7 Things to Do in Cafayate, Between Vineyards and Ravines

Landscapes of valleys and mountains, colourful ravines, charming villages, vineyards and much more in all there is to do in Cafayate in one, two or three days. Let’s get to it!

Cafayate is one of the most spectacular and visited places to see around Salta. Here you will find rock formations in the middle of a ravine (there are two of them, one better known than the other), the best white wines and a charming village where you will find peace and quiet.

🔝 ake a look at these route suggestions with things to do in Salta and Jujuy in 4, 7 and 10 days. Very complete itineraries with map!

Map of things to do in Cafayate

Although Cafayate is a small town there is a lot to see in and around it. If you don’t have a car, don’t worry, you can rent a bike to get around the nearest places or hire an excursion for those a little further afield.

The most representative places are marked with a star:

• Cafayate in the Centre
• Quebrada de las Conchas and Quebrada de las Flechas to the North
• Ruina de Quilmes is one of the places to visit in the southern province of Tucumán.

📷 If you are short of time, you can book the excursion to Cafayate from Salta city. Transfers and guide included.

1. The centre of Cafayate

The whole centre of Cafayate is a very quiet place despite being visited by tourists all year round. Many people only come for the day from Salta, but we recommend staying at least one night in the city to see all the sights in Cafayate. We ended up staying longer than we thought we would.

– 20 February Square

The Plaza 20 de Febrero is the meeting point for locals, especially at night. It is very well kept, has a lot of trees and is surrounded by restaurants that welcome tourists in the evening.

– Cathedral Church of Our Lady of the Rosary

On one of the sides of the square stands out the Cathedral of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, built at the end of the 19th century and with its characteristic yellowish tonality of the colonial style churches of the NOA. The 7th October is a public holiday with processions, fairs and various parades.

– La Última Pulpería

La Última Pulpería had been recommended to us and we couldn’t pass it up. On the outside it is an old house with a poem painted on the façade, and on the inside it is a general shop, i.e. you can find everything.

We bought salami, a couple of varieties of cheese and a few beers for an evening snack, but it has hundreds of other things at affordable prices.

The importance of La Última Pulpería is such that it has been declared immaterial cultural heritage of Cafayate and is located a few metres from the main square.

– Cafayate Artisan Market

The Mercado de Artesanos de Cafayate, right in front of the plaza, is a place to buy excellent handicrafts made by the locals.

– Family Park

This square is not at all touristy as it is a bit far from the centre, but in our plan to look for places where Benji can play, we came across the Family Park. We had several surprises when we arrived as it was a recently inaugurated square, there was a local festivity with many people and the views were incredible, given that it is in the high part of Cafayate.

– Visit the Vine and Wine museum

As a complement to the visit to the wineries, the modern museum of the Vine and Wine shows the whole process of wine production in the region, explaining why Cafayate is propitious for the cultivation of the vine.

The tour is filled with interactive displays, sounds, screens and entertainment. The rooms are dimly lit to increase the visual impact of the images and lights. The entire walk is done on footbridges.

In addition, an adjoining room exhibits the bottles from all the existing wine cellars in the city and the first objects used to plant the vines and produce wine.

Finally, there is a restaurant where you can try a drink of some variety and have a bite to eat.

📌 For more information, prices and opening times, please visit the official website of the Vine and Wine Museum.

2. Wineries in Cafayate, which one to visit

If there is something that characterises the region where Cafayate is located, it is the wine production, being one of the most important in the country. Visiting a winery is undoubtedly one of the things to do in Cafayate.

There are plenty of wineries to visit, taste wine and even have lunch. Some wineries charge an entrance fee for the guided tour, while others are free. The wine variety that is typical of the region is Torrentes, a blend of grapes that developed in the country.

We went to visit two wineries, both with free guided tours and wine tasting:

• Vasija Secreta: it is the closest to the centre of Cafayate, a small bodega and one of the oldest in the city. You can walk around the vineyard area and there is a restaurant to eat inside with a view.
• Finca Quara: it is located leaving Cafayate heading south. It is a large winery that produces its own wines, but also has a bottling line for its own production and that of other wineries.

We found both visits interesting, especially because of the difference between a smaller, more familiar winery and one that generates a large number of litres of wine per day.

3. Things to do in Cafayate: a route through the vineyard area

If you have a car, motorbike or bicycle, the best way to get away from the city centre is to take route 40 and ride through the vineyards of the wineries. Although it is not possible to enter as it is private property, just stop at the side of the road and you will see a dreamlike landscape with a mountain backdrop.

Both to the north of Cafayate for the town of San Carlos and to the south for the ruins of Quilmes, vineyards are planted in all sectors.

4. Visit the town of San Carlos

About 25 kilometres north of Cafayate on route 40 is the tranquil town of San Carlos, one of the oldest settlements in the north of the country. It is also known as “the town of the five names” since it was founded five different times, keeping the name given to it by the Jesuits in 1641 when they founded the Mission of San Carlos Borromeo. It had such an important enclave that it disputed the provincial capital with Salta, but we know that this did not prosper.

Ideal for a walk in just under half a day, it has a pretty and peaceful main square with its church and wineries that can be visited.

5. Tour the Quebrada de las Conchas Gorge

One of the most beautiful scenic landscapes of the whole province that runs along Route 68 between Salta and Cafayate. A must-see in Cafayate.

Meandering between red hills and rock formations, the Las Conchas river flows through the gorge producing a beauty like no other. The most spectacular stretch is from Cafayate to the town of Alemania, some 80 kilometres in total.

Along the way there are several obligatory stops along the way to see natural rock formations that have been eroded by wind and water over the years.

🔝 The Quebrada de las Conchas is usually one of the must-see walks when we refer to everything there is to things to do in the surroundings of Salta.

– The Amphitheatre

A few metres from the route stands El Anfiteatro, a semi-enclosed formation with almost perfect acoustics and where you can even find a live violin or quena concert. Along the corridor leading up to the site there are several craft stalls where you can buy souvenirs.

– Garganta del Diablo

– Other fun stops

• The Frog

• The Friar

• The Windows

• The Castles

• The Obelisk
• La Yesera: at this stop you can take a half-hour walk to “Los Estratos”.
• Viewpoint of the Three Crosses

• Parrot House

As you will see, the route is very entertaining and beautiful. Although it is best to do the whole route by car to be able to stop at each place, if you are in good condition you can rent a bicycle in Cafayate. The route has no steep climbs and descents.

📸 Check here the tour to Cafayate from Salta capital and book. Includes: transfers and guide.

6. Go to the Quebrada de las Flechas (Arrows Gorge)

About 70 kilometres north of Cafayate, on Route 40 that goes to Cachi and before arriving to the town of Angastaco, you will find the spectacular Quebrada de las Flechas (Arrows Gorge).

The gorge stretches for about 20 kilometres and surprises you with pointed rocks on both sides of the gravel road. There are viewpoints where it is worth stopping and climbing a gentle slope to get fantastic views from above of both the route that winds through the gorge and the rock formations.

🔝 If you are travelling north from Cafayate, don’t miss this article with everything there is to things to do in Cachi.

7. Ruins of Quilmes and Tafí del Valle

Cafayate is located a few kilometres away from the border with the Province of Tucumán, and many people take advantage of this proximity to visit the Ruins of Quilmes, Amaicha del Valle and Tafí del Valle.

The first are the ruins of a pre-Columbian civilisation that has a lot of history about the original inhabitants of these lands. Amaicha is a town governed by the descendants of these original inhabitants and Tafí is one of the most charming towns in the Calchaquí Valleys.

🔝 We talked about this trip in our article on what to things to do in Tucumán.

Practical information for travel to Cafayate

Where to eat in Cafayate

Most of the restaurants in the city are located near the main square. To recommend:

• La Casa de las Empanadas: they are said to be the best empanadas salteñas in Cafayate, so you have to go and try them. Restaurants are great luxuries to sit down and taste the empanada cafayateña, knife-cut meat or dishes from northwestern Argentina such as locro.
• Como en Casa: the name says it all. Luis, the owner, is the one who personally attends you and explains the menu. Delicious food, especially their speciality pasta.
• El Hornito: one of the cheapest restaurants in Cafayate and one of the most traditional. Empanadas baked in the oven and homemade Salta food.

Where to stay in Cafayate

Being a very touristic city, the accommodation options in Cafayate are many, both in the centre and in the surroundings.

Two good value for money options are:

• Hostal Andino: outdoor swimming pool, garden and a panoramic terrace with 360 degree views
• Hostería El Zaguan: colonial style house 20 metres from the main square. Simple and clean rooms. Run by the owners themselves.

🏨 Do you want to look for other options? Find here the best hotels in Cafayate.

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