Cafayate Day Trip: Quebrada de las Conchas, Devil’s Throat & Wine

Summary

Wind-carved valleys, Cafayate wine and red rock stories from Salta

You’ll ride out from Salta through shifting red canyons, walk inside the echoing Devil’s Throat, taste Cafayate’s famous wines with locals who know their grapes by heart, and watch afternoon light paint the Calchaquí Valleys. Some moments will surprise you—maybe even linger longer than expected.

What’s the experience like?

Honestly, we almost missed the bus in Salta — I’d underestimated how long it takes to grab a coffee when everyone else has the same idea at 7am. Our guide, Martín, just grinned and waved us on. He said something about “the road forgiving latecomers,” which made me laugh because I was still half-asleep. The air outside was cool but already dusty, and as we drove south toward Cafayate, the windows started to fill up with those wild red cliffs you see in postcards. But seeing them for real — especially the Quebrada de las Conchas — it’s different. The colors shift every few minutes as the sun moves; sometimes it’s orange, then suddenly pink or deep rust. It’s hard to take a bad photo but I tried anyway.

We stopped so many times I lost track — Martín would just pull over and say “this is a good spot,” like he’d done this a hundred times (which he probably had). At one point we all piled out at Garganta del Diablo — Devil’s Throat — which is this massive natural amphitheater carved into the rock. The acoustics are weirdly perfect; someone from our group sang a bit of tango and it echoed back so clear that even Martín looked impressed. You could smell dry earth and wild herbs if you got close to the walls. There was another stop at El Anfiteatro where some local musicians were playing charango under the overhang — not for tourists really, just practicing together. I didn’t expect that part.

Cafayate itself felt sleepy in a good way when we rolled in around midday. We wandered through quiet streets lined with faded colonial buildings and purple jacaranda trees dropping petals everywhere (I kept stepping on them). Lunch was slow — empanadas with goat cheese and then wine tasting at one of those small bodegas where they actually talk to you about torrontés grapes like you’re an old friend instead of just pouring a glass and moving on. I tried to pronounce “torrontés” properly; Li laughed when I tried to say it in Mandarin too — probably butchered both versions honestly.

The drive back was quieter; everyone sunk into their seats watching the last bits of sunlight stretch across those crazy rocks again. I kept thinking about that echo inside Devil’s Throat — how sound hangs there longer than you expect, kind of like some days do after you get home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Tour main attractions and wine tasting

• Visit Shells' Ravine
• See Devil’s Throat
• Explore geological formation with acoustics
• Visit additional mountain formations
• Tour main attractions in the valley
• Pass by scenic viewpoints
• Pass by more viewpoints
• Visit another main attraction
• Return to Shells' Ravine

Top questions

How long is the day trip from Salta to Cafayate?

The full-day tour typically lasts around 12 hours including stops along Quebrada de las Conchas and time in Cafayate.

Is wine tasting included on this Cafayate day trip?

Yes, wine tasting at a local bodega in Cafayate is included during your visit.

Are entrance fees covered for Quebrada de las Conchas?

All national park fees and taxes are included with your booking.

Is hotel pickup available for this tour?

The tour includes pickup—confirm your location when booking for details.

Do children need to be accompanied by adults?

Yes, children must be accompanied by an adult during this day trip.

Can infants join this tour?

Infants are welcome but must sit on an adult's lap or use a stroller/pram if needed.

What’s included

Your day includes all national park entry fees, taxes and handling charges, guided stops at Quebrada de las Conchas and Garganta del Diablo, wine tasting at a local bodega in Cafayate, plus pickup so you don’t have to worry about transport or tickets along the way.