A Digital Nomad Guide to Salta

Salta Visa

Currently, there are 4 categories: Temporary Visas, Temporary Residence Visas, Permanent Visas and Nationality.

In general, both work and student visas must be requested in Argentina by the employer or by the university. You have to be patient, because the procedures can take time. In addition, immigration laws are quite complicated, so it is necessary to inform yourself step by step. The most common documents required for visas are:

Passport with a minimum validity of one year, from the date of issuance of the visa

Current passport size photos

A birth certificate that is valid internationally

A certificate of good conduct issued by the police

A complete medical report

An affidavit that there is no criminal record, which will normally be signed in front of the Consul

The payment of fees corresponding to the visa application.

Regarding Temporary Visas, these will not be necessary for some nationalities, as long as the reasons for visiting Argentina are for tourism or business. They are the most requested and the most widely issued, they are valid for one year, and are issued for the following reasons: work, studies, pensioners, for investments, for medical treatment, or for cultural exchange programs.

Tourist Visa: They are issued by the General Directorate of Migration and a series of papers must be presented, among which a completed and signed application, a valid passport, a return ticket to the country of origin, two passport-size photographs, an economic solvency and the corresponding payment of fees.

Visa for artistic, religious, cultural, technical or professional activities: This type of visa, for those nationalities that need it, is issued for a period of 15 days, extendable to another 15. The required papers are the same as in the previous section , plus a letter from the institution for which they work, specifying the reason why these people are sent to Argentina.

*Information collected from https://vivirenn.com/requisitos-vivir-argentina/

Culture and Food in Salta

In Salta, the variety of flavors and ingredients show all its heritage, with dishes of Spanish influence, others with pre-Hispanic roots and many that are a clear fusion of both cultures.

Here I am going to tell you some typical dishes from Salta that you cannot miss on a journey of flavors and culture through the north of Argentina.

Locro, a patriotic dish!

It is one of the pre-Inca dishes that survived the conquest and today it has become a national dish. To the traditional recipe for vegetables and grains, the Spanish added a touch: meat. Locro is one of the essential dishes on national dates such as May 25, but in Salta it is eaten all year round. Vegetables, beans and meat are cooked separately, respecting their times, and then put together for the final dish. Pumpkin is also added to give consistency.

Humita, “fast” food of the best quality

It is a cream made out from corn that is grated by hand and cooked in a clay pot. It is also served wrapped in chala, giving it the shape of a small package. In addition to corn, in Salta cheese, onion and milk are added. The recipe differs according to the towns, in some white corn is used, in others yellow, it can have bell peppers, goat cheese or fresh cheese, basil or tomato sauce.

It is a simple dish, ideal to take away and eat anywhere, with a touch of paprika that enhances the taste.

Tamales

It is a representative dish of Salta cuisine but it is found in many Latin American countries, with its peculiarities and secrets. Unlike humitas, this dish is more laborious. The traditional version is made with hand-ground corn flour, with a previous treatment that takes time to soak and cook (at least two days). Although in modern cuisine it is often replaced by polenta and squash, it is not the same. To this preparation, beef or pork is added, and then ingredients to suit the consumer, cumin, chili, onion, paprika, among others. Then, it is placed in the husk and the package is made, as with the humitas.

Empanadas

Save the best for last! Empanadas Salteñas! Recognized worldwide! They are made with meat cut with a knife and cooked in fat. They can also have potato, tomato sauce and various condiments. They are cooked in a clay oven and are an essential part of celebrations and meetings. Undoubtedly, one of the typical dishes of the whole country that here has its most traditional recipe. There are also cheese and chicken empanadas

In Salta there are even empanada contests.

Quesillo with honey

A delicious dessert to accompany the dishes mentioned above!

A typical local cheese is mixed with cane honey! It is a fascinating combination! It’s a must if you visit Salta! 

Cayote

Another typical dessert of the Salta culture, in which a cayote is cooked for hours in the oven, then it is sweetened and cooked again in the oven, it is accompanied with walnuts!

Salta Nightlife

The night of Salta! Like many of the Argentine provinces, it has very colorful, varied and very friendly nights! Unfortunately due to the current health situation (Covid-19), recreation ends at 00:00, a time in which Salta people just start their nights.

But let’s talk about how the nights before the covid were, the night of Salta was characterized by the parties and the number of clubs that it has. Being a fairly young city and hosting two universities, it offers a wide range of nighttime entertainment, from bars that don’t close their doors until 05.30, to nightclubs that open their doors at 11 p.m. and close at dawn!

Also the peñas from Salta are of enormous charm, since in them one can experience the local culture in its maximum splendor! Guitars and wine for everyone, the people are very friendly and much more after a couple of glasses of wine!

The Balcarse promenade has a large part of the Salta nightlife, full of bars, clubs and restaurants!

But enough of talking about parties! The city also has beautiful panoramic points from which you can see the entire city illuminated! From going up by cable car to the top of Cerro San Bernardo or going by car to Cerro de la Virgen to enjoy with friends the view of the city, it is priceless!

We can also find many theaters in which we can attend different classical works such as Hamlet, or symphonic works by different bands known as Pink Floyd or Soda Stereo. There are also bands that play from folklore, through tango and national rock, reggae and international rock! almost always on weekends in different theaters or restaurants!

The cinemas have night hours starting on Thursdays and also, one night a week in which they do “Movie Night” in which short films are shown and you can even send your own!

The best known restaurants always present bands once a week, in which an admission fee is charged, and you can enjoy a beautiful evening!

The wide variety of bars and craft breweries are fashionable in the city, and you can find different types of bars depending on the theme you are looking for!

The cultural powerhouse is also home to different cultural and international exhibitions, in which we can find food trucks with dishes from all over the world, live bands, beers and much more!

The casinos are also part of the Salta nightlife, you can enjoy a night full of excitement! I hope you don’t bet your entire salary!

If you go out of town for a few minutes in the countryside, we can find a starry night to delight ourselves with! There are places where we can do astronomical tourism! Or simply lie down with a sheet to admire the cosmos!

Or you can just go camping in any of its surrounding parks! There are certain places in the national parks for you to camp and enjoy a night like no other! A good campfire, friends, and a starry night … not bad huh?

Things to do in Salta

As I have been telling you from the beginning, Salta is famous for its adventure tourism, and its proximity to enjoying nature!

A few hours from your place of work, you can go horseback riding to one of the hills that surround the city

A circuit near the center of Salta is the one that includes San Lorenzo, Vaqueros, La Caldera and Campo Quijano. These places preserve the characteristics of country towns, where you can see a gaucho on his horse pass by (something very common even in the center of the city). Ideal to enjoy nature and outdoor activities, to be close to the city, but in a quiet and rugged environment.

If you like jungle nature and adventure tourism, San Lorenzo is the ideal place to visit. Horseback riding, trekking, ATV rides, mountaineering, paragliding, mountain biking are some of the fun routes that you can find in this beautiful town, 15 minutes by car from the capital.

Running in the middle of nature is an activity that grows more every day. Due to its geography, with incredible landscapes, rivers and hills of different heights, San Lorenzo is chosen as the headquarters of adventure races by the best brands. We can find the Quebrada de San Lorenzo which is one of the best known places in Salta. It is that its special magic attracts all who visit it. The San Lorenzo River, its trees and the possibility of buying handicrafts ensure a very entertaining afternoon. Ideal for a trekking of approximately 3 or 4 hours.

If you want to travel a little further, Salta and its Ministry of Tourism have different tourist circuits that will fascinate you!

To me, the Calchaquies Valley circuit is the one I like the most!

Desert, towns embedded in the vicinity of the Andes, gigantic volcanoes (some in activity) that were the headquarters of important Inca rituals, underground rivers, or lagoons that according to local myths come directly from the sea, the charm of its people and the immensity that one feels when looking at the starry night, they are perfect!

In contrast to these deserted places, we have jungles or as they call it in these parts, Yungas! Incredible vegetation brimming with wildlife, we can see in it, from toucans to pumas or jaguars! That because of deforestation they are getting dangerously close to different populations.

The Escoipe ravine brings together these two biomes in a shocking change of view, from one second to the other one is immersed in a deep jungle, and becomes 2,531 m high immersed in curves that denote an incredible desert landscape!

Returning to the capital, the city is full of museums that are worth visiting, such as:

• Güemes Museum: The house has ten rooms that cover the milestones in the life of General Martín Miguel de Güemes and the wars for independence.
• High Mountain Archeology Museum – MAAM: The High Mountain Archeology Museum’s main function is to safeguard the archaeological find called Los Niños del Llullaillaco, which it achieves through a state-of-the-art cryopreservation system; and at the same time, study and disseminate it. Through the heritage it preserves, it works to safeguard the ancestral culture, reinforcing the identity of the original peoples.
• Museum of Anthropology of Salta: The Museum of Anthropology of Salta is the body in charge of executing the current legislation regarding archaeological and paleontological heritage, as well as the intervention and dissemination of cultural heritage.
• Museum of Contemporary Art: It is the center of actions related to contemporary visual arts and a nucleus to attend to the alternatives of exhibition, diffusion and teaching.
• Casa de Arias Rengel Museum: The Casa Arias Rengel Historical Monument was built in the middle of the 18th century by the Arias Rengel family, encomenderos of the time. On its upper floor, patios and galleries, it permanently exhibits the works of the collections, as well as traveling exhibits from the Campomar Collection. Closed Monday and Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. + info.
• Historical Museum of the North: It is the best preserved Cabildo in the country. It has nine exhibition rooms along the two floors, where pieces and paintings are preserved. Among the most outstanding rooms are the archeology room that exhibits historical elements of the City of Salta and the one that exhibits objects belonging to General Martín Miguel de Güemes and the Sacred Art room with important pieces of wood.

In addition to all the museums, nightlife, walking tours, etc. Salta has a unique tourist attraction in its class, it has the third highest tourist train in the world! The famous Train to the clouds, (also known as the “C-14” line) connects the Argentine Northwest with the border in the Andes mountain range, over 4,220 meters (13,850 ft) above mean sea level, the fifth highest railway in the world. Originally built for economic and social reasons, it is now primarily of interest to tourists as a heritage railway, though cheaper tickets are also available for locals to use the train as transport that connects the capital with Antofagasta (Chile) although now the route does not arrive to its initial destination, The railway line has 29 bridges, 21 tunnels, 13 viaducts, 2 spirals and 2 zigzags. Because of the design decision not to use a rack-and-pinion for traction, the route had to be designed to avoid steep grades. The zigzags allow the train to climb up, driving back and forth parallel to the slope of the mountain.

• Due to Covid-19 timetables may have suffer modifications

It departs from Salta every Saturday at 07:05, and returns around midnight,. go by train and return by movitrack! (an adapted 4×4 truck) The train is composed of a dining carriage, bar carriage, a first aid area and two passenger carriages with room for 170 people, though this is expected to increase to 400 over time.

Currently, the train leaves Salta station for the 15-hour, 434-kilometer (270 mi) round trip to the Polvorilla viaduct, located 4,220 m (13,850 ft) above sea level. The curved viaduct is 224 m (735 ft) long and 64 m (210 ft) high. Once the train has left Salta, it first enters the Valle de Lerma, and then the Quebrada del Toro, before reaching the puna. There are numerous stops along the way, some with markets selling artisan goods and locals offering regional cuisines

• Information collected from https://www.voyasalta.com.ar/

Best Time to Visit Salta

Salta, located in a tropical area, has a warm climate, although with quite marked variations in its different regions, depending on its varied relief. The orientation of its mountain ranges influences the distribution of rainfall.

Contrasting climates and landscapes are observed mainly according to altitude.

In the western region (the highest) an arid and cold climate prevails with abrupt temperature variations between day and night (and even if one goes from a sunny place to a shady place), during the 20th century desertification has been aggravated, the natural vegetation being almost reduced to patches of xerophilous and psamofilic plants such as the stunted tola that forms “mattresses” or the large cacti called cardones.

In the Eastern region, the semi-arid climate with a dry season predominates, with an annual average rainfall of the order of 500 mm and average temperatures of the order of 20 ° C, with temperatures of up to 47 ° C in summer and -5 ° C. C in winter, marked temperature range typical of continental territories.

In spring we can find an average of 24 ° during the day and an average of 14 ° at nightfall, although it increases as summer approaches, in which the average becomes 27 ° during the day and 18 ° during the night, as we reach autumn, they decline to 14 ° during the day and 11 ° during the night, and finally in winter we can find an average of 12 ° during the day and 6 ° during the night!

Regarding its rainfall, spring and summer are the rainiest seasons of more than 300mm, falling to 75mm in autumn and spring.

• Information collected from https://es.climate-data.org/america-del-sur/argentina/salta/salta-1909/

Salta for Families

Salta is a beautiful destination if you want to move with your family!

There are a large number of daycares, kindergartens, as well as affordable primary and secondary schools or colleges.

In each neighborhood of the city you can find kindergartens that have morning or afternoon shifts. They do not have a high cost, around $ 80 per month.

The vast majority of schools have a marked tendency towards Catholicism, but most of them accept students of any religion. The most expensive college in the city is around $ 200 a month.

From that price down we can find a wide range of schools and colleges!

Schools are free!

On the other hand, in the city are the two provincial university centers par excellence, both have headquarters throughout the country as well as face-to-face or distance careers.

UNSa (National University of Salta).

UcaSal (Catholic University of Salta).

The monthly college fee costs about $ 145 per month at the Universidad Catolica De Salta. UnSa being a state headquarters, it is free and just by showing a residence permit is enough to be able to study there.

As for activities for children, we can find many sports training fields that can be adjusted to the needs and tastes of the little ones, such as:

• Soccer
• Tennis
• Golf
• pole
• Rugby
• Paddle
• Taekwondo
• Mixed Martial Arts
• Running
• Trekking for kids
• Climbing on adapted walls
• Leaving the sports field, we can also find recreational activities such as:
• Chess
• Reading clubs
• Film Club
• Language courses
• Practical courses
• Local flora and fauna courses
• Cooking courses for the little ones
• Cultural centers for children

Most of them can be for adults or children!

Salta is packed with activities for the whole family! There are many places where you can go for a picnic or camping, with friends, or with your family! Adventure, or recreation!

Whatever the reason, this city fulfills them all!

Living in Salta

Salta Transportation

The means of transport par excellence in the city is the bus! Compared to other cities it is very cheap ($ 0.25 per trip) and communicates through different lines, to the entire city! You have to get the Saeta card to be able to enter the buses (another process that takes a long time). The buses are not very punctual, and now due to covid their capacity is limited to half.

The good thing about this means of transport is that the rate charged is not by distance, but by ticket. The price is not increased according to the destination.

For Argentina, the buses are relatively new, but don’t expect any luxury, much less Wi-Fi connection!

In addition to taxis, in the city people move in remises (taxi companies) that tend to be a little cheaper than those previously mentioned, Uber is not yet developed in the city, which shows without a doubt that users of this type of means of transport are still not the majority.

Taxis or remises accept only cash payment, although little by little they are beginning to receive a credit card! That can be a problem as soon as you get to the city, remember to have some cash in your pockets !!

The capital, having neither trains or subways, is connected entirely by buses and people are beginning to use bicycles as an active means of transport to get to work! Unlike the big cities, Salta does not have a free or paid bicycle rental system by companies that you can easily access. You should google companies that provide this service, and go to their delivery point.

Recently the government delimited bicycle lanes along the avenues and streets that connect the main points of interest in the city, such as universities or shopping malls, which greatly facilitates the movement of this means of transport.

In addition to bicycles, the city lends itself to exploring it on foot, if you live in the center, you will not need any means of transport, you can fend for yourself! Distances in the city center are relatively short. There are also pedestrian paths throughout the city that, like the bicycle lanes, connect the entire city in all its cardinal points.

Most of the population also has their own car, since distances in the city are usually great.

In Salta, fuel has an approximate cost of:

A liter of premium gasoline in Salta costs $ 1.2. While the super (common gasoline) amounted to $ 0.98 per liter. In the case of the Infinia Diesel, its new value is $ 1.07, while the liter of diesel now costs $ 0.91

* Data from EL Tribuno newspaper!

As you can see, it is relatively cheap

I recommend that you rent a car!

The daily price of a car rental starts at $ 28 per day.

As everywhere, you must search patiently and with time if you want to get a good offer!

It is a good option then, to rent a vehicle, especially for weekends, since without a doubt you will go on an excursion!

Fitness and Health

Salta is subdivided into categories, one of them is called active Salta, and it has different activities that can be carried out in order for recreation and health.

We can say that Salta is a city prepared for sports and well-being in terms of health. It has several gyms that one can access with a membership! Which you can access for approximately $ 20 per month!

From conventional weightlifting gyms, through yoga gyms and even crossfit boxes (very fashionable lately), martial arts centers (Tae-Kwon-Do, Jiu-Jitsu and Karate, are the most famous in the city), soccer fields, tennis courts, golf courses, paddle courts, polo fields, skateparks or bikeparks are waiting for you, such as training camps where you can practise! like bike lanes that Salta people also use to go running!

There are also running groups that go out for the weekend, and they do incredible treks that last days!

Like birdwatching or fishing groups that go out for days in search of the wild!

Lately, healthy life in the city seems to have become fashionable, people are taking care of themselves with food more than ever, and that generates that the flow of people who go out to run, walk or ride a bike has increased incredibly!

Speaking of health, Salta has several centers in which one can request to see a doctor. Health in Argentina is public, public hospitals are very crowded, so if you have health insurance and can go to a private center, it would be much better! (read Insurance and Medical Care below)

Salta People

Undoubtedly, like any Latin American destination rooted in its culture, beliefs and values, people play a fundamental role when choosing it as their next destination!

In the first place, it should be noted that the people in these parts of the globe are still very Catholic, and they deposit their entire lives to the Lord and the Virgin of the miracle (patrons of the city), obviously not in their majority, and among the young It can be seen that they put aside many of these customs, but even so, the common people profess their faith in a very vivid way that it would be good for you to know and respect, since for them it is very important!

People in the city of Salta are characterized by being very warm and cheerful and as I said earlier in this post, possibly at first they can be a bit shy, but as soon as they get into confidence they will not leave you for a second alone! Since it is said that the Salteño has an easy smile! They are very smiling people, as you walk through the square or just down the street and look at people’s faces, you realize that they always have a smile on their face!

It won’t take long to get some friends from Salta, what’s more, if you do, you will see that they last a lifetime! And they will never leave you alone!

The capital city of the province of Salta, has original people or peoples, who today continue to live as their ancestors did more than 500 years ago, prior to the Spanish conquest, maintaining their culture and traditions full of colors.

In turn, the city has many young people who studied abroad and have a more global mind, it is a beautiful cultural contrast! Since despite having gone to live in capital cities, they still retain their customs, always with a mate under their arms and the desire for some good empanadas!

Salta people love to be accompanied, at first they will treat you as “gringo” but without being disparaging, it is a natural way of calling foreigners here in the north of the country.

Like in any destination that we do not know, there are areas more dangerous than others, you have to take into account when you walk through the center, that your wallet or mobile is not stolen! Personally I was never a victim of any robbery, but it doesn’t hurt to be precarious!

Also be careful to walk in remote neighborhoods, as in the center of the city, nothing bad ever happened to me, but it is better to walk through crowded areas than just in a neighborhood that we do not know!

Despite the fact that google maps works correctly, it tends to locate you in neighboring streets that can become a bit dangerous.

So remember, while you are in crowded areas or within the stony area, you will be in safe areas, you must also take your precautions!

Salta Insurance and Medical Care

As I already told you a little higher in the post, throughout the Argentine Republic, health is subsidized by the national government, whose health system meets expectations, but it would be better if you had health or travel insurance when coming here , since prepaid have many benefits, especially in time and attention.

It seems very important to me to leave you a list of the hospitals and main health centers, their telephone numbers and hours of attention, this list is about all the centers of the city, in case you have any inconvenience:

More Medicine

• Salta Outpatient: Buenos Aires 196 ⋅ Open ⋅ Closes 8PM ⋅ Telephone number: 0387 431-1977
• Hospital San Bernardo: Av. José Tobias 69 ⋅ Open 24 hours ⋅ Telephone number: 0387 432-0300
• Hospital Dr Arturo Oñativia: Paz Chain 30 ⋅ Open 24 hours ⋅ Telephone number: 0387 422-1605
• Hospital del Milagro: Av. Sarmiento 557 ⋅ Open 24 hours ⋅ Telephone number: 0387 431-7400
• Private Hospital Tres Cerritos SRL: Av. Juan B. Justo 93 ⋅ Open 24 hours ⋅ Phone number: 0387 416-3500
• Cenesaaa: Zabala 432 ⋅ Open 24 hours ⋅ Phone number: 0387 423-7373
• Public Hospital Maternal and Child: Av. Sarmiento 1301 ⋅ Open 6AM Closes 8PM ⋅ Phone number: 0800-555-7755
• Sanatorium Altos de Salta: Laprida 145 ⋅ Open 24 hours ⋅ Telephone number: 0387 416-1300
• Pope Francis Hospital: Calle 120 S / N ⋅ Open 24 hours ⋅ Telephone number: 0387 438-5022
• Salta Military Hospital: General Arenales 1500 ⋅ Open 24 hours ⋅ Telephone number: 0387 421-8946
• Sanatorium San Roque: Av. Reyes Catolicos 1518 ⋅ Open 24 hours ⋅ Telephone number: 0387 439-0202
• Hospital Sr Del Milagro: Av. Sarmiento N ° 557 ⋅ Phone number: 0299 ​​15-505-6753

Make sure you are fully covered by reading our full Digital Nomad Travel Insurance guide.

Jobs in Salta

The jobs in Salta are very specific, I recommend that you have a remote job that pays you in dollars, euros or pounds.

In Argentina, salaries are very precarious, and it costs people a lot to save.

It is for this reason that the cost of living in it is very low (read costs of living below).

You can find work very easily if you work in the field, since it is the economic activity par excellence of the entire province and why not the country! From international tobacco companies to soy fields or any type of vegetables, through livestock and agriculture.

The salaries of the field work are very varied and depends a lot on the owner!

Jobs as a programmer or data scientist do not meet even 50% of the earnings that we can find looking for a remote job or working for a company abroad.

But here is a brief description of the work and salaries in Salta:

Administrative Employee Salaries $ 600 per month

Intermediate or Senior Lawyer Salaries $ 900 per month

Junior Attorney Salaries at $ 600 per month

Plant Inspector Salaries $ 700 per month

Supermarket Repositor Salaries $ 300 per month

Real estate consultant salaries per commission between 3% and 5%

Salaries for customer service or call center $ 450

Junior Civil Engineer Salaries $ 600 to $ 800

Architect Salaries $ 550 to $ 750

Salaries for a primary or secondary teacher $ 200 to $ 450

So to make an estimate of an average weighted salary in Salta, we can agree that it would be approximately $ 575 per month.

•  Information collected from https://www.computrabajo.com.ar/empleos-en-salta

Check out our Digital Nomads Jobs Postings to find the best jobs available for Digital Nomads.