Northern Argentina Self-drive

• Self-drive tour to Purmamarca and the Salt Flats

Start your self-drive adventure through Argentina and the North very early in the morning, heading northwest to Campo Quijano until reaching the small town of Santa Rosa de Tástil, which was once one of South America’s major cities in the pre-Inca era. Then you’ll visit San Antonio de los Cobres where you may choose to have lunch at one of the scarce but cozy restaurants in the area. At the end of the day, reach the Great Salt Flats, the amazing white solid ocean of the north. Finally, take the Cuesta del Lipan, an undulating stretch in zigzag that provides outstanding views to reach Purmamarca, located at the base of Jujuy’s famed Seven Color Hill, where you’ll spend the night.

Directions for today:

• Head northwest to Campo Quijano through RN51. Keep driving for the next 100 km until reaching the small town of Santa Rosa de Tástil.
• Drive north through RN51 until you reach San Antonio de Los Cobres.
• Continue driving for the next two hours through RN40 and head to Susques.
• Then, take the RN52 heading to the Salt Flats. Remember to drive carefully through the gravel road! 
• Drive south through RN52 through Cuesta del Lipan. Be especially careful with heavy truck traffic heading to Paraguay and Chile.
• Continue driving to Purmamarca. 

The self-drive adventure of today will take you to travel along 418 km of paved and gravel road for 10 hours. 

• Optional self-drive to Pucará de Tilcara

Enjoy your day at leisure and explore the surroundings of Purmamarca. We suggest that you rise early in the morning and take the short walk through Camino de los Colorados, when the mountain is bathed in sunlight and there are fewer hikers around. 

After this walk, you can visit the Pucará de Tilcara archeological ruins, a former fortress constructed by the tilcaras, natives of the area, and located on a hill just outside the small town of Tilcara (an approximately 15-minute walk away). Once in Tilcara, you can also visit the botanical garden and Tilcara museum.

To reach Tilcara:

• Drive east through RN52 for about 3,3 km until RN 9.
• Continue driving north for about 21,6 km until you reach the town of Tilcara.
• In Tilcara, turn right to catch Villafañe Ave. 
• Turn left on the third intersection with Belgrano street. 
• Turn right to follow through Ernesto Padilla St, until you reach the access to the Pucará. 

The self-drive adventure of today will take you to travel along 27,2 km of paved road for 1 hour (plus the time spent on-site).