We'd booked on a tour to go to Cachi today, about 80km west of Salta. We were picked up at 0720, collected a number of other people, and set off initially heading through very lush cloud forest before we started to climb heading towards the Cuesta del Obispo. The landscape soon became very dry and barren as we travelled through the andean foothills and puna. We stopped on route for refreshments at just over 2000m before continuing on and up along a winding gravel road to reach the highest point of the pass at 3457m where there is a very small shrine, Capilla San Rafael. Condors nest in the surrounding hills and we saw one circling in the thermals above us. From here we continued and entered the Parque Nacional Los Cardones which takes it's name from the cardon (candelabra cactus) that are the park's most striking plant species. They have long been an important source of timber for rafters, doors, window frames and similar uses. It was slightly surreal to see so many huge cacti. Further along from here we got our first glimpse of the snow capped El Nevado de Cachi which at 6380m is one of the highest peaks in the area. After a few more stops we passed through Payogasta before arriving in Cachi, a very small andean town surrounded by lovely scenery. It's a pretty, tranquil place and after lunch at a local parrilla (Simon had a chewy goat stew and Diane had pepper stuffed with rice and unidentified meat - was told it was cow) we wandered around the cobble streets, visited the Iglesia San Jose and chilled out in the plaza before it was time to head back to Salta. A very enjoyable trip and we were both very pleased we decided to go on it. This part of Argentina definitely resembles areas of Peru where we have previously travelled and we assume will have many similarities with northern Chile and Bolivia. In the evening we went to a pena restaurant, La Vieja Estacion, a traditional Salta bar/social club where you eat, drink and listen to live music. We had a great evening with good food (more vegetables), watched a dance show and listened to a band playing traditional andean music.
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| The changing landscape as we drove higher |
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| Refreshment stop |
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| The winding gravel road |
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| What a cutie although there for the tourists |
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| The highest point of the pass at 3457m |
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| Capilla San Rafael |
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| Parque Nacional los Cardones |
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| The huge cardon |
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| Locally grown herbs and spices being sold by the roadside |
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| Snow capped El Nevado de Cachi |
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| Lunch at a local parilla |
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| Cachi main street |
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| The plaza |
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| Iglesia San Jose |
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| The evening entertainment |
What a very full and interesting day, rounded off by good meal (plenty of veggies) and a lively show.
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