To plan a trip to northwest Argentina, the first step is understanding the location of the Calchaquí Valleys . The main route is the Calchaquí Valleys route, formed by the legendary National Route 40. However, to access this route from the provincial capitals, it's necessary to connect with mountainous provincial roads. Planning the trip requires knowing the condition of the gravel roads, driving times, and altitudes.
In this article, we detail step-by-step how to complete the circuit around the Calchaquí Valleys starting from Salta, and how to structure your trip through the Calchaquí Valleys in Tucumán . You'll find information on distances, travel times, and excursions from Salta with planned itineraries so you can choose the best option based on your available time.
Where are the Calchaquí Valleys located and how are they connected?
The Calchaquí Valleys are bordered by the Eastern Cordillera to the east and the Andes Mountains to the west. The two main gateways and logistical hubs for visiting them are the cities of Salta and San Miguel de Tucumán . You can choose to take the circular route around Salta or a linear route that connects both cities, crossing through the heart of the valleys.
From Salta, the northern entrance is via Provincial Route 33 and National Route 68, which connect with National Route 40 forming a circular circuit .
From Tucumán, the southern entrance is made via Provincial Route 307, which ascends the eastern slope of the mountains until it connects with Route 40 at the interprovincial border .
The Calchaquí Valleys circuit in Salta
This circuit contains the most popular route in the region. It's a 520-kilometer triangular route that begins and ends in the city of Salta, passing through Cachi and Cafayate . Due to the condition of the mountain roads, this journey requires a minimum of two full days .
The most convenient way to avoid driving on high-altitude gravel roads is to book the Calchaquí Valleys Tour . This two-day, one-night itinerary takes care of all the logistics described.
The first day covers the ascent up the Bishop's Slope , the visit to Cachi and the journey through the Quebrada de las Flechas to reach Cafayate, where the night is spent.
The second day includes visits to local wineries and the return to Salta through the Quebrada de las Conchas , all accompanied by professional guides and in vehicles adapted for the mountains.
Salta - Cachi section through the Escoipe Gorge
The journey begins in the city of Salta, taking National Route 68 south to the town of El Carril (37 kilometers), where it turns west onto Provincial Route 33. This first section is paved and crosses the Escoipe Gorge.
The road then turns into a compacted gravel track, and the ascent up the Cuesta del Obispo begins. It's a 20-kilometer zigzagging road to reach Piedra del Molino , the highest point of the route, at 3,348 meters above sea level. From there, the asphalt reappears on the Recta del Tin Tin , a perfectly straight 19-kilometer stretch that crosses Los Cardones National Park .
Finally, after traveling 162 kilometers in an estimated time of three to four hours, you arrive at Cachi, a town with colonial architecture located at 2,531 meters above sea level, ideal to make your base for the first night and visit its 18th-century church and the Pío Pablo Díaz Archaeological Museum.
Cachi - Cafayate section: the heart of Route 40
The second segment of the circuit follows National Route 40 southbound. The distance between Cachi and Cafayate is 157 kilometers , but the road is almost entirely gravel, so the driving time varies between four and five hours.
The route passes through historic towns such as Seclantás, known for its poncho weavers, and Molinos , where the old estate of the last royal governor is located, now converted into a hotel.
Further along, past Angastaco, the landscape changes dramatically as you enter the Quebrada de las Flechas (Arrow Gorge). This 20-kilometer stretch is characterized by sloping quartz sandstone rock formations that point skyward , the result of tectonic movements millions of years ago. Finally, the road reaches San Carlos and then Cafayate.
Cafayate - Salta section through the Quebrada de las Conchas
Cafayate is the most developed town in the valleys and the center of Torrontés high-altitude wine production . The return trip to Salta completes the circuit around the Calchaquí Valleys . This leg covers 189 kilometers along National Route 68, which is entirely paved, and takes approximately three hours to drive.
The main attraction of this section is the Quebrada de las Conchas Nature Reserve , where wind and river erosion have sculpted geological formations in the reddish mountains. Rest stops are signposted along the route and include places like El Anfiteatro (The Amphitheater), La Garganta del Diablo (The Devil's Throat), Los Castillos (The Castles), and El Sapo (The Toad) .
The Calchaquí Valleys from Tucumán
Exploring the Calchaquí Valleys in Tucumán allows you to discover the area with the greatest historical and archaeological significance in the region. The main access is from San Miguel de Tucumán via Provincial Route 307.
Ascent to Tafí del Valle
The journey from the city of Tucumán to Tafí del Valle is 107 kilometers and takes about two hours . Route 307 enters the Quebrada de los Sosa Provincial Reserve, a winding, paved road that climbs through the cloud forest (yungas). At 2,000 meters above sea level, the jungle vegetation suddenly disappears, giving way to the La Angostura Dam and the valley below.
Tafí del Valle boasts excellent infrastructure and services. A few kilometers away, in the town of El Mollar, lies the Los Menhires Archaeological Reserve , which displays stone monoliths carved by pre-Columbian cultures more than two millennia ago.
Amaicha del Valle and Quilmes Ruins
Continuing northwest on Route 307, the road climbs to Abra del Infiernillo, a mountain pass at 3,042 meters above sea level , before descending to Amaicha del Valle. Unlike Tafí, Amaicha has an arid, desert climate. In this town, the Pachamama Museum offers a detailed exhibit on local geology, Diaguita culture, and regional textiles.
Located 85 kilometers from Tafí del Valle and just 15 kilometers from Amaicha del Valle (on National Route 40), lies the Sacred City of Quilmes . This archaeological site preserves the agricultural terraces, plazas, and foundations of the dwellings of one of the largest indigenous populations in Argentina, which resisted the Spanish siege until 1667.
From San Miguel de Tucumán, you can take a day trip to Tafí del Valle and the Quilmes Ruins . This full-day tour ascends through the Quebrada de los Sosa gorge, explores the center of Tafí del Valle, and continues along the mountain road to the Abra del Infiernillo pass. It then descends to Amaicha del Valle to visit the museum and concludes with a guided tour of the Quilmes Ruins .
Tucumán - Cafayate road connection
If the intention is to connect the two provinces without returning to San Miguel de Tucumán , the distance between the Quilmes Ruins and Cafayate (Salta) is only 50 kilometers along National Route 40, which is paved in this sector.
The Tafí del Valle and Cafayate excursion is ideal for visiting both destinations. The tour departs from Tucumán, crosses the jungle, passes through Tafí del Valle, Amaicha, and the Quilmes archaeological site . Finally, it enters the province of Salta and concludes in Cafayate . There, the tour includes a visit to a traditional winery to taste Torrontés wine before beginning the return journey.
Complete tour packages in Northern Argentina and the Calchaquí Valleys
Organizing the logistics of the Calchaquí Valleys and adding other destinations in Northwest Argentina can be complex. To guarantee safety on high-altitude routes and optimize time, the best option is to purchase a closed circuit. The Salta Adventure Package: Northern Argentina takes care of all the logistics for the region in an itinerary of several days based in the city of Salta .
This itinerary combines essential excursions from three distinct regions . It includes a journey through the Calchaquí Valleys, visiting Cafayate and the Quebrada de las Conchas; an ascent to the Puna to explore the Salinas Grandes salt flats (via the Quebrada del Toro and San Antonio de los Cobres); and a comprehensive tour of the Quebrada de Humahuaca in the province of Jujuy, visiting Purmamarca, Tilcara, and the Hill of Seven Colors.