Jaap van 't Veen's photos with the keyword: Calchaquí Valleys

La Mitica Ruta 40 (the Mythical Route 40) is the nickname of “Ruta 40”. The highway, partly unpaved and loaded with hairpin bends, runs from the far north to the southernmost tip of Argentina. Endless desert plains, crystal clear lakes, glaciers, lush vineyards and the peaks of the Andes accompany the road. Route 40's highest point is almost 5.000 meters in Abra del Acay in Salta Province The 5.224 kilometers long “Ruta 40” connects the village La Quiaca in northern Argentina with the southern town of Rio Gallegos (at Punta Loyola) on the Strait of Magellan in Patagonia. The rugged roadtrip goes through eleven provinces and two provincial capitals, over twentyfour important rivers and along twenty natural parks !!! We only did the part of “Ruta 40” between Cachi and Cafayate. Although just 150 km it took us almost a whole day of driving on an almost completely unpaved road, which looked like a washboard in several places. "Ruta 40" - at least our part - is sometimes a wide straight road, many times very narrow and winding. Sometimes we drove along the edge of ravines, then again through a lovely green landscape. It was always hilly and went up and down all the time. Stones, dust and grit are everywhere. Despite all that, it was a great experience with a ride through a very impressive landscape - with the stretch through the Quebrada de las Flechas ( www.ipernity.com/doc/294067/48888910 ) as the absolute highlight - and along quaint small rural villages.

We were lucky to drive a part of the famous Ruta 40 - from Cachi to Cafayate - in March. That turned out to be the harvest season of the red peppers. On several places along the road they were lying on the fields. We heard from locals that the region features the necessary aridity and the ideal level of sunlight for the cultivation of this kind of peppers.

The Iglesia de San José (San José Church) was built in mid 18th century as a private religious place for the Aramburu family, the former owners of the lands where it is now located. Later they gave it to serve as a church to the town. The church has a typical colonial architecture with adobe walls on a pebble foundation. It does not have a tower, but the three bells are located in the upper part of the façade. The church underwent an important modification in 1890, when a neoclassical portico was added. Inside there is an extensive nave 35 meters long and two transverse chapels very close to the main altar. The altar features traditional decorations; an image of Christ on polychrome is the fundamental piece. Much of the elements (beams, altar, confessionals) are made of cactus-wood. Iglesia de San José is located at the historical town square Plaza 9 de Julio with the white painted town hall. The church was declared a National Historic Monument in 1945.