Sights in Salta
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Pajcha – Museo de Arte Étnico Americano
This eye-opening private museum is a must-see if you’re interested in indigenous art and culture. Six exquisitely presented rooms present contemporary and recent artisanal work from all over Latin America. The quality of the pieces (which include amazing macaw-feather creations, religious sculpture from the Cuzco school, tools of the trade of Bolivian kallawaya healers and finely crafted Mapuche silver jewelry) is extraordinarily high, testament to decades of study and collection by the anthropologist founder. It’s an exquisite dose of color and beauty, and run with great enthusiasm by the English-speaking management, who will give you a worthwhile guided tour for an ex…
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Tren a las Nubes
From Salta, the Tren a las Nubes (Train to the Clouds) ascends the multicolored Quebrada del Toro, continuing past the important ruins of Tastil. The track makes countless switchbacks and even spirals, passing through 21 tunnels more than 3000m (9842ft) in total length, and crossing 31 iron bridges and 13 viaducts.
The trip's highlight is a stunning viaduct which is 64m (210ft) high and 224m (735ft) long, and spans an enormous desert canyon at La Polvorilla - a magnificent engineering achievement unjustified on any reasonable economic grounds. At Abra Chorillos, an altitude of 4575m (15,010ft) makes this the fourth highest operating line in the world.
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Museo Histórico del Norte
Set on the plaza in the cabildo, the Museo Histórico del Norte has a collection that ranges from pre-Columbian ceramics through to colonial-era religious painting and sculpture (admire the fine pulpit from Salta’s Jesuit church), and displays on Salta in the 19th and 20th centuries. The endless series of portraits of Salta’s governors wouldn’t be out of place in a beard-and-moustache museum, while the transportation collection includes a somber hearse used for children’s funerals and an enormous 1911 Renault that puts any Hummer to shame. The building itself, with cobbled patio and gallery overlooking the plaza, is lovely.
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Reserva del Huaico
This 60-hectare cloud forest reserve is in San Lorenzo, 8km west of Salta, and run by a not-for-profit nature foundation. Entry is by appointment only and includes a four-hour guided walk along the reserve’s 15km of trails. Despite Salta’s proximity, the bird-watching is extraordinarily good: more than 205 species have been recorded, with 100 of those – including guans, tanagers, parrots, hummingbirds and woodpeckers – all common. A taxi from Salta costs AR$20, or you can get any San Lorenzo–bound bus (AR$1.25). Get off at the municipalidad (city hall) and it’s a 1km walk along Mariano Moreno to the reserve.
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Parque Nacional Finca El Rey
Confined to a narrow strip no wider than about 50km (31mi), Argentina's subtropical humid forests extend from the Bolivian frontier south of Tarija almost to the border of Tucumán and Catamarca provinces. Comprising 44,000 hectares (108,726 acres), Parque Nacional Finca El Rey is the southernmost Argentine park protecting this unusual habitat, the most biologically diverse in the country.
The best time to visit the national park is between April and October - it's a bit cooler, but much drier! For all inquiries, contact the park office in Salta (España 366, 3rd fl).
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Iglesia San Francisco
The magenta-and-yellow Iglesia San Francisco is Salta’s most striking landmark. The exuberant facade is topped by a slender tower; inside, the single nave is ornately painted to resemble stucco-work. There are several much-venerated images here, including the Niño Jesús de Aracoeli, a rather spooky crowned figure. There’s a lovely garden cloister, accessed via guided tour (which run on demand in Spanish; donation appropriate) that takes in a mediocre museum of religious art and treasures.
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Valles Calchaquíes
Definitely one of Argentina's most appealing off-the-beaten-track areas, the Valles Calchaquíes combines striking natural landscapes with unique cultural and historical resources. The vernacular architecture here merits special attention - even modest adobe houses might have Neoclassical columns and/or Moorish arches. The town of Cachi is the most accessible and pleasant to wander around, and the bus trip isn't bad either.
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Catedral
Salta’s pink catedral was consecrated in 1878 and harbors the ashes of (among other notables) General Martín Miguel de Güemes, a salteño (resident of Salta) and independence hero; even today, the gauchos of Salta province proudly flaunt their red-striped ponchos de güemes (traditional Salta ponchos). The high baroque altarpiece is the other central feature.
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Museo de Bellas Artes
Salta's fine art museum is lodged in the Arias Rengel family's two-story colonial mansion, with its 2m (6.6ft) thick adobe walls. It displays both modern painting and sculpture, and has far more interesting work than the contemporary arts museum. The interior patio features a sculpture garden and a wooden staircase that leads to a hanging balcony.
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Convento de San Bernardo
Only Carmelite nuns may enter 16th-century Convento de San Bernardo, but visitors can approach the blindingly whitewashed adobe building (consider sunglasses) to admire the carved, 18th-century algarrobo door. The church, too, is open for visits before Mass early weekday mornings, Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings.
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Museo Antropológico
Just above the Güemes monument, on the lower slopes of Cerro San Bernardo, is the friendly Museo Antropológico. It has good representations of local ceramics, especially from the Tastil ruins (Argentina’s largest pre-Inca town), and some well-designed displays in its attractive, purpose-built spaces.
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Iglesia Catedral
Salta's 19th-century cathedral harbors the ashes of General Martín Miguel de Güemes, a Salteño and independence hero, as well as those of other important historical figures; even today, the gauchos of the Salta province proudly flaunt their red-striped ponchos de güemes.
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Museo de Arte Contemporáneo
The Museo de Arte Contemporáneo has on display the work of contemporary artists from Salta, as well as other parts of Argentina and the wider world. The space itself is well lit and expertly curated. Exhibitions change regularly and are usually of high quality.
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Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña (MAAM)
Perhaps the premier museum in northern Argentina, MAAM has a serious and informative exhibition focusing on Inca culture and, in particular, the child sacrifices the Inca left on some of the Andes’ most imposing peaks.
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