This zone is located in the north of Argentina, at 186 kilometers of the center of Salta and 165 kilometers away from Cachi. Is known as "the land where the sun lives" and counts with a landscape of contrasts, with the overwhelming dryness of the desert and rocks and the fertile nature of the Valles Cachalquies, wine producers of the region. Cafayate city has a colonial and baroque style, and some of its constructions were built on adobe, a mixture of mud and straw. It counts with a beautiful square at the center, with important buildings such as the huge Cathedral of Nuestra Señora del Rosario and the Municipal Facilities. Here is also the Cristofani Workshops, with handmade products such as crocks and pots of mud, and the Artisan Market, which offers leather and knit articles, baskets, metals and silver jewels.
In the city there is an interesting regional museum, Rodolfo Bravo Archeological Museum, which kept more than thousand objetcs of the history of the place, such as arrows and grind elements, which were used by the indians. There is also a centenary mill, built by the Jesuits in stone and wood at more than 300 years old, which still works and can grind more than 200 kilograms of seeds at one time.
Besides of its colonial attractive, Cafayate counts with fantastic surroundings which will surprise the visitors with its mystery and enigmatic shapes. In De Las Conchas Ravine, which is a great geological formation, now crossed by National Route 68, there are amazing red rocks shaped by the wind and erosion into capricious figures, such as the famous Devils Throat, which was supposedly a waterfall now extinguished. Other of these formations is the Amphitheater and Los Castillos, El Fraile, El Sapo and El Obelisco, all of them created by tectonic movements produced two thousand of years ago.
In the same place are located Los Medanos, at 178 kilometers from Cafayate. This is another interesting natural formation, shaped in calcarean sand by the erosion and wind, creating an amazing sea of waving sand, which shines over the moonlight giving an incredible spectacle for the visitors. There is also La Yesera, a group of white and grey hills and caves with ancient paintings in San Isidro Ranch.
Cafayate is also a land of wines, and in the city there is the Museum of Grapevine and Wine, with an exhibition of old tractors, barrels, presses and all kind of machines which were used for wine production in this privileged place of warm days and fresh nights.
One of the most importanplaces in wine production is Yacochuya, in the Valles Calchaquies, located at 8 kilometers away from Cafayate. Because this zone is at more than two thousand meters over the level of the sea, it counts with an excellent condition for the production of its recognized red strains, such as malbec and the famous spanish wine, the torrontes, which offers a strong and dry flavor, and fragance of flowers and fruits.
Here is located one of the most important wine cellars, Etchart Ranch, which is patrimony of the first explorers of this magical wine terroir and also the creators of the excellent San Pedro de Yacochuya, a malbec with personality, very recognized in the zone. The harvest happens in the second half of march and the first week of april, always in the morning and with cold temperature, to preserve the grapes in its best condition.
Cafayate is at the Valles Calchaquies, a zone created by the mountains which cross the regions of Salta, Tucuman and Catamarca in the north of Argentina, which offers excellent lands for wine cultive because of its elevated terrains. This zone was also the home land of ancient cultures such as Santa Maria, which is distinguished by its work in ceramic and metals and also its famous fortresses, the pukaras.
Because of its many attractions, in Cafayate the visitors can do many different activities such as cultural walkings in the city, discovering its colonial buildings and museums; expeditions in the rocky formations of National Route 86, ideal for trekking and mountain bike, and also ascensions to the summits of San Isidro hill and other mountains, where you can enjoy a privileged view of the Valles Calchaquies.
The mystery of Argentinean north starts in Cafayate, with the path of the ancient cultures in the middle of the enigmatic mountains, full of secrets and history to discover. Enjoy of the colonial traditions and the most exquisite wines, while you watch the enchanting landscape of this incredible zone.
Mariel Lizana, journalist
by : http://www.exploreargentina.com
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