For those experienced with the Jujuy and Salta areas, please let me know if I'm missing anything critical with this itinerary I've mapped out. I've got some flexibility to change if I need an extra day or so. The goal is to make it as cheap as possible but with flexibility to stop and see the sights on the way from town to town. Also, I'm a woman traveling alone, if any of these plans sound like a bad idea to do by myself please let me know! (I do speak Spanish)

Day 1: arrive in Jujuy from BA, spend day and night in town
Day 2: rent car in Jujuy, drive to Purmamarca and visit Salinas Grandes, stay night in Purmamarca
Day 3: drive up to Tilcara, explore ruins & waterfalls, drive back to Jujuy for night
Day 4: early bus to Salta, arrive by noon, spend day exploring town, stay night
Day 5: another day in Salta, possibly day tour (or bus?) to Cachi and back, night in Salta
Day 6: leave in morning for BA

Please comment liberally- the more info the better!! Thanks all.

We did a similar trip in Nov 2008 for details and photos see http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog...ai/1/tpod.html Entries #75 - 81 covers our time in the region. We took around 2 weeks on the trip but it is certainly possible 6 days. We used Salta as a base and drove the loop from there. We drove through Jujuy and decided not to stay there as we just didn't like the look of the place (there are much nicer places to stay en route and, on balance, I would be inclined to use Salta as a base for the whole trip. As for travelling alone, my main concern would be the remoteness of some of the places you will be driving travelling and what would happen in the event of a breakdown etc. (not sure that cellphones would be much use in many places).

Days 1 to 4 sound good, but I did not go into the city of Jujuy. I think staying in Purmamarca or Tilcara is good, and maybe spend both nights there. Very nice towns. Don't miss the MAAM museum in Salta. You might consider instead of the day trip to Cachi, a day trip to Cafayate through the canyons there. I found that more interesting with more to do than Cachi, although many people like Cachi. On the Cachi trip, you go over a high pass and see cactus and puna type landscape. The trip to Cafayate covers an agricultural valley and red canyons and rock formations before you reach the vineyards of Cafayate.

I agree that Salta would make a better base then Jujuy. We ended up not even going to Jujuy after reading about it. Cafayate does have a bit more to see then Cachi. I did a trip report on our 9 days in the NW that describes the drives and the towns. click on my name to find it.

I agree with yestravel and the other posters, above. And I second the motion for you to review the several Trip Reports on this wonderful part of the country.

If you think you might get lonely or tired of driving, you could also consider picking up a small group tour in the area for part of your trip.

We just loved the NOA.

~MarnieWDC

Thanks all, I'm going to do a little rearranging based on your comments. Yestravel great information in your trip reports, thanks so much! And good call to get a couple of CDs for the drive- when we were driving through the Andes from Mendoza we ended up putting my iPhone on the dash and playing the ipod on speakerphone- a little preplanning might give better results!

Glad u found the trip report helpful. For music one thing u might explore is to get an FM transmitter--someone gave us one for our ipod and it works great in desolate areas like the NW. U plug it into the cigarette lighter or car charger and u basically make your ipod into a radio station. Have a great trip!

Dear chicadelmundo: If I were you and I were limited intime and money... I would prefer to start in SALTA (probably arriving in the evening...), take a car there and drive to Purmamarca, starting in the early morning about midday I would check in at the hotel and after a nap I would drive to the Salinas Grandes. next day, after a walk around LOS COLORADOS, I would drivedirectly to Uquia (famous church) and Humahuaca at noon, back to Tilcara for lunch, explore the ruins, museum and back to SALTA. IMO that is a good use of time and resources to squeeze your time in the NW and I would also see Cafayate instead of Cachi. The sceery to Cachi is ore or less like in the way to the salt flats; same kind of cactus, a slope to the clouds, winding road... but Cafayate is completelly different.
I travel to Cafayate at least once a week, and I loooooove it. I am always amazed!
Always... Do not miss Cafayate.
And the difference in kms between SALTA and JUJUY is not such a big difference to start in Jujuy. And you travel comfortable. Believe me.
Flintstones

Flinstones, thanks for the advice- I'll definitely spend some time in Cafayate! Any favorite recommendations there- restaurants, bodegas, etc?
Another thing- if I don't have a warm winter coat am I going to be in trouble this time of year?

Do not miss FINCA LAS NUBES, eat at El Terruno in front of the main square, opossite to the church in Cfaayate. Also Yacon in Tilcara is a ust, pastas, salads, beef or quinoa pie are some of the great choices ou can get there. Visit Nanni winery also and do not forget to taste the wine icecream at Miranda's... or get my favorite... banana and Dulce de Leche and chocolate with nuts!
You will love it!
Have a great time!
Flintstones