SALTA - CAFAYATE 196 kms - 3 h 20 min drive
Altitude Salta: 1152 m / Cafayate: 1680 m.
Welcome to Salta!!! Upon arrival at the airport you will pick up your car to start your trip to Cafayate, your today's final destination.
After 46.6kms drive along Route # 68 you will reach the village of Coronel Moldes. At this point you can turn left towards Provincial Route # 47 following the signs “Dique Cabra Corral” and drive 5.7kms to reach the lake and the impressive dam, named after the title used on the folders of the project by the American company in charge of the topographic surveys. “Cabra Corral” instead of “Corral de Cabras” as the area was truly called (“goat yard” in English). Once you've visited the dam you drive back to Coronel Moldes and turn left on Route # 68 towards Cafayate.
You will pass by small villages like Ampascachi, La Viña, Talapampa & Alemania before starting your journey along the “Quebrada de las Cochas” (Las Conchas River Ravine), declared Natural Monument by UNESCO.
The Las Conchas River Ravine begins to show you the tracks left by the wind, which eroded and gave shape to the mountains of unique colors as if they were leaves, easy to manipulate. Winds from time immemorial have visited them long before man did.
As the road begins to narrow down and get surrounded by high walls, going from one side to the other along the ravine, you will observe many strange rock formations, some of which deserve a stop:
“The Devil’s Throat” is the first tourist attraction the wind carved in this area. This is a real hole in the mountain wall which lets us behold a kind of roofless cavern. As amazing as the echo of our voices projecting into the hollowness.
Following the road, “The Amphitheater” appears. A beautiful place where the wind has also managed to go through the stone and give shape to a unique site where it is possible to watch the magic of nature from the first row.
“The Obelisk” is the next surprising geographical feature on the way. This is a small sharp-pointed mountain whose summit is about fifty meters high. Its eroded top catches the tourists’ attention as it resembles the mythical obelisk from the City of Buenos Aires, but with a particular idiosyncrasy this time, carved in stone by nature.
A few meters ahead, on the right, it is possible to see large rock and terra cota constructions resembling medieval castles, with majestic openings and watching towers. At their base, the placid river rests just like the ancient moat waters around real-life castles.
“The Toad” is another attractive natural figure on the way. This is a grotesque solid rock which catches the attention of motorists from several hundred meters away. A toad is the first thing to be seen, sitting with its legs pointing ahead, its large mouth and eyes lost up in the sky.
Some kilometers ahead, the mountains seem to fall abruptly into the river, as if they were announcing a noise that could not be silenced. There comes “The Friar”, a rocky formation which, from the heights, seems to summon everyone to attend mass.
Farther ahead, stand “The Windows”, one of the last formations visitors can run across before reaching beautiful Cafayate. They let us see the large white sandhills sprinkled with green vineyards or the Colorado River with just a thread of water along the reddish and clayish soil. The road has lost height and a long straight line turns into a fertile valley called Cafayate.
After a breath taking journey along National Road # 68 and Las Conchas River Ravine you will notice the vineyards of Cafayate start to appear at both sides of the road. You will notice El Esteco Winery on the left that indicates you are entering Cafayate City limits.
Some meters ahead turn left on legendary National Route # 40 that will lead you to the city center. Make sure to fill the tank at the YPF Oil Station before taking your way to your hotel.
Sweet dreams!
* Pick up your car rental at Salta Airport
Today is at your leisure to enjoy the city and its surrounding vineyards.
About Cafayate
Located at 1,680 m above sea level, Cafayate is well known because of its famous torrontes wine product of the exquisite combination of temperature and humidity that provides the ideal environment to the growth of the sweet and deep fruit flavor.
Getting to know its streets, its houses and mainly its people is a pleasant experience due to the fact that tourism is an important activity for the town. One cannot miss to observe the unique architecture of the Cathedral, the flowery main square, the picturesque stone mill or the wine museums.
The wineries located downtown offer visitors the chance to taste their best varietals as they enhance their knowledge about winemaking. These are three wineries close to the main square: Bodegas Nanni, Bodegas El Tránsito and Bodegas Domingo Hermanos.
Bear in mind: The period going from February to April -the vintage season– is the best time to watch the process of winemaking. Admittance to the wineries is free of charge, whereas visitors may stay at accommodation venues throughout the circuit at the various cities or towns, as well as in the wineries themselves, which are specially conditioned to welcome guests.
Other wineries to visit in the surroundings
Yacochuya Winery
Yancochuya red wines, which grow over 2,000 m high in the Calchaquíes Valleys, have become a typical exponent of Argentinian enology in a few years.
El Esteco Winery, Premium Wines
This guided tour around one of the emblematic wineries in Cafayate is an excellent occasion to broaden our knowledge and taste boutique Argentinian wine.
Piatelli Winery
Offering spectacular views of Cafayate and the Calchaqui Valleys, Piatelli offers Premium wine tasting and a terrace restaurant serving delicious local dishes
CAFAYATE - QUILMES - BELEN 257 kms - 4 h drive (+stop at Quilmes)
Altitude Cafayate 1680 - Belen 1255
Today you will drive along the legendary Route 40 from Cafayate to Belen, your today's final destination.
Out of Cafayate you will drive along Route 40 passing by the vineyards of Tolombon and Colalao del Valle. After 54 kilometers you will reach the diversion to the right to the Quilmes Archaeological Site. After 4.4km along the access road, the impressive ruins of the Quilmes open in front of our eyes. The remains of the largest pre-Hispanic settlement in Argentina whose population was defeated by the Spaniards and obliged to travel thousands of miles to Buenos Aires, and settled into what we now know as "Quilmes" quarter. You will visit the museum and the fortification erected by this community on the slopes of the hills, with an open view of the immense valley.
Take the access road back to Route 40 and turn right, driving through a landscape of cacti and natural beauty that encompasses the Santa María Valley. Upon arrival at Santa Maria (26.4kms) turn right towards Route 39 and drive along 15.6km to return to Route 40 at Casa de Piedra.
Continue straigh along Route 40 with destination Belen (156kms)
About Belen
This small city has one of the most outstanding archaeological museums in Argentina. It is the Condor Huasi Provincial Museum, which presents important pieces that in some cases are over 2300 years old.
The main aboriginal cultures of the area are represented, which are named after the places where the most important discoveries were made: Cóndor Huasi, Aguada, Belén and Santamaria.
BELEN, The Capital of "PONCHOS"
It is important to connect with local "teleras", who have preserved the loom weaving tradition for generations. The ponchos of this town are famous for their quality and brilliant colors. Vicuña, sheep and llama wools are used and dyed with natural dyes using ancestral techniques.
BELEN - TINOGASTA 152km 2 h drive (+stop at Shincal de Quimivil)
Altitude Belen 1255m - Tinogasta 1204m
After breakfast, you will travel 20.7km along the mythical Route 40 heading on to Londres visiting the imposing “Shincal de Quimivil” an archaeological site conformed by pre-Columbian ruins of such importance that they have been declared national historical monument.
El Shincal de Quimivil was an ancient city built and administered by the Incas around the fifteenth century that functioned as capital of the southern area of the empire. It was part of the Inca Trail, a network of thousands of kilometres of communication that interconnected the different territories and cities belonging to the vast domains of that civilization. After visiting the archaeological park you will drive to Tinogasta, your today's final destination.
Out of El Shincal de Quimivil return to Route 40 and take right. Continue on Route 40 to the junction with Route 60. Turn right and drive along Route 60 to your final destination: Tinogasta
Check-in at your hotel and relax by the pool. In the afternoon we suggest a visit to the Adobe Route and the Fiambala Hot Springs.
Adobe is just a building material, but at Tinogasta it has become an essential component of the life of its dwellers. And though it has been there for centuries, it has just been included in tours.
At Tinogasta, as soon as the Adobe Route is mentioned, everybody understands the message. The Route, as the dwellers of Tinogasta call it, is a 50-kilometer-long road that crosses towns and hamlets built 300 years ago which seem to have been forgotten by God.
Everything from old houses and constructions to countless churches and buildings has been made with the same material and the same technique: adobe.
The adobe churches are the most attractive buildings for visitors. Their round domes, their shapes and lines, their arches and especially their color, similar to terracota, make them unique.
The 50 kms road ends at Fiambala. A few kilometers from this town up in the mountains you will find the Fiambala Hot Springs, a dream-like place that used to serve ancient peoples with medicinal waters. In the natural pools that come down from the mountain, the water temperature ranges from 38º C to 70º C and its mineral properties make it highly valuable due to its healing and medicinal power. Make sure to take towels from the hotel and swimwear and get ready to relax in the thermal healing until the evening!
TINOGASTA - CHILECITO - EL CHIFLON - 345km 4h 50 m drive (+stop at Chilecito)
Out of Tinogasta drive south and take Route 11 to Chilecito - 142 km - 2h 20m drive
You will drive these 2 hours with the imposing Famatina Mountain ( 6,250 m high ) to the right and Velasco Mountains (4,250 m high) to the left.
The climate of this region is mild with a tendency to the hot dry climate of the mountains. Winters are mild since there are only a few cold days and Summers are hot and long with high temperatures.
The architecture of Chilecito is the joint of houses from the late XIX Century with modern buildings. The main square shows autochthonous vegetable species like cardón (American Giant Cactus), carob trees, acaciaes, hawthorns, birdlime, chañar tree, hackberry tree and brooms.
Chilecito is very relevant in the country because it is the most important mining zone. The name of the city comes from the great influence of miners that came from Chile by the end of the XIX Century to work in the auriferous riches of the region.
Among the most outstanding excursions you will find a lift that runs 35 kilometers and a railway station that goes from the city to La Mexicana mine, the most pretentious work of engineering in the country, sunk in abandonment for years. Visit the remains of the station, built in zinc plates and covered with wood, next to an iron joint from which some rusty wagons are still hanging. There is a cozy restaurant on top of Station 1 that serves excellent barbecue, make sure it is open before you start your journey, since is an excellent option with outstanding views of the Valley of Chilecito.
Out of Chilecito take Route 40 with direction Nonogasta. Once in Nonogasta, take second exit at roundabout and take Route 74 with direction Patquia (113kms). Once in Patquia, turn right with direction Route 38 (700m) and then right again with direction Route 150 (Av.Juan Domingo Peron - 550m). At roundabout take first exit with direction Route 150 and drive straight to El Chiflon, your today's final destination (73km)
Check-in at Posta Pueblo Hotel and relax with a glass of torrontes wine from La Rioja!!
After your early breakfast, take Route 150 to the right and drive 13kms. Turn left to continue on Route 150 for 3.8km and then turn right with direction "Camino Parque Triasico Ischigualasto" for 14.5kms, then turn right again and after 2.2kms you will find the entrance to Ischigualasto Provincial Park, known as "The Moon Valley". Once you buy the tickets you must line up on your car, together with other tourists visiting the place. A local guide will show and explain the different aspects of the park (English speaking guide on request at the entrance).
Ischigualasto "The Moon Valley"
The Provincial Natural Park Ischigualasto is located in the northeast of the province of San Juan, 330 km from the capital city, and 75 km from the town of San Agustin del Valle Fertil.
Popularly known as "Valley of the Moon", this fascinatingly strange place in the world occupies some 62.000 hectares and is, together with its neighboring Talampaya National Park in the province of La Rioja, a World Heritage Site. Its importance lies in the scientific value of the paleontological findings made at the site, where a practically complete sequence of the Triassic Period (upper, middle, and lower) of the Mesozoic Era is found. Visiting Ischigualasto means you will be setting foot on the same areas that dinosaurs steppped on 180 million years ago. The lunar-looking soil and the particular geoforms sculpted by water, sun and wind over the rocks over millions of years, make this a site from another world. Visiting it allows you to take a look at the evolution of the Earth.
Towards the interior of the Park, the main circuit - which is done exclusively by vehicle and with an authorized guide - reaches 42 km and takes 3 hours. During the walk, stops are made to take photographs at the spots: El Gusano, Valle Pintado, Cancha de Bocha, El Submarino and El Hongo, where you may witness the slow, ongoing, and unfailing work of nature: the stones here show strange and mysterious forms.
EL CHIFLON - TALAMPAYA NATIONAL PARK - CUESTA DE MIRANDA - LA RIOJA AIRPORT
369 km - 4 h 35 m drive (+stop at Talampaya National Park)
Get up early and enjoy your tasty breakfast. Check-out at Posta Pueblo El Chiflon and take Route 150 to the west and after 13kms continue straight on Route 76 for 87.3km to reach your first destination: Talampaya National Park, another of Argentina's magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Tectonic movements and a millennia of water and wind erosion have created the amazing formations that make up the park. The traces of the first dinosaurs can be found here, thus the park’s dedication to protect the archaeological and paleontological resources of the area.
Talampaya is an open-air museum. On this extraordinary landscape of red cliffs and stones, man has left mysterious rock painting that has become part of the cultural history. Visit to the park will be made in specially conditioned trucks starting on the 525 foot deep Talampaya Canyon created by the River Talampaya, now dissapeared. First stop will allow you to admire petrogliphs in the area of Puerta de Talampaya and Los Cajones. Then you will drive deep into the canyon to observe the different geological formations like The Three Kings, The Cathedral, The Priest and many others...
There is a nice restaurant where you can have lunch at the park.
After lunch, return to Route 76 with direction "Pagancillos" where you will turn right to take Route 18 for 20 km. Then, turn right again and take Route 40 to drive along the famous Cuesta de Miranda, a place promising big rocky outcrops of changing shapes and intense red color. There we go!!! The immensity of Famatina Hill, with its eternal snow, will be the silent witness of your tour along the way. The contrast of the snow-capped summits with the blue sky and the green mountains creates a perfect postcard to keep in your mind. After outstanding panoramic views, you will arrive at Nonogasta, where you will turn left and take Route 74 with direction Patquia.
Once in Patquia, you will turn left and take Route 38 that will lead you straight to La Rioja Airport.
Drop off your car and take your evening flight back to Buenos Aires!
