NOA Itineraries

How to Travel the NOA

The Argentine Northwest (NOA) is a geographically vast region covering the provinces of Salta, Jujuy, Tucuman, Catamarca and La Rioja. From a tourism standpoint, the most classic circuit centers on Salta and Jujuy: the city of Salta itself, the UNESCO-listed Quebrada de Humahuaca, the Calchaqui Valleys with Cafayate, the Salinas Grandes salt flats, and a string of brilliantly colored highland villages. Every itinerary on this page departs from and returns to the city of Salta (airport code SLA, with direct connections to Buenos Aires and Lima).

Ways to Get Around the NOA

• Rental car (recommended): USD 40-80/day. Maximum flexibility. All major routes are paved except the road to Iruya and the Route 40 stretch between Cafayate and Cachi (gravel, but a low-clearance car can handle it). Ideal for 5- to 10-day itineraries.
• Group day tours: USD 60-120 per day depending on the destination. They depart from Salta and cover every main circuit. Perfect if you don't want to drive or speak Spanish.
• Long-distance buses: Flecha Bus and Balut connect Salta-Jujuy-Humahuaca-La Quiaca and Salta-Cafayate. Cheap (USD 8-25) but less flexible.
• Shared van transfers: from Salta into the NOA, travel agencies sell single seats for USD 40-80 per circuit day.
• Private 4x4 with guide: for remote destinations like Hornocal, Iruya, or Abra del Acay. USD 150-250 per day.

What to Expect by Season

• Fall (March-May): THE best time. Blue skies, sunny days, cool nights. Autumn colors light up the Cafayate vineyards. Stable weather throughout.
• Winter (June-August): excellent as well. Sub-freezing nights in Humahuaca, but sunny, dry days. Argentine winter holidays in July push prices up.
• Spring (September-November): very good. Few tourists, mild weather. Brief showers possible in October-November.
• Summer (December-February): rainy season. Some roads (Iruya, Cuesta del Obispo) can be cut off. The city of Salta turns sweltering. The Calchaqui Valleys put on dramatic electric storms.

How Much It Costs to Travel the NOA

• Backpacker (5 days): USD 350-500 per person. Hostels (USD 15-25), local buses, set-menu lunches, 1-2 paid tours.
• Standard (5 days): USD 700-1,100 per person. 3-star hotels, rental car split with a partner, the main day tours, and proper restaurant meals.
• Comfort (5 days): USD 1,500-2,500 per person. Boutique hotels or estancias, private 4x4 with driver-guide, winery lunches with pairings, and the Train to the Clouds in Premium class.

Must-See NOA Highlights

1. Hill of 7 Colors (Purmamarca) — the obligatory sunrise photo.
2. Hornocal — 14 Colors (Humahuaca) — a 4,350m viewpoint, best in the late afternoon.
3. Salinas Grandes — 30,000 acres of pure white salt at 3,450m.
4. Devil's Throat (Quebrada de las Conchas, Cafayate) — a sandstone amphitheater carved by wind and water.
5. Bodega Colome (upper Calchaqui Valleys) — the highest commercial vineyard in the world (3,111m).
6. Iruya — a village clinging to a cliff at 2,780m, reachable only via a cornice road from Humahuaca.
7. Train to the Clouds — 4,220m in altitude, climaxing at the La Polvorilla Viaduct.
8. Humahuaca Carnival (February) — one of the most authentic carnivals in Argentina.
9. Quebrada de las Flechas (Route 40) — vertical sandstone formations like arrows driven into the earth.
10. Cuesta del Obispo — the ascent to 3,457m on the way to Cachi.

Combine with Other Regions

• Salta + Buenos Aires (10-12 days): SLA-AEP flight in 2h15m. The classic urban-meets-Andes contrast.
• Salta + Iguazu (10-14 days): connect via Buenos Aires. Dry Northwest plus subtropical jungle.
• Salta + San Pedro de Atacama (Chile): 10-12h bus from Salta over the Paso de Jama, or fly via Lima.
• Salta + Bolivia (Sucre, Potosi, Uyuni): overland crossing at La Quiaca. Hugely popular with backpackers.
• Salta + Catamarca + La Rioja: extended NOA road trip, 10-14 days.