Salta boasts the finest colonial architecture in Argentina and is the place to experience a Peña, a restaurant serving local food together with traditional music and dancing. They say the best empanadas come from Salta and we agree.

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The Museum of High Altitude Archaeology displays the three “Llullaillaco Children”, together with offerings, found frozen at 6,700 m. above sea level in 1999. These were Inca sacrifices to their gods. Very eerie.

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We took the train to the clouds (Tren a las Nubes), the first trip in 5 years, a 16 hour excursion through the Quebrada (gorge) del Toro up into the mountains. The 217 kilometre route crosses 29 bridges, 13 viaducts, 21 tunnels, does 2 complete circles and 2 zigzags to reach an altitude of 4200 metres and then does it all over again on the way back.

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A truly spectacular bus ride up a narrow winding road took us to the little pueblo of Cachi with its cobblestone streets and adobe buildings.

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