What to do in Salta: 3 unmissable experiences
I take shelter in the shadow of a building on the side of Avenida Belgrano, one of the main streets in the center of Salta, Argentina. Salta is a city of over 600 thousand citizens in northwestern Argentina, at the foot of the Andean cordillera which, with its province, exceeds 1.3 million inhabitants. It is nicknamed “Salta la Linda” and, frankly, I think this nickname is due to the enchanting landscapes that surround it, easy to reach thanks to the numerous tours that leave from the city center in the morning, allowing you to return comfortably to your hotel around seven in the evening. When I participated in these tours, I always returned between 6.30pm and 8.00pm. As I wait, I look at the people, the writing, the surrounding buildings: “I’m right on the other side of the world” I say to myself, with a beautiful smile on my face; at the same time proud and a little tense for what is about to happen at times.
1) The Cerro San Bernardo
Departing from Buenos Aires after a flight of two hours I have recently arrived in Salta, I am waiting to meet Anita and Tony to go and see the panorama of the city from the Cerro San Bernardo, at 1482 meters high, and to taste for the first time the famous “Mate.” I can not wait! But, you must know that these 2 people have never seen them in my life, even though I have only known Anita virtually for the past 3 years. We met thanks to a language exchange app. She helped me with Spanish and me with Italian. That Anita was a girl out of the ordinary, I had already guessed by now more than 2 years ago, when for my birthday, without knowing me in real life, but with only a video called Skype, she sent me a gift directly from Argentina. Give her heartfelt thanks when she arrived, she told me: “so you will have a little more trust in people.” And in fact I admit it, where I was born and raised myself, in northern Italy, the mentality is more individualistic, instead as soon as you arrive in Argentina, a little less in the chaotic metropolis of Buenos Aires, you immediately breathe a different area: calmer, more tranquility, more sharing and human relationships (to be honest, it is a feature of much, if not all, of South America). And this my assumption was immediately confirmed on that warm December afternoon when we had to meet to go together to the Cerro San Bernardo, a hill located at 1482 meters above sea level on the east side of the town, while the city is located at 1152 meters above sea level.
2) Taste the real Argentine Mate
Beautiful panorama, special mates, relax and chat, what can you miss completing a moment like this? Obviously the classic Argentine Mate! And Anita is immediately ready to explain the preparation of the mate.
- helps diuresis
- antioxidant
- energy
- sharing friendship
3) Drink the “Salta Negra” beer
If you stop at any bar in Salta and ask “what beer do you recommend?”, Anyone will tell you the “Saltena” beer. I add, the “Salta Negra” beer. It is the most famous beer of Salta, loved by every resident of the place, it has very particular characteristics: the black color, the intense aroma, the creamy foam and a “strong” taste that pervades every single taste papilla with every swallow. Of all the beers I’ve tried so far, it’s definitely one of the best. How I got to try the “Salta Negra” beer is a lot of fun, but we’ll talk next time.To recap
There would be plenty of other stories to tell about this fantastic Salta experience, but today I will stop here, summarizing some salient tips for your next trip to Salta:- taste the “Salta Negra” Beer,
- make a trip to the Cerro to enjoy the view from across the valley and see with your own eyes the majesty of nature
- try mate, it’s a dutiful experience in Argentina, you won’t regret it.
Manuel The Writer
My name is Manuel and I have 1 big passion: to travel and discover new people, new cultures. In the last years, I had traveled a lot in South America and met amazing people from Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Brasil with living with the locals and I learn a lot of tips about traveling life experience in low budget. I want to share with you everything can help you with your next amazing trip!