Salta & Cafayate Wine Tour: 3 Days in Argentina’s High-Altitude Wine Country

Why Visit Salta and Cafayate

In the Calchaquí Valleys of northern Argentina, vineyards grow at around 5,600 feet (1,700 meters) in Cafayate and climb to about 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) around Cachi, among the highest in the world. Intense sunlight, dry air and big swings between day and night temperatures give the wines remarkable aroma, color and freshness.

This is the home of Torrontés, Argentina’s signature white: floral on the nose, dry and refreshing on the palate. Cafayate also makes powerful high-altitude Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat. Add the colonial charm of Salta and some of the most dramatic scenery in South America, and you have Argentina’s most spectacular wine trip.

Your Three Days

Day 1: Salta to Cafayate through the Quebrada de las Conchas

We leave Salta at 8:30 am for one of the most beautiful drives in the country, through the red rock formations of the Quebrada de las Conchas. In Cafayate, we start at Tierra Colorada with a tasting paired with traditional empanadas, continue to Viña en Flor for a high-end tasting and lunch, and finish at Dalborgo with six wines and a cheese board. Drop-off at your hotel in Cafayate.

Day 2: Cafayate’s Vineyards and a Sunset Tasting

Pickup at your hotel at 10:15 am. We begin at Yacochuya, one of the valley’s high-altitude pioneers, with a tasting and cheese board and sweeping views. Lunch is at Piattelli Vineyards, followed by a high-end tasting at El Esteco, one of Cafayate’s historic wineries. The day ends at Amalaya with wine and cheese as the sun sets over the valley.

Day 3: Final Tastings and Return to Salta

Morning pickup at your hotel for tastings at Finca El Recreo and El Porvenir. Then we drive back to Salta through the Quebrada de las Conchas, arriving at around 2:00 pm. Timing is flexible: if you’d rather stay for lunch at El Recreo among the vineyards, we simply return later in the afternoon.

Make More of Your Trip

Salta City Tour and a Peña Night

Salta is one of Argentina’s best-preserved colonial cities. A private city tour takes you through its main square, churches and historic streets, with time to taste local specialties such as empanadas salteñas. In the evening, don’t miss a peña: a traditional restaurant where regional food is served to live folk music and dancing. It’s northern Argentina’s answer to a tango show in Buenos Aires, and one of the most authentic nights out in the country.

Jujuy and the Quebrada de Humahuaca

North of Salta, the Quebrada de Humahuaca is a UNESCO World Heritage valley of colorful mountains and adobe villages, including Purmamarca and its famous Hill of Seven Colors (Cerro de los Siete Colores). It’s also a new frontier of Argentine wine, where small producers grow vines at extreme altitude. We can add a day in Jujuy with visits to a couple of the area’s wineries.

Cachi and the Highest Vineyards

North of Cafayate, the Calchaquí Valley climbs to Cachi, a whitewashed colonial village at the foot of snow-capped peaks, surrounded by vineyards at up to 10,000 feet (3,000 meters). Here, tiny boutique producers make intense, concentrated wines that rarely leave the valley. The road to Cachi is long and spectacular, so this extension needs at least one night in Cachi.

Ask us and we’ll add any of these to your itinerary.

Where to Stay

Most guests spend one night in Salta before the tour, in the historic center close to the main square, and two nights in Cafayate, where you can choose between town hotels within walking distance of restaurants and wine lodges among the vineyards. We’ll pick you up and drop you off at your hotels in both places.

Salta & Cafayate Wine Tour FAQ

How much does the Salta & Cafayate wine tour cost?

From USD 895 per person, with a minimum of 2 guests. Accommodation and lunches are not included.

How far is Cafayate from Salta?

About 115 miles (185 km), a drive of around 3.5 to 4 hours through the Quebrada de las Conchas, with stops for photos along the way.

What time do we get back to Salta?

At around 2:00 pm on day 3, which makes it easy to catch an afternoon or evening flight. The timing can be adapted to your plans.

Can we add Jujuy or Cachi?

Yes. A day in Jujuy and the Quebrada de Humahuaca, with a couple of winery visits, fits well before or after the tour. Cachi is a long drive through the Calchaquí Valley, so you’ll need at least one night there. Ask us for an itinerary and price.

How many days do I need in Salta?

The 3-day wine tour is the core. With a Salta city tour, a peña night and a day in Jujuy, five or six days lets you see the best of northern Argentina without rushing.

How do I get to Salta?

Salta has daily flights from Buenos Aires, and it’s easy to combine with a trip to Mendoza or Iguazú Falls.

Will I feel the altitude?

Cafayate sits at around 5,600 feet (1,700 meters), which most people handle easily. In Cachi and the Quebrada de Humahuaca you’ll be higher, so drink water, take it easy on the first day and protect yourself from the strong sun.

What’s the best time to visit?

Cafayate has sunshine almost all year. Spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May) are especially pleasant. Summer can bring rain in the region, and harvest runs from February to April.

Can we choose the wineries?

Yes. We usually visit small, family-run and boutique wineries, and we can include any winery on your wish list (extra cost may apply).

More Wine Tours in Argentina

• 3-Day Mendoza Wine Escape, from USD 565 per person
• Uco Valley Wine Tour, from USD 215 per person
• Luján de Cuyo Wine Tour, from USD 175 per person

Want to learn more first? Read our Salta wine region guide.