This tour goes around the city of Salta which is known as the “Journey around the Valleys”. The tour includes the most important traditional towns of the area and each one offers a unique history and varied landscapes.
The first places to visit are Cerrillos, La Merced, El Carril y Coronel Moldes where the Cabra Corral Dam is situated. It is a big dam of 127 km2 (the second bigger in Argentina) where some water sports can be practiced like windsurfing and waterskiing, or you can enjoy some rides on jet skies or catamarans. There are also some extreme sports like bungee jumping, Tyrolean crossing and rafting (which is nicer if you do it at night under the moon light).
The area also allows some cave exploration, where interesting cave paintings can be found, as well as horse riding and trekking.
Fishing is one of the most popular activities in this place and there are many fish varieties like silversides, breams, catfish and shads.
The tour continues in the town of “La Viña” where the Jesuits grew the first vineyards of the area, then Alemanía, an old train station where you come across great natural surroundings and the “Las Conchas” Ravine of 83 km in length, where the wind and water erosion gave the mountains and rocks different and fascinating shapes.
Crossing the Dunes, we arrive in Cafayate which is known as “The City of the Sun”. Cafayate is a well-known touristic point with a wide range of accommodation from hostels to five-star hotels and boutique hotels.
Cafayate is worldwide known for its wines – mainly for its Torrontés wine (a fruity, white wine). There are many outstanding vineyards to visit and places to go like “Ruinas de Quilmes” (famous indigenous ruins), “Paseos de los Artesanos” (a road to different handicrafts where we can find some local crafts) and the “Rodolfo Bravo” regional and archeological museum. There are also some interesting cave paintings to be discovered.
In February, Cafayate is the chosen destination of thousands of people who love the Argentinean folk music. Every year, “La Serenata a Cafayate” summons the most prominent folk musicians in order to pay tribute to the city.
Once we go through San Carlos town, we get to Angastaco, a gate that gives way to the mythical “Quebrada de las Flechas” (Arrows Ravine). Along this road we arrive at “Molinos”. In this town there is a church that stands out because it was built in 1639 and contains the mummified remains of the last Spanish governor “Don Nicolás Severo de Isasmendi”. Opposite the church is his former farm house that is now a lodging house.
“La Laguna de Brealito” (a lake) is located 42 km away. It is an appealing place for silverside fishing and for camping.
Cachi is the next significant destination of the journey. This town was built before the Spanish colonization and it keeps big, old houses along the narrow streets. You can stop by the “Iglesia Parroquial” (Parochial Church) of the XVIII century and the anthropological museum as well as making an excursion to “Cachi Adentro” (Inside of Cachi) so as to find astonishing landscapes and fast-flowing streams. “La Paila” and “La Paya” are places where remains of the pre-Colombian civilization are found.
When returning to Salta city, we go through the “Recta de Tintín”, a straight-line road designed by the Incas at three thousands meters above sea level.
We then start to go downhill the “Cuesta del Obispo” (Bishop´s Ravine). It is a mountain road of 62 km from which you can admire the extraordinary panoramic scenery, finding its highest point in “La Piedra del Molino” (The Windmill´s Stone) at 3348 meters above sea level. At one side of the road we can appreciate “El Valle Encantado” (The Enchanted Valley) where the condors come down to mate.
In the last stretch of the tour we pass by the tobacco area which is one of the main resources of the city and the country.
This tour should be made in three days so as to deeply appreciate the beauty of each town, to practice some of the activities of that area and to know the history that each place offers the tourists.
TripAdvisor
Wikipedia
Ministerio de Turismo de la Provincia de Salta
Cámara de Turismo de Salta