How do I get from Salta airport to my hostel cheaply?

Take SAETA bus 8A, which runs via the airport, Av. Hipólito Yrigoyen and Av. San Martín every 8-9 minutes on weekdays. The fare is ≈ US$ 1 and is paid with the SAETA card, not cash. If you arrive at night or with lots of luggage, the municipal taxi takes 20-30 minutes and costs ≈ US$ 4-7.

How far is the bus station from the centre?

The bus station is at Av. Hipólito Yrigoyen 339, opposite Parque San Martín, ≈ 1.4 km as the crow flies from Plaza 9 de Julio: about eight blocks, a 20-25 minute walk. The closest hostel in this guide is Residencial El Hogar (≈ 0.7 km); those in the microcentro are 1.1-1.7 km away.

Can I go to Cafayate on my own, without a tour?

Yes. Flecha Bus leaves Salta bus station several times a day, roughly every 4 hours, and El Indio has a daily service. The trip takes about 4 hours through the Quebrada de las Conchas, home to the Garganta del Diablo and the Anfiteatro, and the ticket costs ≈ US$ 16 each way.

How much is the Train to the Clouds and where does it leave from?

The official package leaves by bus from Salta train station, with check-in at 6:15, climbs to San Antonio de los Cobres and there you board the train to the La Polvorilla Viaduct (4,220 m). Bus-train-bus costs ≈ US$ 164 for foreigners and ≈ US$ 147 for residents; train only, ≈ US$ 126 and ≈ US$ 105.

Will I get altitude sickness in Salta?

In the city, unlikely: it's at 1,187 m. The risk comes on trips to the Puna: San Antonio de los Cobres (3,775 m), La Polvorilla (4,220 m) and Salinas Grandes (3,450 m). Stay hydrated, walk slowly, eat light and bring warm layers and sunscreen. If you have strong symptoms, go down in altitude and see a doctor.

Which hostel is best if I want to go to the Balcarce peñas?

None in this guide is right next to Balcarce: Punto Andino is ≈ 1 km away and Yunga ≈ 1.2 km. At Clivias you get in with a code and at Marilian, according to one guest, you can come back at any hour with a key. To get back in the early hours to the bus station area or the south of the centre, take a taxi.

Hostels in Salta: backpacker guide 2026

How to get to Salta

✈️ Martín Miguel de Güemes International Airport SLA

≈ 11 km from Plaza 9 de Julio · ≈ 10 to 13 km from the hostels

Getting to the centre and the hostels

SAETA bus 8A: stops at the airport, Av. Hipólito Yrigoyen (bus station) and Av. San Martín; every 8-9 min on weekdays, from 5:00 to ≈ 23:20; ≈ US$ 1 with a SAETA card (no cash accepted)
Municipal taxi: rank at the terminal exit, ≈ 20-30 min to the centre, ≈ US$ 4-7
Uber: works in Salta, with fewer cars at night
Hostel transfer: offered by Qaway and Residencial El Hogar (paid at El Hogar)

Direct flights

Aerolíneas Argentinas and JetSMART from Buenos Aires (Aeroparque and Ezeiza), every day. There are also direct flights from Córdoba, Mendoza, Iguazú, Rosario, Neuquén and Bariloche (seasonal), and international flights from Lima, Panama, São Paulo, Asunción and Florianópolis (seasonal).

🚌 Salta Bus Station (Terminal de Ómnibus)

📍 Av. Hipólito Yrigoyen 339, opposite Parque San Martín

🛏️ 0.7 to 2.4 km as the crow flies from the hostels (≈ 11 to 37 min on foot)

It has restaurants, kiosks, craft shops and left luggage; Flecha Bus, Balut, Andesmar, Chevallier, Tramat and La Veloz del Norte, among others, operate from here. Plaza 9 de Julio is about eight blocks away (20-25 min on foot), and bus 8A runs along the avenue.

🚌 Bus tickets to Salta

Long-distance buses

Destination	Km	Hours	Frequency	Companies
San Salvador de Jujuy	92	≈ 1 h 30	≈ 5 a day	20 de Junio, Andesmar
Purmamarca	156	≈ 3 h direct; ≈ 4 h 15 with a change	direct Mon, Wed and Fri (bus to Chile); or changing in Jujuy	Pullman Bus
Tilcara	175	≈ 3 h 45	5 a day	Balut, Andesmar
Humahuaca	218	≈ 4 h 40	5 a day	Balut, Andesmar
Cafayate	189	≈ 4 h	roughly every 4 h	Flecha Bus, El Indio
Cachi	157-163	3 h 45 – 4 h	≈ 1 a day, in the morning	Ale Hnos
Córdoba	850	12 h 30 – 14 h	Andesmar every ≈ 4 h; Fono Bus 1 a day	Andesmar, Fono Bus
San Pedro de Atacama (Chile)	514	9 h 20 – 10 h 30	not daily: Andesmar 6 a week, Pullman 3-4	Andesmar, Pullman Bus

There are also buses to Buenos Aires (1,448 km, ≈ 24 h), Mendoza (1,251 km, ≈ 18 h 45) and Puerto Iguazú (1,404 km, ≈ 25 h); for those distances, flying is usually the better option.

Map of Salta: bus station, hostels and sights

The hostels in this guide, the bus station, the airport and the things to see, all on one map. Tap a point to see its name.

Loading the map…

HostelsBus stationAirportSights

Distances from the centre

Place	Distance	Time	How
MAAM (Llullaillaco mummies)	70 m from the plaza	1 min	on foot, on the plaza itself
Mercado San Miguel	0.5 km	≈ 8 min	on foot or on bus 8A
Peñas on Balcarce street	1.15 km	≈ 18 min	on foot; a taxi is better on the way back
Salta Station (Train to the Clouds)	1.3 km	≈ 20 min	on foot or by taxi
Cable car up Cerro San Bernardo	1.4 km (the base)	≈ 22 min + 8 min cable car	on foot or on bus 8A
Cachi	157-163 km	3 h 45 – 4 h	Ale Hnos bus
Cafayate	189 km	≈ 4 h	bus through the Quebrada de las Conchas
San Antonio de los Cobres	≈ 160 km	full day	Train to the Clouds (bus + train)

Getting around Salta

City buses are run by SAETA and paid with the SAETA card (the «blue card»): a fare costs ≈ US$ 1 and buses don't accept cash.
You can top up the card through Mercado Pago, Ualá, Naranja X, Banelco and other electronic methods; SAETA customer service is at Pellegrini 824, Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 16:00.
The most useful line is the 8A: it links the airport with Av. Hipólito Yrigoyen (bus station), Parque San Martín (cable car), Mercado San Miguel and Av. San Martín, every 8-9 minutes on weekdays.
The centre is compact: four of the seven hostels in this guide are 200-400 m from Plaza 9 de Julio, and the bus station or Balcarce is a 20 to 35 minute walk away.
There are metered taxis and Uber also works, with fewer cars at night; to get back from the Balcarce peñas to the bus station area or the south of the centre, a taxi is the best bet given the distance.

Uber, Cabify, DiDi and taxis in Salta

Uber and DiDi work, and in March 2026 the municipalities of the metropolitan area signed an agreement to regulate them; Cabify doesn't operate. Uber reports an average of ≈ US$ 5 between the centre and the airport.

Uber Available

The most widely used in the country: Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza, Salta and Bariloche. It takes card, cash and Mercado Pago, and the same account you use at home works here.

Google Play App Store

Cabify Not available

Strong in Buenos Aires; also in Córdoba, Mendoza and Bariloche. Cash only in Buenos Aires, Rosario, Mendoza and Córdoba; to create an account it asks for a phone number and email address.

DiDi Available

Works in Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Salta, Bariloche and other cities (not in Mendoza). You pay by card or in cash.

Google Play App Store

Status of each app according to their official sites and the local press; it may change. The buttons open the official stores (Google Play for Android, App Store for iPhone).

The 3 best areas to stay in Salta

1Microcentro: around Plaza 9 de Julio To do everything on foot

🚌 ≈ 1.1 to 1.7 km from the bus station

The best base if you're here for a few days: Clivias, Marilian, Punto Andino and Qaway are 200-400 m from the plaza, with the MAAM, the Cathedral, San Francisco and Mercado San Miguel a few blocks away. Tour agencies pick you up at the door and there's food everywhere. Cons: traffic and noise on the avenues, and the bus station is a 16-27 minute walk.

2North: Balcarce and the train station For the peñas

🚌 ≈ 2.4 km from the bus station

This is Salta's nightlife area: the folk-music peñas on Balcarce street and Salta Station, where you check in for the Train to the Clouds. Yunga is in a residential neighbourhood here, ≈ 1.2 km from Balcarce, with shops and bars nearby. Pros: you can walk back from the peña. Cons: the plaza is 1-2 km away and the bus station more than 2 km, so take a taxi to catch a bus.

3East and south: Parque San Martín and the bus station For early-morning buses

🚌 ≈ 0.7 to 1.3 km from the bus station

A good choice if you arrive or leave on an early-morning bus or want the cable car up Cerro San Bernardo close by. Residencial El Hogar is ≈ 700 m from the bus station, the closest in the guide, and Hostal Namaste, on La Rioja, ≈ 1.3 km. Pros: bus 8A to the airport is handy and the area is quieter. Cons: the plaza is ≈ 1 km away and you'll need a taxi back from the peñas.

The 7 recommended hostels in Salta

Seven hostels with dorm beds, chosen for their guest rating and number of reviews. Almost all take cash and several close check-in early: check each one's hours before you book.

Clivias Hostel

9.6 · 376 reviews

Deán Funes 14 · two blocks from Plaza 9 de Julio

🚌 ≈ 1.2 km from the bus stationMixed dormsPrivate roomsKitchen24-h receptionCash payment

Shared dorm at Clivias Hostel in Salta — Shared dorm

Dining room at Clivias Hostel in Salta — Dining room

Patio at Clivias Hostel in Salta — Patio

The highest rating in Salta among hostels with lots of reviews. It's a house with a garden, terrace and common room, 4-bed mixed dorms with air conditioning and a double with shared bathroom. Entry is by code and there's staff on site 24 hours. Check-in runs from 14:00 to 22:00 and they ask for ID and a credit card.

Location rated 9.9, next to the plaza

Cleanliness and staff rated 9.8

Wi-Fi, its lowest score (8.8)

Check-in until 22:00, with a card

How much a night costs, month by month

Bed in a shared dorm · 1 person

14181816········

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep

Private room · 2 people

45535546········

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep

A bed costs from US$ 14 to US$ 18 a night, depending on the month. The private room, from US$ 45 to US$ 55. Months marked «·» have no rate loaded yet: the hostel opens its calendar in stages, it doesn't mean it's closed.

Public price per night, before taxes and fees (these are shown at checkout and depend on your country of residence and payment method), for the free-cancellation rate when there is one; quotes are for 2 consecutive nights. Rates change with the date. Updated 05/10/2026.

See prices and free beds

Hostel Marilian

8.5 · 375 reviews

Urquiza 462 · ≈ 360 m from Plaza 9 de Julio

🚌 ≈ 1.1 km from the bus stationMixed dormsPrivate roomsBuffet breakfastKitchenCash payment

Shared dorm at Hostel Marilian in Salta — Shared dorm

Common room at Hostel Marilian in Salta — Common room

Patio at Hostel Marilian in Salta — Patio

A classic backpacker hostel, with mixed dorms of 6, 8 and 10 beds and private doubles and quads. It has a shared kitchen, air conditioning, fridges in the units and currency exchange; according to one guest, the dorm beds have curtains. It serves a buffet breakfast and check-in runs from 13:00 to 20:30.

Wi-Fi rated 9.8

Staff flexible with times

Facilities, its lowest score (8.2)

The odd loose cable and sagging mattress

How much a night costs, month by month

Bed in a shared dorm · 1 person

888·········

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep

Private room · 2 people

3838··········

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep

A bed costs around US$ 8 a night. The private room costs around US$ 38. Months marked «·» have no rate loaded yet: the hostel opens its calendar in stages, it doesn't mean it's closed.

See prices and free beds

Hostal Namaste

8.6 · 390 reviews

La Rioja 573 · south of the centre, ≈ 1 km from the plaza

🚌 ≈ 1.3 km from the bus stationMixed dormPrivate roomsKitchenPoolCash only

Shared dorm at Hostal Namaste in Salta — Shared dorm

Patio at Hostal Namaste in Salta — Patio

Exterior at Hostal Namaste in Salta — Exterior

A house with a courtyard, grill and outdoor pool, run by Marcelo, the name that comes up most in the reviews. It has a 4-bed mixed dorm and lots of private rooms, from singles to quads, with private or shared bathroom. Fully equipped kitchen, 24-hour reception and pets allowed. Check-in closes at 18:00.

Marcelo, the host, very attentive

Comfortable courtyard and kitchen

Check-in only until 18:00

Small shower, according to one review

How much a night costs, month by month

Private room · 2 people

18···········

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep

The private room costs around US$ 18. Months marked «·» have no rate loaded yet: the hostel opens its calendar in stages, it doesn't mean it's closed.

See prices and free beds

Yunga

8.6 · 231 reviews

Las Heras 1325 · residential area to the north, ≈ 1.9 km from the plaza

🚌 ≈ 2.4 km from the bus stationFemale dormPrivate roomsBreakfastKitchenPool

Female dorm at Yunga in Salta — Female dorm

Swimming pool at Yunga in Salta — Swimming pool

The quiet option: a large house with a garden, pool and terrace, ≈ 1.2 km from the Balcarce peña area. The only dorm is female; the rest are private rooms, from doubles to quads, with heating. There's breakfast, a shared kitchen and massages on request. Check-in runs from 14:00 to 21:00.

Staff rated 9.4

Large house with garden and pool

Location, its lowest score (8.2)

Some bathrooms are down the hall

How much a night costs, month by month

Private room · 2 people

4242··········

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep

The private room costs around US$ 42. Months marked «·» have no rate loaded yet: the hostel opens its calendar in stages, it doesn't mean it's closed.

See prices and free beds

Hostel Punto Andino Salta

8.5 · 81 reviews

20 de Febrero 142 · ≈ 360 m west of the plaza

🚌 ≈ 1.7 km from the bus stationMixed dormFemale dormPrivate roomsBuffet breakfastAdults only (18+)

Female dorm at Hostel Punto Andino Salta in Salta — Female dorm

Common room at Hostel Punto Andino Salta in Salta — Common room

Patio at Hostel Punto Andino Salta in Salta — Patio

A small hostel for over-18s only, with a 6-bed female dorm, a 4-bed mixed dorm and a male dorm, plus a double and a triple; all bathrooms are shared. The buffet breakfast includes homemade bread and cake, and there's a shared kitchen and daily cleaning. Check-in runs from 12:00 to 23:00.

Wi-Fi rated 10

Early breakfast if you're off on a tour

Only two bathrooms for the whole hostel

The hot water takes a while to come through

How much a night costs, month by month

Bed in a shared dorm · 1 person

1214········1212

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep

Private room · 2 people

32·········3333

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep

A bed costs from US$ 12 to US$ 14 a night, depending on the month. The private room, from US$ 32 to US$ 33. Months marked «·» have no rate loaded yet: the hostel opens its calendar in stages, it doesn't mean it's closed.

See prices and free beds

Qaway

8.6 · 58 reviews

España 277 · ≈ 400 m from Plaza 9 de Julio

🚌 ≈ 1.1 km from the bus stationDormsPrivate roomsBreakfastKitchenBar

Shared dorm at Qaway in Salta — Shared dorm

Dining room at Qaway in Salta — Dining room

The most social on the list: bar, restaurant, grill, terrace and garden. It has 4-, 6- and 8-bed dorms and private rooms with shared bathroom (budget double and family room). It serves a continental breakfast and offers a shared kitchen, 24-hour reception and an airport transfer. Check-in runs from 7:00 to midnight, handy if you arrive late.

Location rated 9.6

Miguel, the owner, widely praised

Top bunks awkward to climb into

Mosquitoes and some night-time noise

How much a night costs, month by month

Bed in a shared dorm · 1 person

202020·121212·····

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep

Private room · 2 people

76767640404040·····

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep

A bed costs from US$ 12 to US$ 20 a night, depending on the month. The private room, from US$ 40 to US$ 76. Months marked «·» have no rate loaded yet: the hostel opens its calendar in stages, it doesn't mean it's closed.

See prices and free beds

Residencial El Hogar

9.0 · 54 reviews

Apolinario Saravia 239 · the closest to the bus station

🚌 ≈ 0.7 km from the bus stationMixed dormPrivate roomsBuffet breakfastAdults only (18+)Cash only

Shared dorm at Residencial El Hogar in Salta — Shared dorm

Dining room at Residencial El Hogar in Salta — Dining room

Exterior at Residencial El Hogar in Salta — Exterior

A family-run guesthouse in a quiet area, ≈ 1 km from the plaza and about 11 minutes on foot from the bus station. It has a mixed dorm and private rooms (a small single and doubles, with private or shared bathroom). Buffet, continental or gluten-free breakfast, bar, garden, free parking and 24-hour reception. Over-18s only.

≈ 700 m from the bus station

Family feel (staff rated 9.3)

Wi-Fi, its lowest score (8.3)

Few reviews so far

How much a night costs, month by month

Private room · 2 people

2525··········

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep

The private room costs around US$ 25. Months marked «·» have no rate loaded yet: the hostel opens its calendar in stages, it doesn't mean it's closed.

See prices and free beds

Backpacker tips for Salta

1Bring pesos in cash

Hostal Namaste and Residencial El Hogar take cash only, and at almost all the others it's the only payment method accepted. Marilian offers currency exchange.

2Get a SAETA card when you arrive

Bus 8A from the airport doesn't take cash: you pay with the SAETA card (≈ US$ 1 a fare). After that you top it up through Mercado Pago, Ualá or Naranja X.

3Check the check-in hours

Namaste takes arrivals until 18:00, Marilian until 20:30, Yunga until 21:00 and Clivias until 22:00 (with a credit card). If you arrive on an overnight bus, Qaway (until midnight), El Hogar (until midnight) and Punto Andino (until 23:00) give you more leeway.

4Book the Train to the Clouds in advance

It runs all year, but it can be cancelled due to bad weather in the mountains: confirm the day before. Check-in is at 6:15 opposite the train station (Plazoleta Antofagasta).

5Watch out for altitude in the Puna

In the city it's no problem, but San Antonio de los Cobres is at 3,775 m, La Polvorilla at 4,220 m and Salinas Grandes at 3,450 m. Drink plenty of water, move slowly and dress in layers.

6Cachi: only one bus a day

Ale Hnos leaves once a day, in the morning, via the Cuesta del Obispo. Buy your ticket at the bus station the day before.

7For Chile, book ahead

Buses to San Pedro de Atacama don't run every day (Andesmar 6 a week, Pullman 3-4). They cross via the Jama Pass, with customs: bring your passport.

8Be ready for the weather

From December to March there's heavy rain (January gets ≈ 197 mm) and in July nights drop to ≈ 3 °C. For the Puna, take a jacket even if it's hot in the city.

Things to do in Salta (and how to get there on your own)

MAAM: the Children of Llullaillaco

A museum on the plaza with the Inca mummies found in 1999 on the Llullaillaco volcano and the objects from the offering. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 19:00; closed on Mondays.

Distance: 70 m from the plaza
How to get there: On foot
Entry: Foreigners ≈ US$ 10; Argentines ≈ US$ 5

Cerro San Bernardo

Go up by cable car from Parque San Martín (≈ 8 min ride) or by the stairway of more than a thousand steps behind the Güemes monument. The summit is at 1,458 m.

Distance: Base 1.4 km from the plaza
How to get there: On your own
Entry: Stairway: free

Peñas on Balcarce street

Salta by night: folk-music peñas such as La Vieja Estación (Balcarce 875), in the train station area. To get back to the bus station area, take a taxi.

Distance: 1.15 km from the plaza
How to get there: On foot; taxi back

Cafayate and the Quebrada de las Conchas

The bus along RN 68 passes the Garganta del Diablo gorge, the Anfiteatro, El Fraile and Los Castillos, and reaches Cafayate in about 4 hours.

Distance: 189 km
How to get there: Regular bus (Flecha Bus)
Entry: ≈ US$ 16 each way

Cachi via the Cuesta del Obispo

RP 33 climbs the Cuesta del Obispo and crosses Los Cardones National Park to Cachi, a village at 2,210 m.

Distance: 157-163 km
How to get there: Ale Hnos bus, 1 a day
Entry: ≈ US$ 14

Train to the Clouds

Bus from Salta to San Antonio de los Cobres (3,775 m), train to the La Polvorilla Viaduct (4,220 m) and back by bus at night. The train section is also sold on its own, if you make your own way to San Antonio.

Distance: ≈ 160 km to San Antonio de los Cobres
How to get there: Official bus-train-bus package or train only
Entry: Bus-train-bus ≈ US$ 164 (foreigners); train only ≈ US$ 126

Salinas Grandes

A 212 km² salt flat at 3,450 m, 66 km from Purmamarca along RN 52 and the Cuesta de Lipán. Most people go on a tour.

Distance: ≈ 222 km by road, via Purmamarca
How to get there: On a tour

Mercado San Miguel

For cheap eats near the plaza; bus 8A stops at the door.

Distance: 0.5 km from the plaza
How to get there: On foot

Tours you can book online

Salta's agencies pick you up from your hostel for the classic tours (Cafayate, Cachi, Salinas Grandes), although several of them can also be done on your own by regular bus.

Weather and seasons in Salta

High season is July, because of the winter school holidays: it's the dry season, with cold nights, and it's worth reserving your hostel, the Train to the Clouds and buses to Cachi and Cafayate in advance. From April to June and August to October the weather is dry and mild, ideal for the Puna and the gorges; in mid-September, the festival of the Señor and Virgen del Milagro fills the city. From December to March there's heavy rain, although the Train to the Clouds keeps running, with possible weather cancellations.

28°

17°

27°

16°

25°

15°

23°

12°

20°

8°

20°

5°

20°

3°

23°

5°

25°

8°

27°

12°

28°

14°

28°

16°

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

197 mm147 mm107 mm42 mm59 mm138 mm

max. / min. °CHigh seasonShoulder seasonLow season💧 rain (mm)

Average temperatures and rainfall according to climatestotravel.com.

Plan the rest of your trip

The quickest way to get there is to fly: Aerolíneas Argentinas and JetSMART link Buenos Aires with Salta every day, and there are direct flights from Córdoba, Mendoza, Iguazú, Rosario and Neuquén, plus Lima, Panama, São Paulo and Asunción. From the airport, bus 8A or a taxi drops you in the centre. By bus, Salta is the hub of the Northwest: San Salvador de Jujuy is ≈ 1 h 30 away, Tilcara, in the Quebrada de Humahuaca, ≈ 3 h 45 and Cafayate ≈ 4 hours, and San Pedro de Atacama, in Chile, about 10 hours via the Jama Pass. From Buenos Aires the bus takes ≈ 24 hours.

🚌 Bus tickets ✈️ Search flights 🚗 Rent a car in Argentina

🚕

Airport transfer to your hostel

Book online: fixed price, door to door

✈️ Flight trackingThe driver tracks your flight and waits if it's delayed.

💵 One clear priceTaxes, tolls and tip included, no cash needed.

🤝 Met on arrivalFree cancellation up to 24 h before.

🚐 SLA Airport → centre (taxi or Uber)≈ 20-30 min🚐 Bus station → Plaza 9 de Julio (on foot)≈ 20-25 min

🚕 Book a transfer

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Salta airport to my hostel cheaply?: Take SAETA bus 8A, which runs via the airport, Av. Hipólito Yrigoyen and Av. San Martín every 8-9 minutes on weekdays. The fare is ≈ US$ 1 and is paid with the SAETA card, not cash. If you arrive at night or with lots of luggage, the municipal taxi takes 20-30 minutes and costs ≈ US$ 4-7.
How far is the bus station from the centre?: The bus station is at Av. Hipólito Yrigoyen 339, opposite Parque San Martín, ≈ 1.4 km as the crow flies from Plaza 9 de Julio: about eight blocks, a 20-25 minute walk. The closest hostel in this guide is Residencial El Hogar (≈ 0.7 km); those in the microcentro are 1.1-1.7 km away.
Can I go to Cafayate on my own, without a tour?: Yes. Flecha Bus leaves Salta bus station several times a day, roughly every 4 hours, and El Indio has a daily service. The trip takes about 4 hours through the Quebrada de las Conchas, home to the Garganta del Diablo and the Anfiteatro, and the ticket costs ≈ US$ 16 each way.
How much is the Train to the Clouds and where does it leave from?: The official package leaves by bus from Salta train station, with check-in at 6:15, climbs to San Antonio de los Cobres and there you board the train to the La Polvorilla Viaduct (4,220 m). Bus-train-bus costs ≈ US$ 164 for foreigners and ≈ US$ 147 for residents; train only, ≈ US$ 126 and ≈ US$ 105.
Will I get altitude sickness in Salta?: In the city, unlikely: it's at 1,187 m. The risk comes on trips to the Puna: San Antonio de los Cobres (3,775 m), La Polvorilla (4,220 m) and Salinas Grandes (3,450 m). Stay hydrated, walk slowly, eat light and bring warm layers and sunscreen. If you have strong symptoms, go down in altitude and see a doctor.
Which hostel is best if I want to go to the Balcarce peñas?: None in this guide is right next to Balcarce: Punto Andino is ≈ 1 km away and Yunga ≈ 1.2 km. At Clivias you get in with a code and at Marilian, according to one guest, you can come back at any hour with a key. To get back in the early hours to the bus station area or the south of the centre, take a taxi.

Transparency: this is an independent guide; we are not the official website of any hostel. If you book through our links we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Hostels in Salta: where to stay, how to get there and what to do

How to get to Salta

✈️ Martín Miguel de Güemes International Airport SLA

🚌 Salta Bus Station (Terminal de Ómnibus)

Long-distance buses

Map of Salta: bus station, hostels and sights

Distances from the centre

Getting around Salta

Uber, Cabify, DiDi and taxis in Salta

Uber Available

Cabify Not available

DiDi Available

The 3 best areas to stay in Salta

1Microcentro: around Plaza 9 de Julio To do everything on foot

2North: Balcarce and the train station For the peñas

3East and south: Parque San Martín and the bus station For early-morning buses

The 7 recommended hostels in Salta

Clivias Hostel

Hostel Marilian

Hostal Namaste

Yunga

Hostel Punto Andino Salta

Qaway

Residencial El Hogar

Backpacker tips for Salta

1Bring pesos in cash

2Get a SAETA card when you arrive

3Check the check-in hours

4Book the Train to the Clouds in advance

5Watch out for altitude in the Puna

6Cachi: only one bus a day

7For Chile, book ahead

8Be ready for the weather

Things to do in Salta (and how to get there on your own)

MAAM: the Children of Llullaillaco

Cerro San Bernardo

Peñas on Balcarce street

Cafayate and the Quebrada de las Conchas

Cachi via the Cuesta del Obispo

Train to the Clouds

Salinas Grandes

Mercado San Miguel

Tours you can book online

Weather and seasons in Salta

Plan the rest of your trip

Airport transfer to your hostel

Frequently asked questions