The great Salinas Grandes!
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Salinas Grandes Argentina

4.8
·993 reviews·, Argentina

Vast white salt flats stretching to the horizon, dotted with striking blue pools, offering a surreal desert landscape.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Daytime

Maximize the stunning white landscape

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The great Salinas Grandes!

Salinas Grandes Argentina

Best Time

Daytime

Maximize the stunning white landscape

CrowdMedium
Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Vast white salt flats stretching to the horizon, dotted with striking blue pools, offering a surreal desert landscape.

4.8
(993 reviews)

"Amazing experience! This point is the information Centre where you pay 8000 pesos per car and then you get to drive to a specific point with a GUIDE."

Vertical photo
TIP

🕶️ Bring Sunglasses!

The glare off the salt is intense. Essential for comfort and protecting your eyes.

☀️ Sunscreen is a Must

Protect your skin from the strong sun reflecting off the salt flats.

Third hero image

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Endless White Expanse

Endless White Expanse

Vast salt flats stretching to the horizon, creating a surreal desert landscape unlike any other.

Striking Blue Pools

Striking Blue Pools

Discover pockets of vibrant blue water contrasting dramatically with the stark white salt.

Information Center Experience

Information Center Experience

Engage with local guides who explain the salt flats and help capture stunning photos.

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Planning Your Visit

Prepare for the Brightness

The vast white salt flats reflect intensely. Pack sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat to protect yourself from the strong sun. The brightness can be overwhelming, so eye protection is crucial for a comfortable visit.

Guided Access is Key

While you can reach the edge of Salinas Grandes, accessing the heart of the salt flats often requires a guide. This ensures you explore safely and learn about the unique environment. Check local information centers for current access and guide arrangements.

Best Times

When
Daytime
Why
Maximize the stunning white landscape
Crowd
Medium

Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

🌑 Argentina sigue sumando propuestas de hospedajes increíbles como la de @pristinecamps un glamping a 3500 metros de altura en medio de las Salinas grandes de Jujuy. Sin duda una de esas experiencias que no se olvidan. #glampings #domes #salinas #jujuy #glampingargentina #glamping 🎥 Imágenes de Drone cortesía de @pristinecamps
@bydrealeon
170K likes • 1.7M views

🕶️ Bring Sunglasses!

The glare off the salt is intense. Essential for comfort and protecting your eyes. Reddit

☀️ Sunscreen is a Must

Protect your skin from the strong sun reflecting off the salt flats. Reddit

Cuando tenes +30 pasan estas cosad jajaaj LOS QUIERO#jujuy #salinasgrandes #purmamarca
@belensalese
71.2K likes • 763.9K views
‼️ COMO VISITAR LAS SALINAS DE JUJUY 🇦🇷🌵🦙✨El 4to salar mas grande de Sudamerica 💪🏻 Soy @ladelosviajes y hoy te cuento como llegar por tu cuenta al segundo salar mas grande de Argentina. Bienvenidos a las salinas grandes de Jujuy, ubicadas a 3450 metros de altura con su inmenso paisaje blanco y con 12.000 hectáreas de extensión Con su inmenso paisaje blanco, brillante, con grietas geometrica...
ladelosviajes
1.9K likes • 55.1K views

🚗 Drive with a Guide

For the best experience and access, consider a guided tour into the flats. Reddit

📸 Photo Opportunities

The unique landscape offers incredible photo ops, especially with guides. Reddit

Salinas Grandes - Jujuy Ph: @theadventurerguy . . . #travelarg #argentina #turismo
travel.arg
11.7K likes • 172.6K views

Tips

from all over the internet

🕶️ Bring Sunglasses!

The glare off the salt is intense. Essential for comfort and protecting your eyes. Reddit

☀️ Sunscreen is a Must

Protect your skin from the strong sun reflecting off the salt flats. Reddit

🚗 Drive with a Guide

For the best experience and access, consider a guided tour into the flats. Reddit

📸 Photo Opportunities

The unique landscape offers incredible photo ops, especially with guides. Reddit

What Travellers Say

4.8
(993 reviews)

Reviews Summary

Salinas Grandes is lauded for its impressive and unique salt flat landscape, offering a surreal desert experience with striking white expanses and vibrant blue pools. Visitors appreciate the opportunity for stunning photography and the insights provided by local guides. However, some confusion exists regarding access and pricing, with varying reports on entry fees and the necessity of guided tours.

"Salinas grandes is impresive ... you are in a desert but not with sand but salt ..."

Sandra Stein

"This location is WRONG!

This are the silt flats but the excess it the information Centre at the crossing of the lake:
Amazing experience! This point is the information Centre where you pay 8000 pesos per car and then you get to drive to a specific point with a GUIDE in the salt flats. They explain a bit and take photos 🇦🇷"

Leo Fotografie

"For European eyes completely unfamiliar, fascinating landscape. Greatest clarity; beautiful in its own way.

Reachable from Salta on good road without difficulty in about four hours. With a guide, the lake can then be navigated. In any case, sunscreen not wrong. At the salt lake luxury resort or Hosteria Posada del Silencio at the northern end (R 9)."

Thorsten Mundi

What People Like

Impressive salt flat landscape
Unique desert scenery
Striking blue pools

What People Dislike

Confusing access/pricing
Intense brightness

Frequently Asked Questions

🚇 🗺️ Getting There

Salinas Grandes is reachable from Salta via a good road, taking approximately four hours. The journey offers scenic views as you approach the salt flats. Reddit

While you can reach the edge of the salt flats, accessing the core areas often requires a guide. Information centers at the crossing point can arrange guided tours. Reddit

Many visitors opt for guided tours from the information center. Guides explain the environment and help you navigate the salt flats safely. Reddit

The route from Salta is well-maintained. Some travelers mention it's a unique desert experience with salt instead of sand. Reddit

Yes, Salinas Grandes can be visited as a day trip from Salta, with the drive taking around four hours each way. Reddit

🎫 🎫 Tickets & Entry

Entry fees can vary. One review mentioned paying 8000 pesos per car for access with a guide, while another cited around 300 pesos per person. It's advisable to check current prices upon arrival. Reddit

Advance booking is generally not required for Salinas Grandes. Access and guide arrangements are typically made at the information center upon arrival. Reddit

Salinas Grandes is an open natural landscape, so it's accessible during daylight hours. Specific guided tour times may vary. Reddit

Access to the salt flats often involves a fee per car or per person, which may include a guided experience. Reddit

Yes, there is typically an entrance fee to access and explore the salt flats, often including a guided component. Reddit

📸 📸 Photography

Daytime offers the most dramatic contrast between the white salt and blue skies or pools. The intense brightness can create unique photographic effects. Reddit

The entire expanse of the salt flats is a photo opportunity. Guides can often take you to areas with striking blue pools or unique salt formations. Reddit

A wide-angle lens is great for capturing the vastness. Don't forget protective gear for your camera from dust and intense sunlight. Reddit

Yes, guides are often skilled at helping visitors capture memorable photos, sometimes using the unique landscape to their advantage. Reddit

Be mindful of the extreme brightness and potential glare. Ensure your camera settings are adjusted for the high-contrast environment. Reddit

For Different Travelers

Tailored advice for your travel style

👨‍👩‍👧 Families with Kids

Salinas Grandes offers a unique and memorable experience for families. The vast, flat expanse of salt can be fascinating for children to explore, and the striking blue pools are a visual delight. It's a great opportunity to teach kids about different types of landscapes and geology. Reddit

Key recommendations for families include ensuring everyone wears sunglasses and sunscreen due to the intense glare. Consider a guided tour, as guides can make the experience more engaging for younger visitors by explaining the salt formations and helping with fun photos. The novelty of walking on salt can be a highlight for kids. Reddit

📸 Photography Enthusiasts

For photographers, Salinas Grandes is a dream destination. The sheer scale of the salt flats, the stark white landscape, and the vibrant blue pools offer endless creative possibilities. The high contrast and unique textures provide dramatic imagery. Reddit

Tips for photographers: Visit during daylight hours for the best light. Wide-angle lenses are excellent for capturing the vastness. Guides can often lead you to the most photogenic spots, including areas with particularly striking blue pools. Be prepared for the intense brightness, which can affect camera sensors and your own vision. Reddit

Deep Dives

In-depth insights and expert knowledge

Understanding the Salinas Grandes Landscape

Salinas Grandes is a vast salt flat covering over 8,290 square kilometers, making it one of the largest in Argentina and the world. Unlike sandy deserts, this landscape is composed of an immense expanse of white salt, creating a surreal and almost alien environment. The clarity of the air and the sheer scale of the white surface are breathtaking. Visitors often describe it as being in a desert, but with salt instead of sand. Reddit

The unique topography also features striking blue pools that form on the salt surface, creating a dramatic contrast with the surrounding white. These pools are a highlight for many visitors and offer incredible photographic opportunities. The landscape is both beautiful and stark, offering a profound sense of isolation and wonder. Reddit

While the salt flats are impressive on their own, engaging with local guides enhances the experience. They can explain the geological formation of the salt, point out interesting features, and help you navigate to the most scenic spots, including the vibrant blue pools. Reddit

Navigating and Experiencing the Salt Flats

Reaching Salinas Grandes from Salta is generally straightforward, with the journey taking about four hours on a well-maintained road. Reddit Upon arrival, visitors will find an information center where they can learn about the area and arrange for guided access into the salt flats. While you can drive to the edge, venturing deeper often requires a guide for safety and to fully appreciate the environment. Reddit

Guided tours typically involve driving to specific points within the salt flats, where guides will share insights and assist with photography. The experience is often described as amazing, with guides helping to capture stunning shots against the unique backdrop. Reddit It's important to be prepared for the intense brightness; sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat are essential to protect yourself from the sun's glare reflecting off the salt. Reddit

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