While I am far from well traveled in the land of the Argentines, my time in Mendoza and Salta brought new depth to my experience in and understanding of South America.

When it comes to Mendoza, I can tell you, everything you have heard is true. Yes, Mendoza is the wine capital of the world. (O.K. so maybe it´s not the wine capital of the world but we can at least classify it as the Malbec capital, Porque No?). Yes, it´s gorgeous. And yes, you probably will spend the majority of your time a bit intoxicated. If you are looking for a changes of scene from the busy city scape, Mendoza is thus, an ideal place.Whether you´re headed north or South, to Chile, Bolivia, or Peru, Mendoza is a wonderful place to; stop by for a couple of days or even a week.

Given its immense reputation, the size of Mendoza is in fact quite small. There are about two or three streets for going out and one main plaza with a fair on the weekends. But never fear, there is much to do in the territory of wine. Indeed, though the city of Mendoza has its limitations, the surrounding vineyards of the Campo provided endless means of enjoyment and relaxation.

It is generally agreed that one of the major highlights in Mendoza is the wine biking tour. Every day of the week, morning, afternoon, or evening, you can sign up or just show up for a tour. Let me shed some light on the basics.1. You rent a bike 2. Ride around to the different wineries and oliveries 3. Give your palate a run for its money as you taste the various local goods. With a pay as you go system, you get to decided how hedonistic you want to be. For some the bike ride back is a blurry memory of obscurity, while others it fares better. Whether or not, you enjoy what it feels like to be drunk. This tour provides is a highly accessible means of exploring the diverse and tasty wines of this region.

Travelling to more remote locations in Argentina and more widely in Latin America, can provide its fair share of challenges but the experiences awaiting the determined explorer can be extremely rewarding. A significant part of that experience often lies in the journey to such secluded locales and this certainly applies to the tiny town of Iruya, tucked away amongst the Andes in the province of Salta, in the northwest of Argentina.

The only way to get to Iruya without a 4×4 is on the buses operating daily from the town of Humahuaca, some 300km away. The remoteness is partly explained by Iruya’s geographical situation, located on a plateau in the Andes, known as the Altiplano in Spanish or high plain. Iruya itself is carved into a mountainside and sits at a height of 2,780m above sea level. There are other historical reasons which determine the relative levels of connection/disconnection between towns in this part of Argentina. The northwest, such a significant leg of colonial trading links between the silver mines of Potosi in Bolivia and the Atlantic Coast, and subsequent European markets, prioritized more accessible cities such as Salta, Jujuy and Tucumán, whilst bypassing hidden pockets of human civilization like Iruya. Most of the smaller settlements situated in the northwest of Argentina consist of villages or towns with relatively undeveloped transport links, and are sheltered between the mountains or near adequate water sources for drinking and irrigation (Iruya itself is located alongside the Iruya River). Of course, Iruya and many of the neighbouring towns and villages dotted within and along the Andes, possess histories which stretch back far earlier to pre-Colombian times, providing that element of mysticism which undoubtedly draws many travelers to the region.

Just at 165 kilometers from Salta is this little town called Cafayate. With its 11.785 inhabitants it´s situated at 1683 meter height and surrounded by vineyards. We drove from Cachi to Cafayate in about 5 hours and this was an amazing trip. You see lama´s crossing the street, loads of peppers that have been put to dry in the sun and of course the most beautiful colored mountains. The feeling you get and the views cannot be described.

Cafayate itself is a great place to stay. For foreigners it´s most famous for its bodegas and torrontes wine, which won a lot of international awards, but in Argentina Cafayate is also well known for its folklore festival every February. We stayed in a very nice hotel called Vieja Posada, which was more like a big country house, rather than a hotel. At this moment they are renovating it at the outside, but inside it was beautiful, with a big patio and excellent rooms.

From Salta we drove through the Calchaquies Valleys to Cachi. This is a beautiful little town with only 5254 inhabitants, situated on 2.280 meter height at the foot of the Andes Mountains. The town itself is lovely, but the most spectacular thing about it, is the trip to Cachi. It is breathtaking! The mountains are so beautiful with all their different colors and shapes. You feel like Lucky Luke, all alone on the prairie. For one moment you see cacti all around you and for the next there is only rocky landscape for as far as you can see. After about a 4 hour drive you arrive in cute little Cachi.