Cafayate

A high-altitude wine town in the Calchaquí Valley, famed for Torrontés white wine, with the red-rock Quebrada de las Conchas to the north and the Quilmes ruins to the south.

Cafayate is in the Calchaquí Valley at the southern end of Salta Province in northwest Argentina, at about 1,680 m and roughly 190 km from the city of Salta. With intense sunshine, large day–night temperature swings and little rain all year, it is one of the highest-altitude wine regions in the world, famous for aromatic Torrontés white wine. The town centers on Plaza 20 de Febrero and the cathedral; within walking distance are the Museum of the Vine and Wine, several wineries and tasting bars, and by bike or taxi you can reach outlying wineries such as Piattelli, the Seven Waterfalls hike along the Colorado River, and the sand dunes. To the north, Route 68 runs through the Quebrada de las Conchas, where red sandstone forms wonders such as the Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat) and the Anfiteatro (Amphitheater); day trips between Salta and Cafayate all stop here. Following Route 40 north takes you to San Carlos and the Quebrada de las Flechas, and heading south into Tucumán Province you can see the Quilmes ruins and the Pachamama Museum in Amaicha. Getting there: long-distance buses from Salta take about 4 hours; driving is the most flexible option, though some stretches are gravel. The best times are the Mar–Apr harvest and the Sep–Nov spring; summer afternoons occasionally bring thunderstorms, and in winter days are sunny and warm but nights are cold. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights; use sun protection and stay hydrated at altitude.

Top sights

• Quebrada de las Conchas (Garganta del Diablo & Anfiteatro) – A red sandstone canyon on the road to Cafayate, where sights such as the Devil’s Throat, the Amphitheater, and Castle Rock line the route.
• Ruins of Quilmes – Argentina’s largest pre-Hispanic settlement ruins. Stone-walled dwellings stack up the mountainside, and the Quilmes people resisted the Sp…
• Cafayate – A wine town at the southern end of the Calchaquí Valley, at an altitude of about 1,700 m, famed for high-altitude Torrontés white wine.
• Bodega El Esteco – A century-old winery on the northern outskirts of Cafayate, its white colonial-style buildings set against the mountains, offering cellar t…
• Plaza 20 de Febrero & Cafayate Cathedral – A grapevine-shaded central square and the five-nave Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, surrounded by bars, craft shops and ice cream shop…
• Museum of Vine and Wine – A modern interactive wine museum that uses light, shadow and poetry to tell the story of high-altitude viticulture and Torrontés winemaking.
• Bodega Vasija Secreta – One of Cafayate's oldest wineries, within walking distance, with a small museum of old winemaking equipment and a tasting room.
• Piattelli Vineyards – A modern boutique winery in the northwest of town, with vineyards backed by mountains; its terrace restaurant lets you watch the sunset whi…
• Río Colorado Seven Waterfalls – A canyon hike southwest of town; following the red river gorge leads to a series of waterfalls and natural pools, where swimming is possibl…
• Los Médanos – White sand dunes northeast of town, where you can watch the sunset against vineyards and mountains, sandboard and take photos.
• San Carlos – A colonial village on Route 40 with a white adobe church and pottery workshops, the first stop heading north in the Calchaquí Valley.
• Quebrada de las Flechas & Angastaco – A gorge of jagged rock strata crossed by Route 40, where countless rock slabs slant upward from the ground like a field of arrows, a striki…
• Pachamama Museum – A museum courtyard built by an artist with stone, mosaics and murals, displaying Andean archaeology, geology and indigenous culture.

Where to eat

• La Casa de las Empanadas – Cafayate's best-known budget empanada shop, baking more than a dozen fillings to order. Goat cheese empanadas with a pi…
• Pacha Cocina de Autor – A chef's restaurant opened in 2015 by chef Tomás Casado. Many diners call it the best restaurant in Cafayate, and reser…
• Bad Brothers Wine Experience – A courtyard bar run by a winery, pairing the chef's small plates with the estate's high-altitude wines. The llama tarta…

Itineraries

• Salta & Jujuy Colored Valleys Loop – A self-drive loop from Salta covering the Hill of Seven Colors, Salinas Grandes, Quebrada de las Conchas, Cafayate, and…