The Quebrada de las Conchas is the most beautiful drive in one of the most beautiful regions in Argentina.
Spend a few hours weaving through the red earth formations between the cities of Salta and Cafayate.
Stop and savor the views.
This post is a complete guide to all the must-see formations and view points along this stunning drive.
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Where is the Quebrada de las Conchas
The Quebrada de las Conchas (or Shell’s Gorge) is about an hour and a half south of the city of Salta in Northwest Argentina.
The Quebrada is part of the Calchaquí Valley, which is the entire region surrounding Cafayate to the south and reaching up to Salta in the north.
This valley formed by the Calchaquí River is filled with beautiful, other-worldly geographical formations.
The 50 kilometers of Ruta 68 that make up the Quebrada de las Conchas just outside of Cafayate is one of the most iconic drives in Argentina.
Wind, water, and tectonic activity have transformed this landscape into unique geographical forms that, mixed with the red earth, will have you believing you’re actually driving on Mars.
Quebrada de las Conchas Landmarks
There are a number of natural landmarks to see throughout the Quebrada.
The two largest formations – the Amphitheater and the Devil’s Throat – were formed by waterfalls slowly eroding the rock.
Most formations are rocks that have been worn into the shapes of familiar objects like an obelisk or a toad.
The following is a list of the landmarks to see along the way, beginning in Cafayate.
El Obelisco
This obelisk is a little underwhelming compared to the original in Buenos Aires. It’s also a bit uninspiring as far as geographical formations go.
Nevertheless, we stopped for the obligatory photo. You’re welcome.
La Yesera
La Yesera was one of our first stops. This land holds countless fossils of marine life that was deposited by a long-disappeared salty sea.
If you have the time, you can take a 30-minute hike to the “Los Estratos”.
We didn’t have the time, unfortunately, but I can only imagine that it’s worth the effort.
El Sapo – The Toad
Ok, this formation is leaps and bounds better than the obelisk. Looking at it from this angle it is totally an enormous toad.
It’s a little more warped from the other end, but we can’t all be perfect.
Casa de los Loros – Parrot’s Nest
This parrot’s home was actually pretty interesting!
Parrots have made their homes in the niches in the rock (see above).
They feed on seeds and plants in the region, proving that even in a desert, where there’s a will to live, there’s always a way.
El Fraile – The Friar
Ok, this one is just pulling my leg, right? I barely see the formation they claim is supposed to look like a friar, dressed in his robes.
Can you spot him perched on top of the small cliff in the center of the photo above?
Mirador Tres Cruces Viewpoint
This viewpoint was gold. There’s a small parking lot to pull over and there will be a couple vendors selling touristy knick-knacks, so you won’t miss it.
Don’t skip this photo op over the Calchaqui Valley below.
We were lucky with the morning light that bathed the valley in the most perfect light possible.
El Anfiteatro – The Amphitheater
The final two formations (or first two if you’re coming from Salta) are the most stunning.
Once inside them, you’ll feel like you’re being enveloped by the cavernous rock towering overhead.
The amphitheater is very appropriately named.
The acoustics are magnificent, and there are usually musicians inside playing local folkloric music.
We were lucky to arrive at the same time as a massive tour bus. I have never said that before (and likely never will again).
However, this particular tour group was a large group of Argentine retirees.
They formed a dance party, singing and dancing with the musicians in the amphitheater. It was such a cool experience to watch.
Read more: 9 Day Salta & Jujuy Roadtrip
Garganta del Diablo – The Devil’s Throat
Such a menacing name and they seem to love it Argentina!
There’s a Devil’s Throat waterfall in Iguazu and a Devil’s Throat waterfall hike in Tilcara in Jujuy.
The devil is everywhere! Well, this particular Garganta del Diablo (below) isn’t a waterfall any more, but the remains of one long dead.
This final formation is smaller than the Anfiteatro but no less stunning. You’re allowed to climb up the rocks and explore inside the canyon.
The sign says not to do it in sandals, but I’m a rebel who was too lazy to go back to the car for sneakers.
This was my favorite place of the morning’s drive through the Quebrada, so it was also a beautiful way to end it. From here, we continued north to the city of Salta.
Read More: How to Spend One day in the City of Salta
Puente Morales – The bridge from Relatos Salvajes
If you haven’t seen Relatos Salvajes (Wild Tales) yet, then watch it immediately! You can stream it on Amazon here.
It’s one of the best Argentine movies I’ve ever seen. It’s made up of a collection of short films about situations where things get out of hand, very quickly. It’s one of those films that makes you really feel the tension!
One of the storylines was filmed here in the Quebrada de las Conchas.
Obviously, we had to stop for a photoshoot pretending to be the characters beating each other up on the side of the highway in Salta.
How to get to Quebrada de las Conchas
The best way to explore the Quebrada de las Conchas is slowly.
Take your time and enjoy the views. You can, of course, rush through it just for the photo ops.
But if you want to really take it all in, allow yourself half a day here.
Quebrada de las Conchas by Car
We drove the Quebrada de las Conchas early in the morning on our way back to Salta from Cafayate.
I live for a good road trip and this particular drive did not disappoint.
I was grateful to be in control (versus at the mercy of a tour guide on a schedule).
We could pull over wherever we wanted, which was often, and take our time. And take our time we did, we spent the entire morning slowly crawling northwards through the Quebrada.
Check rates here for rental cars in Salta.
Bike the Quebrada
If you are staying in Cafayate, rental bikes are easy to come by. Hotels, hostels and tour companies on the main square all rent bikes by the hour.
I’d have loved to do this if we’d have had the time. Ask your hotel or hostel for directions to the bus terminal located (like most things in Cafayate) very near the main square. The driver will let you store the bike in the luggage hold under the bus.
Take the bus to the Garganta del Diablo stop, and bike your way back to Cafayate, stopping at the landmarks along the way.
The ride will take down 50 kilometers of smooth,well-maintained highway. Prepare for the desert sun with sunscreen, a hat and bring lots of water and snacks. Obviously, you could theoretically skip the bus and bike both ways, but don’t be a hero.
It’s very easy to do this on your own. But if you’d prefer a tour so that you have a local guide with you, this tour is an excellent way to bike the quebrada.
Quebrada de las Conchas DAy Tour from Salta
If you staying in Salta but still want to explore the Quebrada, this is the best day tour available.
A local guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you through all of the Quebrada de las Conchas highlights.
The tour also includes visits and tastings to the Cafayate wineries to taste the region’s native Torrontes varietal.
If you’re short on time and would rather not drive, this is a fantastic way to see everything in one day.
Click here to reserve your Quebrada de las Conchas and winery day trip from Salta.
Argentina Travel Resources
- TRAVEL INSURANCE | It is always a good idea to travel insured. It protects you in so many cases, like lost luggage and trip cancellations, medical emergencies and evacuations. It’s very affordable with the potential to save you thousands in the case of an emergency. I recommend SafetyWing.
- PHONE PLAN | These days, traveling with data is essential. Especially in Argentina where everything is managed on Instagram and WhatsApp. I recommend this E-SIM card. It’s hassle-free and affordable, for more read how to get an Argentina sim card.
- ACCOMMODATION IN ARGENTINA | booking.com is the most common hotel site used in Argentina and it’s where you’ll find the most options.
- RENTAL CARS | I love to travel Argentina via road trip, I’ve always used rentalcars.com, now they are operating under the umbrella of Booking.com’s car rental system.
- BUS TICKETS | Check Busbud for long distance bus routes and tickets.
- VPN | If you’ll be using a public WiFi connection and want to secure your data, I highly recommend using a VPN, I personally use and have had a good experience with ExpressVPN. I also use it to access Hulu and American Netflix from Argentina.
- FLIGHTS | Always check Google Flights and Skyscanner for flights to and within Argentina. Aerolineas Argentina is the local airline with the most routes. FlyBondi and Jetsmart are two budget airlines with dirt-cheap prices (but expect to pay for every add-on like luggage).
- BOOK A CONSULTATION | I offer one-on-one travel consultations to help you plan your trip to Argentina. Pick my brain to get a local’s insight. Click here for more information.
Read More About Argentina’s Northwest:
- The Perfect Itinerary for Salta & Jujuy
- Things to do in Jujuy, Argentina
- Guide to the Salinas Grandes, Salt Flats
- The Best Wineries in Cafayate
- How to spend 1 day in Salta
Wow, these photos are spectacular! I wish I had more time to spend in South America to explore Argentina and Chile that just means that I will have to plan another trip. This is definitely something that I want to see.
Thanks so much! yeah, there’s so much to see in this corner of the world that it’s hard to get it all in. I hope you can plan a return trip!
This was possibly the best road trip of my life!
All I wanted was more time to explore everything.
And so few tourist, the region is really an insider’s tip.
Thank you very much for your guide, it helped us a lot with the planning!!
I’m so glad you loved it, this is such a gorgeous stretch of road!
Is there anywhere to stop for lunch along the drive from Cafayte to Salta?
I have heard good things about Posta de las Cabras but haven’t been:
https://g.co/kgs/yedEMh