Ultimate Guide to Argentina’s Salt Flats

Welcome to your “Ultimate Guide to Argentina’s Salt Flats!”  Before visiting, I had NO idea there were actually salt flats in Argentina.  I’d assumed (incorrectly) that Bolivia’s massive Salar de Uyuni was the only salt flat in South America.  But when I got to the charming city of Salta, in northern Argentina, I heard through the grapevine about the existence of these magical salt flats, called “Salinas Grandes” ~ which are located by the Salta & Jujuy Provinces.  But there are a few things I wish I’d known prior to visiting this beautiful place, & I’ll fill you in on those details here. 

Come & join me on this tour of Argentina’s Salt Flats, also known as “Salinas Grandes!”

Map of the Salt Flats

On the map below, I’ve outlined the circular, 12-hour route our “Salt Flats” tour took: which started in Salta.  We headed west on Route 51, making a few stops before landing in San Antonio de los Cobres for lunch (good for lunch, but not my choice for an overnight stay).  Then, about 90 minutes later, we arrived at the Salt Flats ~ finishing up in Purmamarca, at the “Hill of Seven Colors.” 

If you don’t feel like making all these stops, or being in a van for 12 hours: then I strongly suggest renting a car in Salta.  The roads in this area are nice & uncongested, & make for easy driving.

Ultimate Guide to Argentina’s Salt Flats

There aren’t many online guides for Argentina’s Salt Flats ~ but my disappointment with the ones I did find, was they hardly showed any photos.  And the ones that did, only showed photos of the Salt Flats themselves, without highlighting the surrounding area, which I thought was GORGEOUS.  I found “painted hills” all over the place ~ not just in Purmamarca.

In my opinion: this whole journey is beautiful ~ not just the Salt Flats. 

So Let’s Visit the Salt Flats…

One of the first stops we made was along a dirt road, to check out this suspension bridge.

Not far from the bridge, we stopped near an insane collection of cactus. In the early morning light, I found the hills here to be painted all kinds of beautiful colors…

I also found a dog just chilling along the highway, next to a huge cactus.

Ultimate Guide to Argentina’s Salt Flats

We made several stops on our journey to Salinas Grandes, including many roadside stands selling Argentinian (& Bolivian) goods.

We also got lucky, spotting many groups of vicunas alongside the road. They look like alpacas ~ but are a different breed, that thrive in very high altitudes (10,000+ feet).

The Andes Mountains create compelling backdrops for photos in this region.

Ultimate Guide to Argentina’s Salt Flats!

After lunch in San Antonio de los Cobres, followed by a near two-hour journey: we finally made it to the Salt Flats I’d been dying to see!!  My main issue with our (long) tour though, was this: we only had twenty minutes here!  This is NOT enough time ~ especially if you want to play with perspective, bring props, & have fun taking photos.  I got a few snaps by myself, then ran over to some friends from the tour, to help each other get funny shots.  I’d also wished that our tour guide had brought props: like a Coke can, sombrero, small figurines ~ anything that helps you create great “perspective” shots.  

GWTW Tip: If you want ALL the time you want at the Flats: RENT A CAR!!!  You will especially need to rent a car if you want to visit the Salt Flats at sunrise or sunset ~ something I sincerely wished I’d been able to do.

Many groups were there when we arrived, but it’s still not hard to get a shot alone ~ just turn around, & you’ll find vast, open space.

“Alone” at Argentina’s Salt Flats.

Playing with friends (& perspective) at the Salt Flats is a MUST!! To date, this is one of my most “liked” Instagram photos EVER.

Get in that salty water & exfoliate your feet!  The biggest difference between Uyuni & Argentina’s Salt Flats is that Uyuni doesn’t have these turquoise pools. Use them to your photo advantage! (I can only imagine how amazing they look at sunset…)

Ultimate Guide to Argentina’s Salt Flats

For comparison purposes, here’s a shot of Bolivia’s MASSIVE Salar de Uyuni. Salt as far as the eye can see…

When we arrived in Purmamarca, I was immediately captivated by their colorful town square, surrounded by gorgeous handicrafts. I wish I’d stayed at least one night here!

“The Hill of Seven Colors,” in Purmamarca, Argentina. By the time we arrived (about 4PM),our guide said the lighting made it look “washed out.” Colors are most vibrant, they say, in early morning.

Video of Argentina’s Salt Flats

Sometimes, the best way to get a feel for a place is to watch a video of it.  My personal feeling is that the entire journey to the Salt Flats is beautiful & rugged, making this entire region a destination in itself: & not just the Flats themselves.

Ultimate Guide to Argentina’s Salt Flats

For more articles on Argentina: read about great hikes in Patagonia, or solo female travel at beautiful Iguazu Falls.

Read Next: How Much Does a Trip to Patagonia Cost?

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