January 16, Monday – Drive to Cachi, Argentina

The drive to Cachi was our alternative tour (when the first tour got wiped out due to a major rain storm)…and it was well worth the drive.

The first part of the tour briefly followed the previous day’s drive through the Lerma Valley...

before heading west into the mountains.  The route took us through the Cuesta del Obispo (Bishop’s Slope) going from 1000 meters to almost 2000 meters above sea level.  

The road was  twisty and windy and full of switchbacks through verdant forests and then into more alpine areas of sparser vegetation.  

 There was a very red stream running out of the mountains.

Partway up the slope we got into a very arid area with cacti (cardones) that looked very much like saguaro cactus of the American Southwest. 

We also passed a tribe of goats foraging on the hillside.

Our tour guide indicated that part of our tour route was along old Inca roads.  In Europe the saying is that all roads lead to Rome.  In South America, all roads lead to Cusco, Peru, capital of the Inca Empire…and we were on one of those roads.  Talk about a sense of history. 

Mid-point we stopped at a small market for a bathroom break and a bit of shopping.

The vendors were selling colorful bags of spices.

There was a small girl with her llamas, posing for pictures for the tourists.

A little farther along we stopped at a great overlook...except everything was covered with clouds so you couldn't seem much.  There were some stalls set up.  One vendor was playing the reed pipes that are used in much of the music from the area.

You could also buy llama sausage if you were interested.

There was a tiny stone chapel at the top of the pass (altitude 3457 m).

Once down on the far side of the slope we reached Los Cardones National Park and the famous Tin Tin road…a long straight run of road across a barren desert.  

We stopped at the roadside park featuring cacti.

Even though it was a pretty barren desert the area boasted some pretty awesome scenery and geologic formations.

And of course there were more goats.

The area has the distinct look of Arizona but with guanacos. 

The route ended in the small desert town of Cachi.  During lunch we met a gentleman from Argentina who had spent a number of years in London and New York.  He was on a vacation with his children.  His English was excellent and he helped us with ordering. 

After lunch we hit a few craft shops along the main street into town...

and visited the simple church, Iglesia San Jose de Cachi, on the main square.  

Then we turned around and headed back to Salta.  As with the previous day the town was interesting but was really mostly a convenient point for lunch to allow the route to be visited in one day.