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I took a photographer client out through the Quebrada de las Flechas and he couldn't stop shooting the sky. The clouds hang like luminescent balloons, sun and rain dancing around making light play like a John Ford movie.
Taking their turn, the rock formations change constantly with every appearance of the sun peeking between clouds.
'How is the road between Salta and Cachi and Cachi and Cafayate?' People frequently want to know whether they need a guide or whether they can rent a car and drive independently. For some the question is completely moot. There are people who would never want to be driven anywhere and some who enjoy the service - It's a matter of personality but it causes some scuffles on forums like Tripadvisor.
The truth is the road between Salta and Cafayate is totally paved but has some steep curves and rocks in the road from landslides. Remember that there is no insurance coverage on rental cars from Salta, if you get a flat tire orworse, you pay for it! The road between Cafayate and Cachi is only paved as far as San Carlos and then turns to rough gravel - a devil on tires. There are bends and holes and rocks in the road. It is tiring to drive as you must stay focussed and not take your eyes from the road for a moment. For this reason some people prefer to enjoy the scenery as it passes rather than 6-8 hours with eyes glued to ripio.
The Quebrada de lad Flechas (Arrow Gorge) is not to be missed but the road is narrow at places and if the rains come through and flood the road it is imperative to turn back and not try to drive through water - the dips in the sand can cause irreperable damage to the engine.
Past Cachi the road is again paved but the weather can be perilous. The beautiful Cuesta del Obispo can turn from this
to this in a very short period of time and it is 20km of steep curves on sand/mud descending from almost 3400 metres of altitude. I have just returned from a trip with a client who did not much enjoy the white knuckle ride along a cliff edge as trucks approached head on from two metre of visibility.
Either way the route is an amazing piece of scenery - one of the great drives of the world and not to be missed.
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