Calchaquí Valleys · Ruta 68
Private transfer from Salta to Cafayate
We drive groups, families and travel agencies from Salta to Cafayate on Ruta 68: one way to your hotel, a full day with stops in the Quebrada de las Conchas and at the wineries, or several days around the Calchaquí Valleys. A 19-seat minibus or a 4x4 pickup with a professional driver, booked directly with the company that runs it.
The route
Salta to Cafayate on Ruta 68
It is about 190 km (118 miles) from the city of Salta, all on National Route 68 and paved the whole way. Without stops the drive takes about two and a half hours. The road crosses the Lerma Valley through Cerrillos, El Carril, Coronel Moldes and La Viña, and at Alemania it enters the Quebrada de las Conchas: about 80 km of red rock formations down to Cafayate.
The classic stops are in the gorge: the Garganta del Diablo, the Anfiteatro (a natural amphitheater with acoustics you can test on the spot), Los Castillos and the dunes just before Cafayate. The driver stops wherever you want, as long as the road allows it safely.
Cafayate sits above 1,600 m (5,200 ft). That is not Puna altitude, but the sun and the dry air are strong: bring water, sunscreen and a layer for the evening.
| Section | Distance and road |
|---|---|
| Salta to El Carril | About 36 km across the Lerma Valley. Paved. |
| El Carril to Alemania | About 70 km through Coronel Moldes and La Viña. Paved. |
| Alemania to Cafayate | About 83 km through the Quebrada de las Conchas, with curves and viewpoints. Paved. |
| Total | About 190 km, roughly 2 h 30 of driving without stops. With stops in the gorge, the trip takes most of a morning. |
Approximate distances and driving times without stops, from Ruta0 (checked October 10, 2026). On October 9 and 10, 2026, Ruta 68 showed no closures in the national road agency's report. Current status: Vialidad Nacional road conditions (in Spanish).
Ways to book
One way, a day trip, or several days
From your hotel, the bus terminal or Salta airport to your lodging in Cafayate, or the reverse. We choose the vehicle for the group and the luggage.
An early start, stops in the gorge, lunch and wineries in Cafayate, and back to Salta the same day. The driver stays with the group all day.
The minibus stays with you: Cafayate, San Carlos, Angastaco and Cachi on Ruta 40, and back to Salta over the Cuesta del Obispo. Details on Salta to Cachi and Ruta 40.
From Salta's Martín Miguel de Güemes airport (SLA) straight to Cafayate. Send the flight number and we set the pickup time around it.
Wineries
Cafayate's wineries, with nobody behind the wheel
Cafayate is the center of Salta's high-altitude wine route: Torrontés, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat and other varieties, large estates and small family wineries, and the Museo de la Vid y el Vino. You choose and book the tastings with each winery, or your travel agency does. We drive you between them and back to your hotel or to Salta.
Salta province has a zero-tolerance rule for alcohol at the wheel. With a driver, nobody in the group has to drive after the tasting.
The vehicle
How the group travels
- 19-seat minibuses with a professional driver
- 4x4 pickups for small groups
- Larger groups: we add minibuses so everyone travels together
- The driver knows the road but is not a licensed guide
- CNRT license No. 60284 and a licensed travel agency
- Open all year, not only in high season
Frequently asked questions
What travelers ask before booking
How long is the drive from Salta to Cafayate?
About two and a half hours without stops, for roughly 190 km. With stops in the Quebrada de las Conchas, plan on three to four hours. That is an estimate: it depends on how often you want to stop.
Is the road paved?
Yes. Ruta 68 is paved all the way from Salta to Cafayate. Gravel only starts if the trip continues north to Cachi on Ruta 40.
Can we go and come back in one day?
Yes, it is the most requested day trip out of Salta. You are back in Salta in the late afternoon or evening, depending on the start time and how long you spend at the wineries.
Do the drivers speak English?
Our drivers work in Spanish. An English-speaking driver can be arranged on request, subject to availability. Messages in English are answered in English by email or WhatsApp.
Can you take us from Cafayate to Salta airport?
Yes, in both directions. Send the flight time and we work out when to leave Cafayate.
Do you publish prices?
No. Each trip is priced on the date, the number of passengers, the vehicle and whether it is one way, a day trip or several days. You get a price the same business day, Argentina time.
Planning the trip to Cafayate?
Tell us the date, how many are traveling, whether it is one way, a day trip or several days, and where we pick you up. You get a price the same business day.
English inquiries: write to contacto@lausof.com or send a WhatsApp message to +54 9 387 526-9009. We reply in English, normally the same business day (Argentina time, UTC−3). Phone calls are answered in Spanish.
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