Salta

Salta, "the very beautiful one", as it says the meaning of this word in the local indigenous language, is simultaneously a city and a province. And the description proposed by the name is valid for the first one as well as for the other.

The province of Salta is located in the far northwestern region of the Argentine Republic. The Tropic of Capricorn crosses it by the north and the entire province is situated on the longitudinal axis of the American continent. It borders on three Latin American countries: Chile, Bolivia and Paraguay.

Due to its particular location, forming some sort of a ring between the Andes Mountain range to the west and the Argentinean-Paraguayan chaco to the east, it comprises an enormous climatic and geographic variety.

For this same reason, the tourist landscapes and routes that can be enjoyed in each one of its regions are very diverse and incomparable: going through the merciless and frozen Puna, crossing smooth and cozy valleys arriving to the splendor of the rainforest with its ferocious tropical climate.

In addition to the landscapes, wild, incredible and varied, Salta also has an important historical heritage and a cultural patrimony inviting to a further and more intense discovery of the region. The travelers arriving up to here will have the opportunity to establish direct contact with ancestral customs that have remained alive in the town.

The fierceness of the Incas, their special relation with the death, their way of cultivating the earth, their musical rhythms and the particular intonation found in the spanish spoken in this area; are a present and alive legacy, not just museum pieces.

Salta was also an elemental piece in the Argentinean history. From the conquest, being a nexus between the High-Peru and Buenos Aires, going through the gauchos of Güemes and their protagonism during the war of independence, finally arriving to the present and the working fights in the mining operations.

The old country houses and constructions from the colonial period are today awaiting for the travelers, transformed into inns and hotels, offering them all the warmth of its wide walls and the enchantment of their yards and gardens.

The city

Salta is the capital of the province and its most important city. It is located in the geographic center of the territory, in one of central valleys, the Lerma Valley.

This location provides a warm climate, with pleasant temperatures and much sun throughout the year.

One of the most outstanding features is the Hispanic colonial architecture. In its growth, hasn’t lost its profile of a low city, houses of a single floor, or two at the most, narrow streets many of them paved, and the horizon always trimmed by hills. Museums, churches and monuments populate its historical blocks.

A brief tour

It is essential to begin touring the city from the 9 of Julio square, the place where Hernando de Lerma founded it, in 1582. In within, there is a bower that was formerly the place for dates between youngsters, today is the meeting place chosen by the students. The arcades located in the surrounding streets are a characteristic seal of the city.

On the sideway the Cathedral is located, where the images of the Virgin of the Miracle and where the rest of General Güemes, hero of Independence, are resting.

Opposing the Cathedral is placed the Historical Town hall, and today it hosts the Northern Historical Museum. Heading through Caseros Street the Church of San Francisco can be reached, with its brick colored walls and a very characteristic tower. Beyond this point, in the same direction, the Convent of San Bernardo is placed.

In order to complete the perspective of this city it is imperative visiting one colonial mansion at least: Uriburu’s, Arias Rengel’s, Leguizamón´s or Hernandez’s. Many of them are nowadays museums.

Another place to be visited, not only for what it offers on sale but because of its architectonic quality, is the Artisan Market (autochthonous and native handcrafts).

At night the city fills with movement, activities and music.

The Train Station area is one of the favorite places chosen by the salteños and tourists to share drinks in any of the many bars, to have dinner in its restaurants or just walking by the streets. In order to complete the Salta experience and being able to say that one has really been here it is necessary to go, at least, to one of the numerous folkloric shows. The most famous ones are ‘Valderrama Disco’, ‘The Mill Country House’ and ‘The Old Station’.

A little beyond, passing downtown, near the base of the San Bernardo Hill, is located the Monument dedicated to Güemes.

Finalizing , no one can leave Salta without having contemplated the beautiful sight from the San Bernardo Hill, quite better if it’s seen during dusk and the evening, offering a spectacle of lights of the city from the heights.

The climate

Given its location, the great difference in height existing among the province’s extension and the tropical latitude in which it is located, Salta has a vast variety of climates.

Within this variety, the city of Salta, placed in one of the warm valleys, has an annual average temperature of 16.9ºC and a annual rain average of 700 mm, distributed mainly in the summer season.

This data denies the traditional belief regarding the summer heat in Salta. The highest temperature for the month of January is of 34.6ºC and the average for the same month is 21ºC. Throughout the year, the temperature rises over 32ºC only 14 days, whereas in Buenos Aires the same happens 21 days during the year.

The extreme heat which the climate of this region is usually linked with is because of that registered in the area of ‘El Chaco Salteño’, on the eastern side of the province, where temperatures can easily reach 45ºC in summer.

The Seasons

The high season arrives in this area during the austral winter: July and August. But already from Easter and up to October it is possible to enjoy all the attractions offered by this region.

During summer, it’s the time for the rains corresponding to the tropical weather so low season takes place from November to March. Nevertheless making the trip is quite possible, taking under consideration this data.

How to get there?

By Air :

Airplane is one of the most common ways to get to Salta. Interconnected with Buenos Aires, having flights on daily basis (during high season, even more than one), and also with other destinations of the country: Cordoba, Jujuy and Tucumán. Although in these cases the frequencies are not daily and tend to vary according the season.

The airport "El Aybal" is located 9 kilometers from the city, through the Route Nº 51. A public Bus service exists transporting to downtown.

By land :

By Bus :

There’s a vast number of Bus companies arriving to Salta. Some of most important ones are: "La veloz del norte", "La Internacional", "Flecha Bus", "Andesmar" among others. The trip from Buenos Aires takes approximately 20 hours. The Bus terminal is placed a bit away from downtown (about 1500 meters) and does not have lockers service.

By car :

Several routes connect Salta with the main cities of the country. From Buenos Aires, there are two alternatives for reaching Salta:

Route N° 9: starting from ‘La Panamericana’ (another route) continuing this route until reaching Tucumán. Heading, soon after, to Rosario de la Frontera, Metán and finally Salta. The entire trip takes approximately 1800 kilometers.

Route N° 34: in this case- Buenos Aires, Rosario, Rafaela, Fernandez, La Banda, Tucumán and finally, Salta. This is a little shorter option than the previous one taking 1650 kilometers approximately.

Distances

Buenos Aires: 1600 km.
Tucumán: 316 km.
Jujuy: 115 km.
Mendoza: 1230 km.
Córdoba: 874 km.
Puerto Iguazú: 1572 km.
Santiago del Estero: 478 km.
San Carlos de Bariloche: 2401 km.
Puerto Madryn: 2327 km.
Ushuaia: 4160 km.
El Calafate: 3939 km.