Cafayate

Cafayate is a pleasant small town where I would strongly recommend the extremely laid back Hosteria Rustik, where the super friendly owner Walter can take up for 4 people on a 5 hour afternoon tour of the surrounding region 'Quebrada de Cafayate' for 35 pesos. This trip has spectacular photo opportunities (similar but surpassing Bryce Canyon in the States) and from a scenery perspective, the highlight of the trip so far.
As luck would have it, there are also numerous wineries (bodegas) in this part of the country, as the altitude and climate are ideal especially for the malbec grape. Pietri Marini malbec 2004 was particularly good with the local speciality of roast goat (cabrito) and the first day in ages I didn't eat steak. The wife of the current president Cristina Kirchner has just been announced as the new president so not much likely to change on the political front.