Salta City Highlights Sightseeing Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Salta's historic center
- Visit the San Francisco Church
- Discover the San Bernardo Hill
- See the Cathedral of Salta
- Learn about local culture and history
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Guided tour of Salta's historic landmarks
- Transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
Pass by: After hotel pickup, head by coach toward the city center, and listen to your expert guide share the history of Salta. Founded in the 16th century by Spanish visionary Hernando de Lerma, Salta turned into a wildly successful trading center. See evidence of Salta’s heyday in the gold-plated cathedrals and mansions as your vehicle winds through the city, which went into decline after Argentina’s war for independence and the changing of trading routes on the Pacific coast. Today, Salta is known for its beautiful and well-preserved colonial architecture.
Reaching the central plaza, behold the grand, twin-towered Cathedral of Salta, built in 1885, and learn about national hero General Güemes, whose remains rest in the cathedral; he fought against the Spanish during Argentina’s war for independence.
Pass by the Cultural Center of the Americas, and note the Spanish viceroyalty colonial architecture of the Historical Museum of the North, housed in the old cabildo, or town hall.
Admire postcard-perfect San Francisco Church, with towering white pillars supporting a crimson-colored façade. Its purple belfry stands 174 feet (53 meters) tall, and the bell it holds was constructed out of the cannons used during the Battle of Salta.
Pass by the 16th-century San Bernardo Convent, one of the oldest buildings in the city, and the monument to General Güemes.
Leave the city center and head into the foothills skirting Salta. At the top of San Bernardo Hill, take in sweeping views of the city and Andean peaks.
See the Battle of Salta monument and February 20th Park, built in commemoration of the battle fought and won here during the war for independence.
Visit the nearby village of San Lorenzo, frequented by wealthy families from Salta during the summer because of its unusual subtropical microclimate.
Return to Salta and stop at the Artisan Market, located inside a traditional white colonial building, to peruse the offerings from craftsmen who travel from all over the province to sell their goods here. Snack on alfajores (cookies with caramel filling) and candied walnuts, or pick up one-of-a-kind purses, blankets and jewelry (snacks and shopping at your own expense).
With your souvenir shopping done, you’ll be taken back to your hotel.
Meeting point
Start Location
Salta, Argentina
Important information
Know before you book
- The tour is conducted in Spanish; English-speaking guides may be available upon request.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off are included; please provide your accommodation details at booking.
- Meals and beverages are not included; consider bringing water and snacks if desired.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes and appropriate clothing for the weather.
- Bring a camera to capture the stunning views and historic sites.
- Ensure you have a valid ID for hotel pickup verification.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Good to know
- It is recommended that you wear comfortable shoes
Traveler reviews
Very Disappointed
I reserved and English speaking tour. The guy that showed up only spoke Spanish so we did not get the tour.
Not recommended
The tour guide prohibits passengers from getting off the bus at the main square and seeing the sights. This makes no sense, as the windows of the bus were not large enough to see the buildings. Besides, we would have liked to go to the cathedral at least briefly, but the tour guide said that after the tour you could do this on your own. Unfortunately not recommended.
Great experience
Extremely interesting experience, you learn a lot about Salta's history and visit not only buildings in Salta but also the mountain behind it, which serves as the cornerstone of Salta. With its views and artificial waterfall a great experience.
Salta City but not during Christmas Holiday
We were there on Christmas Eve. Not a great time but the city and sights we could see were great . I would highly recommend not going on a holiday where everything is closed. Jasmine, our guide, was great!
A waste of money.
Please don’t waste your money on this trip, buy a guide book instead which will give you far more information. We sat on the mini bus outside the cathedral without an opportunity to go in whilst the guide told us nothing we didn’t already know. Take the cable car to the top of the mountain, it will save you a lot of money overall. It was certainly the worst tour we have ever done.