Cafayate

Thanks to a microclimate and fertile soil, Cafayate and the surrounding area is one of Argentina's booming wine regions. The town itself is civilized and orderly, with various bodegas offering tours and tastings, lots of good restaurants, and some exquisite hotels. But wander a couple of blocks from the central plaza and you're back on unpaved roads. Take a bit of a hike, and you're in the mountains—probably enjoying a wine-tasting session at a tiny finca and trying hard to get your camera to do justice to the view.