Argentina - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 87

horse-drawn carriages to everyday objects.
The balcony here offers a great view over
the goings-on in the square. Facing the
museum is the ornate Neoclassical
Catedral , built in 1882, which has some
interesting frescoes inside.
Just east of the plaza, Calle Caseros
leads to two more interesting churches.
The blood-red Iglesia y Convento San
Francisco , designed by architect Luigi
Giorgi, is one of the most impressive
religious buildings in the country. Its
exuberance makes a fascinating contrast
with the whitewashed walls of the
Convento San Bernardo , a lesson in
simplicity and tranquillity of design.

Salta and out to the Lerma valley and
Andes mountains beyond.

1

Calle Balcarce and ethnic art museum
The liveliest part of the city is the area
around Calle Balcarce , especially the
pedestrianized blocks north of Avenida
Entre Ríos. Arts and crafts are on sale in
the evenings and on weekends, and this is
where you'll find the largest number of
restaurants, bars, discos and folk-music
venues. There is also an outstanding
museum of American ethnic art, the
Museo de Arte Étnico Americano Pajcha at
20 de Febrero 831 (Mon-Sat 10am-1pm
& 4-8pm; AR$20; W museopajchasalta
.com.ar), featuring handicrafts from
Argentina and elsewhere in South
America, with Mapuche silver jewellery
and Andean ceramics the highlights.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
By plane Salta's airport ( T 0387 424 2904) is 10km
southwest of the city centre. A taxi should cost no more
than AR$50.
Destinations Buenos Aires (2-3 daily; 2hr 30min); Córdoba
(2-3 daily; 1hr 30min); Tucumán (2-3 daily; 40min).
By bus All buses arrive at the bus terminal ( T 0387 401
1143) eight blocks east of the main plaza along Parque
San Martín. It has luggage storage, cafés, chemists and
bakeries but no internet.
Destinations Regular buses to Buenos Aires (20hr),
Rosario (16hr), Córdoba (13hr), Tucumán (4hr), La Quiaca
(7hr 30min) and Mendoza (19hr).
By train Bus #5 links the bus terminal with the train
station, at Ameghino 690, via Plaza 9 de Julio. The only
trains that serve Salta are the tourist Tren a las Nubes,
which departs twice a week, and infrequent goods and
passenger trains to the Chilean border.
Tourist information n a converted Neoclassical
building, the city tourist o ce at Caseros 711 (daily

Archeological museum
MAAM, the Museo de Arqueología de
Alta Montaña (Tues-Sun 11am-7pm;
AR$40; W maam.gob.ar), is a modern
and controversial museum displaying
the mummified remains of several
high-mountain child sacrifices; many
locals argue that the perfectly preserved
remains should be laid to rest instead.
The beautiful exhibits of Inca clothing
and jewellery are well organized and have
labels in English.

Cerro San Bernardo
To the east of the microcentro a steep
path leads you up Cerro San Bernardo hill
(1458m; 45min), or you can take the
easy option and hop on the teleférico
(cable car; daily 10am-7.45pm; AR$35
return) from Avenida Hipólito Yrigoyen,
between Urquiza and Avenida San
Martín, at the eastern end of Parque
San Martín. At the top are gardens and
a small café with sweeping views over

SALTA TOURS
A wide variety of highly professional tours , expeditions and other activities all around the
northwest region can be arranged from Salta city.
TOUR OPERATORS
MoviTrack Safaris Buenos Aires 28 T 0387 431
6749, W movitrack.com.ar. Lively 1-2-day overland
safaris and sightseeing tours.
Norte Trekking Gral Güemes 265, oficina 1 T 0387
431 6616, W nortetrekking.com. Sightseeing, trekking
and mountaineering adventures.

Ricardo Clark Expediciones Mariano Moreno 1950
T 0387 497 1024, W clarkexpediciones.com. Small eco-
tourism company specializing in birdwatching tours.
Salta Rafting Caseros 177 T 0387 421 3216, W salta
rafting.com. Fun white-water rafting and zipwire
excursions on the Río Juramento. Can also arrange
horseriding and mountain-biking trips.