The Journey North Continues: Cafayate

This entry will be short since words cannot do justice to the beauty of Cafayate.

In short: WOW, WOW & WOW!

We arrived at night after a long day of travels. Be warned if you are going from Valle de Fertil, it is a long trek to Cafayate. First we had to bus to La Rioja then Catamarca then Amancha de Valle then finally to Cafayate. Luckily, in the small town of Amancha de Valle there is a delicious restaurant across from the ¨bus station¨. It was really off the ¨gringo trail¨ and it was amazing, we got to know the owner of the resto, what a nice man!!

In Cafayate, we stayed at Rusty-K Hostel owned and run by Walter and his wife. (If you visit Cafayate, you must stay there too!) This family run hostel is one of the best I've ever stayed at. The rooms and bathrooms are clean, the staff super helpful and the outdoor patio was incredible. The day excursion through the Quebrada with Walter is also a MUST do! The pictures are convincing enough.

Other things we did in Cafayate include a hike and visiting the bodegas. As opposed to Mendoza, the wineries in Cafayate are free for the most part and also produce white wine (Torrentes). Don't forget the goat cheese factory. We really enjoyed the tour (most of it, not the stinky part) and you get a block of goat's cheese at the end. Interesting fact, classical music is played while the goats are milked to relax them.

Gali and I hiked to a waterfall just outside of town. (Dani wasn't feeling great). We hired a taxi for $15 (pesos) to drive us out to the area. When we got there, there was a local boy who offers to guide you up to the falls, he works voluntarily and you tip him afterwards. The hike was a bit strenuous and hard core, but well worth it, being surrounded by the scenery was absolutely amazing, the sand, the rocks the cacti the lush greenery, unlike any tundra I have ever been in. We started walking back to the town because there were no taxis available for hire but a local couple driving past offered us a lift to the centre, which we welcomed since there was sweltering heat in the desert.

In Cafayate you can also try wine flavored ice cream which is worth doing but don't get your hopes up. I didn't like either flavor. Gali liked the cabernet and Dani liked the torrentes.

Los Casa des Empanadas. The name says it all. The House of Empanadas. DELICIOUS!!!! 12 different kinds. YUM!

Lastly, is a restaurant called Colorado. Just off the square this restaurant is delicious. It is a little pricy so if dinner isn't in your budget at least go for the warm chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream. (We went back the second night just to have it again). Stay away from the fish, super dry!

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