The Andean Northwest

Far away from the elegance of Buenos Aires, one of Argentina's best preserved colonial cities, bustling pretty Salta, foumded more than 600 years ago by the Spanish is the main starting point for serious road trips to the subtropical montane forests of El Finca Rey National Park, the Calchaquí Valley and the vineyards and desert canyons of Cafayate. It is also the starting point for the high-altitude train, Tren a las Nubes - "Train to the Clouds", which has just been re-launched. A 16 hour journey from Salta and back to Salta again. 

The north-western state of Jujuy (pronounced ‘who-whooey’), close to the Chile and Bolivia borders, is possibly even more dramatic than Salta.

In addition to its historic and scenic appeal, the northwest can claim a unique, often underappreciated status as a wine region. The areas around Cafayate boasts distinctive high-altitude wines, including what most consider to be Argentina’s top Torrontés.

Estancia and Bodega Colume is a luxurious boutique hotel, as well as a working estancia and the oldest existing winery in Argentina.  Bodega Colume is located in the Calchqui Valley, near to the town of Molinos, in an incredible location. It is set amid vineyards and wide-open spaces, it is a perfect retreat for both relaxation and activity. More...

The Patios de Cafayate Hotel & Spa is rich in culture, wine and tradition with spectacular views of the Calchaquia­ Valley vineyards. Patios de Cafayate Hotel & Spa is located on the same grounds as the state-of-the-art El Esteco Winery. There are just 30 bedrooms all filled with antiques, beautiful carpets. More…

Vinas de Cafayate is just a couple of miles away from the main square of Cafayate (two and a half hours from Salta) and has been built in a vineyard at the foot of the impressive San Isidro Hill. It is ideal to stay a while here and learn about the wine tradition in the area or hike. More…

House of Jasmines is a beautiful 120 year old home formerly owned by Robert Duvall and just a twenty-five minute drive outside the city of Salta. At the heart of the 300-acre ranch in the Andean foothills is a seven-suite Spanish colonial home filled with elegantly understated cream furnishings, indigenous artefacts and candles. More…

Hotel El Lagar is a large elegant city mansion, well located in the heart of Salta and a great place to stay. More…

Estancia Manantial del Milagro is a beautiful colonial house built in 1867 surrounded by lovely grounds designed by the famous Charles Thays who also designed the green areas in Buenos Aires. With stunning views of the Andes mountains, this comfortable authentic estancia just west of Salta is a lovely place to stay. More...

The serene Hotel Manantial del Silencio is located in Purmamarca (2 hours from Jujuy) - the most idyllic village actually in the Quebrada de Humahuaca canyon. Just 2 hours north of Jujuy this hotel has an enviable setting. There are 19 large rooms. More…

What to see and do in the Northwest…More…

The best time of the year to visit Salta, Jujuy and Cafayate is in their winter time from March to November, when the daytime temperature can be a mild 20°C (68°F) with bright sunny days, but sub-zero temperatures are not uncommon at night, owing to the high altitudes, up to about 4,500m. September is an especially colourful month because of the blooming jacaranda trees, orange trees and lapachos (with its pink flowers). During the summer from December to March the weather is rainy and roads are often cut (even in 4 x 4 vehicle) often making regional parks and valleys inaccessible.

Another ‘must’ in the area, in sharp contrast with the dry and arid landscape of the northwest is the cloud forest or mountain forest. This is a true link between the Amazon basin and the Andes mountain chain, which penetrates into Argentina from Bolivia (where the dense mountain forests are called yungas), full of biodiversity and lush vegetation typical of humid regions.