Quebrada de Humahuaca, Jujuy
Salta to Purmamarca, Tilcara and Humahuaca by private minibus.
A private 19-seat minibus with a professional driver, from your hotel in Salta or from Salta airport to the villages of the Quebrada de Humahuaca. One way, as a day trip or over several days, for families, groups of friends and travel agencies. You deal directly with the company that runs the vehicle.
The route
Road, distance and time from Salta
The Quebrada de Humahuaca is a valley about 155 km long in Jujuy, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. From Salta the road reaches it through San Salvador de Jujuy; Purmamarca is the first village, then Tilcara and Humahuaca to the north.
| Leg | Road, approximate distance and drive time, altitude |
|---|---|
| Salta city to Purmamarca | About 188 km and 2 h 50 min on the toll highway through San Salvador de Jujuy (RN 9, RN 34 and RN 66), then north on RN 9 and the last 3 km on RN 52 into the village. There is a shorter, slower option on the old RN 9 through La Caldera: about 158 km and 3 h 15 min. Purmamarca sits at 2,324 m. |
| Salta airport (SLA) to Purmamarca | About 191 km and 2 h 55 min. The airport is about 11 km from the city center, so starting there adds little to the trip. |
| Purmamarca to Tilcara to Humahuaca | About 70 km and 1 h 15 min north on RN 9, the road that runs along the valley. Tilcara is about 26 km past Purmamarca, at 2,465 m. |
| Salta city to Humahuaca | About 250 km and 3 h 45 min one way. From the airport, about 253 km and 3 h 55 min. Humahuaca sits at about 3,012 m. |
| Hornocal viewpoint (add-on) | About 23 km of gravel on provincial road RP 73 from Humahuaca, roughly 45 min each way. The viewpoint stands at about 4,350 m. |
Distances and times are Google Maps estimates read on 10 October 2026, without stops. Real times are longer with photo stops, traffic at the exits of Salta and Jujuy, and road works. Altitudes: Argentina's national tourism board (Purmamarca, Tilcara, Humahuaca) and the Jujuy Turismo guide (Hornocal).
Planning
One way, a full day, or several days
One way. The common shapes are Salta airport straight to a hotel in Purmamarca, Tilcara or Humahuaca, and the return from the Quebrada to a hotel in Salta or to the airport for a flight.
A full day from Salta. Purmamarca, Tilcara and Humahuaca and back is about 500 km and more than seven hours of driving before any stop. It can be done in one long day, but many groups prefer to sleep a night in Purmamarca or Tilcara and split it.
Several days. Tell us the itinerary and the nights, and we plan the vehicle and driver for the whole trip. The Quebrada combines well with Salinas Grandes, which is reached from Purmamarca: see Salinas Grandes from Salta.
The Hornocal. We run it as an add-on from Humahuaca, subject to the gravel road being passable: rain and erosion can close it or slow it down. The Jujuy Turismo guide recommends going in the afternoon, when the sun brings out the colors of the hill. With the Hornocal added, the trip works better over two days than in one.
Season. The rainy season runs from December to March; Argentina's tourism board gives April to November as the ideal time. In winter (July to September) nights are cold, so bring warm clothes.
Stops along the way. The Paseo de los Colorados walk in Purmamarca, whose colored hills change with the light through the day; the Pucará de Tilcara, a pre-Hispanic fortress; and the Tropic of Capricorn marker at Huacalera, between Tilcara and Humahuaca. The stops are yours to choose.
Altitude
How high the route goes, and what it means for passengers
Salta city is at about 1,200 m. The road climbs to 2,324 m in Purmamarca, 2,465 m in Tilcara and about 3,012 m in Humahuaca. The Hornocal viewpoint is at about 4,350 m.
- The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that above about 2,440 m (8,000 ft) travelers may feel altitude illness, and advise against going from a low elevation to sleep above about 2,750 m (9,000 ft) in a single day.
- In practice: Purmamarca and Tilcara are below that line for a first night; Humahuaca is above it. A day trip up and a night lower down is the pattern the CDC itself suggests.
- The usual signs are headache, tiredness, loss of appetite and nausea. Someone whose symptoms get worse should go lower, which on this route means driving back down the valley.
- Travelers with heart or lung conditions, and pregnant travelers, should talk to a doctor before the trip.
On the road we climb at an easy pace and stop when the group needs to. If someone is not doing well, we turn back.
The vehicle
What you get, and what you do not
- A private 19-seat minibus for the group, with a professional driver; a group of 4 to 10 travels with room to spare, and larger groups travel in additional minibuses
- A 4x4 pickup or a minibus prepared for gravel when the plan includes the Hornocal
- Pickup at your hotel in Salta or at Salta airport
- Air conditioning in every vehicle, and each vehicle checked before it leaves
- Stops chosen by the group along the route
- Factura A for Argentine companies and agencies
- Not a guided tour: the driver knows the road but is not a licensed guide
- Drivers work in Spanish; an English-speaking driver on request, subject to availability
Luggage space in a minibus is limited: CNRT rules do not allow large suitcases or bags that block the aisle. Tell us how many suitcases the group carries, so we can plan the vehicle for it.
How to book
What to send for a quote
- The date or dates, and whether it is one way, a full day or several days.
- Where the trip starts and ends: the hotel, or the flight number and arrival time at Salta airport.
- How many people are traveling, and how many suitcases.
- The stops you want, if you already know them (Hornocal included or not).
- A name and a contact for the booking.
We price the whole vehicle for the route, not per seat, and we do not publish prices: each trip depends on the route, the dates and the vehicle it needs.
Frequently asked questions
What groups ask about this route
Can you pick us up at Salta airport and take us straight to Purmamarca?
Yes. Send the flight number and the arrival time. The drive is about 191 km and close to three hours without stops (Google Maps estimate).
Can we see Purmamarca, Tilcara and Humahuaca in one day from Salta?
Yes, as a long day: about 500 km round trip and more than seven hours of driving before any stop. If the group can spare a night in the Quebrada, the day becomes easier and there is time to walk around each village.
Is the Hornocal included?
Only if you ask for it. It is an add-on from Humahuaca on about 23 km of gravel, it is best in the afternoon, and it depends on the road being passable after rain. We confirm it with the quote.
Can we add Salinas Grandes?
Yes. The salt flat is about 66 km west of Purmamarca on RN 52, over the Cuesta de Lipán. It fits on the same trip with a night in Purmamarca. The details are on our Salinas Grandes page.
Is this a guided tour?
No. It is a private vehicle with a professional driver who knows the road. If you want a licensed guide at a particular site, say so when you ask for the quote and we will tell you what is possible.
Do you publish prices?
No. The price is for the whole vehicle and depends on the route, the dates, the number of passengers and the vehicle the trip needs. Send those and we send you the price.
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Lausof SRL is a family-owned transport company based in Salta, carrying passengers since 2010, with CNRT license No. 60284. About the company.
Updated 10 October 2026.
Planning the Quebrada?
Tell us the dates, where the trip starts and ends, how many people are traveling and how many suitcases, and a name and contact for the booking. We usually reply with the quote the same business day.
English inquiries: write to contacto@lausof.com or send a WhatsApp message to +54 9 387 526-9009. We reply in English by email or WhatsApp. Phone calls are answered in Spanish.
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