Seeing the salt flats stretch out for miles in all directions felt like being on another planet. Another planet in another galaxy. It was one of the most incredible places I have ever been to.
It’s hard to imagine that anything can top the scenery of this biome, but the food and service of Pristine Camps are on equal ground with the awe and wonder the vistas of this place provide. The food was some of the best food I have ever eaten, and by far the best we ate in Argentina. Check out some of the food we ate here.
The lodging was SO cozy and comfortable. Technically, you could call this glamping, as everything is solar-powered and there is no running water, but it was like staying at the Ritz-Carlton. This is as bougie as it gets, and I am here for it.
It’s not an easy place to get to, but it’s worth it. Our brains crave scope and distance. In the book The Nature Fix, Florence Williams explains that when we look out at wide, expansive views—like mountains, coastlines, open plains, or forests stretching into the distance—it activates a specific kind of pleasure and calm in the brain. These distant views give our eyes a chance to relax (reducing eye strain from near work) and also soothe the mind.
The more remote or expansive, the better: The research she explores suggests that the farther-reaching the view, the stronger the restorative effect. These kinds of vistas help engage what’s called the default mode network in the brain—a network linked to introspection, memory consolidation, and creativity.
Spending time in remote natural landscapes offers lots of physiological benefits as well:
Reduced Stress: Looking at these kinds of views lowers cortisol (the stress hormone).
Improved Mood: People report greater feelings of awe, peace, and connectedness.
Boosted Cognitive Function: Even short exposure to nature scenes—especially wide ones—can improve focus and mental clarity.
If you are interested in visiting Salinas Grandes and checking out Pristine Camps the way we did, we flew from Buenos Aires to Salta in the late afternoon. We rented a car upon arrival at the Salta airport and spent the night in the city of Salta. It just happened to be a festival in tribute to General Juan Martin Miguel de Güemes, a liberator who aided the National Army, accompanied by his gauchos. Gauchos arrive via horses and celebrate for several days. It was quite the sight!
The next day, we headed north to Salinas Grandes to meet up with a driver from Pristine Camps to take us out to the Salt Flats. Make sure you have water and a full tank of gas before heading out, you will literally be in the middle of nowhere.
10 out of 10 recommend. Let me know if you have been or plan to go!