More about hotels in Salta
Salta earned its nickname "the Beautiful" long before wine tourists discovered Cafayate or engineers laid a railway line above the clouds. Pastel-coloured colonial buildings line the plazas of the old capital, their shaded arcades catching a particular pink-gold light at dusk that photographers travel a long way to see. Head out of the city and the landscape shifts fast, from vineyards planted higher than almost anywhere else on earth to red-rock canyons and high Andean routes climbing toward 4,000 metres.
Salta province stretches from that colonial capital out to wine country and high-altitude villages several hours apart, so where you base yourself matters more here than in most of Argentina. There's a stay to match however you're travelling, from simple guesthouses near the bus terminal to boutique hotels tucked among the vines.
Where to stay in Salta
Salta is a big province, and each base puts you close to something different. Here are a few of the most popular spots:
- Capital: Salta's own colonial centre, built around Plaza 9 de Julio and its shaded arcades. Stay here for museums, restaurants and the old town's mansions within walking distance.
- Cafayate: the heart of Salta's wine country, ringed by vineyards growing Torrontés at over 1,700 metres above sea level. A good base for winery visits and the drive through the red-rock Quebrada de Cafayate.
- Cachi: a small Andean village along the Calchaquí Valley route, known for whitewashed adobe streets and wide mountain views. Suits travellers after a slower, higher-altitude stop.
- La Caldera: a short drive north of the capital and the gateway to cloud-forest scenery on the way up to San Antonio de los Cobres. Handy if the Train to the Clouds route is on your list.
- Molinos: another Calchaquí Valley village, home to one of the region's oldest wine estates. Good for stringing together a multi-day wine-and-mountain road trip.
How much is Salta accommodation?
Nightly rates across the province average around AU$140, with plenty of options well below that if you're not fussed about extras.
- Backpackers and hostels: From AU$20 per night. Shared dorms and simple guesthouses, mostly around Capital's bus terminal and old town.
- Budget hotels and guesthouses: From AU$50 per night. Private rooms with basic comforts, common in both Capital and Cafayate.
- Mid-range hotels and apartments: From AU$100 per night. Comfortable, self-contained stays close to the plazas and wineries.
- Boutique hotels: From AU$160 per night. Restored colonial mansions and vineyard lodges with real character.
- Luxury and wine-estate resorts: From AU$250 per night. Cellar-door dining, spa facilities and views over the vines or the Andes.
Top-rated hotels in Salta
- Legado Mítico Salta: a boutique hotel in a restored colonial house just off the main plaza, with individually styled rooms and a rooftop terrace looking out over the city's rooftops.
- Patios de Cafayate - Wine Hotel & Restaurant: set inside a working winery in Cafayate, with rooms opening onto vineyard views and a restaurant built around the estate's own Torrontés.
- Hotel Alejandro I, Affiliated by Meliá: a central Capital hotel a few blocks from Plaza 9 de Julio, with a rooftop pool that's popular for watching the sunset over the surrounding hills.
- Villa Vicuña Hotel Boutique: a small boutique property in Capital with a courtyard garden and personalised service, an easy walk from the old town's main sights.
- Solar de La Plaza: a colonial mansion turned hotel right on Plaza 9 de Julio, with an elegant, art-filled interior and views over the plaza itself.
Tips for finding the perfect accommodation in Salta
- Split your stay: Capital and Cafayate are around three hours apart by road, so consider a few nights in each rather than one long base for the whole province.
- Book ahead for harvest season: Cafayate's wine harvest, roughly February to April, pushes room rates up and fills the best boutique stays early.
- Pack for altitude swings: Salta city sits around 1,200 metres, but routes toward Cachi and the Train to the Clouds climb well above 3,000 metres, so bring layers even in summer.
- Choose your base by what you want to see: Capital suits colonial architecture and city life, Cafayate suits wineries and canyon drives, and La Caldera or Cachi suit travellers chasing Andean scenery.
- Use our filters: Looking for a courtyard, a vineyard view or an easy walk to the plaza? Traveloka's filters narrow things down fast.
Once you've settled on a base, it's worth checking other Argentina destinations nearby, since flights and buses connect Salta easily to the rest of the north-west.
