Villa San Lorenzo | Ultimate Guide to Salta’s Best Weekend Escape

Villa San Lorenzo is a small town outside of the capital of Salta, Argentina that is the perfect weekend getaway for nature lovers.

Villa San Lorenzo is the ideal weekend escape from the chaos of Salta. If you want to get out of town but you don’t want to go too far, then this is your ideal Staycation. This is a small town located right outside of the capital city of the Salta province.

I went to Villa San Lorenzo sort of by accident, but now I want to tell everybody about it. I hope nobody else misses out on this great little town like we almost did. Originally we were planning to visit Cachi from Salta, but then we heard the road to get there was really bumpy and not on asphalt.

Because it was the end of our Tucuman/Salta road trip, we were more in the mood to relax than drive 3 hours on a dirt road. I started looking around at places closer to Salta and found a great house to rent along the edge of a stunning rainforest. At that point, I was all in. We did not regret ending our road trip here in Villa San Lorenzo.

In this blog post, I’ll explain what to do, where to go, where to eat, and where to stay in Villa San Lorenzo, as well as some great day trip or weekend trip options from Salta.

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Where is Villa San Lorenzo located?

Villa San Lorenzo is a small town in the Salta province. It is located just 25 minutes to the northwest of Salta, the capital city of the province. There are local buses to go there, but it is even better if you rent a car and drive there on your own.

Map of area

This is the small town of Villa San Lorenzo:

Villa San Lorenzo Weekend Getaway | What to do

Villa San Lorenzo is the ideal weekend escape from the chaos of Salta. It’s only 30 minutes from the capital city of Salta. There are a few things to do in Villa San Lorenzo to keep yourself busy, but also not so many things that you would feel guilty if you skipped them. Just relax and enjoy your time away from the city.

1. Have a drink at the Castillo de San Lorenzo

This building is a 19th-century villa made of stone on the edge of Villa San Lorenzo, on the way up to the Yungas. It is now a hotel, restaurant, and bar. Because the building is so beautiful, we went for an afternoon merienda and had a beer and snacks.

2. Start your day at the Lolo Cafe Lounge

We stumbled upon this place purely by accident, but it was one of the best breakfasts we had in all of Argentina. We ended up going back every morning we spent in Villa San Lorenzo. They offer very good breakfast promos for a good price. Everything is so fresh and delicious. I highly recommend it.

3. Visit the Reserva Yungas de San Lorenzo

The Reserva Yungas de San Lorenzo is the main highlight of Villa San Lorenzo. Here you are surrounded by the jungle. It’s a great place to relax. You do need to pay for parking, but it is very affordable. Make sure you have cash on you.

Talk a walk

There are a few small walking trails and loops that you can do in this area but unfortunately, they don’t go very far. A lot of the area is private property which prohibits you from going too deeply into the forest.

Go shopping

There are a number of small kiosks and shops that sell handmade local goods from ceramics to key chains to carved wooden kitchen supplies.

Relax by the river

The day we went it was drizzly, but on a hot summer day, this is a great place to bring a towel and a picnic lunch and spend several hours. You can easily find a great place next to the river to set up camp and stay for the day.

Have lunch on the patio

There is a restaurant, El Duende de la Quebrada, next to the river near the entrance of the park. They have funky furniture and design. You can stop in for a coffee, beer, snack, or lunch, and eat al fresco next to the river.

4. Visit a Museum

Villa San Lorenzo is not a big town but there are a couple of museums to be found if that is your thing.

Museo Salón del Automóvil

This museum is like a showroom for old and antique automobiles. There is not a massive collection of cars, but the ones they do have are in great shape. You don’t need much time here. There is a small entrance fee.

Museo de la Gesta Güemesiana

This is a miniature museum that shows several scenes of the history and culture of Argentina.

5. Relax at your accommodation

One of the main reasons to come to Villa San Lorenzo is to relax and be close to nature. Therefore, it’s really important that you find a great place to stay where you can spend a big chunk of your time.

We stayed in a great Airbnb on the edge of town with fantastic hosts. There was an outdoor swimming pool and an asado, so we invited over my local friend Eliseo and had a little BBQ. Our hosts even brought us a bottle of wine.

Money in Villa San Lorenzo

There are no Western Union locations in the town of Villa San Lorenzo. However, we did pay with our credit card for everything except for tips at restaurants. It is very easy to manage your time here with minimal cash and using your credit card.

Travel Insurance for Traveling in Argentina

It is definitely a good idea to get travel insurance when you go to Argentina. You never know what could happen. For my physical health, I use SafetyWing.

I use SafetyWing, which is great travel medical insurance created by nomads for nomads. You can sign up for as many days as you need, and cancel whenever you want. They have particularly good prices, especially for those under 40 years old. Check them out here.

Best Time To Visit Villa San Lorenzo

I visited Villa San Lorenzo in November. Everything was green due to the spring rains. The days were warm but somewhat dreary with a constant threat of rain. The summer months (November – March) are the rainy months, though the area is also very beautiful during this time.

I have also been to Salta in June. During the fall, the weather is cold and all the green of the area fades away and turns into hues of grey and brown. You can still enjoy your time in Villa San Lorenzo in the fall and winter months, but I suggest going when the weather is warmer.

Villa San Lorenzo FAQs

Villa San Lorenzo Argentina is a great place to rest and relax for a day or a weekend if you want to escape the city life of Salta.

How many days should I stay in Villa San Lorenzo?

You can easily see the main attractions in Villa San Lorenzo in one day, but the best part about this little Salta town is how peaceful it is. I suggest spending at least 2 days here so you can relax, walk in nature, and spend time at your accommodation if it is beautiful and peaceful.

Is Villa San Lorenzo walkable?

Not really. Villa San Lorenzo is different than many other cities in Argentina, in that it doesn’t have a main town center or town square. Everything is spread out which makes walking around more complicated. It is best if you have a rental car.

Is Villa San Lorenzo worth visiting?

Yes! Visiting Villa San Lorenzo was a welcome surprise for us and we really enjoyed it. It is a peaceful little town surrounded by nature on all sides.

Where to Stay in Villa San Lorenzo

Villa San Lorenzo is not a place where there is a lot of action or nightlife. It is a place for rest and peace in the natural surroundings. Therefore, it is really important to find a place to stay that you love. We stayed in an Airbnb on the edge of town next to the rainforest and spent lots of time cooking, reading, and going to the swimming pool.

Villa Arbolada

This is similar to the Airbnb where we stayed. It has a swimming pool and a large grassy area beside the rainforest. You can even cook your BBQ at the designated Asado area, and relax in the sun.

BOOK NOW to stay in this stunning villa

Cabaña Sigel en el Rio

This cabin is a bit outside of town but if you’re looking for rest, this is the place. The forest surrounds you on all sides, plus you have an outdoor swimming pool. There is a fully functioning kitchen to cook your meals and a great table for al fresco dining.

BOOK NOW for your ultimate peaceful relaxation cabin

The Cloud – San Lorenzo

This is a homestay that includes a freshly cooked breakfast every morning. The space is so beautiful you may never want to leave. There is an outdoor swimming pool and an Asado BBQ area.

Rest in ultimate luxury, BOOK NOW

Organized Tours in Salta

The province of Salta is one of the most beautiful in all of Argentina. There is so much to see, but without a car and limited time, it can be difficult to see a lot. That’s where group tours come in handy. They are really affordable in this region.

Other Day Trips from Salta

If you rent a car from Salta or San Salvador de Jujuy, you’ll have a lot of freedom to see some of the amazing places in the region. You can do them in one long day trip, or a weekend trip. The local transportation in the area is also really solid so you can easily take buses between cities. Read my North of Argentina guide for more details.

Drive North on Ruta 9

Route 9 is the main highway extending north and east from Salta Capital. If you drive north along Ruta 9 from Salta, you will come across one of the most beautiful roads in the country. The route twists and turns through the forest and eventually crosses into the Jujuy province.

You can make a few stops along the way at La Caldera to see a giant Jesus statue, or at several of the viewpoints along the way. We drove up until the Mirador del Dique Las Cienegas where we had lunch looking over the lake.

Cafayate

If you drive 3 hours south of Salta, you will find the wine town of Cafayate. There are a ton of wineries and bodegas around town to try the excellent local wines. You should take your time as you drive south along Ruta 68 to see all the incredible rock formations.

Purmamarca

If you keep going north along Ruta 9 for about 3 hours, you’ll come to a small desert town called Purmamarca. Though it is small, there are lots of things to do in Purmamarca, including taking a walk through the Cerro de los Siete Colores. You can also do a lot of shopping for cool locally made sweaters and eat delicious food.

Salinas Grandes

The Salinas Grandes are very impressive salt flats in Argentina. They are one hour from Purmamarca. If you rent a car you can go on your own and spend as much time as you want there. You can also do a local tour directly from Purmamarca to the Salinas Grandes for less than $10. Tours are available from Salta as well.

Tilcara

Tilcara is just 30 minutes north of Purmamarca. It has a cute town center and great hikes, including La Garganta del Diablo waterfall. In the mornings, local vendors sell delicious food and drinks such as tortillas rellenas, and chicha morada.

Humahuaca & the Serrania del Hornocal

Humahuaca is 3.5 hours north of Salta and is another small desert town with magical Jujeño vibes. It is the main place to come if you want to visit the Serrania del Hornocal or the Rainbow Mountain Argentina. It has a strong gaucho culture which is apparent everywhere you look.

Final Thoughts on Villa San Lorenzo

Villa San Lorenzo is the ultimate day trip or weekend trip away from Salta. If you find yourself in the capital city of Salta and want to have a peaceful retreat away from the city chaos, but don’t want to go too far, then Villa San Lorenzo could be perfect for you.

It is not a common tourist destination so you will find the ultimate authentic experience, and you will get a chance to see what the locals do. Have great food, go for nature walks, and hang out at your beautiful accommodation.

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