Booked here
The day we book
Guide, pickup, Los Cardones
- Length12 hours
- In CachiAbout 2 hours
- Value score4.5
Price it for your group
Cachi tours from Salta, priced from the cheapest seat to the combos
Cachi and Los Cardones day from Salta
★ 4.4 · From 352 reviews
Summary
Cachi tours from Salta start at a low guided-day fare for 12 hours with pickup, rise a little for longer or smaller-group days, and climb for combos with Cafayate or the Salinas Grandes, with the national park free to enter.
Price essentials
Compare 4 side by side
Work out the cost of your Cachi day
Enter how many of you are going and compare Cachi days at your group size.
- Our guided day12 hours · per person, from $30
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View - Scenic Cachi day13 hours · per person, from $30
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View - Cachi and valleys12 hours · per person, from $26
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View - Accessible day12 hours · per person, from $29
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View
Starting prices on GetYourGuide, exchanged at the ECB reference rate. The booking page gives the exact price.
Every Cachi tours fare we could check from Salta, set against each other, with what each price buys, what it leaves to you, and when to reserve.
Editorial team, cachitour.click · Updated November 12, 2026 · Reading: 7 min
In brief
- Our guided dayA 12-hour Salta round trip, guide and hotel collection included, from $30.
- Lowest Cachi fareA day to Cachi and the valleys starts from $26.
- Longer combosCafayate and Cachi over 2 days starts from $56.
- Park entryLos Cardones National Park charges no entrance fee.1
- On topNo meal is listed, so lunch in Cachi is yours to buy.
What the guided day sold on this site costs
Our Cachi day is listed on GetYourGuide from $30 a person and fills a full day of 12 hours, from pickup in Salta to the drop-off back in the city. That fare buys the seat, the road over the Cuesta del Obispo and a guide working in both English and Spanish, so the long drive comes with commentary rather than silence.
The plan behind the price is easy to read. A coach leg of 2 hours takes you out of the Lerma Valley, then come short stops of 15 minutes each on the Cuesta del Obispo, in Los Cardones National Park and on the Recta del Tin Tin. Payogasta gets 10 minutes, and Cachi itself gets 2 hours of guided walking and free time before the drive home.
A pair of lines in the record shape your budget. The operator keeps the trip running through rain and rough weather, so a grey day does not trigger a refund on its own. And no meal appears among the listed items, which means lunch in Cachi is an extra you pay on the day, in a town whose adobe houses now hold many small restaurants.2
Side by side
Cachi trips from Salta by starting price
| Trip | From | Length | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cachi and the valleys | $26 | 12 hours | 70 |
| Accessible Cachi day | $29 | 12 hours | 16 |
| Scenic Cachi day | $30 | 13 hours | 227 |
| Our guided day | $30 | 12 hours | 352 |
| Van day | $50 | 11 hours | 8 |
| Cafayate and Cachi | $56 | 2 days | 15 |
| Valleys and the north | $134 | 4 days | 16 |
Starting fares only; the travel date and how many of you go decide what you finally pay.
Other Cachi day trips from Salta, side by side
The lowest Cachi fare we found starts from $26 for a 12-hour day through Cachi and the Calchaqui Valleys, with 70 reviews behind it. A scenic full day starts from $30 and runs a little longer, at 13 hours, with 227 reviews averaging 4.5, the strongest record among the Cachi days we compared.
That scenic day also publishes its group limit, a maximum of 22 people, and notes that child rates apply when a child does not take a seat. For families with a toddler on a lap, that detail can matter more than the small gap in fares between operators, so ask about it before you pay for every person in the party.
At the other end, a smaller day in a van starts from $50 for 11 hours, with a cap of 30 travelers and 1.5 hours in Cachi. It has only 8 reviews so far, so you are paying more for a different format rather than for a long track record. Most Cachi tours share the same road and the same stops; what changes is the group, the time in town and the reviews. Search in Spanish for excursiones a Cachi desde Salta: precios and you find the same days again; prices vary a little from seller to seller, the route hardly at all.
Hours you buy
Cachi days from Salta by length
- Scenic Cachi day13
- Our guided day12
- Cachi and valleys12
- Accessible day12
- Van day11
Total length from Salta as each listing states it.
Longer trips that put Cachi into a circuit
If a single long day feels rushed, combinations spread the valleys over several days. Cafayate and Cachi together over 2 days start from $56, and that listing rates 4.8 across 15 reviews. A second 2-day version of the same pairing starts from $56 and warns of about 2 hours on rough dirt roads on the way.
Other pairings swap Cafayate for the far north. A 2-day pairing of Cachi and the white Salinas Grandes is listed from $55, and Cachi with the Hornocal range starts from $88. Both carry very few reviews, so read the itinerary closely and message the operator about pickup times before you commit.
For a longer run through the valleys, a 3-day trip to Cafayate, Cachi and the Salinas Grandes starts from $95, and a 4-day set adding Humahuaca starts from $134. The 4-day set asks for at least 4 free days in Salta, though the outings need not fall on consecutive dates, which makes it easy to slot around rest days.
Pick by budget
Which Cachi fare fits your trip
Say what matters most and find the Cachi tour that matches your budget.
If I want the lowest fare to Cachi
Cachi and the valleys
A 12-hour day from $26, with 70 reviews so far.
If I want a proven day with a guide
The day on this site
From $30, with 352 reviews and a 4.5 value score.
If We travel with a small child
The scenic Cachi day
Child rates apply when a child takes no seat; groups top out at 22.
If I use a wheelchair
The accessible day
Its listing is marked wheelchair accessible, from $29.
If I have several days in Salta
Cafayate and Cachi combo
Both valleys over 2 days, from $56.
By budget
Lowest fare, most reviewed or booked here
Group cap
Scenic Cachi day
A longer day, capped group
- Length13 hours
- GroupUp to 22
- Reviews227
Budget
Cachi and valleys
The lowest fare we found
- Length12 hours
- GuideEnglish, Spanish
- Reviews70
What the fare leaves out, and how to pay for it
The biggest extra is food. Cachi kitchens serve humitas, tamales, locro and empanadas, with sweets such as cayote jam and cuaresmillo for dessert, and you choose and pay for them yourself during the stop in town.5 Carry snacks and water as well, because the road climbs for hours and roadside shops are few once you leave the Lerma Valley.
A cost you can cross off is the national park. Los Cardones National Park lists its entry as free of charge, and its intendancy sits in Payogasta on the route itself.1,6 The park is open to the public all year, so the stops on the Recta del Tin Tin cost nothing beyond the tour fare.7 The park service asks visitors to walk only on its marked trails, and Salta tourism adds that cutting a cardon is strictly forbidden.8,9
Small purchases are where cash helps. The Argentine peso is legal tender, and foreign money can be changed at banks and licensed exchange houses before you leave Salta.4 Payogasta and Cachi both get shopping time on the itinerary, and craft sellers there often prefer notes to cards, so keep some pesos for a poncho, dried peppers or a jar of local jam.
Where the money goes
From reserving a seat to the ride home
At booking
Reserve, pay later
Hold a seat from $30 without paying today.
Day before
Last free cancel
Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund.
In the park
Free entry
Los Cardones National Park charges nothing to enter.1
Payogasta
Small shopping stop
A pause of 10 minutes with time to browse.
In Cachi
Lunch on you
About 2 hours in town, where you buy your own meal.
Tour, bus or hire car: comparing the cost of the trip
A guided seat is the simplest sum: a single fare per person, pickup, a guide and no fuel or parking to think about. The park service confirms there are daily buses to Cachi from Salta, which is the budget route for travelers who want to stay overnight, though you lose the photo stops a tour makes on the pass.10
A hire car only pays off when the seats fill. Salta tourism publishes a register of licensed car-hire firms, and it reminds drivers that touring alone means no guide and no tour company behind them.11,12 Mountain roads here average about 50 km/h, so a day that looks short on the map takes longer than you expect.13
Travelling alone or as a pair for just a day, the guided fare usually wins, because it removes the driving and the planning. For a family or friends sharing a car over several nights, the sums turn, and the freedom to stop at dawn or stay for the stars starts to matter. Our page on getting from Salta to Cachi compares those choices road by road.
Video
Salta in a few days, with day trips to Cachi and Cafayate
John and Jocelyn (JJescapes) on YouTube · Your tap on play is what loads the video.
Book excursions with agencies or providers, and lodgings or hire cars, that are licensed and authorised by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports; do not do it in the street.
Before you pay
Included, extra and ways to save
In the fare3
- Pickup in Salta and the drive back
- A live guide in English and Spanish
- Around 2 hours in Cachi with a guided walk
Paid on the day3
- Lunch in Cachi, since no meal is listed
- Crafts and snacks at Payogasta and Cachi
- Water and snacks for the long road
Booking Cachi, Salta: when to reserve and when to wait
When booking Cachi, Salta's festival calendar matters more than the season. Rooms in Cachi reached 80% occupancy during the 33rd edition of its Calchaqui tradition festival in January, so seats and beds tighten when the valley celebrates.14 In July the winter holidays add stargazing, trekking, cycling and trips to the much-talked-about UFO landing strip outside town to the programme.15
Reserving early costs you little. Nothing is charged when you reserve, and a cancellation made 24 hours or more ahead is refunded in full. So hold a date as soon as your Salta nights are fixed, then watch the forecast and the road news in the last days. If clouds or a landslide warning make you nervous, you can still cancel without cost up to 24 hours ahead, which turns an early booking into a free option rather than a gamble.
Whichever seller you use, the province asks visitors to book only with agencies licensed by its Ministry of Tourism, and to turn down offers made on the street.3 A licensed seller also means a clear receipt, and Salta tourism tells visitors to ask for proof of every service they pay for.16 Guides working on this route must carry a credential issued by the province, and the tourism ministry has run spot checks for it on the Recta del Tin Tin.17
Reading the ratings before you choose
The day on this site averages 4.4 across 352 reviews, with 4.5 for the guide, 4.4 for transport and 4.5 for value for money. A value score of 4.5 suggests that most guests feel the low fare buys a full experience rather than a stripped-down ride. Read a handful of recent reviews too: they tell you how long the stops felt, how the guide handled both languages and whether the road was open, which matters more than the decimal point.
Compare that with the wheelchair-accessible Cachi day, which starts from $29 but scores 3.8 for value from 16 reviews. Its record also states a top altitude of 3,480 m at Piedra del Molino and describes the trip as low difficulty with short walks, which helps travelers with limited mobility decide.
In the end, price differences between the Cachi days are small, a few dollars either way. The better question is what you want from the day: the most reviews, the smallest group, step-free help or more time in town. The calculator above prices your whole party, and the decision helper points you to the listing that fits.
FAQ
Questions answered quickly.
How much does a Cachi tour from Salta cost?
From $30 a person.
The 12-hour guided day sold here starts from $30; the fare covers collection in Salta and a bilingual guide.
What is the cheapest day trip to Cachi?
From $26.
A day to Cachi and the Calchaqui Valleys starts from $26 and lasts 12 hours.
Is lunch included in the Cachi tour?
No meal is listed.
Food is not among the listed items: budget for lunch in a Cachi restaurant during the stop.
Do I pay to enter Los Cardones National Park?
No, entry is free.
The National Parks Administration lists free entry to Los Cardones.1
Can I cancel the Cachi tour for free?
Yes, up to 24 hours ahead.
Cancel 24 hours or more before departure and the whole fare comes back; reserving costs nothing upfront.
Does the tour run if it rains?
Yes, it still goes.
Rain alone does not stop the trip: the operator runs it in bad weather too.
Are there multi-day tours with Cachi?
Yes, from 2 days.
Cafayate and Cachi over 2 days starts from $56; a 4-day valley set starts from $134.
Sources
- National Parks Administration, Los Cardones National Park (argentina.gob.ar) · Tarifas ↩
- Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Cachi ↩
- Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Informacion del destino (visitor information) ↩
- Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Informacion del destino (visitor information) ↩
- Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Cachi ↩
- National Parks Administration, Los Cardones National Park (argentina.gob.ar) · Parque Nacional Los Cardones ↩
- National Parks Administration, Los Cardones National Park (argentina.gob.ar) · Horarios / Como llegar ↩
- Parques Nacionales, National Parks Administration of Argentina · Parque Nacional Los Cardones: Actividades ↩
- Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Parque Nacional Los Cardones ↩
- National Parks Administration, Los Cardones National Park (argentina.gob.ar) · Horarios / Como llegar ↩
- Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Alquiler de vehiculos (register of licensed car hire) ↩
- Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Como llegar (getting there) ↩
- Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Informacion del destino (visitor information) ↩
- Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Fiestas Populares: Cachi registro una ocupacion turistica del 80% ↩
- Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Vacaciones de invierno en Cachi ↩
- Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Informacion del destino (visitor information) ↩
- Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Operativo de control turistico en el Parque Nacional Los Cardones ↩
Further reading