After a rough day at the Bolivian border (see adventures in travelling Bolivia Post) and a gruelling late night bus ride with a 3:30 am arrival time, we were looking for a nice place to just chill - And Salta provided just that.
Stay:
The Hostel Coloria, which just opened its doors about 3 months ago offers a great place to rest your head while in Salta. It's a pretty basic hostel but is excellently located just a few blocks from the main square (Plaza 9 de Julio) has great common area, small-med door rooms so you don't find yourself listen to 12 other strangers snoring at night and even comes equiped with a pool (although it was not working while we were there). The funky art-deco decor and buckets of Dulce de Leche spread waiting for you at breakfast with fresh bun certainly adds to the stay as well
Eat & Drink:
1) When in Salta - drink the Salta! Salta Beer that is, both the dark and light Salta beers are excellent local brews that you should try while staying in the area. You can find in corner stores and restaurants alike, but for a relaxing beer and patio combination head to a little cafe right in the Plaza 9 de Julio called Monaco. The waiters there are fantastic and they serve their Salta with complementary homemade chips and peanuts.
2) Embrace the empanadas - According to some Salta is the birthplace of the empanada. I don't know if this is fact, but either way the empanadas in Salta were the best we have had in our travels so far so I suggest that you try some. This are also easily found anywhere, however they have great ones for a great price at Monaco so while enjoying your Salta, order some empanadas.
4) Shop along the pedestrian streets of Alberdi and Florida. If you are looking to do a little walking and shopping definitely hit Alberdi and Florida for and abundance of shoe stores, sports stores and clothing liquidation stores (sounds strange I know but the close are kind cute). You will also find a few accessory stores, electronics, etc - pretty much whatever you might be looking for. Its also filled with snack shops and gelato places in case you need a little extra fuel to keep you going. Just beware.... there is still a big time siesta culture in Salta so all stores pretty much close from 1:30pm to 5pm for siesta (that is the life) and then re-open until about 8 or 9 so plan accordingly.
Enjoy Salta!!
OOO_Talia
Stay:
The Hostel Coloria, which just opened its doors about 3 months ago offers a great place to rest your head while in Salta. It's a pretty basic hostel but is excellently located just a few blocks from the main square (Plaza 9 de Julio) has great common area, small-med door rooms so you don't find yourself listen to 12 other strangers snoring at night and even comes equiped with a pool (although it was not working while we were there). The funky art-deco decor and buckets of Dulce de Leche spread waiting for you at breakfast with fresh bun certainly adds to the stay as well
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| Entrance to Hostel Coloria |
1) When in Salta - drink the Salta! Salta Beer that is, both the dark and light Salta beers are excellent local brews that you should try while staying in the area. You can find in corner stores and restaurants alike, but for a relaxing beer and patio combination head to a little cafe right in the Plaza 9 de Julio called Monaco. The waiters there are fantastic and they serve their Salta with complementary homemade chips and peanuts.
2) Embrace the empanadas - According to some Salta is the birthplace of the empanada. I don't know if this is fact, but either way the empanadas in Salta were the best we have had in our travels so far so I suggest that you try some. This are also easily found anywhere, however they have great ones for a great price at Monaco so while enjoying your Salta, order some empanadas.
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| Enjoying a Salta and Empanada @ Monaco's |
3) Grab a meal (or two or three) at Necochea and Balcare. Stroll along this very happening block in around dinner time (which here is Argentina doesnt start until at least 10pm) and take your pick from the bevy of amazing places to choose from along this block. Most of these places also include some live local music and traditional Gaucho dancing during dinner so BONUS - dinner and a show. Most of the menu's have a pretty wide selection so finding what you are looking for should be no object but if you are looking for Parilla (Argentinian BBQ) then stop by Patio Balcare, just south of Necochea and you wont be disappointed.
4) Drink the local wine! Salta is conveniently located in close proximity to Cafayate and Cachi, two amazing wine regions in northern Argentina and it would be a shame to miss out on so where ever you decide to grab a bit, head straight to the local wine on the menu as the perfect way to wash down your meal.
Do:
There are so many things to do in Salta, but just getting lost wandering around the streets is probably the best advice I can give. If you are looking to add a bit more "direction" to your wandering around the streets here are a few great things to check out in the city:
1) Walk along San Martin street all the way to and through gorgeous Parque San Martin. If you find yourself there on a Sunday (as we did|) this is a great thing to do not only because most things are closed anyway, but it also offers some great people watching as all walks of life seem to spend Sunday afternoons relaxing in the park. And at the far end of the there is also a pretty decent market that sells all your typical market stuff
2) Take the teleferico (Gondola) up the Cerro San Bernardo for amazing vista's of the city. Once you hit the end of the parque San Martin you have reached the gondola to the top of San Bernardo hill where there is a little market, some amazing lookouts over the city, and I kid you not and Outdoor gym. Now this gym has some of the oldest equipment I have ever seen but just to see this is worth the approx $10 CDN ride to the top
3) Wander the streets to check out the Architecture and Monuments. Salta very much as a small European city vibe and like its across the Atlantic neighbour it seems that every time you turn a corner you are confronted with a beautiful building or a striking monument. Just starting wandering along the streets on the outside perimeter of the Plaza 9 de Julio and you will definitely stumble upon a few
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| Gral Guemes Monument |
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| Iglesia San Francisco |
Enjoy Salta!!
OOO_Talia
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