Salta 3-day itinerary

1. Stop 1

   Cabildo Histórico de Salta

   The old town hall of 1783 with its beautiful colonnaded exterior is one of the colonial buildings which helps make the main plaza one of the finest in Argentina. It is now one of three buildings housing the Museo Histórico del Norte. The capitulary room with its linked timber chairs where the Governor's advisors sat has had an outsized place in Argentinian history. Other exhibits showcase the history of the region from prehistoric times to the mid-20th century. Spanish text only.

2. Stop 2 · 38 min walk

   Cerro San Bernardo

   1,458 m above sea level (258 m above the city) hill. From Parque San Martin, a cable car goes to the summit, offering spectacular views of the city and its surroundings. At the summit there is a second cable car to Aladelta but it is of little interest. A popular option is to take the cable car to the summit and walk down, alternatively you can walk up and down taking the 1,070 steps leaving from the statue of Güemes a little bit north of the cable car station. Taxis are also an option.

3. Stop 3 · 38 min walk

   MAAM Museum

   Exhibits the discovery of the three Inca "Llullaillaco Children" found frozen at the peak of Mount Llullaillaco. Many museums are interesting but few have the impact of this one. The museum is small and its focus is the three children "given to the mountain" by the Inca. One leaves the museum wondering how a society could develop such belief systems, and whether the mummified bodies should be on display at all.

Eat · El Buen Gusto Empanadas: Go very local with this hidden gem for empanadas. A very traditional small, simple restaurant, that offers the best empanadas in Salta. You should call in advance to order the food (before 21:00) since they cook a limited number of empanadas.

1. Stop 1

   Iglesia San Francisco

   Beautiful 1796 red and ivory Basilica with a remarkable tower.

2. Stop 2

   Museo Antropológico

   Offers a very interesting insight into various indigenous cultures, which have flourished throughout the centuries in this part of Argentina.

3. Stop 3

   Pajcha

   A fantastic museum in Salta and definitely worth a look.It is called "Pajcha" and is a collection of traditional art, textiles, icons and jewelry from all over South and Central America. It is fascinating. The enthusiasm is palpable and fantastic learning from a knowledgeable source. They know everything because they had personally collected everything in the museum. Permanently closed.

Eat · La Céfira: They serve very nice pastas and sauces. Good value for the price.

1. Stop 1

   Museo El Tribuno Guillermo Pajarito Velarde

   Wonderful small house-museum that is a tribute to Velarde (1895-1965), who was a lawyer and banker, but more important a Bohemian patron of arts, especially tango, when it was still not accepted by society in Salta. The guide does a great job of presenting the colorful tales. She only speaks Spanish, but if you do not understand Spanish, she will just ask one of the other guests to translate to English.

2. Stop 2

   Museum of President Jose Evaristo Uriburu

   This is the house where President Uriburu was born and lived as a child. Jose Uriburu was president for only a few years but had a distinguished career both before and after his presidency as a jurist, diplomat and senator. The museum is small and does not take long to visit. It is presented as a home with household items and furnishings of the Uriburu family. This museum is one of the three Museums of the North.

3. Stop 3

   Explore Salta Museum Complex

   This museum is in the same building as the tourist information centre but is accessed by Peotonal Florida rather than Caseros. The museum presents a history of Salta with an emphasis on cultural heritage. There are many interactive displays which are fun although the best bit might well be the section dedicated to the music of Salta. You could spend hours listening to all manner of music from classical to Salta's modern rock bands.

Eat · By Doña Lola: Traditional Salteñan food in a very nicely restored old house which also contains a small museum of local artifacts.