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Salta to Cachi by tour, bus or hire car, and the road in between

Summary

Salta to Cachi is 162 km on provincial route 33 over the Cuesta del Obispo: by a guided day tour with pickup, by the daily bus from the Salta terminal, or by hire car on a road with a gravel pass.

Road essentials

  • Daily bus services run to Cachi2
  • Mountain stretches average about 50 km/h3
  • Fuel station, hospital and food in Cachi4

Map of 35 stops

Salta, the Bishop's Slope and Cachi, pin by pin

First pick a route, then tap any pin or stop for details and Google Maps.

Map of Salta province from the Salta bus terminal through El Carril, Chicoana and the Escoipe gorge, over Piedra del Molino and the Recta del Tin Tin to Payogasta and Cachi

  1. Long-distance coaches from all over Argentina, and the daily buses to Cachi.

    Google Maps

  2. A Lerma Valley town that the day tour crosses on its way south out of Salta.

    Google Maps

  3. The town named after the Chicoana people, deported here from the Calchaquí Valley.

    Google Maps

  4. The green gorge that carries Provincial Route 33 up towards the Calchaquí Valley.

    Google Maps

  5. The top of the climb at 3,348 m, with a stone chapel and a broken granite millstone.

    Google Maps

  6. The long straight road across the cactus plain, on the line of an ancient path.

    Google Maps

  7. The park's administrative seat, where red peppers dry in the sun on the farms.

    Google Maps

  8. The colonial town 162 km from Salta, at 2,210 m.

    Google Maps

Mapping data © OpenStreetMap contributors

The road from Salta to Cachi is part of the trip: a climb through a green gorge, a gravel pass and a cactus plain. Here is how each way of crossing it works.

Editorial team, cachitour.click · Updated November 12, 2026 · Reading: 7 min

In brief

  • DistanceCachi lies 162 km from the city of Salta by provincial route 33.1
  • By tourA guided 12-hour round trip with pickup in Salta.
  • By busThe park service notes daily bus services to Cachi.2
  • By carMountain stretches average about 50 km/h, so allow extra time.3
  • FuelCachi has a fuel station, a hospital and places to eat.4

The road from Salta to Cachi at a glance

Argentina's national tourism board measures the trip from Salta to Cachi at 162 kilometers along provincial route 33, and Salta tourism uses the same figure.1,5 The national park describes the start of the route: national route 68 out of the city, then provincial route 33 west into the mountains.6 Those numbers are worth knowing, because road signs, rental maps and bus boards all use them, and asking for the road to Cachi by its number saves confusion at junctions in the valley.

Along the way the distances come in steps. The pass at Piedra del Molino, the eastern gate of Los Cardones National Park, sits 97 km from Salta by the park count, and Payogasta, the park headquarters, comes after 147 km.6 From Payogasta, Cachi is a further 11 km up the valley.4 On a map that looks like a short hop across the province, but most of those kilometres are bends, climbs and descents, so judge the trip by hours rather than by distance.

Height changes more than distance. The road leaves the Lerma Valley at about 1,200 m and climbs past 3,000 m before dropping to Cachi, which stands at 2,210 m.7,5 That climb is what makes the trip slow, beautiful and occasionally tricky, and it shapes every choice below, from who drives to what you pack.

Compared

Tour, bus or hire car to Cachi

WayStops on the passNight in CachiWho drives
Guided day tourYes, short haltsNo, back the same dayThe operator
Daily busNoYes, if you wish2The bus company
Hire carWherever you like12Yes, if you wishYou, on mountain roads3
Multi-day tourYesDepends on the routeThe operator

Daily buses run to Cachi; check timetables and fares at the Salta bus terminal before you travel.2

By guided tour: the easy way across the pass

A guided day is the simplest way to cover the road. The tour sold here collects you in Salta, drives for about 2 hours before the first stop and then halts at the top of the Cuesta, inside the cactus park and on the Tin Tin straight before Payogasta and Cachi. The whole round trip takes 12 hours and starts from $30.

The main advantage is that someone else handles the hairpins, the gravel and the decisions about weather. Salta tourism points out that touring alone in your own or a hired car means travelling without a guide and without a tour company behind you.12 On a road like this, a driver who knows every bend is worth a lot.

The trade-off is time. You get roughly 2 hours in Cachi and short halts elsewhere, and you sleep back in Salta the same night. If you want the valley at dawn or the stars at night, use the bus or a car instead, or pick a multi-day tour that leaves you in the valleys overnight. If your time in Salta allows only a single free day, though, the guided route remains the least stressful way to see the whole road.

How far

Kilometres from Salta along the Cachi road

  • Piedra del Molino93
  • Park east gate97
  • Payogasta147
  • Cachi162

Salta tourism gives 93 km to the pass; the park service counts 97 km to its east gate there.10,6,5

The bus from Salta to Cachi

The cheapest way to make the journey is the regular bus from Salta to Cachi. The National Parks Administration notes that the city receives coaches from all over Argentina and that there are daily services with Cachi as their destination.2 Buses leave from the Salta bus terminal; ask there for the current timetable and fare.

Getting to the terminal is easy. From the airport, which lies 9 km from the centre, local bus 8A stops 100 m outside on national route 51 and runs to the bus terminal.17 UK travel advice notes pickpocketing on buses and in bus and rail stations, so keep your bags close while you wait, and buy your ticket at the official window rather than from someone in the hall.18

A public bus makes no photo stops on the pass, so sit by a window and enjoy the view as it passes. The real gain is flexibility: you can spend the night in Cachi, catch the morning light on the Nevado and come back another day, or carry on along the valley. Bring snacks and water, because a mountain bus can take its time.

Pick your way

Which way to Cachi suits you

Answer what matters to you and see the best way from Salta to Cachi.

  • If I have a single day and want the stops

    The guided day

    Pickup, a guide and halts on the pass, from $30.

  • If I am on a tight budget

    The daily bus

    Regular buses cover the route from Salta to Cachi every day.2

  • If I want sunrise and stars in the valley

    Bus or car, then stay

    Cachi has hostels, cabins, inns and a campsite.4

  • If I am a confident mountain driver

    Hire a car

    Rent from a firm on the provincial register.14

  • If I travel in the summer rains

    Let someone else drive

    Water over the road is a real hazard in storms.15

Choose your way

Guided, by bus or behind the wheel

Booked here

The guided day

Pickup and stops on the pass

  • Length12 hours
  • GuideEnglish and Spanish
  • RainStill runs
See this option

Budget

The daily bus

Cheapest, no photo halts

  • FrequencyDaily2
  • FromSalta terminal
  • Best forA night in Cachi
See this option

Self-drive

A hire car

Freedom, gravel and hairpins

  • Average speedAbout 50 km/h3
  • FuelIn Cachi4
  • LicenceValid up to a year13
See this option

How to drive from Salta to Cachi

To drive from Salta to Cachi, leave the city on national route 68, cross the farmland of the Lerma Valley and turn onto provincial route 33 into the Escoipe gorge.6,9 The gorge road bends more and more until it becomes the Cuesta del Obispo, a climb of 60 km of continuous zigzag that tops out at 3,348 m by Salta tourism's count, though its introduction puts the viewpoint above 3,800 m.63,64

Surface changes as you climb. Salta tourism describes the core of the Cuesta, about 20 km, as wide, gravelled and kept in good repair, with an uneven paving pattern caused by a visible geological fault.65 Beyond the pass the Recta del Tin Tin is paved, a straight line of 18 km at 3,000 m.66,11 After the hairpins it feels like a runway, but keep your speed down: tour vans stop at the roadside, walkers cross to the cactus and animals wander onto the tarmac.

Plan for slower speeds than the map suggests. The province says many circuits run on mountain roads along cliff edges, where traffic averages about 50 km/h, and that distances and journey times often differ from what visitors expect.3,16 Fill the tank in Salta; the park service lists a fuel station in Cachi, at the far end of the drive, and you want daylight for the pass.4

Kilometre by kilometre

The road from Salta to Cachi

  1. Leaving Salta

    Lerma Valley

    Out on national route 68 from the city at 1,187 m.6,8

  2. Into the hills

    Escoipe gorge

    Provincial route 33 follows the gorge towards the Calchaqui Valley.9

  3. Km 93

    Piedra del Molino

    The top of the pass at 3,348 m, with its stone chapel.10

  4. Past the pass

    Recta del Tin Tin

    A paved straight of 18 km across the cactus plain.11

  5. Km 147

    Payogasta

    The village that hosts the park headquarters.6

  6. Km 162

    Cachi

    Journey end at 2,210 m, with fuel, food and beds.5,4

Papers, rules and phone numbers for drivers

Rent only from a licensed firm. Salta tourism keeps a public register of car-hire companies approved by the province, and its general advice is to book cars, lodging and excursions only with licensed providers, never in the street.14,67 Check that the car has a spare tyre and that your contract covers gravel roads before you sign.

A foreign licence can be enough. Argentina accepts licences issued under the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna conventions for up to one year from your entry.13 Carry your passport and the rental papers in the car at all times. The province does inspect tourist routes: a recent operation on the Recta del Tin Tin checked guide credentials and the vehicles carrying visitors.68

Salta province enforces zero tolerance on drink driving: provincial law 7846 bans driving after any amount of alcohol.60 Before setting off, the province advises checking road conditions with Defensa Civil, and in any emergency the number is 911.61,62 Store those numbers in your phone ahead of time, as mobile signal can drop in the mountains.

Video

A road trip through Salta and Jujuy in northern Argentina

Kitti and Jon on YouTube · Your tap on play is what loads the video.

Bear in mind that our roads are, on many occasions, mountain roads; distances and journey times may differ from the ones you normally use.
Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects)16

Driver checklist

Before you drive to Cachi

Car and papers3

  • Hire only from a firm on the provincial register14
  • Licence under the 1949 or 1968 convention, plus passport13
  • Full tank in Salta; the listed fuel station is in Cachi4

On the road3

  • Plan for about 50 km/h on mountain stretches3
  • Cross the pass in daylight59
  • Never drive into water running over the road15

Just in case3

  • Zero alcohol: provincial law 784660
  • Check road conditions with Defensa Civil before leaving61
  • Emergencies: call 91162

Rainy season, closures and the best months

Summer is the season of storms in the valleys, and it is when the roads suffer. Salta tourism reminds travelers never to enter a flooded stretch of road, whatever its depth seems, and to stick to daylight and the main open roads.15,59 A landslide on the Cuesta can hold traffic for a while, so leave slack in your plans.

The national park keeps its section of road open all year but recommends visiting between April and November.69 Inside the park, entry points open from 9:30 to 18:00, which matters if you plan to walk the short trails rather than just drive through.70 In those drier months the road is at its most reliable and the light is clear.

If you go in summer, watch the forecast, start early and be ready to turn back if water crosses the road. On a guided tour this is the driver's job, and the operator states that the trip still runs in rain and bad weather. Either way, a flexible day in your plans is the best insurance. If a closure does catch you out, Cachi and Payogasta both have places to sleep and eat, so waiting a day is an inconvenience rather than a crisis.4,71

Onward from Cachi: the valley road south

You do not have to go back the way you came. From Cachi, the national tourism board counts 157 kilometers south to Cafayate along national route 40, through the heart of the Calchaqui Valleys.1 That road links villages such as Seclantas and Molinos and turns the trip into a loop rather than an out-and-back drive.

Combination tours cover the same idea without the driving. Cafayate and Cachi over 2 days start from $56, and a 3-day circuit adding the Salinas Grandes starts from $95. A 2-day version mentions some 2 hours on poor dirt roads, a fair description of parts of the valley route. Booking a combo also solves the return problem: you avoid returning a hire car to Salta and the long drive back the same way.

Whatever you choose, the drive between Salta and Cachi rewards slow travel. Stop at the chapel on the pass, walk among the cactus on the Recta and arrive in Cachi with time to spare. Our pages on the Cuesta del Obispo and Los Cardones National Park describe what you see along the way in more depth, and the day-trip page breaks the guided journey into its stops.

FAQ

Questions answered quickly.

How far is Cachi from Salta?
162 km.

Cachi lies 162 kilometers from the city of Salta along provincial route 33.1

Is there a bus from Salta to Cachi?
Yes, daily services.

The national park notes daily bus services from Salta with Cachi as their destination.2

How long does the drive take?
Longer than the map says.

Mountain stretches average about 50 km/h; Payogasta, 11 km short of Cachi, is 2 hrs 45 min from Salta.3,72,4

Is the road to Cachi paved?
Mostly, with a gravel pass.

The Cuesta del Obispo has a wide, maintained gravel stretch of about 20 km; the Recta del Tin Tin is paved.65,66

Is there fuel on the road to Cachi?
In Cachi.

The park service lists a fuel station in Cachi among its services; fill up in Salta first.4

Can I drive with my foreign licence?
Usually, for up to a year.

Licences under the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna conventions are valid for up to one year from entry.13

When is the road most reliable?
April to November.

The national park recommends visiting between April and November, outside the summer rains.69

Sources

  1. Argentina National Institute of Tourism Promotion (argentina.travel) · Cachi ↩
  2. National Parks Administration, Los Cardones National Park (argentina.gob.ar) · Horarios / Como llegar ↩
  3. Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Informacion del destino (visitor information) ↩
  4. National Parks Administration, Los Cardones National Park (argentina.gob.ar) · Servicios ↩
  5. Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Cachi ↩
  6. National Parks Administration, Los Cardones National Park (argentina.gob.ar) · Horarios / Como llegar ↩
  7. National Parks Administration, Los Cardones National Park (argentina.gob.ar) · Horarios / Como llegar ↩
  8. Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Ciudad de Salta ↩
  9. Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Valle Encantado, Cuesta del Obispo y Recta del Tin Tin ↩
  10. Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Cuesta del Obispo ↩
  11. Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Valle Encantado, Cuesta del Obispo y Recta del Tin Tin ↩
  12. Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Como llegar (getting there) ↩
  13. Ministry of Transport of Argentina (argentina.gob.ar) · Information on International Driver's Licenses ↩
  14. Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Alquiler de vehiculos (register of licensed car hire) ↩
  15. Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Recomendaciones para viajeros ante condiciones climaticas adversas ↩
  16. Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Como llegar (getting there) ↩
  17. Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Informacion del destino (visitor information) ↩
  18. UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (gov.uk) · Argentina travel advice: safety and security ↩
  19. Argentina.travel, National Institute of Tourism Promotion (INPROTUR) · Ciudad de Salta
  20. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Ciudad de Salta
  21. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Arquitectura
  22. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Arquitectura religiosa
  23. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Ciudad de Salta
  24. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Arquitectura
  25. Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña (MAAM), Government of Salta · El Museo
  26. Teleférico San Bernardo, Complejo Teleférico Salta (provincial state company) · Teleférico
  27. Teleférico San Bernardo, Complejo Teleférico Salta (provincial state company) · Teleférico
  28. Teleférico San Bernardo, Complejo Teleférico Salta (provincial state company) · Teleférico
  29. Teleférico San Bernardo, Complejo Teleférico Salta (provincial state company) · Teleférico
  30. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Polos y corredores gastronómicos en la ciudad
  31. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Ciudad de Salta
  32. Argentina.travel, National Institute of Tourism Promotion (INPROTUR) · Ciudad de Salta
  33. Parques Nacionales, National Parks Administration of Argentina · Parque Nacional Los Cardones: Horarios y cómo llegar
  34. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Cuesta del Obispo
  35. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Valle Encantado, Cuesta del Obispo y Recta del Tin Tin
  36. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Valle Encantado, Cuesta del Obispo y Recta del Tin Tin
  37. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Valle Encantado, Cuesta del Obispo y Recta del Tin Tin
  38. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Cuesta del Obispo
  39. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Cuesta del Obispo
  40. Parques Nacionales, National Parks Administration of Argentina · Parque Nacional Los Cardones: Actividades
  41. Parques Nacionales, National Parks Administration of Argentina · Parque Nacional Los Cardones: Actividades
  42. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Valle Encantado, Cuesta del Obispo y Recta del Tin Tin
  43. Parques Nacionales, National Parks Administration of Argentina · Parque Nacional Los Cardones: Actividades
  44. Parques Nacionales, National Parks Administration of Argentina · Parque Nacional Los Cardones: Actividades
  45. Parques Nacionales, National Parks Administration of Argentina · Parque Nacional Los Cardones: Actividades
  46. Parques Nacionales, National Parks Administration of Argentina · Parque Nacional Los Cardones: Horarios y cómo llegar
  47. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Payogasta
  48. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Payogasta
  49. Secretariat of Culture, Government of Salta Province · Vacaciones en Cultura: el Museo Arqueológico de Cachi propone un verano para descubrir el pasado
  50. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Cachi
  51. Parques Nacionales, National Parks Administration of Argentina · Parque Nacional Los Cardones: Actividades
  52. Parques Nacionales, National Parks Administration of Argentina · Parque Nacional Los Cardones: Actividades
  53. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Cachi
  54. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Cachi
  55. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Cachi
  56. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Del 10 al 12 de abril, Cachi se viste de fiesta: Vendimia del Alto Valle Calchaquí
  57. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Valle Encantado, Cuesta del Obispo y Recta del Tin Tin
  58. Visit Salta, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province · Cachi representará a la Argentina en el certamen mundial Best Tourism Villages 2026
  59. Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Recomendaciones para viajeros ante condiciones climaticas adversas ↩
  60. Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Informacion del destino (visitor information) ↩
  61. Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Como llegar (getting there) ↩
  62. Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Informacion del destino (visitor information) ↩
  63. Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Cuesta del Obispo ↩
  64. Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Cuesta del Obispo ↩
  65. Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Cuesta del Obispo ↩
  66. Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Valle Encantado, Cuesta del Obispo y Recta del Tin Tin ↩
  67. Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Informacion del destino (visitor information) ↩
  68. 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 ↩
  69. National Parks Administration, Los Cardones National Park (argentina.gob.ar) · Horarios / Como llegar ↩
  70. National Parks Administration, Los Cardones National Park (argentina.gob.ar) · Horarios / Como llegar ↩
  71. National Parks Administration, Los Cardones National Park (argentina.gob.ar) · Servicios ↩
  72. Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Salta Province (visitsalta.ar, where turismosalta.gov.ar redirects) · Payogasta ↩

Further reading

More for the road to Cachi

GuideCachi tour pricesGuideThe Cachi day trip from SaltaGuideDay trips from Salta comparedGuideIs Salta worth visiting?

Before you leave

Keep a seat for the road to Cachi.

Reserve the Cachi day now and pay closer to the date; cancel free up to 24 hours before the start.

See open dates