13 Things To Do In Cafayate, Argentina (Wineries, Hiking, & Sights)

Cafayate, the other wine region in Argentina, is probably one of the most underrated towns in the country. Situated in the region of Salta, a road trip to Cafayate is an adventure in itself. With seemingly endless things to do in Cafayate, you’ll definitely want more than one day to experience it all.

From wineries and wild landscapes surrounding the small Northwestern Argentina town to hiking trails, tasty restaurants, and cafes, Cafayate is a gem nestled in the Calchaquí Valley.

After spending one month in Argentina, Cafayate is one of our favorite places we explored! We spent 3 days here and loved every second of this slow-paced wine town.

Oh, and if you’ve been to the Southwest of the United States, you’ll feel like you’re having deja vu when visiting Cafayate. With its desert-like arid climate and reddish rock formations, there are some serious similarities between Cafayate and the landscapes in Utah.

So, without further ado, let’s get to the best things there are to do in Cafayata, Argentina!

Things To Do In Cafayate Argentina

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Cafayate, Argentina’s Second Wine Region

So what makes Cafayate so special? Well, there are loads of things (which we’ll get to below!), but people don’t realize that Cafayate sits in the Calchaquí Valley, a region known to produce outstanding high-altitude wines.

Everyone typically thinks of Mendoza when it comes to wine in Argentina, and for good reason! Mendoza produces some of the best Malbecs in the world.

However, at over 5,500 feet (1,700 meters) above sea level, Calchaquí Valley produces high-altitude wines that give Mendoza a run for its money.

Due to the region’s dry, sunny days, cold nights, elevation, and mineral-rich soil, Calchaquí Valley wines are known for their concentration of color, deep aromas, and distinctive yet well-defined flavors.

There are dozens of wineries that surround the town of Cafayate.

It’s recommended you make reservations in advance, and if you can swing it, plan to visit more than one to get a sample of the region’s wines!

Read: How to Spend 2 Weeks in Argentina!

How To Get To Cafayate

To get to Cafayate, you’ll first need to get to the region of Salta. There are direct flights to Salta from popular places like Mendoza, Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, and other cities in Argentina.

The closest airport to Cafayate is Martín Miguel de Güemes International Airport in the town of Salta, Argentina. Once you arrive, you need to rent a car and drive the remaining 3 – 3.5 hours (185 km/115 mi) to Cafayate.

PRO TIP: There is another airport you can fly into, but it will add at least another hour onto your trip, and you won’t drive on the Scenic Ruta 68 into Cafayate. The other airport is Aeropuerto Internacional Teniente Benjamin Matienzo located in San Miguel de Tucumán.

Alternatively, if you are not comfortable driving internationally, some buses run from Salta to Cafayate. You can look for the latest bus fares and schedules online and book your bus ticket to Cafayate.

Best Time To Visit Cafayate

Cafayate can be visited year-round, but a few seasons are better than others.

• Summer (December – February)
• Autumn (March – May)
• Spring (September – November)

We visited Cafayate in mid-January, and while people say Argentina summers bring lots of rain, we had clear skies and dry days during our time in Cafayate!

How Many Days in Cafayate?

Since Cafayate is a 3+ hour drive from the Salta Airport, a day trip from Salta to Cafayate isn’t an option, nor something we recommend you try.

Rather, we recommend spending two to three FULL days here. So either 3 nights, 2 days, or 4 nights, 3 days.

There really are a lot of things to do in Cafayate, and to see everything at a relaxed pace and really enjoy the area, you should spend no less than 2 full days here.

Read: 15 Things To Know Before Visiting Argentina

Getting Around Cafayate

If you’re taking the bus from Salta, perfectly fine! Cafayate itself is completely walkable, and in instances where you can’t walk, there are bicycles you can rent from rental shops in town.

However, for us, we skipped the bus and rented a car. Why? We simply wanted the convenience having a car brings.

We drove our car around town and had no issues parking or navigating the roads.

In fact, we found a car super useful as the two wineries we visited were outside of town, and we wanted to drive Quebrada de las Conchas at our own pace and stop when we wanted.

Where To Stay in Cafayate

When thinking of where to stay in Cafayate, you can think of it in two ways. One, staying in the town, or two, staying outside of town at a winery or near a vineyard.

Places like Patios De Cafayate, Grace Cafayate, Viñas De Cafayate Wine Resort, and Piattelli Wine Resort offer guests an upscale stay at a winery in the Calchaquí Valley vineyards. Relax, unwind, enjoy the wine and the property’s incredibly scenic surroundings.

If you’d rather be more in town, Villa Vicuña Wine & Boutique Hotel, Hotel Asturias, La Montaña, and El Hospedaje are highly-rated accommodations that are in the heart of Cayafate! All decorated in traditional Argentinean style, no matter which you book, you’ll find clean, comfortable rooms with locations that are hard to beat.

What To Do In Cafayate (+ Map!)

Below is an overview of things to do in Cafayate! It’s a great little town that packs a serious punch. Now, to try and tackle everything on the below list, you’ll need around 3-4 days to see and do it all.

If you only have 1 to 2 days, you’ll definitely have to pick and choose (don’t miss a winery and drive Ruta 68) from the list below!

Use the + and – signs to navigate the above map to see where each top thing to see in Cafayate is located.

1. Take a Cafayete Wine Tour at Bodega El Esteco

One of the most picturesque and well-known wineries in Cafayate is Bodega El Esecto.

Set on a 17th-century estate, Bodega El Esteco sits on 1,000 acres of vineyards and grows various types of grapes that produce wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Torrontes, as well as a few others!

The Spanish colonial-style winery is surrounded by ancient vineyards where guests can take a wine tour, enjoy a meal at Patios de Cafayate Restaurant, stay a few days in one of their onsite boutique rooms, or even opt to partake in a horseback riding excursion through the vineyards!

While most of their tours are in Spanish, Bodega El Esteco offers one English wine tour and tasting a day at 3 PM. All other tours are in Spanish.

PRO TIP: Not all wineries (and there are many in Cafayate) offer tours in English. Most tours are in Spanish. When booking a wine tour, even if you do not book one at El Esteco, be sure to book an English tour, especially if you are not a Spanish speaker.

2. Wander Cafayate’s Main Square

Also referred to as Plaza 20 de Febrero, Plaza de Cafyate is the main square where everything happens and stems from in Cafayate.

Restaurants, cafes, shops, and markets surround the square on all sides.

Honestly, to get your barrings, walking around the square is a great first place to start when exploring the town of Cafayate.

Over the weekend, you’ll find vendors selling handmade pieces in the square, musicians playing live music, and people walking and enjoying the day and evening.

From the square, roads jut off further into the town, taking you to more shops and cafes or back to Ruta 68 and beyond!

3. Eat Goat Cheese at Cabras de Cafayate

Located a few miles from town, you’ll find a charming little dairy farm that produces high-quality cow and goat cheeses. They also serve wine from the region too!

You can opt to book a formal tour of their farm (Spanish only) or skip the tour altogether and order a sample plate of their family farm goat and cow cheese.

Pair the sample plate with a glass of wine, and enjoy your cheese on their outside patio.

The same family that owns Cabras de Cafayate owns Domingos Hermanos Winery, and there is a great harmony between the two operations. The goat poop provides the fertilizer for the vineyards, and the discarded grapes from the winery help feed the goats.

Pretty cool, right?!

4. Drive Quebrada de las Conchas (Ruta 68)

The drive from Salta to Cafyate will take you along Ruta 68, one of Argentina’s most scenic drives. However, a portion of Ruta 68 called Quebrada de las Conchas is the creme de la creme of the entire drive.

Quebrada de las Conchas, or in English, Shell’s Ravine, is a scenic drive about 30 – 35 miles outside Cafayate.

The 30-35 miles of Quebrada da las Conchas starts when you’re about 2-ish hours outside of Salta. A general roadmarker is when you reach Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat), you’ve officially hit Quebrada da las Conchas.

Read about the 12 landmarks not to miss as you drive Quebrada da las Conchas!

Now, the drive will be plenty pretty before you reach Garganta del Diablo, so don’t fret!

For the rest of the 30-35 miles (50 – 56 km) into Cafayate, you’ll weave through canyons as peaks and towering red rock formations surround you.

You’ll follow the River Las Conchas, passing by valleys, small towns, vast views, and points of interest where you can stop, get out, and walk a little.

It really is a STUNNING drive and something you cannot miss (in our opinion) when visiting the region of Salta. In fact, this drive alone is the reason we wanted to visit Cafayate.

And ya know what? It was far from disappointing!

PRO TIP: When driving from Salta to Cafayate, especially on Quebrada de las Conchas, you’re cell phone reception will be non-existance. Make sure you have your GPS set ahead of time and plenty of music downloaded to your phone! Once you’re a few miles from Cayafate, phone reception picks back up.

5. Try Wine Ice Cream at II Cavallino Ice Cream

You’re in Argentina’s wine region, after all, right?! You have to try the local delicacies, like wine ice cream! Sitting on the southwest corner of the Cayafate Square, II Cavallino Ice Cream serves traditional flavors and wine-flavored ice cream!

You can opt to try a Malbec ice cream or their white wine flavor, Torrontes. Fair warning: you can VERY much taste the wine, so if you’re traveling with a friend, opt to share one, and if you love it, you can always go back for seconds 🙂

PRO TIP: We stumbled upon this location by happen stance and opted to try it! However, there are other wine ice creameries in Cafayate. Heladería Miranda and Los Helados de Sami being the other two.

6. Watch Sunrise From Los Medanos (Sand Dunes)

If you can get up for sunrise, you will truly not be disappointed! Los Medanos are a series of large sand dunes located about a 10-15 minute drive from Cafayate Town Square.

Not visible from the road, you’ll need to be sure to plug “Los Medanos” into your GPS.

As you drive, you’ll see a small sign on the right shoulder (if you’re coming from Cafayate) that says “Los Medanos.”

As you get off the main road (Ruta 68), you’ll continue to drive down a very small sandy road where it dead ends into a few parking spots. From here, you’ll need to walk along a flat sandy path the rest of the way to reach the base of the dunes, about 10 minutes or so.

Once at the base of the dune, climb up and enjoy the stunning views of Cafayate in the distance and the mountains nestled against the town, forming the perfect backdrop!

PRO TIP: As we watched the sunrise, we saw one hot air balloon taking off. After a little research, it appears that hot air balloon rides are offered in Cafayate! For those interested, you can visit Plumaria to learn more.

7. Book A Sunset Dinner & Wine Tasting at AMALAYA

Oddly enough, we stumbled upon a tasty bottle of AMALAYA Malbec a few years ago when we were in Colombia. To our surprise, upon entering Cafayate we learned that this is where AMALAYA grows their grapes! A happy coincidence if there ever was one 🙂

Unlike the wine tour we partook in at Bodega El Esteco, we opted for a sunset dinner and wine tasting on AMALAYA’s open-air patio deck that overlooks its vast vineyards, the mountains, and, of course, the lovely little town of Cafayate.

Magical is really an understatement. We ate exceptional food, consumed glasses of top-tier wine, and watched the sun fade over the mountains. We did this on our last night in Cafayate, and we seriously can’t recommend it enough!

8. Go On A Hike to Los Estratos or Las Cascadas del Rio Colorado

While you’re driving along Quebrada de las Conchas, you’ll find a few trailheads where you can lace up your shoes and hit the hiking trails.

1. Los Estratos: 1.2 miles, out-and-back trail, rated as easy. The hike can be done on your own, allowing you to get up close and personal with the area’s rock formations, canyons, and expansive views. This is the most popular of the hikes along Quebrada de las Conchas!
2. Las 7 Cascadas del Río Colorado: A 3.4-mile hike is rated as hard, and a guide is required because people get lost. A group of eager young men offers their guide services at the trailhead (just past Finca las Nubes). Costing $10k Argentina pesos, the guide will take you on a 3-hour hike across the rugged but beautiful landscape.
3. Las Conchas Gorge via El Paso: 4.2 miles, out-and-back trail, rated as easy. The trail follows the flat, dry river bed and offers otherworldly views of the surrounding landscapes.
4. Quebrada de las Conchas Loop: A 6.8 mile loop, rated as moderate. At times, the path can be not so well marked, so be sure to have an offline map downloaded to keep you on the trail.

PRO TIP: Whichever hike you choose, please start early, apply loads of sunscreen, and pack mass amounts of water. You are hiking at higher elevations in a dry climate on trails that have limited to no shade. Please come prepared.

9. Eat Empanadas with Llamas at Tienda de La Yesera

Down the road from the Los Estratos trailhead (1-minute drive) is a white home serving delicious empanadas. However, the empanadas are not the main attraction; the three llamas in their front yard are!

After your hike to Los Estratros or as you’re driving along Quebrada de las Conchas, stop for a deep-fried empanada, order a drink, shop the home’s pottery selection, and ask for some corn so you can feed the llamas.

10. Visit Catedral Nuestra Señora Del Rosario

Just off the main town square in Cafayate, you’ll find Catedral Nuestra Señora Del Rosario, a yellow cathedral.

Our Lady of Rosary Cathedral as it’s called in English, or Cafayate Cathedral, dates back to 1885. Every Sunday you’ll find the devout Catholics of Cayafate and the surrounding towns here worshipping.

11. Shop at the Cafayate Artesian Markets

You’ll find a few artesian markets in town, but Mercado Artesanal Cafayate (just off the town square) and the weekend popups in the town square are AMAZING places to shop for local handmade items.

We left Cafayate with a beautiful wooden painting and a stone wind chime. If you love a souvenir when traveling, be sure to leave room in your carry-on for items you’re bound to buy in Cafayate!

You’ll find artists selling woven tapestries, hats, ad ponchos, silver jewelry, pottery, and so much more!

12. Enjoy One of Cafayate’s Museums

For those travelers who enjoy a museum or are just looking to escape the heat and rain that can come with a visit to Cafayate, there are two museums in town to add to your “things to do in Cafayate” list.

Museo Regional y Arqueológico Rodolfo Bravo

For history buffs, make your way over to view artifacts excavated from Cafayate and the surrounding areas.

Museo Regional y Arqueológico Rodolfo Bravo is open Monday to Friday from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM and from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM and Saturdays from 10:30 AM to 2:30 and from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

It is free to enter, but donations are encouraged.

Museo de la Vid y el Vino

If you want to learn more about the history of winemaking in Cafayate, this museum is for you. A modern interactive exhibit detailing the process of how wine is made and what makes the region so special for producing these wines.

Museo de la Vid y el Vino is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM and costs $6,000 pesos to enter.

13. See How Many Murals You Can Find

One of the things we loved most about Cafayate is it felt so simple to fall in love with. It was unexpected in so many ways, including all the beautiful murals and street art scattered about the town.

Some tell the stories of the town, others make political statements, and some (we like to think) were just too beautiful the artist had to get out.

As you wander the town streets, be on the lookout for these murals to see how many you can find.

Where To Eat in Cafayate

The restaurants listed below are great places in town that are all walkable from the main square. Whether you’re looking for a coffee, lunch, or dinner, there are some great places to eat in Cafayate.

• Calchaquitos: If you’ve yet to try an Alfajores in Argentina, you must visit Calchaquitos! Offering varieties to choose from, pop in for a little snack and carry on with your day.
• Pusk`no Bistro: A great little cafe is right on the square. Perfect for lunch and an afternoon beer or wine.
• La Casa de las Empanadas: The name says it all – House of Empanadas. It’s a hole-in-the-wall bar that serves up every kind of empanada imaginable. Oh, and empanadas are not to be missed in Argentina!
• Baco Resto Bar: This great little bar serves up pub far. If you can, grab a seat on the sidewalk. We came for dinner and shared a few plates and Salta beers.
• Árbol Negro Bodega Garage: Unbevliable pizza! Yes, pizza. We had a blue cheese and honey pie, and OH LAWD it was super tasty.
• Café del Viento: Our go-to coffee shop was when we were in Cafayate! Great coffee (espressos, lattes, etc.) and a small menu of breakfast items.

So, Is Cafayate Worth It?

Yes. 100% yes. We feel like Cafayate is a town that has yet to hit the mainstream travel scene. So before it does, book your trip.

It’s lovely in all aspects – scenery, food, people. Plus, it has this quaint, authentic feel.

It’s a wonderful, quaint little town that allows you to drink fantastic wine, hike and drive through unbelievable scenery, and ultimately relax and unwind.

Really, it is hard to find something we don’t like about Cafayate.

Want More Information on Argentina?!

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For more travel tips, guides, and awesome travel shots, be sure to poke around our site and follow us on Instagram @wanderingstus, Pinterest, and Facebook. Oh, if you have any questions, let us know in the comment section. We’re happy to answer. Or, leave us a positive note!

Happy Travels,

– Lauren & Jesse Stuart (The Stu’s)