Salta & the Andean Northwest - Argentina - page 464

Bodega Etchart WINERY
( 421310; www.bodegasetchart.com ; RN40) Two kilometers south of town, this produces
some six million bottles of quality torrontés, cabernet and malbec per year. Visits were
off at the time of research but are due to resume. Check for updates.

Museo Arqueológico MUSEUM
(cnr Colón & Calchaquí; admission by donation; 11:30am-9pm Mon-Fri, 11:30am-3pm Sat) This
private museum's collection was left by enthusiastic archaeologist Rodolfo Bravo and
merits a visit. Sourced mostly from grave sites within a 30km radius from Cafayate, the
excellent array of ceramics, from the black and gray wares of the Candelaria and Aguada
cultures to late Diaguita and Inca pottery, are well displayed across two rooms. While
there's not much explanation, the material speaks for itself.

Río Colorado WALKING, SWIMMING
A beautiful 6km walk southwest of town leads you to Río Colorado. Follow the river up-
stream (best with a guide) for about 1½ hours to get to a 10m waterfall , where you can
swim. There's a second waterfall and further cascades further up. Look out for rock
paintings on the way . If you ride to the trailhead, you can leave your bike at the nearby
house for a few pesos. Combinable with a visit to Bodega de las Nubes.
Warning: if the river is high after rains in January and February, the route to the water-
fall becomes strenuous and dangerous. Sudden torrents can come down quickly from the
mountains at any time of year, so always keep an eye upstream while bathing.

Tours
The standard minibus tour of the Quebrada leaves in the afternoon, when the colors are
more vivid, and costs around AR$150. Three- to four-hour treks in the Quebrada and Río
Colorado are also popular. Day-long trips to Cachi (AR$500) are tiring, while Quilmes
(AR$160) can be visited more cheaply in a taxi if there are two or more of you. Horse-
back rides range from a couple of hours (AR$280) to all day (AR$500). Many places
around the plaza hire out bikes (around AR$95 for a full day) but thorns mean that the
likelihood of punctures is sky-high, so it's not such a great option.
Tour operators have offices on the plaza. Most are mediocre but the Quebrada scenery
speaks for itself. Majo Viajes OFFLINE MAP ( 422038; [e-mail]; Nuestra

Señora del Rosario 77) is better than many.

Festivals & Events