The northwest corner of Argentina is in fact where the Spanish colonizers first settled, which is why it boasts some of the country’s most beautiful historic cities, among them, Salta, the tourism capital of the region with deep indigenous roots, Tucuman, Jujuy and Santiago del Estero, the country’s oldest city. Here the Cordillera de los Andes is rugged and wild. There are remains of ancient civilisations, such as that of the ruined pre-Inca city of Santa Rosa de Tastil. The Tren a las Nubes passes through the Quebrada del Toro and Tastil on its long journey up to the altiplano. Near Jujuy is another colourful example of stratified rock just beyond the small Andean village of Purmamarca in the Quebrada de Humahuaca.

To the northeast of Salta city in the subtropical lowlands are three national parks: El Rey, El Calilegua and El Baritu. All three parks are covered in yungas (cloudforests) and are home to an abundance of animal and plant life. South of the city is the Quebrada del Cafayate, another of Argentina’s famous wine-growing regions.