From the Argentinian northern colonial pearl that is Salta it’s basically a must to go on a road trip at some point. Both the northern and the southern part are worth a couple of days of exploring. Of course you can go to both Cachi and Cafayate by public transport, but it’s worth renting a car in the end. The landscapes are so cool that you for sure want to break at some point. Ask around in ho(s)tels if there’re other people willing to go along and split the costs.
Don’t know where to go? Let’s start with showing how touring the south looks like!
First part of the road: Salta – Cachi: 3 hours
The first bit you’ll drive on the right edge of a gorgeous valley. Speed it down as the road becomes narrow and full of steep hairpin bends.
After the winding bits, you suddenly arrive in a total different part of the area. This is were you really starting to feel you’re driving in Utah or Arizona; due to its vast open spaces, cacti dotted desert and that long yellow striped road all the way through it.
If you’re lucky; you might even see some condors – along the way there’s a mirador where you’ll even have a better chance to spot them. As for us; the sun finally came through after a bit of rain, resulting in this mystical moment.
Next is your break in between: Cachi! Personally I really liked the vibe of this small and cosy pueblo. We arrived on a Saturday night and the central plaza was really quiet, including a lack of tourists. All we spotted were a couple of locals enjoying their wine and bord games of the square. We ate at the veggie restaurant of Ashpamanta, which was good and cheap with a menu full of curries and pizzas. Next day we had breakfast at Oliver, where we were indulged into a Route 66 (replaced by Route 40 of course) vibe.
Drive from Cachi to Angastaco along the Ruta 40: 2 – 3 hours
Time to hit that highway! Rumour has it that this piece between Cachi and Cafayate is one of the most beautiful parts of the Ruta 40. I’m keen on believing that too.
Along the way we took a break as well at Molinos, but as it was Sunday there wasn’t much to do. Same as for the next stop at Angastaco. Though the little town is quaint and its setting is picturesque, there isn’t much to do out there either. Just a quick break for a drink or snack will do.
Angastaco – Cafayate: 2 hours drive
The last part of the road to Cafayete on the other hand is insanely gorgeous. The formation of the rocks kept on changing – from ‘Bryce-like’ pinnacles to giant diagonal shark teeth. Or I probably should say a ‘ravine of arrows’; as that would be the literal translation of the Quebrada de las Flechas.
Anyway, just check it out for yourself. It felt to awesome to drive just straight through it:
Cafayate: the mecca for wine lovers in the north of Argentina!
Cafayate is Argentina’s second center for wine production. Especially if you can’t make it to Mendoza it’s worth planning a trip to one of the many vineyards in the area. The town itself isn’t spectacular, but it has a really nice small-town feel ambiance. It just knows how to slowwww you down. The main square is it eye-catcher, adorned with many spots to enjoy your local wines. Take your time over there for sure and keep on sipping!
If you’re looking for the smartest person in town; that would be Miranda. Miranda figured out that since both ice cream and wine are delicious, it might be worth to try out that combination. If you’re visiting Cafayate, you just have to try this bizarre combination.
You might just expect a light flavour, but I seriously had the feeling you could actually get drunk by eating this ice cream! It had a tingling feeling and it feels like a perfect treat while strolling the streets after a long and hot day in the area.
Miranda offers both ice cream with white and red wines in here heladeria!
Curious what you’ll see on the way from Cafayate to Salta (or the other way round)? Stayed tuned!
Julie
January 19, 2020 at 12:01 pm
Hi I enjoyed reading your article. Very helpful. can you tell me what type of vehicle you were driving? Did you need a 4WD or just an ordinary hire car? Many thanks.
Kristel
January 19, 2020 at 12:07 pm
Hi Julie! Thanks for your comment (pretty name you have by the way)! We rented a véry regular car (forgot the brand though), but as the road will get quite bumpy a 4WD would indeed be recommendable. Nevertheless, we made it without one – just saying. Hope this helps! Best, Kristel from TTT
Ann
February 1, 2020 at 7:55 am
We are planning to travel Salta to Cafayate then to Cachi on to Chicoana and back to Salta in the second week of March. Is this rainy season? Are we foolhardy to do the Cafayate to Cachi section of the circular route? In what month did you make your trip without the 4 wheel drive car? Where would you even reserve an all wheel drive?
Kristel
February 3, 2020 at 6:54 am
Hi Ann, thanks for your comment. I visited the area in June. Weather by then was quite perfect honestly (though rather chilly during the night), but unfortunately I can’t tell you what it would be like in March. A quick Google search tells me it’s around 26 degrees celsius during this month – quite high! We drove ourselves via this road (Chicoana to Cachi and back to Cafayate). Loved this part of the trip. We rented a very regular car (no 4WD), however, I would recommend you to rent a 4WD (just to be sure).
Kristel
February 3, 2020 at 6:55 am
As for where to rent a car in Salta, hereby my comment (recycled from one of my other comments): ‘I rented it at Alvarado Mostrador in Salta (most visitors start the trip over here). There are several car companies in Salta at this street (including the bigger ones like Budget / Avis), but we chose a private car rental. Just because it was the cheapest. I was quite skeptical about it at first (a bigger company feels more trustable I guess), but everything was just fine in the end.’ Hope this helps!
bob smith
March 28, 2020 at 6:08 pm
I worked out of Tucuman off and on during years 1995-2005. This trip was one of many and i especially enjoyed the slow pace of towns mainly Cachi , Cafayate and Tafi del Valle. Plenty of nice bars along the main streets and never had problem finding a place to sleep. Fancy spot being the El Molina de Cachi. Wines are much better here than in more famous Mendoza mainly because the vineyards aren’t all recovering from the awfulness of malbec. Friend had an olive plantation there and wanted me to join his oil venture but unforunately flew his plane into the andes before we could ink a deal. You can get lost in the fine slow life in this area but if you missed the area further north you need to go back. But leaving Salta proince the further north you go the culural landscape gets progressively less like the rest of Argentina. Salta is musical but Jujuy is substantially more mystical, particularly in a place like Purmamarca where hechiceros y brujos take themselves quite seriously. Better take me along when you go back there.
Taylor
January 6, 2021 at 6:51 pm
Love finding this! Found you by Googling “salta to cachi to cafayate” We’re planning a trip to the Northwest in June. Where did you stay in Cachi? And is it possible to just make a LONG day out of it, doing Salta to Cafayate in a single day. Not sure if time will allow for an overnight in Cachi.
Kristel
January 7, 2021 at 6:27 am
Hi Taylor, thanks for your comment. Yes, I do think that’s possible, but as you said, it might become a long day. Nevertheless if you’re short in time, it’ll still be worth it! Enjoy the trip! Best wishes, Kristel
bob smith
January 8, 2021 at 11:51 am
Recommend sniffhotels.com/ar/en/posadas/el-molino-de/cachi Do one day round trip you’ll be exhausted and miss a lot. Highly recommend Salta to Cachi to Cafayate. If necessary back to Salta, use 68. 3 days. Worth it. More even, trek… or at least rub elbows with… a portion of the Qhapaq Nan accessed north of Cachi.
Julie
December 28, 2023 at 4:05 pm
Love the detail and organization of your blog, you are definitely starred as one of my favs now 🙂 I am going with my mom, arriving in Salta, driving to Purmamarca to see the scenes up there (Salt Flats, colored mountains, rich culture) for two days, then I’m trying to figure out how to get to Cachi from Purmamarca, to stay in Cachi before driving to Cafayate the next day. Any recommendations? safe routes, etc?