From Jujuy: Salinas Grandes, Purmamarca & Los Colorados Hike

The bright white salt plain of Salinas Grandes is the star here, but the day gives you three very different sights: the red and gold folds of Purmamarca, high Andean volcanoes, and the dry ravines of Los Colorados. It is a big scenery day packed into about eight and a half hours.

I like the chance to see vicunas and llamas along the mountain road, and I like that you get free time in Purmamarca rather than being rushed straight from one photo stop to the next. Guide Martín has been praised for clear explanations about the area’s history and scenery.

The tradeoff is the altitude. You reach roughly 4,150 to 4,200 meters, and parts of the route use rough dirt roads. An older minivan, weak bus audio, or a dusty vehicle can make the long ride less comfortable.

Key points to know before booking

• Salinas Grandes from 4,150 meters: Spend about 45 minutes near the salt plain, with white salt stretching toward blue volcanic peaks.
• Purmamarca and the Seven Colors Hill: Begin and end the main hike in this photogenic village, with time for lunch and the craft market.
• Los Colorados in 30 to 40 minutes: Finish with a shorter walk through red desert scenery close to Purmamarca.
• A serious high-altitude day: The route reaches up to 4,200 meters and is not suitable for young children, pregnant people, or those with limited mobility.
• Spanish and English guidance: Martín is one guide named in the feedback, and the tour includes a bilingual guide.
• Good price, basic transport: At $42, transport and guiding are inexpensive for such a full day, but food, drinks, and about $5 in local entrance fees cost extra.

A long day from Jujuy into the high Andes

This excursion leaves from the YPF gas station at Vilcapugio 1986 in San Salvador de Jujuy. You wait at the coffee shop and should arrive 15 minutes before departure. Pickup and return to Jujuy are included, which matters because the main sights are spread across a large area.

The full duration is 510 minutes, or eight hours and 30 minutes. That gives you time for several stops, but it also means you should treat this as a full-day outing rather than a quick tour between two towns. Bring water, a hat, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes. Food and drinks are not included, so plan to buy lunch in Purmamarca or bring something with you.

Transport is by bus or minivan, depending on the group size. The vehicle carries you through mountain roads and low-quality dirt roads, so this is not a polished luxury coach trip. One practical concern is the quality of the bus audio. If your guide is speaking while the vehicle is moving, you may find it hard to hear every word, especially in an older vehicle.

Still, the price changes the calculation. At $42 per person, you are paying for a guided day with transportation to remote high-altitude sights that would take more planning to reach on your own. I see this as a strong budget choice for scenery, provided you accept basic transport and a demanding road journey.

Yala, Volcán, and Tumbaya set the scene

The first part of the route passes through Yala, Volcán, and Tumbaya. These towns give you a gradual introduction to the Quebrada de Humahuaca area, with the road moving from the greener surroundings near Jujuy toward much drier mountain country.

The drive is not simply dead time. It helps you see how quickly the scenery changes as you gain height and move toward the high plateau. You might spot llamas or vicunas along the way, so keep your camera ready, but wildlife is never guaranteed.

The guide is important during this part of the trip. Martín is specifically noted for explaining the history and scenery in an engaging way. The tour is offered in Spanish and English, though the sound system may affect how easily you follow commentary from your seat.

The Seven Colors Hill above Purmamarca

Your first major viewpoint is the Seven Colors Hill. Sunlight brings out the mountain’s bands of red, orange, yellow, green, and other mineral shades, giving the slope a painted appearance without any human hand involved.

The viewpoint gives you the broad visual introduction. Then you reach Purmamarca, the village at the base of the hill, where the main hike begins. Purmamarca is small and attractive, with narrow streets, mountain views, and a craft market. It is also your best chance to slow down and get a feel for local life rather than seeing the area only through a vehicle window.

The village works well as a base for the day because it combines scenery with practical stops. You will have free time for lunch on the return from the high point, though lunch is not included. Allow room in your budget for food, and keep some cash for small purchases if you want to look through the market.

I would not treat Purmamarca as only a lunch stop. Take a little time to walk its narrow streets, look back toward the mountain, and browse the crafts. The visit is brief compared with a full stay in the village, but it gives the day some local character.

Climbing Cuesta del Lipán toward the salt flats

From Purmamarca, the route rises along Cuesta del Lipán, Cuesta del Saladillo, and Abra de Potrerillos. The names may blur together during a busy day, but the important point is the steady climb into very high country.

The route reaches about 4,150 meters, with the maximum elevation listed at up to 4,200 meters. That is higher than many people expect from a sightseeing excursion. You may feel the thin air, and even a short walk can seem more tiring than it would at sea level.

The activity is not recommended for children under five, pregnant women, people with limited mobility, or anyone who may struggle with high altitude. Comfortable shoes are essential, but footwear alone does not remove the challenge. Move at your own pace, listen to your body, and do not plan a strenuous activity immediately afterward.

The road itself is part of the experience and part of the discomfort. You will be crossing rough dirt roads, with stretches that may feel bumpy in a bus or minivan. The reward is access to scenery that is difficult to reach without a vehicle and local route knowledge.

Keep watching the slopes for vicunas and llamas. Seeing these animals in the open country adds something that a simple viewpoint cannot provide. As with any wild animal sighting, you might see them, but the tour cannot promise it.

Salinas Grandes and the blue volcanic peaks

At the high point, the white expanse of Salinas Grandes creates a sharp contrast with the blue sky and dark volcanic peaks. This is the visual payoff of the climb. The salt plain looks broad and stark, while the surrounding mountains give it scale.

You get about 45 minutes at the top. That is enough time to take photographs, walk around, and absorb the view without turning the stop into a rushed roadside pause. The description also refers to blue volcanoes, which add cool tones to a scene otherwise dominated by white salt, dry earth, and strong sunlight.

The sun is powerful at this altitude. Sunglasses, a sun hat, and sunscreen are not optional extras if you want to enjoy the stop comfortably. Bring your passport or ID card as requested, and keep personal belongings secure during the walks.

This stop is also where the tour’s limitations are most obvious. The views are dramatic, but the high elevation, rough approach roads, and limited time mean you should not expect a relaxed salt-flat resort visit. You are there to see the setting, take it in, and move on.

You should also carry about $5 in cash for entrance fees charged by the local communities at Salinas Grandes and Paseo Los Colorados. These fees are separate from the tour price. Having small cash ready saves time and avoids a scramble when the group arrives.

Returning to Purmamarca for lunch and local crafts

After the salt-flat visit, you follow the route back to Purmamarca. This return gives you another look at the mountain scenery, but it also marks the point where the day becomes less structured. You get free time for lunch, and you choose how to spend the rest of your break.

That freedom is useful. You can sit down for a proper meal, grab something quicker, visit the craft market, or walk through the village. Since food is not included, you have control over the cost and pace, though you should remember that your lunch break is limited by the afternoon walk.

The craft market adds a human element to a day otherwise dominated by geology. You may find woven goods and other local crafts, but the supplied information does not specify exact stalls or prices, so treat it as a browsing opportunity rather than a guaranteed shopping stop.

I like this pause because it breaks up the high-altitude drive. After the long road to Salinas Grandes, a village stop gives you a chance to eat, stretch your legs, and enjoy the mountain setting at a lower elevation before the final walk.

Los Colorados, a shorter walk through red country

The final activity is a 30 to 40 minute hike along the Los Colorados trail. It leads into desert scenery between the mountains, with red rock and dry slopes providing a different color scheme from the white salt flats and multicolored hill.

This walk is much shorter than the main high-altitude section, but it still requires comfortable shoes and sun protection. The trail gives you a closer look at the rock formations around Purmamarca instead of another distant viewpoint.

The timing makes sense. After a full day on the road and at altitude, a short walk is more manageable than another major climb. The local entrance fee for Paseo Los Colorados is included in the roughly $5 cash recommendation, along with the Salinas Grandes fee.

Do not expect a long wilderness trek. The trail is a compact add-on that rounds out the day. For me, its value is the change in scenery and the chance to walk among the formations rather than simply photograph them from a bus window.

What the $42 price really covers

The $42 fare is appealing because it includes pickup and drop-off from Jujuy, transportation, and a bilingual guide. Those basics remove much of the planning needed to connect Purmamarca, the high pass, Salinas Grandes, and Los Colorados in one day.

The price does not cover lunch, drinks, or the local entrance fees. Add those costs before you compare this with a private tour or independent travel. You should also bring a contact number that the local partner can reach at the time of booking.

The main value is access. You get a full route into high country, guided explanations, and several distinct stops for a modest price. The compromises are the group format, possible audio problems, and basic vehicle condition. A recent assessment rated the experience 4.2 out of 5 from 75 reviews, which fits the picture: strong scenery and good organization, with comfort issues that some people may notice.

The tour provider is NORDIC TRAVEL EVT. One particularly positive account credited Eric with handling the mountain route well and Martín with explaining the area. I would pay attention to those guide details because good coordination matters on a day with several roads, elevations, and local fees.

Who should book this day trip

I would recommend this tour if you are staying in Jujuy and want to see the region’s major sights in one day without arranging several transfers. It suits you if wide-open scenery, geology, village streets, and short walks matter more than luxury transport.

It is also a good fit for visitors with limited time. You see the Seven Colors Hill, Purmamarca, Salinas Grandes, and Los Colorados in one organized outing. The route gives you variety, so the day does not depend on one single viewpoint.

I would think twice if you dislike rough roads, long vehicle rides, or strong sun. The elevation is the bigger issue. If you have limited mobility, are pregnant, have a child under five, or are worried about adjusting to 4,200 meters, this is not the right choice.

Bring a passport or ID card, comfortable shoes, sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, and around $5 in cash for local entrance fees. I would also bring water and a light snack because food and drinks are not included, even though lunch time is provided in Purmamarca.

Should you book the Salinas Grandes and Purmamarca tour?

Book it if you want a low-cost, full-day route through some of northern Argentina’s most striking scenery and you can handle high altitude and rough roads. The combination of salt flats, volcanic peaks, a colorful mountain, a village market, and the Los Colorados walk gives you plenty for the price.

Skip it if you need a comfortable vehicle, easy walking, or a slow-paced day. The strongest parts are the views and the range of places covered. The weak points are the altitude, basic transport, possible poor audio, and extra costs for lunch and local entry fees.

For the right person, this is a practical way to see a huge amount of Andean scenery from Jujuy in one day. Just arrive prepared for the sun, the height, and a long ride.

FAQ

Where does the tour start in Jujuy?

The meeting point is the YPF gas station at Vilcapugio 1986, Y4607EKF, San Salvador de Jujuy. Wait at the coffee shop and arrive 15 minutes before the activity begins.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts 510 minutes, which is about eight hours and 30 minutes.

What places does the tour visit?

The route passes through Yala, Volcán, and Tumbaya, then visits the Seven Colors Hill, Purmamarca, Salinas Grandes, and the Los Colorados trail.

How high does the tour go?

The route reaches about 4,150 meters at the salt-flat viewpoint, with the maximum elevation listed as up to 4,200 meters above sea level.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch and drinks are not included. You have free time for lunch in Purmamarca.

How much extra cash should I bring?

Bring approximately $5 for entrance fees charged by the local communities at Salinas Grandes and Paseo Los Colorados.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The tour includes a live bilingual guide in Spanish and English.