Located just 180 kilometers from Salta, Cafayate It is a friendly little town of 12 thousand inhabitants, which stands out for its pleasant atmosphere, its famous wine production and the beautiful arid landscapes in its surroundings. On route 68, which leads to Quebrada das Conchas, one of the most beautiful roads in the countrythis village is a little-known surprise in northern Argentina.
In this post you will see how to get there, when to go, what to do and where to stay in Cafayate and Quebrada das Conchas. Come with me!
Read too:
• Travel tips for Salta and Jujuy, Argentina
• What to do in Salta, Argentina
• Where to stay in Salta: best hotels and regions
When to go to Cafayate
Cafayate has a subtropical climate, with an average annual temperature of 23°C. The coldest month is July, when the minimum can reach 7°C. The hottest is January, with a maximum of 28°C. It rains there in the summer, between December and February.
That’s why, The best time to travel to Cafayate is from March to April and from August to November. During these periods, the temperature is pleasant and the weather is dry.
How to get to Cafayate and Quebrada das Conchas
The most advantageous option for this trip is to rent a car to explore the region, departing from Salta. This way, you can take as much time as you want to take photos, explore the region more calmly and, perhaps, spend the night in the city. The advantage is not being dependent on agency schedules and seeing everything at your own pace. For this, we recommend the search engine RentCarswhich searches among the main rental companies and helps you find the best prices and rental conditions.
But this was not possible for us, who were disabled, and it is not possible for many people either. Especially if you intend to taste the good wines produced in the region. That’s why we booked a day trip from Salta that does the itinerary of Cafayate and Quebrada das Conchas in a day trip.
Tours start at $20, but this will depend on how many wineries and other amenities you want to include.
The tour starts around 7am, when the van goes from hotel to hotel looking for group participants. After a quick stop to stock up on snacks and water, follow the road until you find yourself surrounded by the beautiful Quebrada mountains. From there, the guide makes constant stops at the region’s main points of interest.
An alternative for those who don’t want to drive is to book the tour in Cafayate instead of Salta. Leaving there, the more excited can also rent a bicycle to explore the region. Buses that travel Cafayate – Salta accept bikes and stop at any point in Quebrada. In this case, start your visit from the Garganta del Diablo, which is close to several other interesting places.
What to do in Cafayate
Tour through Quebrada das Conchas
The sea turned into a hinterland. Or semi-desert, if you prefer. Sá and Guarabyra’s greatest fear occurred around 90 million years ago, in the area where the Rio de las Conchas flows today, in northern Argentina. The name of the region refers to this oceanic past: Quebrada das Conchas. They say that it is still possible to find shells and fossils of sea animals embedded in the rock formations there.
Also known as Quebrada de Cafayate, the place is full of brightly colored mountains and curiously twisted rock formations, forming a raw, arid landscape with an extraterrestrial feel. It is not without reason that this is considered one of the most striking roads in the country.
The most famous of them is perhaps the Throat of the Diablowhere the Quebrada is squeezed between very high walls, creating a landscape that resembles a human canyon.
My favorite stop, however, was in Tres Crucesa kind of viewpoint that gives you an excellent view of the valley and the nearby mountains.
With so many curiously shaped rocks, of course there would be a collective pareidolia and people would start seeing animals, castles and even ships in the mountains. If you take the tour with the guide, he will probably point out dozens of these formations that look like something. If you go alone, stay tuned to find El Sapo (photo below), one of the best known.
On the way back to Salta, we stopped at two important points in Quebrada das Conchas: the entrance to the Bodega Viñedos Peñawhich offers another privileged view of the region and the Amphitheaterthe second tourist star there.
The Cafayate wine route
Cafayate is Argentina’s second center of wine excellence, second only to the famous Mendoza. This is also the highest wine production zone in the world. White Torrontés are the brand of the region, which is also known for Cabernets, Malbecs and Tannats. In total, there are almost 30 wineries, and some of them also function as hotels and even spas.
Wineries to visit in Cafayate
Bodega Colomé
Ruta Prov. 53 Km 20, Molinos 4419
Considered one of the best wineries in the region, it is a little far away, in a difficult to access location. But the beauty of the property and the quality of the wines are worth the visit. It also has an excellent restaurant. Official site.
Secret Vasija
RN40 Km 4343, Cafayate
It has one of the most affordable prices in the Cafayate region, without leaving anything to be desired in the quality of the wines and sparkling wines. It has a museum that traces the history of the place and local wine production, with equipment used in the past. Official site.
Bodega Nanni
Silverio Chavarría 151, Cafayate
It has the advantage of being in the center of Cafayate, behind the main square, but it is not possible to see the vineyards. There is a restaurant in the courtyard that serves house wines and tasty meals at good prices. Official site.
El Esteco Winery
RN40 km 4343, A4427 Cafayate
Located in a beautiful 19th century mansion, the Bodega serves some of the best wines produced in the region. Be sure to book lunch at the restaurant attached to the winery, part of the Hotel Patios de Cafayate. Official site.
Where to eat in Cafayate
Peña y Parrillla De la Plaza
Ntra Sra del Rosario 96, A4427 Cafayate
As the name suggests, Restaurante De la Plaza is located right in the central square, next to the church. It serves everything from northern empanadas, typical of the Salta region and which have a slightly spicy filling, to other very famous Andean dishes. It also functions as a peña, a place that hosts typical local music.
Like at Home
Calle Calchaqui 4, Cafayate
Small and cozy restaurant, which operates inside a house, serving tasty pastas and meats. Attractive prices.
Pacha Cucina by Author
Avenida Martin Guemes sur, 143
Tasty dishes prepared with local ingredients ranging from meat, pasta, risotto and seafood, always with an Andean touch. Chef Tomás has worked at the Sheraton in Buenos Aires, USA and at the restaurant at the Hotel Pátio de Cafayate.
Where to stay in Cafayate
As it is not very big, the best choice is to stay in the center of Cafayate. A different experience is to stay at one of the region’s wineries, which also offer guesthouse and restaurant services.
Those who are just going to make a day trip from Salta also have good accommodation options. See some recommendations below:
Travel insurance in Argentina
Taking out travel insurance is essential in Argentina and on any trip. No matter how close it is to home, it is best to travel protected so as not to suffer from unforeseen events. See here some reasons and tips on how to pay less than 10 reais per day on insurance, with our tips and discount coupon!
