Tolar Grande, Salta majestuosity!

Although it is one of the least visited destinations in Salta, its name is beginning to resonate with tourists. Tolar Grande is a town that, though small, stands out for its enviable nature, imposing and magical. In fact, it is said that there are few places in the world like this.

Located in the middle of the Salta puna, at about 3,500 meters above sea level, it is an unmissable destination in northern Argentina. It is surrounded by volcanoes, mountains and salt flats such as Arizaro, which is one of the largest in Argentina. The Cerro Sagrado Macón should not be overlooked, which, in addition to being beautiful, is home to the springs of water that supplies the town.

It is separated from Salta by 380 kilometers. However, the journey to get from this city to Tolar Grande is also a great experience. And, the sinuosity of the road forces us to travel slowly and, in this sense, delight ourselves with every detail of the incredible landscape.

Once on the site, we are captivated by the ancient indigenous culture latent in the 300 inhabitants of the town. Traditions and customs passed from generation to generation, entering the Kolla People. But what activities can be done in this magnificent site? In addition to touring the town and living its local traditions, Tolar Grande has unskippable places that we will talk about below.

·         LOS ANDES WILDLIFE RESERVE

Like most of the Salta puna, Tolar Grande is protected by this immense reserve in Argentina. They are more than 1,440,000 hectares with the most impressive landscapes in the world and a captivating fauna. You will see volcanoes, the Ojos de Mar and the magical Cone of Arita. Among the animals, the vicuna, a very popular camelid in the region, stands out.

·         THE HIGHEST ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE IN THE WORLD

In Tolar Grande is also the highest archaeological site in the world. We are talking about the Llullaillaco Volcano at 6700 meters high, and does this place have a lot of history to tell! There, the remains of three frozen Inca children were found in 1999, along with a ceremonial trousseau.

It is estimated that more than 500 years ago, these children named La Maiden, La Niña del Rayo and El Niño, were offered to their gods on this Sacred Mountain that is currently a World Heritage Site (declared by UNESCO). The remains are exhibited in the Alta Montaña Archeology Museum, one of the most important in Salta. Learn about the details of this place in our article on the must-see museums of Salta.

·         THE EYES OF THE SEA 

Kilometers before reaching the town are the Eyes of the Sea. Some mirrors of saline water that change color, according to the sunlight. In addition to its beauty, it is home to the oldest living bacteria that gave rise to life on the planet; this was recently discovered.

·         THE CONE OF ARITA

In the middle of the Salar de Arizaro, one of the largest on the planet, is the Cone of Arita. It is a perfectly, naturally formed Cone that amazes and surprises all its visitors. It is, probably, the most recognized postcard of Tolar Grande.

·         LAGUNA SANTA MARÍA

The Laguna Santa Maria is located more than 4000 meters above sea level. Surrounded by high mountains, it gives us a beautiful landscape where you can see the elegant pink flamingos.

·         EL SALAR DE ARIZARO

If you want to experience a unique and unrepeatable sensation, the Salar de Arizaro is the perfect place. Being in complete silence in the middle of a great sea of ​​salt, surrounded by some of the highest mountains on the continent, is an unbeatable experience and another of the most important reasons to visit Tolar Grande.

·         EL ARENAL

If you want to combine incredible landscapes with adventure activities, then you cannot miss El Arenal de Tolar Grande, which is 8 kilometers from the town and completely covered by a dune of reddish sand, it is an ideal place to practice sandboard.

Without question, Tolar Grande is a wonderful destination in the northern province. For this reason, it cannot be missing from your travel itinerary to Salta. Check out other unmissable activities in the city and don’t hesitate to whatsapp our travel specialists for any type of advice.