Salta to Cafayate

I came to Salta with very little idea what I was supposed to do here. It really was a random punt. Its a nice-looking, low-rise city in parts, but with the exception of a few colonial buildings which can be covered in half a morning, there´s not much else here that raises an eyebrow.

It does however have a very good selection of car rental companies, all cloesely located to the main plaza, and prices are much more competitive than down in Patagonia. A vital clue.

In fact, Salta is at the very centre of some of the most epic roads that can be driven - in the world - and I do not exagerate when I say this. No doubt the Route 40 Patagonian road trip has its Che Guevara legend and mystique, but not all of it was remarkable, or even enjoyable. This, however, is driving for the sake of pure unadulterated pleasure.


The Salta-Cafayate-Cachi circuit.



Salta to Cafayate (Route 68):

This is the first leg of the circuit. In just under 200 km, you go from Country Kerry in Ireland, through the Canyonlands in Utah, to finish up in the vinyeards of Provence. You could floor it in just over two hours, but I took a whole day, and finished up in Killa Hotel - hands down, the best find of the entire trip.

Unlike most places where I have arrived at after dark, Cafayate gave me an instant impression that this was a 2-nighter. Not surprising, frankly, given that as a vineyard resort town, it tends to attract a better class of traveller. The type who, after a long drive, is only too happy to order a bottle of chilled Torrontes (the local grape) while waiting for his Bife de Chorizo to arrive.



´Quebrada de Cafayate´. Red rock ravine driving at its best.



I was starting to get bored of subjectless photogrpahy,
then, out of nowhere, this old fella shows up.



All for the princely sum of three cigarettes.

Had to do a bit of climbing to get near the cactus carpet.



Driving alone now, so youll start to see a lot of photos like this.