Founded in 1582, this city still has a very Spanish feel. That's ironic, because Salta is where the decisive battle for independence from Spain took place,. Today the city, offers some nice-guided walking tours: There are quite a few colonial buildings, some converted into museums, that are worth a look. Be sure to try Andean foods while in Salta -- the empanadas and corn-based dishes such as tamales and hamates are great. For an overview of the city, take a cable car from Parque San Martin up to Cerro San Bernardo. Tobacco is grown in deep gorges around the outskirts of town, and there's a 700-ft-/215-m-long, 190-ft-/60-m-high train viaduct.

An excursion can be made from Salta to Cafayate or Jujuy. But one of our favorite trips from Salta is the Train to the Clouds, a round trip of 215 mi/350 km (Salta-Munano-Salta) passing over mountain ranges, deep gorges and beautiful scenery (the very earth seems to change colors, depending on the time of day). A startling feat of engineering and one of the great train-ride adventures in the world, the ride takes a full day to go and return (Altitude sickness, however, can be a problem -- Munano is at 12,965 ft / 3,950 m).

About 55 mi / 90 km east of Salta is El Rey National Park, which is full of birds and other wildlife. The park was created to protect Argentina's southernmost subtropical forest. Plan a night in Salta, or two nights if you're seeing area attractions.