Skip to content
Visit NOA

Itinerary · 4 days

The Calchaquí Valleys loop in four days

Mountain passes, giant cacti, adobe villages and high-altitude wine on a circular route from Salta.

By Visit NOA Editors ·

A gaucho on horseback driving cattle through the dust of the Calchaquí Valleys

Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Calchaquí Valleys loop links Salta, Cachi and Cafayate in a circle of roughly 520 km. Drive it anticlockwise to finish with the Quebrada de las Conchas in the afternoon light.

Day 1 — Salta

Arrive in Salta and spend the afternoon in the historic centre.

Day 2 — Cachi

Climb the Cuesta del Obispo and cross Los Cardones National Park. Overnight in Cachi.

Day 3 — Route 40 to Cafayate

The unpaved stretch through Seclantás, Molinos and the Quebrada de las Flechas is slow and spectacular. Fuel up in Cachi.

Day 4 — Cafayate and back to Salta

A morning winery visit, then north through the Quebrada de las Conchas to Salta.

Experiences

Tours for this trip

  • 2-Day Calchaquí Valley Tour to Cachi and Cafayate
    Likely to sell out
    Viator

    Nature

    2-Day Calchaquí Valley Tour to Cachi and Cafayate

    Experience the incredible Calchaquí Valley on this activity-filled overnight tour from Salta that combines stunning natural scenery with Argentine wine. You’ll enjoy a scenic round-trip drive to the towns of Cachi and…

    Full day · 48 h · Salta, Cafayate, Cachi

    From US$461

    5.0 out of 5 (1)

  • Quebrada de Humahuaca From Salta with Purmamarca
    Free cancellation
    Viator

    Culture

    Quebrada de Humahuaca From Salta with Purmamarca

    Discover the beautiful landscapes offered by the Quebrada de Humahuaca, with its picturesque villages, culture and ancestral history. The various colors, mountains and hills. The native fauna, the warmth of its people,…

    Full day · 12 h · Salta, Humahuaca, Purmamarca

    From US$56

    4.9 out of 5 (129)

  • Tour of the Cafayate and Cachi Valleys in 1 Day
    Free cancellationPrivate tour
    Viator

    Culture · Nature

    Tour of the Cafayate and Cachi Valleys in 1 Day

    The so-called “Vuelta a Los Valles” is a unique walk in which the Valleys are almost entirely covered Calchaquíes, passing through all the villages previously named, knowing their attractions, histories…

    Full day · 14 h · Salta, Cafayate, Cachi

    From US$599

    5.0 out of 5 (10)