Exploring with your own car is the ultimate travel freedom, and the area around Salta is perfect for a road trip! We spent 8 days and 7 nights touring the provinces of Salta and Jujuy in our little silver Chevy Classic, and the experience was fantastic. Curious about our adventures? Let’s dive in…
After wrapping up the rental paperwork and checking over our vehicle, we hit the road. We had a picnic lunch, a somewhat basic paper map, and our trusty Google Maps app to guide us out of the city.
Leaving Salta was a bit dusty and hectic, and the scenery didn’t really improve for about an hour. But once we got past the city buzz, the natural beauty unfolded before us. We saw lush green farmlands and towering trees, which gradually gave way to desert landscapes with tall cacti and rugged mountains. We were already in awe and hadn’t even reached the best parts yet!
As we entered Quebradas de las Conchas National Park, we kept stopping to snap photos because the area was just stunning. After a 141-kilometer drive, we reached the popular site known as Devil’s Throat (la Garganta del Diablo), marked by amazing sandstone formations. We nearly missed it but finally pulled over to admire the massive gap in the ancient rock.
Other standout formations included the Obelisk, Amphitheatre, Castle, Toad, and Friar. For us, the magic wasn’t just in these specific sites but in the breathtaking surroundings. The mountains in pink, red, purple, rust, and grey hues felt almost alien. The sandstone slopes looked like they could crumble at a glance, and the mountainous shapes and textures were unlike anything we’d seen before.
About 20 kilometers from Cafayate, we encountered huge oak barrels along the roadside. To our surprise, one held a woman and turned out to be a charming little wine bar! For 50 pesos each ($3.25), we enjoyed some goat cheese and a tasting glass of wine from Finca La Punilla. This was our first taste of the Cafayate wine region, which is known for its vineyards and wine bars.
Cafayate might not be as famous as Mendoza, but the rich soil here produces excellent grapes. Sensing we’d love this place, we booked 4 nights in Cafayate to explore both town wineries and nearby vineyards. Our first night was at the beautiful Patios de Cafayate boutique hotel. Driving in on a dirt road lined with grapevines ready for harvest was like a dream. The dazzling white Bodega El Esteco welcomed us, and an arched entrance led to the hotel.
To our delight, we were upgraded to a suite. The room was huge, with a jacuzzi tub, living room area, and a comfy king-sized bed. The view from our balcony, overlooking the pool and vineyards against the mountains, was stunning. The room’s antique touches, fitting for a property dating back to 1892, added to its charm.
Unfortunately, we could only stay one night due to the hotel being fully booked. Thrilled with the hotel and its scenic location, we headed downstairs for dinner. Greeted with a glass of sparkling white wine, the evening only got better. Chef Martín prepared the best steak I’d ever had— a rib eye marinated in Red Wine Malbec sauce, juicy, tender, and perfectly seasoned, topped with herbed butter.
This was also the first time Nick tried sweetbreads, which he surprisingly enjoyed. The chef and servers were incredibly attentive throughout the meal.
After a fantastic dinner, we topped off our day with a relaxing jacuzzi session and promptly fell asleep on the fluffy bed. Topping Day 1 of our road trip would be tough!