Samay Huasi

Hiking around Cachi

by barryg23

"Cachi"

Cachi is a small, enchanting village in the Valles Calchaquies, an area of rugged and beautiful landscapes west of Salta in north-west Argentina.

Cachi may look close to Salta on a map, but it takes about 4.5 hours to get here along narrow, switchback roads. The compensation for the long journey is the beautiful views along the way, especially the climb up the Cuesta del Obispo. The village doesn't receive as many tourists as you might expect - but those who do make the trip are rewarded with sunshine, clear mountain air and good hiking opportunities in the surrounding region.

The village is at 2280 metres altitude and has a population of about 2000 people. There are a small number of hotels and restaurants in the village and there is an ATM. Despite the altitude, the climate is quite agreeable. Day time temperatures reached 35 degrees when we visited in October 2007 - though it did cool down once the sun went in.

There are a couple of interesting sights in the town, such as the church and the small museum. However, it's the landscapes that make the most striking impression, and there are a couple of good hikes around the village that allow appreciate the scenery.

Cachi trip

by xantylaol

"Going up the mountainside from Salta to Cachi"

"On the Road Again..."

"Rainbow coloured mountains"

The Andes and the region around Salta especially contains mountains in all kinds of colours. There is an abundance of minerals all over the place. The reddish colours tend to be iron and the greenish are copper. It's beautiful to watch.