Salta is a pleasant medium-sized town in Argentina’s northwest where I stayed at the luxurious Sumkama hotel (well after camping and Bolivia it would seem so).  I spent most of my time recovering after freezing in the Andes for many weeks.  I didn’t really see much of the city as I spent most of my time running about buying motorcycle parts and doing much neglected maintenance on the KLR.

Salta Cathedral, Salta, Argentina

After two nights I lazily got out of town at noon and was driving along the flat boring road until I saw some signs for towns heading into the mountains.  So I drove up through the Quebrada de las Flechas (Canyon of Arrows) which was a really pleasant windy drive uphill heading toward the National Park Los Cardones – which contained thousands of tall cacti in an arid landscape with snow-covered mountains behind.

Valley of Arrows, Canyon Outside Salta, Argentina

National Park Los Cardones, Outside Salta, Argentina

I stopped for lunch in Cachi, a colonial town – pleasantly warm after descending from the 3000m national park.   The other pleasant thing is to be eating Argentinian food (well decent espresso, pizza, and any variety of grilled beef) – the culinary torture of Peru/Ecuador/Bolivia is over.

The road turned had become gravel/dust a little way before Cachi and continued this way until about 15k from Cafayate.   There was little traffic though so it could be driven as quickly as my motorcycling skills on dirt allow.   There were pretty little colonial settlements and friendly people along the route.

Small Church, Cachi to Cafayate, Argentina

The road became more interesting as the sun started to wane – it seems to be a common problem, reaching the best part of the route just when you feel pressed to get somewhere before dark.   The ‘painted’ rocks and wild rock formations of the Quebrada de Las Conchas was the best of the drive.

Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina

'Painted Rocks'. Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina

Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina

I arrived just as night fell at the Hotel El Balcon (space for the bike in the bike room and 40 pesos or so) in Cafayate – wine growing country.  It was a very polished tourist town – wine areas seem to all have the same touristy atmosphere about them – but a pleasant stop.

Cafayate Market, Argentina

Salta to Cafayete Distance and Altitude Profile

I spent one night and left late for my marathon drive to Cordoba (737 kms from Cafayate).  Leaving town there were vineyards surrounding the famous (to motocyclists) Ruta 40.

Vineyard on Ruta 40, Cafayate, Argentina

I was happily driving through the warm dessert when the road turned to the east and climbed up a pass to about 3000 meters.  I was pre-warned about how cold the pass was  (I had read Serdar’s (http://www.la2ba.com/) post about it) but not prepared at all – it was foggy, extremely cold and went on longer than one would desire.  With frozen, wet hands I stopped after it had descended somewhat and burned my hands against the motorcycle’s engine to try to end the numbness.  The pleasant part was when the road dropped below the veil of clouds I was in a lush cloud forest – it seems all the moisture falls before this mountain range – and so Cafayate and the valley are desert-like.

Cloud Forest after Tafi del Valle, Argentina

After endless straight and boring kilometers I found myself in bustling Cordoba and checking into the Pochongo Hostal (Obispo Salguero 700 or so, one of my favourites – relaxed and good young owners).

Modern Art Museum, Cordoba, Argentina

Cafayate to Cordoba, Argentina Distance and Elevation Profile

Salta Cathedral, Salta, Argentina	Canyon Outside Salta, Argentina	Canyon Outside Salta, Argentina	Canyon Outside Salta, Argentina
Canyon Outside Salta, Argentina	Canyon Outside Salta, Argentina	Canyon Outside Salta, Argentina	Canyon Outside Salta, Argentina
National Park Los Cardones, Outside Salta, Argentina	National Park Los Cardones, Outside Salta, Argentina	National Park Los Cardones, Outside Salta, Argentina	National Park Los Cardones, Outside Salta, Argentina
National Park Los Cardones, Outside Salta, Argentina	Valley of Arrows, Cachi to Cafayate, Argentina	Valley of Arrows, Cachi to Cafayate, Argentina	Valley of Arrows, Cachi to Cafayate, Argentina
Valley of Arrows, Cachi to Cafayate, Argentina	Valley of Arrows, Cachi to Cafayate, Argentina	Valley of Arrows, Cachi to Cafayate, Argentina	Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina
Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina	Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina	Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina	Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina
Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina	Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina	Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina	Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina
Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina	Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina	Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina	Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina
'Painted Rocks'. Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina	'Painted Rocks'. Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina	'Painted Rocks'. Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina	'Painted Rocks'. Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina
'Painted Rocks'. Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina	'Painted Rocks'. Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina	'Painted Rocks'. Quebrada de Cafayate, Approaching Cafayate, Argentina	Cafayate Market, Argentina
Cafayate Plaza, Argentina	Vineyard, Cafayate, Argetina	Cloud Forest after Tafi del Valle, Argentina	Cloud Forest after Tafi del Valle, Argentina
Cloud Forest after Tafi del Valle, Argentina	Modern Art Museum, Cordoba, Argentina	Modern Art Museum, Cordoba, Argentina

Salta to Cafayate to Cordoba, Argentina GPX Tracks