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    Salinas Grandes
    Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Argentina

    Salinas Grandes

    Point of Interest

    The Salinas Grandes are an approximately 212-square-kilometer salt flat located at an average elevation of 3,450 meters on the border of the Jujuy and Salta provinces.

    by Felix Gillen

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    9. Salinas Grandes
    The Salinas Grandes are an approximately 212-square-kilometer salt flat located at an average elevation of 3,450 meters on the border of the Jujuy and Salta provinces. This dazzling white expanse beneath a deep blue sky formed five to ten million years ago when saltwater evaporated in a basin. Salt is still extracted here today; you can see the rectangular pools where it is mined.From Purmamarca, it's 66 kilometers via Ruta Nacional 52, which winds its way up the Cuesta de Lipán in switchbacks to an elevation of 4,170 meters. Bring warm clothing, sunglasses, and headwear, drink plenty of water, and avoid alcohol beforehand to prevent altitude sickness.

    Sights in Salinas Grandes

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    Salt Basins and Guided Tours
    Attraction

    1Salt Basins and Guided Tours

    At the Parador on Ruta Nacional 52, guides from indigenous communities lead visits to the salt flats at over 4,000 meters. They show you the basins where groundwater evaporates under the sun, and recount the manual salt extraction. During the rainy season, the area can be partially flooded; bring water, sun protection, sturdy shoes, and be prepared for the altitude.
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    Nearby

    This small village at the entrance to the Quebrada de Humahuaca is situated directly at the foot of the Cerro de los Siete Colores, the "Mountain of Seven Colors," one of Argentina's most famous photo opportunities. In the village square, vendors sell local handicrafts.The approximately three-kilometer-long Paseo de los Colorados leads around the colorful rocks; in the morning light, the colors appear particularly vibrant. Purmamarca is also a starting point for the drive over the Cuesta de Lipán to the Salinas Grandes and a popular place to experience the Carnival of the North.

    The Quebrada de Humahuaca is a roughly 155 km high valley in Jujuy Province, traversed by the Río Grande flowing north to south. Its rock walls glow red, ochre, yellow, and violet, due to exposed strata from many geological eras. For approx. 10,000 years, humans used the valley as a trade route, later also the Incas; in 2003, UNESCO declared the Quebrada a World Heritage cultural landscape.Along the road are strung small towns: Purmamarca with the Cerro de los Siete Colores, Maimará with the "Paleta del Pintor", Tilcara with the reconstructed pre-Hispanic mountain fortress Pucará, and Humahuaca at the northern end, from where you drive to the Serranía de Hornocal with its "14 Colors". The climate is dry and windy. The valley is high; allow time for acclimatization.

    The Northwest of Argentina is a land of high valleys and colorful mountains. An Inca trade route once ran here, and Andean culture still shapes markets, music, and cuisine today. The starting point is the colonial city of Salta; from there, roads lead to the Quebrada de Humahuaca with its vibrant rock faces, up to the Salinas Grandes at around 3,450 meters, and south to the wine region around Cafayate.The most pleasant time to travel here is between May and September, when it is dry and sunny. Many destinations are well over 2,500 meters; plan time for acclimatization.
    Salta

    Salta

    Salta, known as “La Linda,” was founded in 1582 and is renowned for its Spanish colonial architecture. Situated at approximately 1,150 meters at the foot of Cerro San Bernardo, it serves as the most important starting point for tours to the Quebrada de Humahuaca, Cafayate, and the Salinas Grandes.The focal point is Plaza 9 de Julio, featuring the 18th-century Cathedral and Cabildo, which now houses a historical museum. Right next door, the Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña displays the Llullaillaco Mummies, three Inca children sacrificed over 500 years ago on an Andean peak. A cable car ascends Cerro San Bernardo, offering views over the city. In the evenings, you can enjoy folk music with Empanadas and Locro in the Peñas of Calle Balcarce.
    Lagunas Altiplánicas

    Lagunas Altiplánicas

    The Lagunas Miscanti and Miñiques are two deep blue highland lakes at over 4,100 meters in the Altiplano of the Atacama Desert, in northern Chile. Against the backdrop of their namesake volcanoes, you'll see flamingos, taguas, and vicuñas here, and on the way there, the drive passes the Salar de Atacama and the red rocks of Piedras Rojas.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
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