Navigation with two landmarks relatively far from a goal in rats (Rattus norvegicus): The role of landmark salience

•After extended training with a configuration of two landmarks, far and equidistant from a goal, a clear sex difference was found on escape trials.•The two landmarks could be either of different salience or of the same salience.•Test trials revealed configural learning for all rats and elemental only in those with landmarks of different salience. No sex differences were found.•A final test pitted geometry vs. landmark preference in rats learning with the landmarks of different salience and revealed a geometry preference.•In comparison to a previous study (Rodrigo, Gimeno, Ayguasanosa, & Chamizo, 2014, Ex. 2), moving the landmarks away from a goal seems to benefit a global processing in all rats.