Car hire Salta

Introduction

Salta is a city in the northwest of Argentina and the capital of the province of the same name. It's a popular tourist destination because of the old colonial architecture in the city itself (amongst others a cathedral dating from the eighteenth century) and magnificent, natural surroundings. The city is the starting point for the 'Train to the clouds' (Tren a las nubes), which runs to the elevated town of San Antonio de los Cobre.

Population

The city has almost 500,000 inhabitants.

Location

Salta is located in the northwest of Argentina, at the foothills of the Andes. The city lies in the Lerma Valley at an altitude of 1152 meters. West of Salta lies the San Bernardo Hill, from where you have a splendid view of the city.

Economy

The city lives on tourism. Many people are drawn by the colonial architecture and the rough scenery of the Andes, with not only mountains, but also lakes, reservoirs and rivers. The Valles Calchaquíes and rafting on the Río Juramento are very popular. The region also produces wine.

Airports

The airport of Salta is situated six kilometers southeast of town. The airport is easily reachable by rental car. From the city center you follow the RA-51. The airport lies right off this road and the exit to the airport is clearly signposted.

Public Transport

Salta has excellent public bus transportation. For tourists there is a special service, The Bus Turístico Salta. This open bus runs along all attractions in and around town and you can get on and off as many times as you want.

Traffic and Parking

Salta's center is busy, extremely busy. And although Argentinean traffic regulations may include right-of-way rules, in Salta counts: the biggest car has right of way. In the city center you have to pay for street parking, but it's often hard to find a space. It's better to park your rental car on a guarded parking lot or in one of the parking garages.

Outside of town roads are considerably less busy and it's a joy to explore the surroundings by rental car.

Hotels

There is a huge supply of accommodation in and around Salta. The city has no less the 15 four star hotels, but there is also a large supply in the midrange and budget category. Outside the city you can stay in lodges at a lake (for fishermen), or in an old farmhouse. These accommodations are remote and if you choose these a rental car is indispensable.

External Sources

For more information about Salta we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Salta
• Official website Salta (Spanish)
• Tourist Information Salta (multilingual)