Real Argentina Route 66 by Campervan Hire
The real Argentina Route 66 leads through salt flats and red rock canyons in Salta Province. We decide to give it a try on the basis there is no need to worry about country hotels when we have our own 4×4 rental camper van. We collect our hire in Salta city in the extreme north of the country, after flying in to Martín Miguel de Güemes International Airport and finding ourselves in the foothills of the Andes Mountains.
Salta is a delightful attraction in itself, thanks to old colonial architecture, excellent weather, and natural scenery to the west. It is a blend of cultures, presenting both Inca museums and relics in fine Christian colonial churches. The nightlife is great with pubs, restaurants, cafés, and concerts every night.
Drive the Real Argentina Route 66
The Next Morning We Drive Route 66, 190 kilometres to Cafayate
The bright red mountains of the Quebrada de Cafayate distract us on our journey. Because green cacti surround the surreal formations and we feel as if we are on a western movie set. The road is mostly gravel but our rental camper van takes everything in style.
When we arrive in Cafayate we are in wine country thanks to the mild, low humidity climate. The town is an important tourist centre for tourists flocking to taste new harvests. An expansive golf course – the largest on the sub-continent – emerged to entertain well-heeled visitors. Tomorrow we do tastings after we settle into our delightful camper van stand. The following day, it is Cachi.
Next, a Delightful 160 Kilometres on the real Argentina Route 66 to Cachi
The gravel road to Cachi needs steady nerves, although we hardly notice the unevenness in our 4×4 rental RV owing to spectacular sights along the way. We pass through villages where horses are still the main means of tending fields and herding cattle. Cachi is a delightful place with more ornamental buildings in Spanish style.
When we arrive, we find ourselves at the foot of the snow-capped Nevado de Cachi Mountains that flank us to the west. The town architecture characterises traditional white adobe houses, with solid rock foundations. It comes upon us that we discovered the true Argentina Route 66.
After three delightful days tasting local cuisine and exploring highlights, our time is over and we return to Salta city. We are tempted to follow the road onward through La Cuesta del Obispo in our nimble 4WD campervan hire or motorhome rental, but alas, those spectacular mountain views will have to wait for our next visit.
