By road, Santa María, Argentina and Humahuaca are about 316 miles (509 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 32 min of driving.
Full advisory: Argentina. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Total distance | 316 mi (509 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN40 → RN68 → RP59 → RN9 → RN34 → RN1V66 |
| Provinces on the route | Catamarca, Tucumán, Salta, Jujuy |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Santa María to Humahuaca drive plays out
RN68 (109 mi) and RN9 (104 mi) carry about 67% of the 316 miles. It runs through 4 provinces: Catamarca, Tucumán, Salta, Jujuy. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Santa María to Humahuaca: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Catamarca |
| RN40 | 2–48 | 46 | Catamarca, Tucumán, Salta |
| RN68 | 48–157 | 109 | Salta |
| connecting roads | 157–162 | 5 | Salta |
| RP59 | 162–167 | 5 | Salta |
| connecting roads | 167–168 | 1 | Salta |
| RN9 | 168–192 | 24 | Salta |
| RN34 | 192–212 | 20 | Salta, Jujuy |
| RN1V66 | 212–236 | 24 | Jujuy |
| RN9 | 236–316 | 80 | Jujuy |
- Mile 9 of this route: Catamarca → Tucumán (province line)
- Mile 33 of this route: Tucumán → Salta (province line)
- Mile 207 of this route: Salta → Jujuy (province line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Santa María and Humahuaca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Our Lady of Rosary Cathedral, Cafayate (mile 47), Museo de la Vid y el Vino (mile 47), Posta de Hornillos (mile 283), Pucará de Tilcara (mile 288), José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting (mile 289)
- Museums and history: Ruins of Quilmes (mile 17), Our Lady of Rosary Cathedral, Cafayate (mile 47), Museo de la Vid y el Vino (mile 47), Salta Cathedral (mile 167), Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Salta (mile 167), Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour, San Salvador de Jujuy (mile 238), Posta de Hornillos (mile 283), Pucará de Tilcara (mile 288), José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting (mile 289)
Ruins of Quilmes
In the Calchaquí Valleys of Tucumán Province, the Ruins of Quilmes mark a pre-Columbian settlement that covered about 74 acres, the largest in the country.
Our Lady of Rosary Cathedral, Cafayate
In the town of Cafayate, Salta Province, Our Lady of Rosary Cathedral is the seat of the Catholic bishopric of Cafayate, under the Archdiocese of Salta.
Museo de la Vid y el Vino
In Cafayate, Salta Province, the Museo de la Vid y el Vino is a museum devoted to grapevines and winemaking.
Salta Cathedral
Salta Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Salta and serves as the seat and metropolitan cathedral of the Archbishop of Salta.
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Salta
Opened on June 26, 2004, the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Salta exhibits, studies and promotes contemporary art and serves as a hub for contemporary visual arts.
Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour, San Salvador de Jujuy
The Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour is the seat of the Catholic bishopric of San Salvador de Jujuy and is counted among Argentina's historic buildings.
Posta de Hornillos
Dating from the colonial era, the Posta de Hornillos is a former relay post in the Quebrada de Humahuaca, Tilcara department, that has worked as a history museum since 1979.
Pucará de Tilcara
On a hill just outside Tilcara in Jujuy, the Pucará de Tilcara is a pre-Inca fortification placed for easy defense and good views over a long stretch of the Quebrada de Humahuaca.
José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting
On Rivadavia street in Tilcara, Jujuy, the Museo Nacional Terry occupies the colonial-style house where painter José Antonio Terry lived and focuses on his paintings.
More drives to Humahuaca
- Cafayate to Humahuaca
- Catamarca to Humahuaca
- La Rioja to Humahuaca
- Llallagua to Humahuaca, Argentina
- Calama to Humahuaca, Argentina
From Santa María to other places in Argentina
- Santa María, Argentina to Purmamarca
- Santa María, Argentina to Uquía
- Santa María, Argentina to Atocha, Bolivia
- Santa María, Argentina to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santa María, Argentina to Humahuaca?
About 7 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 316 miles.
What is the driving distance from Santa María, Argentina to Humahuaca?
About 316 miles (509 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Santa María to Humahuaca drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Santa María to Humahuaca use?
In order: RN40, RN68, RP59, RN9, RN34 and RN1V66. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Santa María and Humahuaca?
Closest to the road: Museo de la Vid y el Vino (museum, mile 47, 0.1 mi from the route); Our Lady of Rosary Cathedral, Cafayate (cathedral, mile 47, 0.3 mi from the route); Posta de Hornillos (museum, mile 283, 0.2 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.