Ruta Nacional 52 Salinas Grandes to Purmamarca

RN52 delivers one of Argentina’s most dramatic altitude drops, plunging from the blindingly white Salinas Grandes salt flat at 3,450 meters down through the Cuesta de Lipán to the multicolored village of Purmamarca at 2,192 meters. The route begins on the hard-packed salt surface where you can drive directly onto the flats, then winds through a landscape of ancient lake terraces and wind-carved badlands before reaching the famous Cerro de los Siete Colores (Hill of Seven Colors) that towers above Purmamarca’s adobe buildings.

This is an easy to moderate drive suitable for stock vehicles with decent ground clearance, though the Cuesta de Lipán descent requires attention due to steep grades and loose gravel sections. The salt flat section can become impassable during rare flooding events, typically January through March. Carry extra water and sun protection—the high-altitude sun and salt reflection are brutal. The reward is experiencing one of Argentina’s most iconic landscapes while connecting two of the country’s geological wonders in a single unforgettable drive.