to the Archaeological Museum of Salta (Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña - MAAM), a truly extraordinary museum with breathtaking archaeological collections from the Inca era, as well as other Andean civilisations.
Highlight of the MAAM is none other than the three extremely well-preserved frozen mummies of Llullaillaco.
The “Niños de Llullaillaco” are three mummies of children found on Llullaillaco, the highest active volcano in the world, back in 1999. The mummification took place because of the extreme freezing conditions on the mountain, resulting in an exceptionally good condition of the bodies, up until today! Research shows that the children were most probably sacrificed during a religious ritual.
Your experience in Salta couldn’t be considered complete without a ride on the Tren a las Nubes (Train to the Clouds). Destination: the clouds; as the name implies! Starting at Salta, the train covers a distance of 272 kilometres, in a 14-hour ride through the fascinating Andean backdrop, reaching altitudes as high as 4,137 metres!
Salta’s official language is Spanish.Visa Requirements
To travel to Argentina, you need a passport with validity extending 6 months after your travel dates. Greek citizens do not need a tourist Visa, for a maximum stay of 90 days.
When to Go
Salta has a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons:
Summer (November – early March) is hot and humid, autumn (March - May) is drier with temperatures dropping, winter (May - September) is mild and humid and spring (September - November) is dry and sometimes unpredictable, although without extremes.
As long as you are properly prepared, you can safely visit Salta any season of the year.
- FOOD
- DRINKS
- COFFE
- ARTS
- OUTDOORS
- SIGHTS
