Canyons to Cafayate

We had a late start today. With my shoes still drenched from yesterdays rain today’s climbs were mainly flip flop powered.

The ride was long but beautiful.
After a cloudy but dry first hour, riding past farms and boring pampas, the sky started clearing up and the vegetation became more scarce.

Quite suddenly we found ourselves in a deep, rocky canyon surrounded by read mountains.
We cycled along the Rute 68 most of the day, snaking our way through the Canyon.
The scenery kept giving, showing off various colours, rock formations and lush green valleys. And to top it all off, we were blessed with a constant tailwind. Life is good 👍

We stopped for lunch at the only little tavern in miles, and hid from the boiling sun, sitting in the shade, enjoying some nice empanadas and drinking a cup of local wine.

The remainder of the afternoon we continued through the canyon, ever so often stopping at one of the many viewpoints. And *all* of them were just so very beautiful.

When we got to Cafayate, the wine region's capital, around 7pm and were both impressed by just how lovely, clean and welcoming it is. It is surrounded by a miriad of vineyards and a beautiful mountain landscape, making it extremely pittoresque.
After 5min in town I was sold on its beauty and decided to stay at least one extra day to be able to try some of the local wines at some of the many Bodegas and refuel with soom good food.

After a short search we found a nice, economic hospedaje with a lovely host and are looking forward to some wine tastings tomorrow 🍷

🚴‍♀️Distance cycled: 105 km
⛰️ Ascent: 1000 m
🤩 KMs with Stunning views: 90
👋 Happy car/motorcycle drivers waving at us: Almost all of them
🍷 Wines tasted: 2Les mer