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Cafayate
Cafayate is a town located at the central zone of the Valles Calchaquies in the province of Salta, Argentina.
It sits 1,683 meters above mean sea level, at a distance of 1,329 kilometres from Buenos Aires, 227 from Tucuman, 311 km from Jujuy and 365 km from Catamarca. It has about 12,000 inhabitants .
The town is an important tourist centre for exploring the Calchaquies valleys, and because of the quality and originality of the wines produced in the area. The largest golf course in South America, at 240 acres, is currently being developed just outside of the city center at La Estancia de Cafayate. The town was founded in 1840 by Manuel Fernando de Aramburu, at the site of a mission. In 1863 the Cafayate Department was created, of which Cafayate is the capital.
Etymology
The Cafayates were a tribe of the Diaguita-Calchaqui group, which, together with the related Tolombon, inhabited the Valles Calchaquies prior to the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadores. Their language was known as Cacan. 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 Cacan version understands it as "Grave of Sorrows".
Valles Calchaquies
Many of the most impressive sights in the Valley of the Rio 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 form Cafayate to Cachi del Valle, another of the most visited points in the area. Other points of interest from Cafayate include Molinos, Tolombon 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.
Wines
The wine production is most important in the Valles Calchaquies, followed by Tafi del Valle.
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 torrontes. Most wine-cellars around the town host free guided tours.
External links
Official site (in Spanish)
Salta Tourism (in Spanish)
Tourism (in English)
Map of the town, and other info (in Spanish)
North of Argentina Tourist info
Cafayate, Argentina Tourist info
Argentina Wine Guide - with focus on Mendoza, Salta, and Cafayate
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Cafayate
