4 days - 3 nights

Perhaps one of the best year round recommended self-drive routes within Argentina takes visitors from Salta, 1375 km south following the ever present towering Andes mountains to the third largest city in the country, Mendoza.

It is a relatively easy drive with so much magnificent contrasting countryside to see & off the main highway Reserves & National Parks to explore on the way.

Each of the three nights of accommodation en-route varies from experiencing the splendor of ‘La Rosa’ - Bodega Michel Torino´s magnificent wine estate - to the welcoming Hosteria lodges in Catamarca & San Augustin Del Valle Fértil.

The first days drive is short – a mere 183km – from Salta to Cafayate. En-route highlights include Calchaqui Valley, a magnificent example of colourful strata rock formations named after one of the pre-Inca tribes that inhabited this part of the country. The valley has been subject to the erosive nature of wind, water, heat & contraction & makes for a photographers paradise. Cafayte is a small colonial township that reflects the history, culture, architecture, art & craft of the northwest. It is also famous for the locally produced Torrantes wines, rich in fruity flavour.

The second days drive takes visitors from Cafayate to San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, a distance of 377km. Early on this day, a major point of interest to stop & pause at is the Quilmes Ruins. An impressive citadel built by the Quilmes Indians & at one time in the distant past, home to some 5000 indigenous people.

Provincia Catamarca offers stark geographical & historical highlights & the city of San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca contains many points of historical interest, such as the Cathedral Basilica & the famous wooden Virgin of the Valley, discovered being worshiped by local Indians in the 17th century. Here too, one can find fine examples of locally produced handicraft such as richly coloured tapestry, rugs & ceramics.

The third days drive continues south from Catamarca to San Agustin del Valle Fértil. It is an overall distance of 401km via the city of La Rioja & a day of easy driving. An absolute ´must – do ´side trip this day takes visitors into the Valle de la Luna ( also known as Ishigualasto ) which is renown for the weathered rock formations which are as amazing as they are spectacular. Valle de la Luna is an extremely important paleontological site, with fossil remains having been unearthed that date back some 200 million years. The overall region has been declared a World Natural Heritage area, by UNESCO & warrants as much time as one has, to explore.

The last day consists of 415km traversing out of Provincia San Juan to Provincia Mendoza & Argentina´s third largest city of the same name – Mendoza. Traveling in the rain-shadow of the Andes & through small rural townships (referred to as pueblo´s) of Chucuma, Marayes, Bermejo, Vallecito & Caucete we recommend a stop in the city of San Juan. This is one of Provincia Mendoza´s leading table wine areas. It also is the birthplace of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento who was President of the Republic from 1868 to 1874 & his former home is now a museum which is open to the public.

There remains a short 177km from San Juan to Mendoza, through increasingly Fértile farmland & vineyards. Mendoza city has a colourful history steeped in the quest for independence from the Spanish. It was from here in 1817 that San Martin launched his march with 40000 men across the Andes to Lima with the goal of liberating Chile & Peru. Throughout the province many historical landmarks & monuments pay tribute to San Martin´s advances.

Mendoza´s wine industry really got underway in the mid-19th century with the arrival of French & Italian immigrants. The strength of the wine industry which is world renown, can be measured in the annual grape harvest festival (Festival de la Vendimia),
held in the first week of March for those fortunate enough to be here at this time.

Mendoza is a modern city with its own charm, cultural awareness & laid-back pace. It is a city of theatres & museums, art galleries,
parks, shady tree-lined streets, cafes & exceptional restaurants featuring an array of fine local cuisine.( 4 days / 3 nights )

Overall, this 4 day self-drive route exposes visitors to an ever-changing kaleidoscope of magnificent scenery, weird & weathered landscapes filled with vivid colours & by experiencing Hosteria Lodge accommodation en-route, the really traditional welcoming ways of the local inhabitant’s.

Day 1 Salta – Cafayate
Day 2 Cafayate – Catamarca
Day 3 Catamarca – San Agustin del Valle Fértil
Day 4 San Agustín del Valle Fértil – Mendoza

It is recommended visitors spend at least three days in & around Mendoza. Here, one can sample many fine wines from local estates on half day or full day guided wine-trail excursions; travel west of the city to Valle de Anconcagua where the highest peak in South America – Mt Ancogcagua (6959m) dominates the cordillera; take a day of white-water rafting outdoor adventure, rappelling, horse-trekking or hiking on the many trails located a short distance from the city in the foothills.

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