Mummies Museum (MAAM) in Salta: Opening Hours, Tickets and Closing Days
Updated Sep 29, 2026
The Museum of High Altitude Archaeology (MAAM), known locally as "the mummies museum," is one of the must-see visits in downtown Salta. It holds the finds from the Llullaillaco volcano, one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the Americas.
Opening hours and closing days
- Open Tuesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Last admission is at 6:30 p.m.
- Closed on Mondays.
- On public holidays, the museum confirms its hours each time. Hours can also change for special events: for example, on Sunday, July 19, 2026, it closed at 3 p.m. Before you go, check the news on the official website.
Ticket prices
Prices published by the museum in September 2026 (in Argentine pesos; they are updated often):
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| General admission | ARS 16,000 |
| Argentine nationals | ARS 8,000 |
| Salta residents | ARS 4,000 |
| Argentine retirees and pensioners | ARS 2,500 |
| University students with ID | ARS 2,500 |
| Children under 12, people with disabilities and their companion, tour guides | Free |
Tickets are sold online, through the "Tickets" button on the museum's website. You don't need to book a time slot: that requirement was lifted in 2022. Schools and groups book separately.
What you will see
In 1999, on the summit of the Llullaillaco volcano, at 6,739 meters (22,110 ft), archaeologists found the bodies of three Inca children offered about 500 years ago in a ceremony called capacocha: the Lightning Girl, the Boy and the Maiden. The extreme cold and altitude preserved them in exceptional condition.
The museum, which opened in 2004, keeps the Children of Llullaillaco in capsules designed following cryopreservation guidelines, together with the objects that were buried with them. The visit helps you understand the Inca presence in northern Argentina and the value of the archaeological sites of the region.
Tips for your visit
- Where: Bartolomé Mitre 77, across from Plaza 9 de Julio.
- Guided tours: Tuesday to Friday at 4:30 p.m., in Spanish only, for up to 20 people. They last about 40 minutes.
- Photos: taking photos or filming inside the exhibition rooms is not allowed.
- Accessibility: the museum is wheelchair accessible and has pottery and textile replicas for visitors with visual impairments.
The museum is right in the historic center, steps from the Cabildo and the Cathedral, so it is easy to combine with a walk around downtown or with the City Tour.
Information from the museum's official website (maam.gob.ar), checked on September 29, 2026.
