Salta La Linda, better known to most as Salta, is the capital of the Argentinian province of Salta, which makes it easy to remember. The metro area has roughly 620,000 people in it, which actually constitutes the majority of the province's population.
Beyond that, Salta is a beautiful city surrounded incredible natural wonders that are worth your time to explore. This is one of the most stunning regions of Argentina yet far less than ten thousand visitors head to it each year. It might be time to change that.
See the historical sites
Salta was founded in 1582 by a Spanish conquistador, which is a fairly common story in many parts of South America. Being that the city is nearly 500 years old, there's a lot of history to explore. That includes monuments and buildings like the Catedral Basílica de Salta, the 20 de Febrero Monument, and Iglesia de San Alfonso. There are also several museums in Salta worth checking out.
Prioritizing safety
Whenever someone starts talking about planning a trip to South America, the question of safety always comes up. And there are definitely some cities and even a few countries you should probably steer clear of. In Salta, safety is a high priority for the local government, particularly in the tourist areas. Still, you should be smart and pay attention while you're there.
Los Cardones National Park
To the west of Salta is Los Cardones National Park, a marvel for several reasons. Established in 1996, it protects a significant portion of the arid desert terrain. There are various species of wildlife and cactus to spot. The big draws are the numerous fossils found here which includes well-preserved dinosaur tracks. There are hiking trails though you should probably pack a lot of water.
Amazing food (empanadas, empanadas, empanadas)
Look, if you're not planning to eat like an absolute maniac when traveling anywhere in South America, you should probably just stay home. The food in Salta is unbelievable, with locro being the top local dish. You can also get incredible tamales, humitas, and bori bori. It may be a requirement that you attempt to eat your body weight in empanadas here.
Taking the Tren a las Nubes
Tren a las Nubes quite literally translates to Train to the Clouds and that's where it takes you. It is the fifth highest railway in the world, taking passengers 13,850 above sea level into the Andes mountain range. The route has multiple bridges, tunnels, and even a couple of spirals. Managed by the government, riding this heritage train offers some unparalleled views of the country,