Buenos aires is a vibrant city, but in a country such as Argentina, it’s a sin not to visit other places. Following the advise of a friend living for 5 years in Argentina, I took a plane to Salta in the Northwestern Andes. Next stop: Cachi
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Welcome to the more traditional part of Argentina, with hundreds of archaeological sites, subtropical forests and desert canyons. In the province of Salta lays Cachi, a little village, 2300 meters above the sea level and part of the Calchaquí Valley, surrounded by mountains belonging to the Precordillera de Los Andes. This town has a colonial style, mixed with the heritage of its primitive inhabitants: the chicoana and inca people.
You can get here driving, by bus or with an organized tour departing from Salta.
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Enjoy the village and it’s relaxed atmosphere. Have a Quilmes beer and an "empanada" in the central square looking at the Andes and it’s snowy peaks. Visit the church and the local museum, where you can find more about this place’s history. Take a walk on the Nevado de Cachi, the surrounding mountains.
Before arriving to Cachi, you will cross the Los Cardones National Park, with thousands of giant cactus (that provide the cardon wood), huge clouds of dust, donkeys and guanacos (kind of llama). You will also see the Reta Tin Tin, a 18 km stretch of road, without one single curve. Always straight ahead! Enjoy: this is the most famous piece of road in Argentina (and yes, it's paved).
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The road. It’s not easy since it’s always way up and winding (avoid travelling by night, because if your car stops in de middle of the way, there will be no one to help you), but the sights pay it off. The view from the local cementary. The peace and quiet you enjoy, and the feeling of being far from everything.
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I stayed in a really nice place called Molino de Cachi Adentro, an ancient water mill, still working, a couple kms off Cachi. The Durand family hosts you in this charming place, where you can enjoy delicious meals and home produced wine (really good). If you’re tired from the trip, jus sit on the living room reading a book, listening to some music and staring at the Andes.
In the village you can find many other options. Just search.
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Drive very carefully. The road is not paved and is very narrow. Sometimes you have to cross with buses and big vans. If you have a flat tyre, it’s ok, but if you have 2 flat tyres…then you might have a problem, since you won’t find any "gomeria" in about 200 km. Try to take a 2nd spare with the rent-a-car company.
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Published on Tuesday September 7th, 2004
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Tue, Sep 07 2004 - 09:09 PM
 by ravinderkumarsi
hiii paulo,
nice to know about salta which i never heard beore,i am looking forward to know more about such places in argentina
ravi |
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