Cafayate

The Cafayates were a tribe of the Diaguita-Calchaquí group, which, together with the related Tolombón, inhabited the Valles Calchaquíes prior to the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadores. Their language was known as Cacán. Like other Diaguita tribes, they had recently fallen under the influence of the Incas, after a prolonged resistance. They later mounted a fierce resistance to the Spaniards. Even though most agree that the root of Cafayate is Quechua, the meaning of the term is disputed. Some claim it to mean "Box of Water", others to be a deformation of Capac-Yac ("Great Lake") or Capac-Yaco ("Great Chief" or "Wealthy People"). Another Cacán version understands it as "Grave of Sorrows". ==Wines==

The wine production is most important in the Valles Calchaquíes. The wines produced in the region benefit from the low-humidity mild weather of the valleys that receive an average of less than 250 mm of precipitation per year. The most characteristic type of wine cultivated in the area is torrontés. Most wine-cellars around the town host free guided tours. File:Vineyards near mountains.jpg|View of a vineyard bordering on a mountain File:Cafayatemountains.jpg|Just 3 blocks from town File:ViñedoCafayate.jpg|A winery set between vineyards and mountains File:Cafayate vineyard.jpg|A view across the valley with vineyard in the foreground File:Argentine vineyard and mountains..jpg|Vineyard and mountains File:Bodega Michel Torino - Outside Cafayate - Argentina 02.jpg|View over winery rooftops ==Valles Calchaquíes==

Many of the most impressive sights in the Valley of the Río las Conchas (Quebrada de Cafayate) are along the paved, 183-kilometres-long National Route 68 that goes from Salta to Cafayate. National Route 40 goes for 165 kilometres from Cafayate to Cachi, another of the most visited points in the area (please note that this stretch of RN40 is not paved and should be avoided during the raining season). Other points of interest from Cafayate include Molinos, Tolombón and San Isidro ranch. The town of Cafayate is an attraction by itself, with its laid-back rhythm, colonial style, and wine cellars open to the public. File:Cafayate Amphitheatre.JPG|The natural Amphitheatre File:Tour to the Quebrada de las Conchas.jpg|People on a Tour File:Desert River, Salta, Argentina.jpg|Desert river File:Las Juntas-Cafayate.jpg|Las Juntas - Cafayate File:Llama closeup.jpg|Llama == References ==